As Avril saw Dylan and Chris off, wondering, What are they going to do?, she noticed they were holding violins. The audience, expecting the children to appear next as per the program, came abuzz at the arrival of unexpected performers.

—Just what in the world is going to happen?

Within the venue filled with such anticipation, and the sound of Dylan and Chris’ breathing echoed. Then, almost without warning, the performance of the unexpected guests began. At it, the murmurs in the hall faded into silence.

This piece…

It wasn’t classical, but a well-known piece from a play centered around the theme love. It was well liked among ordinary citizens.

One belief was that the story was set in Myrtle Town. The invited guests present likely all knew about it.

The piece began with a pleasantly brisk moderato, then transformed into an allegro and drew in the audience. The high notes and low notes blended together, and the piece accelerated further. Sighs of admiration could be heard escaping from the audience.

Within the current Kingdom of Branwill, playing musical instruments was an aristocratic pursuit and was drilled in children from a young age. That was precisely why there were also spaces where the music orientated Marquis of Brandner family was granted special recognition.

The flawless performance befitting the head of the head of the Duke of Lancester enveloped the venue with surprise. The piece was by no means a difficult one, but the lustrous tones played by the lord and his right-hand man were enough to capture the audience’s attention as an opening act.

What a wonderful selection of music. It’s as if the restless atmosphere from earlier had been an illusion…!

Dylan and Chris finished their impromptu performance after a few minutes to a resounding applause from across the venue. Her husband simply smiled and motioned to the stage wings.

Avril, realizing the second part was about to begin with that, nodded along with Samuel.

The children who had been watching how things would proceed from the wings immediately began to enter. A few moments later, Samuel took to the stage to perform his solo.

Those of the audience noticed in that instant he was the flower of high society and the youngest child of the musical family, the fifth son of the Marquis of Brandner, and a roar of astonishment surpassing Dylan and Chris’ performance erupted.

By that time, the murmurs regarding the Duke of Lancester household had completely disappeared from the venue.

The performance by the children reverberated throughout the hall.

Avril closed her eyes as she listened to Samuel’s solo, absorbing his enchanting tune, when she all of a sudden looked up and saw Dylan.

“Samuel is truly amazing… And Lord Dylan as well. As expected, you are quite skilled.”

Dylan gave an awkward refusal to Avril’s words, “I’m not at a level where I can perform before an audience with discerning ears,” and then laughed.

“Although I did practice on the possibility of an occasion like this occurring.”

“Oh my.”

“I practiced too. I wonder how many years it’s been since I last played in front of others?”

“Even Mr. Chris!”

Avril had been so engrossed in preparing for the music festival, she never imagined that the two had anticipated such a situation. How impressive.

Lord Dylan considered such a development from the tea parties in the royal capital and from how everyone was behaving. And that well-matched performance…! It was truly wonderful!

As that happened, the performance of Samuel and the others finished without incident, giving her a feeling of relief. She too gave a thunderous applause from the stage wing.

The curtains fell and the children returned with expressions of relief. As preparations for the third part began on the stage, Samuel ran up to them with an expression of excitement.

“Lady Avril!”

“Samuel! You were wonderful, everyone’s performance was.”

“Thanks to His Grace the Duke and Mr. Chris changing the mood in the venue for us, we were able to perform as usual. The mood of the audience is also clearly different from before the opening. I think they were drawn in by the atmosphere of the concert! Truly, the Duke of Lanchester family is remarkable.”

Avril could only continue to nod at Samuel’s words.

“Lord Dylan, thank you so very much. I’m really happy that the performance given by Samuel and the children turned out so wonderfully.”

“It was nothing. Even if Chris and I hadn’t performed, wouldn’t the venue have become settled down with just the children’s?”

For a bit, Samuel had a somewhat bashful smile on his face after being praised by Dylan. Upon noticing his eldest brother was present, however, he frowned.

“…Eldest Brother, you’re still here? His Grace the Duke told you to return to your seat, please don’t be selfish and go back.”

“Don’t say that. Has Samuel really reached the age where he says such things as well? You’ve completely turned into an adult; it makes me a little sad.”

“Eldest Brother?”

Fernand smiled with a soft chuckle at the lecture from his youngest brother, who was puffing out his cheeks. Meanwhile, a restlessness stirred among the audience. The members were beginning to step out for a reprieve.

During this music festival, a short fifteen-minute break had been scheduled between the second and third parts. Everyone would leave the hall and spend time in the foyer where light refreshments would also be served.  It made it into a small party.

Most of the invited guests on the festival’s first day were nobles. That the break would turn into a social occasion was easy to imagine. Avril had deliberately planned around that, yet she still felt down, thinking she had failed.

We were finally able to direct their attention to the music festival after all of that, but… will it play out the same way it did before the opening? If that happens, all the atmosphere-building will end up being reset.

Perhaps sensing her feelings, Dylan let out a sigh as he held his temple.

“…While I was performing earlier, I checked to see whether the former duke was in the audience, but I couldn’t find him. Actually, I even searched the music hall on my way here, but he wasn’t there. I’ll go confirm one more time. If that guy is here, it’ll only spark strange rumors.”

“That’s certainly true… it would become even more troublesome if the former Lord Duke is present.”

To think that he searched for Brandon even during the middle of that performance. Dylan always did outrageous things with a calm demeanor.

When they stepped into the foyer while having such a conversation, the person they had been searching for was there. Brandon Lanchester was amiably conversing with a local notable couple.

“Why are you here?”

Dylan coldly called out to him without showing any special consideration. Brandon’s eyes narrowed at being spoken to by his son.

“Well, aren’t you late? What were you doing, keeping all your guests waiting?”

“I could say the same to you. Your coming here on your own despite not being invited is troublesome. You are not the head of the Lanchester family anymore.”

“…That’s true, but…”

Surprisingly, Brandon didn’t fly into a rage. He meekly accepted Dylan’s words quietly. Dylan didn’t hide his displeasure at the sight.

“Seeing you act obedient all of a sudden is unsettling. Please return to the mansion.”

“This is the long awaited music festival. Isn’t fine if I enjoy it too?”

Their argument went back and forth with evasive exchanges until the local notable couple, unable to watch the situation any longer, spoke to Dylan.

“We’ve known your honored father for quite some time. We are familiar with his spirited behavior.”

“Lord Dylan, it must have been difficult for you, surely. But I am certain the former Lord Duke also had various reasons. Is it not a little pitiable that, after stepping back from the front line, he is spending his time alone?”

The couple who addressed the lord by name were not only older than Dylan, but even Brandon. Their gentle smiles along with the way they showed consideration to both the parent and child who had become estrangement gave the impression that they were people of character who had seen every aspect of life.

Dylan had been trying to deal with Brandon strictly, but as expected, he couldn’t bring himself to dismiss them rudely. He turned to them with a bewildered gaze.

“These are the Kalua couple. I myself also was looked after by them from when I was young.”

“I believe you gave a wonderful violin performance not too long ago.  Come to think of it, that too must have been because of the education your honored father gave you. You must be grateful.”

“—You think so?”

“I do think so.”

Dylan, to the madam who wore an elegant smile with a “Fufufu,” was unable to say anything.

They were influential people of the region. Just from the familiar manner in which Brandon spoke with them, anyone could tell that, even if their house rank was low, they represented a house with significant influence in the territory.

Seeing that Dylan had erased the emotion from the smile he directed at them, Avril opened her mouth to speak.

Earlier, while the audience had murmured over how she had blended in with the ducal family, she still had the image of being a villainess. As such, she believed that even if she were somewhat rude, it would be forgiven.

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