"I, Vienna Golden Hall have been awaiting your arrival."
Damn it.
Was she here to fight? Her tone sure did make it seem like she wanted to fight. What to do?
Well, it wasn't that bad for me, I was planning to meet her in the first place. Though I brought a gift to present her on her birthday, I remembered I still had one of the first copies of the piano book I had made with me, I could hand that over.
She wanted a fight? I'll give her one. The strongest have to be strong with their tongues too. I didn't mean to brag, but I was told as 'Yujin' that there was some serious vocal percussion on a whole 'nother level coming from my mind. She wasn't ready for my gangster torture.
I ignored Bartholomew who seemed to have wanted to say something and walked up to Vienna Golden Hall. Her yellow dress which only covered one of her shoulders and sleeves fell on the red carpet like a draped curtain and the small paper fan in her hands covered her mouth. She coldly observed me watch closer while holding up her dress with the other hand.
In front of her, I bowed lightly.
"Eugene Hall, Lord of Apollon, Greets the Rose of the Halls."
"Raise your head, Lord Eugene."
Wow, she was truly full of thorns, but she didn't flinch at my attitude either. I had to be bolder here.
I immediately clasped her hand holding her dress in my own and looked into her eyes. "Words is you are as beautiful as you are just, my lady," I walked closer to her, she stepped back, not breaking eye contact, but I was faster and managed to close the distance largely.
"If that is truly the case, then the gods must have made no soul more just than yours."
Her hand stiffened ever so slightly, she must have winced. Since I couldn't judge faces, I had to be sensitive to these other details. My complimenting her had two meanings, while one was to get her flustered, I was also drawing the line and telling her to not even think of treating me as her sibling. That alone would take away a large part of her justification to try and take revenge for whatever stupid thoughts she must have had.
Vienna held in a sigh.
"The rumors are exaggerated, lord Eugene."
Of course they were.
Oops, almost said that one out loud.
"I must say, Lord Eugene. Your words seem as quick as your sword, to be able to take down a bandit brigade at such a young age."
"It's nothing compared to your etiquette and regality, my lady. I doubt many would have come greet their guests after sending them in."
Vienna laughed a stiff laugh and I followed. Her behaviour was the furthest from etiquette, and my tongue was sure as hell not one with honor.
"Well, you'll have to learn soon as the lord of Apollon," Vienna continued. "What say, I give you some guidance today? We can even pit swords together and learn some?"
"Oh dear, I believe I am fine not learning it, my lady. How can I hope to imitate the flutters of a beautiful flower like you?"
That's what we said, but the translation was something like this.
'You little trash scoundrel who's no better than a small-side regent only because my dad took pity on you, you think you can talk back to me? Come to the training grounds and I will crush your nuts!'
'Stop barking you bitch. You think a bimbo who only has her looks and status going for her can teach me anything? No way can I follow in your thottery, you professional prostitute.'
Like I said, her words were full of thorns.
Both our brows twitched as we looked at each other.
"I insist, Lord Eugene."
"I understand, if that is what you wish for, my lady."
I left her hand and was about to turn away, then I acted as if I remembered something and turned back to her.
"Apologies, my lady. I have heard you are quite the angel on the piano as well."
Vienna smirked as she moved her fan higher. "Music is our Hall families pride, Lord Eugene. Please do stick around and listen, I am sure you won't be able to hear such sounds elsewhere."
As I expected.
My teacher was way too cowardly to do anything at the Hall's territory.
I kept in a smirk with superhuman strength and pulled out the first copy of the book that I had written. I had brought it along to practice some pieces here in case they knew about my piano skills here, but since they didn't this was even better. I had even signed this one while testing out my 'strongest signature' so it was just splendid.
I presented the book with both hands to Vienna.
"My lady, you must have heard of a scorebook making its rounds amongst the nobles,"
Vienna pulled her head slightly back, observing me. "I indeed have, it seems to have been written by a genius."
"I was lucky enough to get my hands on one of the first copies of that book, my lady," I said, my smile almost leaking out. "If you don't mind, I would like to present it to you."
Vienna smiled and took the book from my hands with a light touch.
"It makes a magnificent gift, lord."
I smiled and bowed.
"If I may have your permission now,"
"Yes," Her gaze alternated between the book and me. "I've held you for too long, let us meet later in the evening."
"I understand."
Vienna walked away first, only when she was away did I raise my head and go back to Bartholomew. For some reason, that guy's skin had turned paler as if he had seen a ghost, but that didn't matter to me.
"Let us continue, steward. I am quite parched."
"Y-yes, please follow me."
***
Inside a grand room painted gold with the jewels around, a beautiful lady alone on a chair. Her long dress that covered only one of her shoulders and arms fell down the back of the chair to a long trail.
Vienna, the beautiful lady who would be offered diamonds for the fleeting glimpse of her smile was frowning.
"He seemed lonely..." she muttered before shaking her heads to the side.
Vienna knew she shouldn't be having such thoughts about her enemy, but she couldn't help but think that way. Her heart thumped when she remembered the beautiful blood red eyes of that child which were the symbol of the Hall family.
He was sharp, very sharp. At first, she thought that the bandits were captured by Keith and not the child, almost everyone in the noble circle had the same thought. How wouldn't they? Eugene was child famous for having been kicked out of the family, and his knight was none other than a renowned adventurer and one of the Marquis' strongest and wittiest soldiers.
Everyone believed he stole credit from Keith, and Vienna didn't think any differently. She had heard excessively from her step mother about how he had burned her younger sibling. She didn't expect much from someone who was a fiend since such a young age.
"But... what must he have experienced to have such a cold gaze?"
His gaze, it reminded her of her father who wouldn't blink an eye before committing a massacre.
No, it was worse. That boy's gaze was much more intense, colder, ruthless.
It reminded her of that woman.
The woman she had seen only for the first four years of her life.
Sighing, she shook her head again. She couldn't be bogged down by these thoughts, not now.
Vienna picked up the book that Eugene had given her. This scorebook was the real deal. She had heard from many different nobles that they were given a scorebook that were revolutionary. The different series of pieces inside and the tone they carried were as beautiful as the midnight moon, as bright as the morning sun, as soothing as a calm lake, and as varied as the clouds it reflected.
She was hoping to get her hands on it as pianist herself, but didn't think that child would be able to get it, and an original copy at that.
Vienna flipped open the first page of the book, and her eyes landed on the note at the back of the cover.
[Author: Eugene Hall]
Below those extremely shocking words was a small note.
[This is just the author's copy, as you wish, we will remove your name from the published version, young master.]
"T-this... what?"
Vienna had a hard time believing her eyes that day.