Chapter 458: Having People Hear Konoka’s Performance

The day after visiting the Norfolk Count residence, at noon again a letter came from the count residence. Looking at the contents, it was to bring Konoka and come to let hear the performance. On my side there is no objection, and rather if Konoka’s evaluation rises all the more. Thinking there would no longer be any this or that about the three, this time it is fine if having them hear Konoka’s performance, with a proper feeling I returned a reply of I will visit.

On the designated day when visiting the count residence, this time the Norfolk Count was present and we exchanged greetings.

"Ambassador Marie, I was looking forward to it. Previously the performance of Ambassador Marie’s maid was very good, the maids who heard the performance were talking, and I also thought I definitely wanted to hear it. Hearing, today my wife is inviting Ambassador Marie and saying to hear the performance. Thinking that then, I was scheduled to go out, but I postponed that and decided to have you let me hear. Yaa, looking forward to it!"

The hurdle was raised suddenly.

"If expected that much it is troublesome. As long as it does not dirty your ears it is fine."

That is about all I can say. The countess smiling,

"Previously, it soothed my feelings very much so when I thought I wanted to hear again, it entered my husband’s ears, and today it became hearing together. Please. Come, this way."

she guides.

Inwardly the countess’s climax face from the previous visit floats in my eyes, and my heart is swaying, but the countess seems not like that at all, and is making a soft smile as usual. Thinking such things, is every woman the same.

There was a time I heard the sweet voice of the workplace’s senior lady doing this and that with the department head in the conference room leaking into the corridor. After a while, the senior lady who returned to her seat with a somewhat red face was relentlessly scolding the young girl’s mistake with a cold voice. Well, that is how it is.

Even thinking that, the gazes of the two maids I related with last time are subtle. Whether it is my imagination, somehow sexy, glancing at me or staring fixedly, it feels as though I am being looked at a lot. Is it my imagination... saying next time, it was half social courtesy, but were the maids 100% serious? One cannot say careless things, I think, but for me it is welcome.

Konoka’s performance, first she demonstrates two songs of a Ghibli union medley. From the count it seemed beyond expectations, and he applauds largely. Indeed even listening to me it is a melody that induces nostalgia and I became a little tearful. Is this ability the original thing, or something granted by being summoned, which one is it?

"Bring the sheet music my daughter was using."

When the count instructs the butler, after a while the butler brings a bundle of paper.

"This is the harpsichord sheet music my daughter was using before getting married, but could you play the songs in this?"

The count shows the bundle of paper to Konoka and says. Konoka looks at me with a face of what to do?, so I nod and convey to do it.

"Understood. I will look."

Saying that Konoka takes the sheet music binding in hand.

"This is..."

Because she is surprised looking at one or two,

"What happened?"

When asking,

"It is the same, the sheet music."

she says and shows me. On that paper there was staff notation. Notes are lined up normally? Ah, I see. Even though the world is different, she wants to say it is the same.

"Can you play with that?"

When asking that,

"They are all songs I know! All Chopin."

she answered. Hee— there is Chopin in this world too! Surely a past transferer left it.

"Then please try playing."

"Yes!"

She replies in a lively voice.

Flipping through, she takes out the score and places it on the harpsichord. She bows and began playing. This is a song I also know. Surely the song used in the stomach medicine CM. The image floats and is nostalgic. I become a little teary-eyed. From the earlier Ghibli the sentiment gradually increases. Next is surely the amusement park roller coaster CM song? And, the farewell song. This even I know. The emotion is too abundant, and things from when in Japan float one after another in the head. Aah— no good— even though I had almost forgotten things about Japan, I end up recalling!

When I noticed, I was shedding tears. Tears fell on the hand clenched on the knee, and I noticed I was crying. When the farewell song ends, no one claps and it is somber. After finishing playing for a while, everyone comes back to themselves, and slowly begins to applaud. The ones who spilled tears were not only me, the countess, and among the maids there also seemed to be.

"This is good! I was let hear a very good thing! Ambassador Marie, thank you! I wanted to be let hear sooner!"

The count praises unreservedly. Looking at Konoka, whether she was immersed in the performance, after making a startled face, she is happy.

Thinking that was good,

"Ambassador Marie, I think it is a waste for only us to be hearing this performance. Let us let more people hear!"

the count says something unexpected.

"More people means?"

When I ask back the count,

"Yes, for example there is a pipe organ in the cathedral. It would be fine to play there."

for some reason he says full of confidence. Cathedral means that place where the divine stone was, right? If there is a pipe organ inside there, just how big a thing is it? Suddenly there is impossible, I think.

My feelings seemed to have been transmitted to the countess as well,

"Husband, from the start the cathedral is too large in scale, is it not? Would it not be good to start from a slightly smaller place?"

she advised.

"Is that so? Then first would it be good to have her play at the nearest church?"

The count tilts his head.

"Yes. Let us have her play on the next festival day or so. Since my husband is busy, I will go to talk."

"Yes, that is fine."

"Understood. Then I will go immediately. The maid Konoka, was it? Since I want to show the church’s organ as well, let us take her."

"Yes, Ann, please."

The talk advanced above the heads of me and Konoka....

After taking a meal with the count couple, led by the countess, I was taken to the nearest church.