"Could you explain why you need to drag me out without my father's consent and let all those people look at me in a weird way?" Viridiana yelled at Vaterian, asking for an answer. "Because the next thing I need to do might anger your father a bit. So better just don't let him know about it, he might kill me afterward."
Viridiana holds herself back a bit, seems like she tries to run back to the Inn. "Miss Viridiana, you knew that I won't do anything weird to you right?" Vaterian knew she just playing around, he called her out and continue walking.
"Sir Vaterian, did I have the right to know what would happen next? It would be a pleasure for me to learn about that." Vaterian looked toward Viridiana, he didn't expect her to learn his style of speaking. "You're a fast learner, not everyone can mimic my style of talking that quickly."
He turned back his head and proceed to his words, "We were going toward the Musikverein, to meet a person, without him it was impossible for us to meet the heir of von Nassau." "Who was he? Did he have so much power on controlling the heir?" Viridiana asked Vaterian about the person they were about to meet, she doubts it was the head of the family von Nassau, who was still in the palace of Talismania.
"Do you have an interest in Music? If you did, I am sure you will know about the mighty Richard Wagner. The composer and conductor of the Opera [Der Ring des Nibelungen], no music lover would deny his invitation or request, at least not the 'Avant-Garde Prince'." Vaterian told her about the person they were about to meet, but Viridiana seems like had no idea about Wagner.
"Sorry, but I never heard any opera in this land. The one that I heard the most was from Monteverdi." She kindly apologized to Vaterian despite it was not her problem, the world of music is completely different outside and inside the wall of Talismania.
"Never mind, you will remember him forever after tonight. He was an amazing musician and composer after all, it will be better if he didn't have an opinion on Igor." Vaterian keep praising Wagner, it made Viridiana more curious about the man. "Here we are." Before Viridiana able to get more information from Vaterian, they arrive at the Musikverein.
Vaterian was still very nervous about this meeting, the sweat on his palm show his anxiousness, this made Viridiana even more curious. Vaterian opened the door, Viridiana walked in as he opened the door for her, Vaterian followed her afterward.
The interior of the Musikverein was as luxurious as its external view, the wall was paved in white, and on the floor was covered in a large red carpet, in some areas even purple curtains were used to decorate the interior. The counter was made from marbles and polished to silk-smooth, a young man standing behind the counter dressing in an Alpinian style cloth made from silk.
"What can I do for you, sir?" The young man asked with a big smile, but Vaterian can feel the scornful eyesight from him. Vaterian still dressing like a commoner, who usually won't even step close to this building.
"I sure I didn't bring any mud into this building, I checked my shoes before I enter. And I might kindly inform you that Mister Wagner didn't like anyone who dress in such a costume, if you really want to satisfy Mister Wagner, you better dress like me." Vaterian lean against the counter and talked to the young man, the young man took a step back but he not refuting Vaterian argument. He might already be insulted by the Musician.
"I wish to meet Mister Wagner, he was a friend of mine and I'm pretty sure he will be happy to see me." Vaterian didn't mind the reaction from the man, he requests to meet the composer. As he expected he got refused. "Mister Wagner had no time to meet a commoner, If you want to meet him buy yourself a ticket and hope he will meet you in person."
The man has obviously been annoyed by Vaterian consistency mocking and playing with him, he refused it without going through his mind. "Then it's so bad, I better just go in myself." Vaterian swung a key around his finger and walked into the hall, the man checked the counter. It didn't take long for him to realize the key to the hall was missing.
Viridiana was confused and had no idea what she should do until Vaterian grab her hand, Vaterian gently pushed Viridiana in front of him and showed the badge in his cloak to the man, a double-headed eagle holding a golden ball and a sword was craved on it. "Thank you, sir, for coming to the hall! I would make sure nobody will disrupt you." The man was stunned but his professional training made him react quickly.
"Those noblemen really like to cheat us." Unfortunately for him, Vaterian had a pair of good ears for him to hear what he was whispering, but Vaterian didn't take it seriously. "Never expect the gift from uncle years ago can be useful now, I bet the member from family von Talismania never expect the gift they give out will become the thing that killed them." Vaterian's word stated which family that the badge belongs to, he never expects he will ever use it.
"You're from von Talismania?" Viridiana stared at Vaterian; she felt the man in front of her become strange again. "Nope, just that my family used to have a good relationship with them. Here he is." Vaterian replied to Viridiana but was quickly distracted by the Man who stand on the stage, conducting an entire orchestra. They are having their rehearsal.
Viridiana looked at the Man, he dressed in a completely different suit than others, not in a colorful and fancy silk cloth but in a black and white suit. His hair was well comb but unlike other musicians, he didn't wear either a wig on his head or stocking on his feet. A coat was hanging right beside the podium, obviously, he went here on foot.
He noticed the sound of footsteps, he turned his head and shouted, "I already said! nobody, not even a single fly can…" He stopped his word once he saw Vaterian, "I thought you said I've welcomed in anytime, Mister Wagner?"
the orchestra continue playing until Wagner give the order, "Play the [Bridal Chorus], let me welcome my greatest nephew!", Wagner rushed toward Vaterian and give him a big hug, Vaterian didn't resist and hug him back.
"You had grown so much since the last time, I was barely able to raise you up anymore!" Wagner spoke excitedly, the orchestra was shocked by this and stopped for a while, "Who allowed you to stop? Keep playing!" Wagner yelled at the orchestra, they had no choice but to continue.
"It was 8 years ago since the last time we met, of course, a lot of stuff will change; at that time, you were still a poor artist. Now every city begging you to perform there." Vaterian spoke to Wagner, but Wagner seems more focused on Viridiana, he walked in front of Viridiana and inspect her. "Who's the lady right here, I would like to know who had captured the heart of my nephew."
At this point, Viridiana knew why Vaterian bring her here, she looked at Vaterian, he was apologizing to her. This was the first time she saw embarrassment from Vaterian face, but the smile on his face also showed he didn't hate it.
"Sir Richard Wagner, my name was Viridiana de Montferrat, glad to meet you here." Viridiana bowed to Wagner, who just realise how impolite his action was. "Sorry, Viridiana. Just too exited about seeing this piece of a rock find a lady that suits him. I told him the best way to forget the pain is love, seems like it worked." Wagner took a step backward and apologized to Viridiana, soon he turned to face Vaterian.
"Seems like you finally get rid of the dirty Angles lurking around you, that means I didn't need to wash my hand today." The humiliating words Wagner said let Viridiana know why Vaterian didn't bring Igor here, can't imagine how hard would they clash. "Dear miss, although you were a foreigner, but I will forgive you for polluting our air. I trusted my nephew; he was the most honorable person in this land, I believe his partner will also be like him."
Wagner had a lot of hate toward foreigners, Viridiana try to maintain her attitude in front of it, but her grip show she was not as calm as she looked. "Let set this aside Mister Wagner, how was my teacher doing right now? I heard you been with him for some time?" Vaterian was avoiding the topic and asked Wagner about other things.
"Liszt? I had no idea; I travel with him for a short time but he travels alone afterward. Now he probably sleeping with some Sirens or ladies while holding his compositions and wine in his hand." "It didn't give me any surprise, he did that since I knew him." Both of them started to laugh, they already seen that scene lot of times.
"Dear nephew, although I knew you were always friendly and extroverted toward us, but you always come with some purpose, might be the sake of learning more or listening to our performance. Told me why you came this time?" Wagner's eyes gazing across Vaterian, he knew this kid well. Vaterian might forget the pain but he never gives up on his target.