"A person dressed as a clown? What did he ask?" Lucian frowned, his tone thick with confusion—a genuine reaction rather than an actor's practiced composure. When had he ever been involved with a clown? Though, he had sought out Grace in Sturk, the Pearl of the Sea, precisely to establish contact with Graneuf. Could someone have begun to suspect his identity as an arcane mage?
Grace shook her head with a grim expression. "I don't know who he was either. He probably dressed as a clown to conceal his original appearance. His bearing was sinister and terrifying—even just asking ordinary questions made me break into a cold sweat, my emotions nearly crumbling, unable to muster any thought of resistance."
"He mainly asked how I met you, Master, in Sturk, and how I earned your favor, leading you to write letters of introduction for me to Master Christoph and Mr. Victor. Oh, and he asked whether anyone else was with you at the time, whether you had any connections with people of suspicious behavior."
"Overwhelmed by the clown's oppressive aura, it seemed that any hesitation or evasion on my part would result in him actually killing me, so I had no choice but to tell the whole story—how I impersonated your student in Sturk, how I encountered you at the 'Shark' restaurant, how you exposed my deception and I was so terrified my whole body trembled and my limbs went weak, forcing me to use my difficult circumstances as an excuse. I also told him how we met at another restaurant the next day, where I received your sincere admonition and warning, which made me truly repent, abandon my vanity and shallowness, and come to Altor to study music."
"I know it was wrong to tell these things to a stranger, but I truly couldn't control myself at the time. Please forgive me, Master." Grace apologized with a guilt-ridden expression.
Lucian listened carefully, nodding almost imperceptibly. "The problem with telling these things to a stranger isn't on my account—it's mainly that the fact you once impersonated my student to deceive the public could easily be used to attack you if someone found out. Since so much time has passed and no one has brought it up to accuse you, and your piano playing has now gained universal recognition, if it did come out, it would simply be treated as a charming anecdote. Heh, you'll become the model of one who repented and regained the Lord's grace, and I'll be praised as a magnanimous, compassionate, and noble-hearted musician."
"Pfft..." The somewhat anxious Grace couldn't help but laugh at Lucian's last words. Then she smiled and said, "Actually, I still had a shred of rationality left, so I concealed one crucial detail from the clown. That is—the real reason you forgave me and gave me a chance to start over was because you asked me to help deliver a note to Graneuf. That's the main reason, not what I told him—that you pitied my family's difficult circumstances, and... one night of physical entanglement."
"Mm. I deliberately embellished a bit, because otherwise a psychologically dark fellow like that clown would find it hard to believe someone with the saintly compassion of an angel exists. The excuse of an exchange, of using beauty as bait, was more convincing to him." As she spoke, her eyes lingered on Lucian, as though observing his reaction.
Lucian replied with perfect seriousness. "Actually, it wouldn't have mattered if you'd told the truth. I was simply helping an acquaintance establish contact with Mr. Graneuf to discuss business matters. Once that was done, there was no reason it couldn't be told to others. Your excuse about using your charms actually damages my reputation."
As long as Viscount Wright was still around, and as long as Graneuf's identity remained undiscovered, it wouldn't matter even if Grace told the complete truth. When he had asked her to keep it secret, it was primarily for Graneuf's sake.
"I'm sorry, Master Evans. I was being dark-minded myself—I assumed your request for secrecy meant you didn't want anyone to know. That's why I tried so hard to cover it up with lies." Grace apologized, both guilty and frightened.
Lucian adopted a warm expression. "It's all right, Grace. Don't blame yourself. I understand your protective intentions. Just don't do it again."
"You really are a magnanimous, compassionate, and noble-hearted musician, Master." Seeing that Lucian hadn't reproached her, Grace relaxed and cleverly borrowed his own words with a touch of humor. "Well, I should get back to the parlor quickly, or they'll really start thinking there's something going on between us..."
Watching Grace disappear down the corridor toward the washroom, Lucian let a faint, trademark smile of "warm composure" settle on his face.
In Lucian's assessment, Grace had never been a woman of strong will. Quite the opposite—apart from her considerable talent in music and piano, she was an ordinary, pretty girl with vanity, weakness, musical dreams she could work hard for but would struggle to resist temptation. Such a girl using quick wit, adaptability, and steely resolve to conceal critical information under interrogation by a powerhouse likely at the knight level, wielding every tool at their disposal? Lucian didn't buy it. Especially since he wasn't her family, wasn't the most important person in her heart—once she'd been overwhelmed by that oppressive aura and her mind was under control, it was impossible for her to have snapped back to lucidity through sheer subconscious resistance.
Was he supposed to believe that after meeting only a few times, Grace had fallen deeply in love with him out of adoration and gratitude, to the point of valuing him above her own life? Don't be ridiculous.
Entering the washroom, Lucian went about his familiar business as though completely unaffected, but inwardly he was speculating about the clown's identity. "Night Watch? An investigator from the Pale Hand? Remnants of the Silver White Horn? The Principality's intelligence operatives?"
"Why would they suddenly be investigating him? And why only after Grace arrived in Altor? Hm, from that alone, we can rule out Pale Hand investigators..."
"The Principality's intelligence department had been purged and was entirely under Natasha's control. She already knew his whereabouts and activities—there would be no need to question Grace, no need to send anyone to investigate the musician Lucian Evans."
"That leaves two possibilities, and neither harbors good intentions. They most likely believe I have deep connections with arcane mages and the Professor. When did they first become suspicious? The matter of the Death Feast should have been limited to necromancers and Viscount Karlandia..."
Lucian reviewed and analyzed step by step. "But they should only be suspicious—without any solid evidence. Otherwise the Night Watch would have come knocking directly, and the Silver White Horn would have retaliated without hesitation and broadcast it to the world."
He dried his hands with a nearby towel, temporarily pushing aside the flood of thoughts, and returned to the main hall.
……
A pleasant, delicious lunchtime.
"Lucian, besides the two Piano Sonatas—'Moonlight' and 'Storm'—have you composed anything else in recent years? I imagine all that folk music must have given you a wealth of inspiration." Victor swallowed a piece of veal, took a sip of red wine, and asked with a smile. "I think everyone here is just as curious and eager as I am."
As if in agreement with his words, Joel, Phyllis, Elisa, and the others all fixed their eager gazes on Lucian. Only Evan remained reserved, maintaining his dining etiquette.
"I do have two symphonic works. One is nearly complete—it just needs final adjustments based on the orchestra's performance and some additional rehearsal. However, it was inspired by folk music, and its structure is freer than anything I've done before, so it may face harsh criticism." Lucian answered while still preoccupied with thoughts of the clown.
Through their pre-lunch conversation, Phyllis had reconnected with Lucian, so she asked with a hint of curiosity, "Among your many titles, Lucian, you carry the epithet 'Reformer.' Bold innovation, new directions, freer structures—isn't that precisely the kind of thing we should have been expecting from the start?"
Compared to three years ago, the aristocratic haughtiness about her had diminished considerably, and her manner of speaking was far more humorous.
"That's right, young Evans. I can hardly wait." Joel's eyes sparkled with genuine excitement. "Your Aunt Elisa and I grew up in the south of the Vorlite Principality, and when we were Bards, our travels were quite limited. After coming to Altor, we never left again, so we've had few opportunities to experience unique music from other regions that isn't widely known. We can only learn about it indirectly through other Bards."
Elena, as a musician who was still relatively ordinary, maintained the polite deference she had always shown in the presence of Victor and Phyllis. Only after the others had exchanged their thoughts did she smile sweetly. "And your other work, Lucian? Once it's completed, will you hold a 'Return Concert'?"
For a top-tier, renowned musician like Lucian, as long as he wished, the Sacred Hymn Hall would always be available.
All eyes converged on Lucian's face once more—even Evan couldn't help but steal a curious glance. This would be something to brag about to his friends!
"It's largely finished, but some ideas for the final section haven't been realized yet, and that will take a bit of time. If everything goes smoothly, probably two to three... weeks." Lucian nearly said the word out of habit, but the clown incident had left him on heightened alert, and he caught himself, forcibly correcting his speech.
"That's wonderful! I can't imagine how many people are looking forward to your second concert, Master." Grace appeared quite excited.
Victor, Joel, and the others all nodded with smiles, expressing their anticipation.
After this lunch, the news that the prodigy musician Lucian Evans would be holding a "Return Concert" within a month quickly spread throughout the Musicians' Association and across every street and alley of Altor.
……
After bidding farewell to Elena, who had been walking alongside her, Grace stepped into the garden villa she rented in the Gisu District—in Sturk, she had saved up a fair amount of money.
Ignoring the servants' bows, she hurried back to her bedroom. The moment the door closed behind her, Grace collapsed onto the bed, and countless thread-thin black filaments receded from her body like a receding tide.
After a while, Grace climbed off the bed, murmuring to herself in a daze. "Why am I so exhausted today? Was I too excited after meeting Master Evans? And why did I speak to him with that kind of expression and those kinds of eyes? Was I really thinking about seducing him all along? No... I revere him but also fear him, like facing an elder..."
……
Inside a certain building.
A comical clown mask suddenly let out several ragged breaths—the previous remote manipulation and prolonged control had been extraordinarily draining.
"Squad Leader, did you pick up anything from the probing?" A soft, feminine voice asked with a touch of urgency.