Vanstein Copyright

Chapter 17 – The Promised Night

The steam car passed through the opulent gate and entered the courtyard.

The young girl, her long platinum blonde hair styled in a high chignon, gulped with bated breath at the majestic sight of the mansion spread out before her through the window.

Not even the complete view from the courtyard could capture the vastness of the mansion, which was both vertically and horizontally long. Its white exterior walls were framed with massive vertical windows, extending all the way up to the attic, where blue tiles had been laid.

Towering regally against the steam lamps, it resembled a high-class hotel rather than a spacious mansion.

The girl felt a sense of ease in her own attire.

She was resplendent in a one-shoulder black dress and a sheer bolero. At the time Adonis advised her to put on the same attire as she would wear for the London competition since it was also a rehearsal for it, she felt a bit ostentatious, but after arriving here, the reason for this became evident to her. This was not a place where anyone could casually show up in ordinary clothes.

After going through a large roundabout, the steam car halted in front of the entrance.

As the car door was opened from the outside, a hand clad in a white glove was reverently offered to her. The girl tentatively accepted the hand and alighted from the car.

Before her eyes, an enormous ten-foot-high entrance door opened audaciously, revealing an old butler and six lady attendants standing in an orderly line in front of her, bowing.

“Welcome, Master Angela and Master Adonis. My master is expecting you.”

Even after hearing the cordial greeting from the familiar elderly butler, Angela still doubted it.

She could not believe that Mrs. Care was an extremely aristocratic person residing in such a distinguished mansion.

Today marked the third week since Angela Greenfield delivered her grand speech at the piano bar.

It was the promised night of the performance of “Piano Solo for the Right Hand”.

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The elderly butler led Angela and Adonis into the mansion.

After passing through a room that could be either an entrance or a hall that also functioned as an entrance, they were greeted by high-end paintings, vases, and taxidermy as they proceeded further and further down a long corridor.

Nevertheless, compared to Angela, whose body was tense and stiff, Adonis, dressed in a tailcoat, appeared undaunted and unperturbed. After all, he has been conducting tunings at upper-class residences, which would explain his familiarity with this sort of atmosphere.

“Hey, Adonis. If I don’t perform this decently… I’ll be decapitated on the spot, right?”

“We’re not in the Medieval Era… don’t worry. You already know how to play it well, just play it like you always do.”

Like Adonis said, Angela was indeed successful in executing “Piano Solo for Right Hand” exactly as it was notated.

From yesterday.

Yes. That took place only yesterday, and it was a newly finished work of perfection.

Although she desperately sought to practice again this morning, Adonis was engaged in other business that prevented him from accompanying her, and the morning session ended with a performance of the piece that Ms. Jacquelyn had arranged for the competition.

By the afternoon, Adonis still hadn’t shown up until she was about to leave, and despite practicing by herself, the piece wasn’t even close to being perfected.

“Welcome, Angela! I’ve been expecting you.”

Following the butler’s lead into the vast parlor, Mrs. Care, who was anticipating her, hugged her exultantly.

It was reminiscent of the same hug from that night at “Crazy Louis” in the midst of a raucous party.

I hope she doesn’t recollect me calling her “Care, you’re too drunk, your breath stinks, or get away from me, you old hag,” and me mistreating her.

“You look great in that dress. You look so cute and grown-up at the same time.”

“I am honored by your compliments, ma’am.”

“Oh my God! Just call me Careー!”

After hugging her again, Mrs. Care whispered in Angela’s ear.

“But spare me the old hag, please.”

I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry! I won’t say it a second time!!

“Nice to meet you, Ms. Angela, I’m Hardy.”

When she was freed from the fervent hug, she shook hands with her son – Hardy, who now came forward to replace Mrs. Care.

She was told that he was twenty-five years old. He was rather slim and gentle-looking, and his bandaged left arm was hanging from his neck by a triangular bandage. While Mrs. Care had informed that the shock of his left arm becoming immobile had driven him into seclusion, by the look on his face, he seemed to be in fine spirits.

“Good evening. Thank you for inviting me. I look forward to meeting you today.”

“Oh, thank you so much for coming. To be able to shake hands with the daughter of Merch Greenfield is a dream come true. I’m looking forward to your performance.”

Angela put on a fake smile and said inwardly, “I knew the bar has been raised!” with a bitter smile in her heart.

After a round of greetings from the four of them, including Adonis, Mrs. Care cut in.

“Now let’s go to the room that contains the piano. It was just tuned by Adonis the other day, so it should be a breeze to play.”

The plan for this night was to listen to Angela’s piano performance first, followed by a four-course dinner for all of them.

At a short distance from the room, a long table with fancy-looking dishes, glasses, and tableware was laid out ready to be served, and the sounds of cooking could be faintly heard from the kitchen next to the table.

Mrs. Care personally ushered them into the Care family’s piano room.

“Come on in. It’s my favorite room.”

In front of a wall of window glass dominated a grand piano with a lustrous jet-black surface.

Surrounding it in a semicircle were two three-seater sofas. Behind it, two more sofas were placed on different levels.

A small table was placed on each sofa so that eight people could enjoy drinks and tea while listening to the piano performance. This was the ideal room for a mini-concert such as tonight’s one.

Mrs. Care and Hardy took their seats on the same sofa in the front, and Adonis occupied the other sofa in the front.

Since Angela was intrigued by the grand piano by the window, she naturally settled into the piano chair. She also remembered to adjust the height using a cushion nearby.

The logo “PLEYEL” was found on the keyboard. It was a piano made by the company Pleyel of the neighboring Kingdom of Fillechen.

Its tone quality was subtle and brilliant. This was a top-quality piano that allegedly carried the fragrance of Paris, the City of Flowers[i].

Although Angela had no experience playing the Pleyel, the name was familiar to her, for it was well known as the piano loved by her mother, Merch’s teacher, Vanstein, who was known as the virtuoso of fantasy.

“Can I test this out before the main performance, Care?”

As Angela faced the beautiful keyboard spread out before her, she asked, oblivious to her manner of speaking.

“Of course. Hardy, you don’t want to taste the main dish right off the bat, do you?”

“Oh. I would like to hear a piece played by both hands, obviously.”

After confirmation of their words, Angela immediately began to play “Requiem”.

I see, so this is Pleyel. Once she has begun playing, Angela was instantly astonished.

The subtle and brilliant tone of the instrument lived up to its reputation, yet to draw out its charm, it demands precision of touch from the pianist that delivers the performance.

To put it in an extreme way, this is a very specific type of instrument, where the trembling of the fingers is manifested in the shaking of the sound.

Unless the pianist pays attention to each fingertip and regulates the intensity and softness of the sound, the performance will fluctuate in no time at all. Therefore, the advantage of having perfect control would be significant.

While enjoying the tea that the butler had made for them, the three of them listened to Angela’s “Requiem”.

After the performance, Mrs. Care applauded and called out to Angela.

“Angela, that was a marvelous performance. But I don’t want to rush you through, so why don’t you join us for a cup of tea first?

Mrs. Care must have been considerate as having Angela, the guest, performing while leaving themselves to be the only ones relaxing.

Angela shook her head lightly and declined.

“Don’t worry, Care… just keep listening. I’m going to play ‘Piano Solo for Right Hand.’”

I understood the characteristics of the piano.

After playing a single piece, her tension eased up substantially.

Even if she procrastinated playing at this point, it would only evoke unnecessary tension anew. For the sake of enjoying a fine cup of tea unhindered, the work must be concluded first.

Mrs. Care gave Adonis and Hardy a look. They both nodded in agreement.

“I understand. Then, please do it.”

T/N:

[i] A metaphor for a very prosperous and splendiferous city