“Well, isn’t this is quite the luxurious makeshift ensemble.”  Avril feels as though she heard a voice from somewhere.  She thinks the same.

Avril, Dylan, and Samuel had violins; Emilia, the younger sister to the Kingdom of Claughton’s king, Chris, and Jeanne, accompanying the princess as her lady-in-waiting, had violas; and Fernand, the heir of the House of Marquis Brandner, was handling the piano.

Brandon, apparently, was fond of the cello, and was seated in front of a borrowed instrument.  That was the first she had heard of it.  With great doubt, she questioned whether a performance by people with such thin connections to one another would go well.

Nervousness could be felt from everyone.  The only one excitedly claiming, “I get to perform together with Lady Avril!” without thinking about anything else was Emilia.

“—That girl is a guest from the Kingdom of Claughton.  She’s apparently Her Highness, the king’s younger sister.”

“—From the Kingdom of Claughton?  A country unable to establish proper diplomatic relations?  Why is she attending a music festival hosted by a single noble?”

Just moments ago, everyone in the foyer was engrossed in gossip, but now they were completely captivated by Emilia’s presence.

How did things end up like this?

Avril no longer wanted to face reality as the performance began.  The piece Samuel had chosen was one set to a certain play written by a historical author.  The play’s protagonist was a doll who believed itself to be human and the story began when the doll was given breath by a dollmaker with special powers who lived deep in a forest.

Ultimately, the doll’s behavior and intelligence, uncharacteristic of a doll’s, were recognized by god.  After being loved by everyone, it became human and married a prince, creating a Cinderella story with comedic elements.

The violins smoothly joined in accordance with the lovely high notes of the piano.  The springing melody gradually spread layer after layer, accompanied by viola and the cello.

Initially, the invited guests watched with curiosity.  Then, impressed that a proper performance was being given, they gathered around.

Even though this was a piece that the children of nobles who practiced instruments encountered at least once, the reason their performance didn’t collapse despite being a hastily prepared one-take was because Fernand, with his piano, and Samuel, who was accustomed to playing in ensembles, took the lead.

Why Fernand, who should’ve been perfectly in control of the situation, appeared to be somewhat disappointed was a mystery.  Nevertheless, the performance ended successfully.

Surrounded by applause that went beyond what one would expect for a makeshift performance in the foyer, Avril exchanged smiles with Dylan and bowed.

Brandon and Fernand stared at Avril with expressions of extreme shock; Samuel and Chris wore cheerful grins; Emilia’s expression was one of ecstasy; and Jeanne released a sigh of relief.

The atmosphere among the guests, who had been judging the Duke and Duchess of Lancester with gossip and rumors, clearly changed with that performance.

“You’ve turned the tables on both the man who wanted to embarrass you and the people who underestimated you.”

“?”

Avril could only tilt her head at what Dylan whispered in a low voice.  She understood that Fernand had been plotting something, but as she did not know what had happened between him and her husband, her reaction was only natural.

In any case, with this intermission as the turning point, the third and fourth parts of the first day’s concert also ended with great success.  Then, with the excitement of the first day, the second and third days were also resounding successes.

Furthermore, the music festival was apparently widely reported in the newspapers of the royal capital.

Of course, the brilliance of the performance and its aims for charity were covered, but more than that, the fact that the Duke of Lancester house walked a new path attracted interest.

The young duke who succeeded the Duke of Lancester, who had surrounded himself with many mistresses and stirred up the social world, was said to possess a character nothing like his predecessor’s and to have made the former duke, who had caused nothing but problems, submit before then mercifully inviting him into the circle of the ensemble.

Also, supporting that Dylan was a flourishing group of people.

The Marquis of Brandner husband and wife, unable to leave the royal capital regardless of the circumstances, sent their likewise busy heir, adding to the brilliance.

Not only that, also reported was that the fifth son, Samuel, was with them as part of his etiquette training.  Finally, toping it all off was the addition of Emilia, the beautiful and mysterious neighboring Kingdom of Claughton’s king’s younger sister, had secretly come to the country accompanied by a capable lady-in-waiting.  The reputation of the Duke of Lancester family had become completely different from what it was before.

This would continue even after Avril and everyone else returned to the royal capital.

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