FMV 05

Chapter 5

After hearing Leonard’s words, Aurelia instinctively drew in a sharp breath.

It was not that she wanted to belittle his ability. In the first place, even if she wanted to, his skill was not something that could easily be looked down on.

But no matter how talented a performer was, or even if they carried the title of a master or virtuoso, there were some things they should never touch.

And for Aurelia, those things were her father and the Bernhard Instrument Workshop.

‘When they said he was a devil wearing an angel’s face, I guess they weren’t only talking about his talent.’

Seeing how rude he was compared to what she had expected, the admiration that had filled Aurelia’s eyes began to fade.

Then, with pride, she protested.

“Maybe you don’t know because you haven’t been in Zerphium for very long, but the Bernhard Instrument Workshop is one of the oldest workshops in Zerphium, and it has kept its name for a very long time.”

“Even if it is an old workshop, that doesn’t guarantee its owner makes good instruments.”

At Leonard’s words, Aurelia tightly bit her lower lip.

Of course, she knew.

‘I know that there aren’t many artists with good personalities.’

And judging from the letters she sometimes received from Aiden, who had once been like a close older brother to her, she already knew that Leonard did not have a very good personality.

But this was different.

How could he insult her father in front of her, even though he knew that the owner of this workshop was her father?

Her father was not so unskilled that he deserved to hear such things.

“I believe good violins come from a good environment. Don’t you think so?”

The words that came from his mouth ruined Aurelia’s expression, which was desperately trying to maintain a smile.

“Mr. Deimus.”

Like a young cat wary of a person, Aurelia spoke in a low voice.

Leonard looked down at her with a face full of arrogance.

Just as Aurelia took a deep breath to point out Leonard’s rudeness—

“Do you think I said something wrong? Then let’s find out. Let’s see whether I’m right or you’re right.”

After saying that, Leonard casually picked up one of the violins in the corner.

The body of the violin rested against Leonard’s shoulder, and when he extended his hand toward Aurelia, the movement was as graceful as a step in a dance.

“What are you standing there for?”

“Ah.”

Aurelia had been staring blankly at his actions, forgetting even what she had been about to say. Only when she heard Leonard’s irritated voice did she come back to her senses.

She took out a bow that had been properly coated with rosin and handed it to him.

At that moment, she began to feel a little excited.

For a musician, being able to hear the performance of someone she had only heard about was almost like a great stroke of luck.

The long bow touched the strings, and the clear sound that rang out made her swallow dryly, forgetting even the unpleasant feeling she had just had because of his rudeness.

The performance that came from his hands was truly perfect.

Judging by the words he spoke, it seemed as though he looked down on everyone except himself.

Yet it was strange that the music coming from those very hands was warmer and more delicate than anything she had ever heard.

‘Because he is someone like this…’

Because he could perform this perfectly, he was able to receive the title of virtuoso.

On one hand, she could easily understand it after hearing even such a short performance.

But on the other hand, she was jealous.

Jealous that he could show his talent to people so openly.

‘What is not allowed to me is probably an everyday thing for him.’

Several emotions that she could not even name came rushing over her all at once.

It was a strange feeling, somewhere between jealousy and admiration.

‘Now I understand.’

She understood why she had been so eager to criticize his personality.

He was standing in the exact place she wanted to stand, yet he kept saying such unpleasant things. That was what she found so irritating.

Because she could not criticize his talent, she had tried to criticize his personality instead.

‘I’m jealous. I envy him. That’s why I can’t help but put him down even more.’

She wanted to relieve the inferiority she felt toward him, even if only in that way.

Even though Aurelia knew that her feelings were cowardly and wrong, she could not hide them.

“Oh, I didn’t know we had a guest.”

Just as the melody Leonard was playing was coming to an end, the sound of a bell rang out, and David appeared.

After wiping the sweat gathered on his forehead because of the hot weather outside, he held out his hand to Leonard for a handshake.

“You’re Mr. Deimus, aren’t you? I actually met Mr. Balchester outside and heard about you. I heard that Mr. Balchester introduced you to our workshop. It is a pleasure to meet you. I’m David Bernhard.”

“Yes, I’m Leonard Deimus.”

Leonard put down the violin.

Then, with his usual arrogant expression, he refused David’s handshake and merely gave a slight nod.

David did not seem embarrassed by his rejected hand at all. Instead, he gave a hearty laugh.

Of course, Aurelia, who had briefly felt a little fond of Leonard, was now dragging her opinion of him all the way down to the bottom.

‘What an unpleasant man.’

She already knew that Leonard was an incredible person.

His performance just now had made her understand it as well.

But she still did not think that his ability gave him the right to humiliate her father when her father had offered his hand to him first.

“I’ve heard a lot about you. We are honored that you came to our workshop so soon after arriving in Zerphium.”

“Yes, I don’t have much time, so I think it would be better to skip the small talk. I have a recital scheduled this evening.”

Leonard’s gaze was clearly directed at Aurelia.

There was no way he had not seen her expression, yet he completely ignored her, as if she did not even exist there, and checked his watch.

For some reason, it felt as though he thought even looking at someone as insignificant as her was a waste of his time.

That was also why she had been so offended when he ignored her father’s handshake.

He knew that he was one of the best in Zerphium, the city of music.

He acted as though everyone should understand and accept his arrogance and unkindness because everyone loved him.

‘That makes me so angry.’

His gaze, as if he stood at the highest place and looked down upon everyone.

His attitude, treating her and her father like annoying flies even though neither of them deserved such treatment.

All of it made her unbearably angry.

“Compared to Aiden’s praise, it isn’t anything special.”

“I feel a little embarrassed to say this myself, but I am confident that the instruments from the Bernhard Instrument Workshop are the best of the best. I’m sure you’ll change your mind after seeing the instruments in the vault.”

“They had better be. I dislike investing my time in places that have no value.”

Even on the way to the vault, Leonard continued to speak with unbelievable arrogance.

Aurelia shot him a sharp glare.

‘He couldn’t be more arrogant. Anyone would think he was the only person whose time was made of gold. Is there anyone whose time isn’t precious?’

After talking with him for only a short while, Aurelia was already so annoyed that she wanted to throw him out.

Unlike Aurelia, David was still wearing a pleasant smile.

His gesture as he guided Leonard toward the inner vault was so kind that it almost felt affectionate.

It was the composure of someone who had already met countless musicians.

Among musicians who were promising or called geniuses, there were not many with good personalities.

“Lily, what are you doing? Hurry up and come inside. How many times have I told you that we mustn’t leave the vault door open for too long?”

Aurelia had been standing there with her lips sticking out as she watched the two men enter the vault.

At David’s call, she had no choice but to enter the vault with them.

“I’m coming.”

The violins inside the vault were on an entirely different level from the ones displayed outside, even at a glance.

They had been stored under perfectly controlled temperature and humidity, so it went without saying that they were in excellent condition.

There were also quite a few violins inside that could truly be called masterpieces, having been kept in the vault since long before Aurelia was born.

“Aurelia, take out that violin over there.”

“Father!”

The violin David told her to take out was practically the symbol of the Bernhard Instrument Workshop.

The violin had been made around the time the Bernhard family began becoming famous as instrument craftsmen, with the intention of passing it down to future generations.

It was also a family heirloom of the Bernhard family.

And her father was trying to show such an instrument to that unbelievably arrogant man.

“It’s not here for sale.”