Lady Rearwin was the first among the noblewomen to speak.

“As expected of Rossi. Her skills have improved so much in such a short time.”

“You flatter me, Lady Rearwin. Our Rossi still has much more to practice,” replied Countess Heylroth with a bashful smile. The other noblewomen also showered Rossi with praise, and she responded with an embarrassed grin.

“Thank you so much for your kind words. It’s all thanks to my cello teacher, Lady Marlon.”

Indeed, for an eight-year-old who wasn’t a prodigy, playing an instrument at that level was an impressive feat. The noblewomen clearly appreciated how hard Rossi must have worked, excusing the many mistakes in her performance as understandable for a child of her age.

“By the way, Lady Rearwin, doesn’t Crescent need a tutor as well?” asked Countess Heylroth suddenly, addressing Lady Rearwin. She answered graciously.

“Of course. There are so many things I’d like to teach her. It’s important for children to gain a variety of experiences while they’re young. But for now, I’m waiting until Centi has fully adjusted to living in our estate.”

“That makes sense. Crescent must have much to learn. She’s fortunate to have your guidance. If you’d like, I could recommend Rossi’s cello teacher.”

Countess Heylroth smiled brightly, but I couldn’t miss the condescension laced within her words. She was implying that, as an orphan, I must know nothing and have no skills to speak of.

The other noblewomen quickly chimed in to agree.

“That’s true. We’d be happy to introduce you to teachers for art and music. Can the child even read?”

“Oh, how kind of everyone to show such interest,” Lady Rearwin replied, laughing politely. Then she turned to me. “Centi, what do you think? Would you like to learn the cello, like Rossi?”

All eyes turned to me. After a moment of hesitation, I decided to tell the truth.

“…Ah, I’ve actually learned to play the cello before.”

“Really? Is that true?” Lady Rearwin’s eyes widened in surprise.

“Yes.”

I had learned the cello from my father. He was a genius with instruments—not just the cello but also the piano, flute, and violin.

In Neverland, where such instruments were rare and reserved for nobility, our performances often drew astonished reactions from the villagers.

The noblewomen and their children seemed skeptical of my claim.

Countess Heylroth furrowed her brows. “You’ve learned the cello? Then perhaps… could you play a little for us?”

“Yes, we’d love to hear it,” another noblewoman added enthusiastically.

As more noblewomen joined in, Lady Rearwin looked a bit uneasy.

“Well, I didn’t know Centi could play the cello either, so I understand if she’s unprepared. Centi, you don’t have to play if it feels too sudden.”

Lady Rearwin’s kind consideration was met with expressions of disappointment from the other noblewomen.

“Oh, what a shame. If Crescent truly has learned, I’d love to hear her play.”

“Me too. I was curious about how extraordinary a ward of the Pluto Ducal House might be.”

Really? Did they have to frame it like that?

It was clear they were trying to catch me in a lie. The mention of the Pluto Ducal House was the final straw.

I decided to put their doubts to rest.

“If it’s all right with everyone, I’d be happy to play a little. I’ll need to borrow Rossi’s instrument, though.”

“Of course, you can borrow it,” Countess Heylroth replied with a gleam of excitement. Lady Rearwin looked a bit taken aback, clearly surprised that I was agreeing to play.

As I took my seat with the cello, I noticed the expressions of the other children, especially Rossi.

“You? Play the cello? Let’s see about that.”

Every child except Meteor had furrowed brows, their faces openly skeptical. It felt like I was on trial.

I hadn’t intended to make such a scene, but now that I was under scrutiny, the pressure was palpable. Still, I pushed aside the bitterness rising in my throat and steadied myself.

Gripping the bow, I placed my fingers on the fingerboard. The noblewomen’s murmurs grew quieter as they noticed my confident posture, realizing I wasn’t a complete novice.

Wow. How long has it been?

My body hadn’t touched a cello in a while, but my soul—having lived through the tutorial and a regression—hadn’t played in what felt like lifetimes.

Would I still be able to play well?

<‘Dragon Slayer Sylvester’ feels a flutter of excitement.>

<‘From Maid to Saintess—Astina’ prays that her hands haven’t lost their skill!>

Even the saints were holding their breaths in anticipation.

With a slightly nervous heart, I began to play.

I chose Brahms’ Cello Sonata No. 2, Op. 99.

It was a piece meant for cello and piano, one my father used to accompany me on. The grand, dramatic melody that began the piece immediately captured the attention of the audience.

Whenever I played this piece with my father, I felt a sense of unity, as if our hearts were melding into one through the music. It was the purest expression of being together.

Fully immersed in the music, I soon forgot about my hands, the bow, and even the cello itself. The world faded away, leaving only the music.

Though there was no one playing the piano, I could almost hear its accompaniment in my mind, flowing seamlessly alongside my cello.

It feels just like back in Neverland….

Lost in nostalgia and bittersweet memories, I poured my heart into the performance. My body moved instinctively, and before I knew it, the piece had reached its conclusion.

The music ended, leaving a poignant echo in the air.

Silence.

The garden was utterly still.

Opening my eyes, I blinked as sunlight streamed down onto the verdant lawn, the world slowly returning to focus.

The line between reality and music blurred as I came back to the present moment—a sensation I hadn’t felt in a long time.

In front of me were the stunned faces of the noblewomen and children. None of them spoke, their mouths agape as if struggling to find words.

Lady Rearwin was the first to break the silence, her voice tinged with awe.

“…Centi, it’s hard to believe an eight-year-old could play like that.”

“…I’m speechless,” one noblewoman finally managed.

“Hearing Centi’s performance was like being transported to another world. I don’t even know what to say….”

Everyone looked shaken, as if they had momentarily forgotten where they were.

Feeling slightly awkward, I managed to say, “Thank you for listening.”

At that moment, Countess Heylroth shot to her feet, her expression a mix of disbelief and betrayal.

“I can’t believe this! Crescent, where did you learn to play like that?”

“My parents taught me when they were alive.”

“What? Which noble family were you born into?”

“Oh, no, we weren’t nobles. My parents just happened to be very skilled with instruments.”

“…Incredible.”

The countess sat back down heavily, still looking as if the wind had been knocked out of her. The shock was clearly overwhelming.

Lady Rearwin, on the other hand, smiled brightly, her tone cheerful.

“Well then, Countess Heylroth, it seems our Centi won’t be needing a cello tutor after all. But perhaps Centi could help tutor Rossi if she needs assistance. What do you think?”

The suggestion that I could teach Rossi sent her face into a storm of red and white, her expression flickering between outrage and tears.