[TTH] 13 – It seems like it will be a struggle to keep up the pretence of being the Crown Prince's fiancée until the promised week is over. (3)

I nodded briefly, lifted my face, and returned a smile to Eloise and the others.

"Did you come to visit me? I'm fine. Thank you, ladies."

At my words, Eloise raised her eyebrows in surprise.

"Oh...? What's the matter? Richeli, you're speaking to me so casually."

With a disdainful look on her face, the two girls around Eloise showed agreement.

I was honestly taken aback and speechless at the overwhelmingly intimidating aura of such a small Eloise.

"Lady..."

Mira looked sad, Julian looked frustrated, and Abby was frozen like me. Zinon turned to look at Eloise with a disheartened expression. But Eloise stepped forward as if trying to take the initiative.

"Zinon! I've wanted to see you. You're here too."

"Haven't I been here all along? You're acting pretty arrogant towards my fiancée, aren't you?"

Eloise turned her expression 180 degrees towards Zinon, showing him a sweet smile. The girls surrounding her also suddenly showed a flattering attitude. Such bully-type girls exist everywhere, it seems. They were dressed in elegant dresses, but from my perspective, they started to look like snobby, arrogant girls.

"I heard from the doctor that Richeli has amnesia, right? Richeli, did you forget about all the training befitting a queen, foreign languages, dance, piano, and everything else?"

Eloise smiled snobbishly, and at her signal, the girls around her dramatically placed several books on the table, showing them off. Looking at the covers, I could tell they were challenging textbooks. I couldn't even understand what language they were in. One of them was sheet music.

I could understand why Richeli would write so many complaints in her diary. Richeli had been going through such unpleasant experiences... Thinking about it made my maternal instincts bubble up, and I felt the urge to protect Richeli.

Seeing me silent and not saying anything, Eloise laughed triumphantly.

"Oh? Did you really forget everything? Well, it will be tough teaching the future queen from now on, won't it? Shall I take over for you?"

"That's enough, Eloise. Do you want to make me angry?"

At Zinon's chilling expression and quiet voice, Eloise flinched but still managed to whisper.

"But... she doesn't remember anything, right? She cannot be Zinon's fiancée, let alone the queen, in that state. She can't even speak foreign languages or dance. It's a waste for Richeli, even this beautiful piano, and Zinon..."

I couldn't listen to the end. I stood up. Not just Eloise, but Zinon was about to get angry, too. I sat down on the stool in front of the white piano. Opening the lid and looking at the keys, I was relieved to see the normal white and black keys. If it had been an instrument I'd never seen before, I would have been completely done for.

I gently placed both hands on the keys, and everyone gasped. I glanced at the challenging sheet music on the table earlier, sighed, closed my eyes, pressed the keys, and started playing a lively and cute high-pitched sound.

After a short prelude, I cleared my throat and started singing along with the piano. This is a big treat.

"Lost little cat, where is your home?"

Then, a little bunny jumped onto the piano. It hopped up and down in time with the song "The Dog's Walk". Seeing the bunny enjoying itself, I smiled.

After I finished the short song and accompaniment, I lifted my face from the piano. As expected, or however you want to put it, not only Eloise and the girls but also Zinon, Julian, and Mira were frozen with their mouths wide in surprise.

"A meow meow... and a woof woof, you say?"

At Zinon's words, I gave a shy smile, shrugged, and stuck out my tongue. Since I had wanted to be a childcare worker since I was young, I had tried my best at piano since elementary school but was fatally bad at memorizing.

"The song you just played is cute. I like it."

Abby spoke in a bubbly, cute voice, narrowing her grass-green eyes and smiling at me. Abby really is a good girl.

"Hey, can you play another song?"

At Abby's adorable request, I closed my eyes in thought. Another song that I could play without looking at the sheet music... the only one that comes to mind is the one Yuki and I practiced intensely a few months ago. After some hesitation, I decided, why not? If it's enjoyable, that's all that matters.

"Okay, here's a high-energy song."

I placed both hands on the keyboard and slammed down with a bang! It was an up-tempo song from a band that Yuki and I love. I never thought I'd be playing this in another world. The vibrant, cascading melody filled the room with its high ceilings. Although initially hesitant, I found myself singing along as I played.

Once I started singing, my body flowed with the melody from the keys under my fingertips. I glanced over and saw Julian and Abby smiling broadly at me. The familiar song, which I had practiced repeatedly, pushed aside the earlier commotion. A wave of happiness surged within me.

As I sang with my eyes closed, fully immersed in the exhilarating sensation, I was moved as if I had encountered a long-lost, nostalgic song. Flashes of my life with Kokoro, Yuu, and others in my familiar home came rushing back. The cascading melody sprung from the black and white keys, filling my world here, overflowing like a bridge of light connecting my original world and this one, soaring to the sky.

I wondered if songs like this, even with raps, existed in this world, too.

Eloise and the other girls looked bewildered, which was amusing. I managed to pull off the glissando I had struggled with during practice, and my spirits lifted. I love this song. Yes, I want to go back to my original world. How many amazing songs would I miss if I stayed in this world? I want to return to my original self, in my original world. I want to hold Yuu, laugh with Kokoro and Yuki, and sing this song together. Julian and Abby are adorable, but...

Suddenly, my eyes met Zinon's. He was still, just watching me intently. Was he surprised? Or perhaps... did he like this song? Zinon's deep blue eyes were stunning. If I kept looking into them, I would be drawn in. Even though this isn't a romance game, his blue eyes were truly magical. The sentimentality for my hometown that had just swelled in my chest seemed to be blown away instantly, replaced by something else. If I kept being stared at by those deep blue eyes, I felt like they might completely take over my heart. If I stayed even a little longer...

The lyrics of this song seemed to echo my feelings. I might become unable to stop myself. Just like the game, just like Kokoro said.

Could I fall in love?

The melody rising from the keys, overflowing in front of my eyes, came down on me with exhilaration, asking me that question.