224.1: The Start of the Music Festival
A month later, just as autumn deepened more than when they had entered the territory, the day of the music festival arrived.
The venue chosen by Avril and Samuel was the historic concert hall in Myrtle. Concerts would be held there for three days starting today. While the program was the same for all three days, today was intended as a special gathering where those with connections to the Duke of Lancester were invited. The second and third days would be open to the townspeople.
The ticket price for the townspeople was extremely inexpensive, and even the proceeds were to be donated. Truly, it was a charity event for the epidemic.
Avril, within the concert hall before the audience entered, was looking up at the stage as she explained to Dylan.
“What do you think!? This is by no means a large venue, but it’s a hall that has long been familiar to and cherished by the people of this domain. I thought it’d be a fitting location for the Duke of Lancester to host their first music festival…!”
“This place has been lent out to various people, and it is a place that the people of this town have without fail visited at least once. You’ve chosen a great venue, as expected.”
“Fufufu. So he says, Samuel.”
“Thank you for the compliment, Your Excellency.”
Avril and Samuel looked at each other and laughed together at Dylan’s praise. They couldn’t, however, only be satisfied with just that much.
Today, Avril would be running around here and there as the mistress of the Duke of Lanchester Household. Samuel, meanwhile, held a violin in his hands. He had just finished rehearsal a short time ago and after this would be partaking in the performance.
As such, neither of them had time to relax here.
“Samuel, first let me introduce you to my guests. Please come with me.”
“Certainly, Lady Avril.”
Avril decided to head to the reception room reserved for honored guests with Samuel while Dylan saw them off with a smile.
The reception room itself was located on the third floor beyond the stairs. Passing through a dedicated cloakroom was a room adorned with especially luxurious décor, even within the lavish concert hall.
The guard in front of the door let them through, and upon entering the room, she saw a pink dress fluttering.
“Lady Avril, I’ve been wanting to meet you…!”
“Lady Emilia! Thank you for coming.”
Greeting her was Emilia. She had come from the neighboring Kingdom of Claughton where they had met during a recent mission. Both the princess of the kingdom and the king’s younger sister, she had revered Avril as a “villainess” and supported her in every respect.
As Avril fully shows her courtesy with a curtsy, Emilia embraced her overwhelmed with emotion.
“I thank you for the invitation! It’s been two months since then… Not having the opportunity to meet you as much has left me feeling lonely. I’ve been asking my elder brother to please hurry with redeveloping the mines. Then Lady Avril would have more opportunities to visit my place!”
“That is something to be grateful for. If the redevelopment proceeds quickly, it will be beneficial for both countries. I’m looking forward to it as well.”
“You are so right! And the opportunities for Lady Avril to visit my place will increase even more!!!”
The hand Emilia gripped Avril’s with was hot, and her excitement came through. Emilia was truly the same as ever, and it was both nostalgic and smile-inducing.
From behind Emilia, as she twice more repeated words to the effect of, “I want there to be more opportunities for Avril to visit me,” the attendant lady-in-waiting’s wry smile came into Avril’s view.
Ara…? Who’s this…?
Avril’s eyes widened at the familiar-looking lady-in-waiting.
“Could it be, Lady Jeanne…?”
“It has been some time, Duchess of Lancester.”
Wearing a modest dress befitting a lady-in-waiting was Jeanne Herzfeldt. Avril had met her during the Kingdom of Claughton’s National Exam. Jeanna was a talented young woman who passed the exam with excellent results and received a commendation along with Avril.
Even though Jeanne’s father should had fallen from power, that she had been chosen as an accompanying person for the royal younger sister’s foreign visit was to be expected. Avril could infer why.
I’ve heard that the results of the National Exam Kingdom of Claughton are related to one’s assignment. This means…
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