“…..”
I blinked my eyes, and the conductor was gone.
All I saw was my reflection as the world around me turned quiet and the lingering sound of the note I played drifted in the air.
I wasn’t worried that the host would kill me on the spot, just like he did with the woman in red.
His curiosity wouldn’t allow for that.
[You may start whenever. I hope that you don’t disappoint me.]
I silently smiled while hearing the host’s words.
I wasn’t worried about disappointing.
That was the least of my worries. I knew that the moment I played, he’d show up.
He was my worry.
’There’s only one day left until our supposed meeting. I guess it won’t hurt if we meet a little sooner.’
Dang—
I pressed another key.
This time, the note struck louder than the previous, lingering in the air for a longer period of time.
I wasn’t a beginner with the piano.
I was no expert, but I was not bad at it.
It was one of the few things I had been taught since childhood. Such a background was also what had helped me clear my first-ever scenario.
How else would I have memorized a music sheet in my mind?
It had saved my life then…
…And it was going to help me fight for it again.
I breathed out slowly.
’Who would’ve thought those piano lessons I hated so much would come in handy in the future?’
Had I known better, I would’ve focused on them before.
Then again, who would’ve expected a situation like this to occur?
[What are you waiting for?]
“…..”
As the host, not far from me, started to grow restless, I knew that I couldn’t delay any longer.
I placed both hands on the piano.
And soon, I began to play.
Dang!
It was a piece I was quite familiar with.
The same piece that had helped me survive in the past.
[Chopin’s Prelude in E minor]
***
The situation had unfolded in a way that none of the Guild agents were able to understand what had happened.
The minds of a few scrambled as they stared at the Jester sitting on the piano.
His identity was still unknown.
The same was true for his intentions.
He just suddenly showed up out of nowhere, changing the entire scenario alongside his presence.
The hearts of the agents grew heavy at the sight of him.
His back was straight as he stood before the piano.
From his posture alone, one could see he was experienced.
But would his piece really be able to impress the host?
Dang!
The first note began to play.
Then came the second, and then the third.
The Jester’s back remained upright as he continued at the piano.
While the left hand carried a steady, almost funereal procession of descending chords, the right hand wove a sparse, pleading melody above.
The room throbbed with the gentle strains of sound, rich and vivid in their sorrow, with subtle hints of melancholy threaded through every pause and progression.
It was a simple tune, and yet it felt pleasing to the ears.
But at the same time…
’It’s nice, but I don’t feel anything.’
The people around danced to the tune, but their dance was lacking.
It was slow, almost too slow.
…This was no piece fit for a ball dance.
Zoey’s brows furrowed as she tried her best to match the beat of the music.
Her eyes continued to fall on the enigmatic Jester.
Just what in the world was he thinking to play this piece?
She only had to look once to see the host’s slowly crumbling expression.
On the other hand, not far from her, Tom’s lips slowly pulled into a smirk as he stared at the Jester.
’…And you called my piece trash.’
If his was trash, then what was this?
Tom had originally been worried that he might get implicated because of the Jester’s words, but it seemed like he had worried too much as he closed his eyes and led the dance, his steps slow and even to match the tempo of the song.
Everything was slowly starting to turn for the quiet Jester as he played his music.
The hit he had originally promised never showed itself.
Instead, all they heard was a slow and melancholic song that seemed unfitting for the dance.
The host’s body trembled.
He looked angry. As if he had been played.
Everyone stopped.
They knew that things were about to turn for the worse.
***
The world around me was quiet.
I had zoned out all the noise and faces around me.
The only thing I could hear was the soft melody of the piano before me.
I could tell that I wasn’t doing very good.
The keys were playing perfectly.
…There was no mistake in any of the notes.
And yet, I could tell that it was still lacking something.
Emotions…
It lacked emotions.
That was what it lacked.
Indeed, this piece was one that encapsulated grief, sadness, longing, and a sense of transcending these negative feelings.
As things stood, I couldn’t display such emotions.
I fundamentally lacked the understanding of them in order to play this piece as it was intended.
Right now, I was merely playing the notes.
Not the music.
Dang!
My skin prickled as I felt the host’s gaze.
I tried to swallow, but I found that I couldn’t.
Every hair on my body stood on end.
I clenched my teeth and continued to play the piano.
I was waiting.
Waiting for—
’Is this really the best that you can do?’
Him.
A croaky and sharp voice whispered in my ears.
’After all that criticism, you show me this?’
Slowly blinking my eyes, a figure stared through the polished surface of the piano.
Its lips pulled up, its sewn lips stretching.
’…The perfect piece you boasted so much about is this?’
It indeed was.
But I never said I was capable enough of playing it.
I was far from good enough to play it.
’If you’re not good enough to play it, what gave you the arrogance to stand here and play it in front of everyone?’
The conductor spoke in my mind as though it could read my thoughts.
No, it probably could.
Regarding my confidence…
I stared at the polished surface of the piano where the conductor appeared.
He was my confidence.
He was the reason why I decided to play the piano.
’Me..? You think I’m going to help you?’
Yes.
Of course, I was sure.
Surely a perfectionist like the conductor wouldn’t allow for such a piece to be tarnished by me.
’Isn’t that right?’
The conductor’s smile slowly faded as he looked at me.
I felt chills run down my entire body.
However, I maintained my gaze on the conductor.
This was my bet.
’….Since I’m already about to die, I might as well risk it.’
What difference would jumping from one hell to another make?
Since I was going to hell anyway, I saw no need to care about the way I died.
I took a silent breath while staring at the conductor.
So…?
Are you going to help me or not?