As that short note rang through the cold cellar, everyoneâs faces lifted as one to look at its source.
âWowâŚ! A sound! A sound came out properly!!â
It was Finne, the girl holding the flute, who raised a cry in happiness.
Her face was a mixture of shock and pure, unbridled joy. It was as if she really couldnât believe that she had made that sound herself.
âThatâs amazing, Finne! I always knew you could do it!â
Otto was the first to give praise as Finne yelled in excitement. Otto, just like Finne, was practicing with a wind instrument. The sound Finne had made was like a beacon of hope to him, since he was still struggling with his oboe.
âNice going. That flute really sounded nice, huh?â
Dieter clapped his drumsticks together instead of his hands. The sound they had just heard from Finneâs flute was nothing like what they had heard up until now, which were more like the sounds of a dying cat caught in a pipe.
âCongratulations, Finne.â
Verrat clapped her hands to match Dieterâs sticks. When she finished, the corners of her lips bent in a subtle smile that suited her perfectly.
âFinne, that was fantastic! Maybe youâre actually a musical genius!?â
Yet, even Verrat and Dieterâs applause was drowned out by Victorâs enthusiastic shout. Somehow, he seemed even happier about it than Finne.
Those young musicians kept excitedly praising Finne, even cheering her name. Finne hugged her flute tightly as she smiled bashfully, her cheeks a deep shade of pink. Still, the applause kept coming. The happy cheers echoing around the cellar.
And yetâŚ
âAll she did was play one note!â
Camilla yelled at the joyous young musicians who were close to rioting over a single little sound.
All that Finne did was blow correctly on the flute once. Whatâs more, it was little more than a short peep.
Though itâs true that they hadnât been able to make a proper sound at all up until now, that everything that came out of their instruments had been akin to musical torture, but they had gathered to play music, songs. Despite that, they were going wild with joy over just one measly note.
Otto could barely make a sound, whilst Victor hadnât figured out how to tune his violin. Dieter didnât know how to adjust his power to hammer out notes on his drums and Verrat had no idea how to sing from her stomach. In fact, Finne was the only one who had made any progress at all, even if it was just a single sound. That might be the case, butâŚ
âThere is still a long way to goâŚâ
Standing alone, Camilla rubbed her temples.
ă
A few days prior. Ever since encountering Klaus on that snow swept balcony at night, Camilla had been making frequent trips to that underground cellar.
She had various reasons to go, but first and foremost amongst them was the same reason that Klaus also went there. He wanted to teach those five musical rebels just how to play properly.
âIâve more or less got a feel for all the instruments.â
Just like Klaus himself had claimed, he was quick to learn anything. She wouldnât go as far as to say he could play in a band straight away, but he was definitely already a decent musician. With his skills as they were, he would definitely be able to teach a complete amateur a thing or two.
According to him, another one of his âteachersâ in town had given him a crash course. It seemed like Victorâs group wasnât the only gathering of musical rebels in this place. What a crazy town.
Klaus would constantly be out in town, so Alois would followâŚlikely for the purpose of monitoring him again. Since Camilla hated the idea of being left alone in the mansion, she decided to go along as well.
Therefore, the young musicians were getting used to Camillaâs presence as well.
ă
âNow, now. Let them have their moment, they really did get a sound out after all.â
Klaus stayed his usual carefree self as he tried to settle Camilla down.
âThey will have fun too, if they see theyâre improving little by little. And if theyâre having fun, theyâll only want to improve more, donâtcha think, Camilla?â
Without having much to refute him with, Camilla could only groan.
The faces of Alois and Nicole, who stood nearby, went stiff with surprise.
Klaus had just called her âCamillaâ as if it were the most natural thing in the world. That was the first time the two of them had ever heard him speaking to her like that.
Recently, Klaus had come to call Camilla by name.
As for the cause of that, Camilla could probably guess. It was probably because she had heard Klausâ story that night after meeting him on the balcony. Ever since then, he seemed to have become friendlier with Camilla, in his own way.
As a result, she had been upgraded from âyouâ to âCamillaâ.
In terms of nobility, Camilla still outranked Klaus. His attitude was still inherently rude if she thought about it, but at least it was better than being called âyouâ. Besides, Camilla couldnât imagine Klaus ever calling her a âLadyâ. Even if he did call her âLady Camillaâ, she would suspect him of some kind of trick or biting sarcasm.
Thatâs why, even though she was a little dissatisfied with it, Camilla decided to leave it beâŚ
Those two, however, had no idea.
âWhat are you doing, calling my Mistress by such a familiar name!?â
It was Nicole who shouted out first.
Stepping forward from behind Camillaâs back, she glared at Klaus.
âEven Lord Alois doesnât address my Mistress so casually! You are so rude!!â
Nicoleâs shout echoed through the underground cellar. Although Nicoleâs voice wasnât typically loud, her yell carried very well.
âHmm,â Klaus crossed his arms as he looked at her. It didnât seem like Nicoleâs anger had done much to sway him. He just stared at Nicole, his face as cool as ever.
âJust what is with your attitude!? Please fix it at once!â
As he heard that resounding voice once again echo out from that little body of hers, Klaus scratched his chin as if he was thinking about something.
âLittle girl.â
âDonât call me a little girl!â
âYouâre voice ainât half bad, is it? You cry out from your stomach and it doesnât look like youâre straining your throat, either. You have good elocution, too.â
ââŚExcuse me?â
As Klaus spoke in a completely unexpected way, Nicoleâs stood dumbfounded. Her anger faded away as she blinked in confusion.
Klaus didnât seem to pay any heed to the stunned maid. Walking over to Nicole, he took her arm in his.
âHave you ever sung before? Come on, you should set an example for Verrat.â
âEh, w-wait, me singing is a bitâŚ!? P-Please listen to what Iâm telling you!â
Ignoring Nicoleâs embarrassed cries, Klaus pulled her to Verratâs side. As Klaus dragged her away, Nicole looked back at Camilla, the one person who could save her.
âMistressâŚâ
âIsnât it fine? Have a good time.â
âMishtressssssssâŚ!â
Camilla saw the kidnapped Nicole off with a smile. She felt a little sorry for Nicole, considering how serious she was, but hopefully sheâd learn to enjoy some singing.
âCamilla. You seem to have gotten pretty close with Klaus, havenât you?â
As Camilla waved to her poor maid, she heard a calm voice from behind her. That ever soft voice could only be Aloisâ.
As soon as she heard it, Camillaâs smile felt awkward on her face. Even if she was fine when Nicole or Klaus were around, it was still hard for her to stay calm around Alois when it was only the two of them.
âLord Alois, I never gave Klaus permission to talk to me like thatâŚâ
âAh, no, Iâm not trying to blame you. I was just a little surprised, thatâs all.â
As Camilla tried to explain herself, as if she had done something wrong, Alois quickly shook his head.
âI think itâs a good thing to have more people you can consider close, Camilla. Especially if you can talk to them like equals.â
The words he spoke to her were even softer than his voice. More and more, Camilla felt herself sinking back into those feelings.
Aloisâ words weighed on her heavily. Aloisâ kindness felt painful. Even though it was Alois speaking, in Camillaâs mind, those thoughts of Prince Julian remained.
As Camilla couldnât meet his eyes, Alois grimaced. Although Aloisâ expression looked gentle, there was something other than mere kindness in it.
âThat said, I am a little jealous.â
Camilla didnât raise her head to look at him. BecauseâŚshe didnât know just what kind of face she was making herself.
Sheâd forgiven Verrat and the rest.
Alongside Nicole or Klaus, she was able to keep calm.
She was even able to walk through a town where practiced hymns dedicated to the Princeâs imminent marriage filled the streets.
But whenever she found herself alone with Alois, the feelings of guilt were overwhelming.
â Why?
Why had she fallen in love with Prince Julian?
In her mind, Camilla asked herself that.
Why had she fallen into a hopeless love? Why couldnât she respond to Aloisâ feelings? Why couldnât she reciprocate what he felt for her?
Just why couldnât she have met him first?
A question that she couldnât answer wrapped itself around her head. Those dark feelings of guilt coupled with a suffocating rhetoric left Camillaâs expression frozen.
For the time being, Camilla found it hard to smile in front of Alois.