OPDPS side story 4

“Huh?”

Hiello had been expecting a deep kiss, so the sudden headbutt left him completely dazed. Meanwhile, Aeryl leapt up and dashed toward the door.

“See you later!”

He blew a kiss, and Hiello clutched his chest and collapsed back onto the bed.

Aeryl’s laughter echoed through the room, and Hiello’s heart swelled. For all his grumbling, he was reminded once again that Aeryl’s joy was the thing that made him happiest of all.

***

When Aeryl arrived at the family room, Sorel was already there, sitting and waiting.

“You came early. You’re not sleepy?”

“No, Brother Aeryl! I’m used to being up and training at this hour.”

“At this hour?”

“I heard Big Brother trained at this time when he was my age. I want to follow his example.”

“I see.”

Though truth be told, Hiello was currently lying naked in bed. Aeryl didn’t want to shatter Sorel’s innocent admiration, so he simply laughed it off and changed the subject.

“Alright, let’s begin the lesson.”

From what he’d asked yesterday, it seemed Sorel had never learned even the basics of music. So Aeryl started with theory, then moved to the piano to let him hear the notes in the scale. After that, he explained how the piano was structured, and taught him the proper posture and finger positions.

‘I don’t think I had this kind of focus at his age…’

Sorel was so patient and attentive, it made Aeryl reflect on his own childhood. He wasn’t just enthusiastic—he didn’t get bored even when the content was unfamiliar or difficult. He retained everything after hearing it just once.

Is this the power of early education? Or is it just because he’s an Asirion…

Aeryl had finished everything he’d prepared, but there was still time left. Sorel looked up at him with bright, expectant eyes, clearly thinking there was more to come. Caught off guard, Aeryl pretended he’d expected this all along and said smoothly,

“Now I’m going to play the birthday song. Do you know what that is?”

“Yes! It’s the song everyone sings at birthday parties!”

“That’s right.”

Aeryl sat at the piano, adjusted his posture, and played the birthday song. It was a simple tune everyone knew, and it made a great practice piece—anyone who’d practiced a bit could play it with their eyes closed.

Sorel watched Aeryl’s hands intently as he played through to the end.

“What do you think?”

“I want to try it too!”

“Alright. Remember the posture and hand movements I showed you earlier and do your best.”

He stepped aside and handed Sorel the notes. Since they didn’t have much time left, he thought it would be good for the boy to just play around with the keys and get used to moving his fingers.

But Sorel sat at the piano with a serious face—and started playing the birthday song.

It wasn’t a perfect performance, of course. His fingers were still clumsy, and he didn’t know the exact notes, so he sang the song to himself as he guessed which keys to press. But still—he was playing the birthday song. That much was clear.

‘Wait… he’s actually playing it?’

Aeryl was stunned. No matter how familiar the melody, playing it on an instrument was a completely different skill. And yet, here was a child who’d touched a piano for the first time today, managing—however roughly—to get through a whole piece. Even more astonishing, the joyful feeling unique to the birthday song came through clearly in his playing.

“Umm… It sounds really different from how you played it, Brother Aeryl.”

“How did you manage that?”

“I just watched how you moved your hands while you played, and when I wasn’t sure, I used the song I know to figure it out!”

“Wow. You memorized it?”

He’d watched and listened just once—and memorized the piece? Most people wouldn’t even be able to recognize the right notes by ear, let alone remember them.

“Yup! My swordsmanship teacher says I’m good at copying what I see.”

“I see! Sorel, you’re really clever! Want to try a matching game?”

“What’s that?”

“I’ll play a key, and you have to find out which one it was.”

“Will that help with piano?”

“Yup.”

“Then I’ll try it!”

Aeryl turned Sorel away from the keys and played a note. Then he told Sorel to figure out which key he’d played. Sorel pressed a few keys, listening carefully, and finally picked one.

“This one! It’s this one, right?”

“Wow, that’s right.”

“Heehee.”

Sorel giggled and bounced his shoulders.

“Let’s try again.”

Aeryl tested him a few more times, and Sorel, though it took some time, got all the answers correct.

…He has perfect pitch.

While mimicking the performance, Sorel also managed to capture the emotional essence of the song, which made Aeryl realize Sorel had musical talent. Since he wasn’t an expert, he couldn’t explain it precisely, but recalling his own early lessons, he could tell that Sorel was exceptional.

‘Maybe… this child is a genius…’

A bead of sweat trickled down Aeryl’s back. His original goal had been to make Sorel practice the birthday song for three weeks, but now it seemed he’d have to change his plans.

‘This child was a raw gem. If he didn’t teach him properly…’

“Should I call a music teacher?”

“Huh? No! Then Mother would find out. It’s supposed to be a surprise!”

“Right…”

Aeryl made up his mind to completely change his plans and prepare more thoroughly.

***

After having breakfast with Hiello and Aeryl, Sorel rushed out when he heard that a friend had arrived. Only then could Aeryl comfortably talk to Hiello.

“I need to teach Sorel properly. We’ll need sheet music and a piano textbook.”

“They might be in the library. I’ll check, and if not, I’ll get them for you.”

“Thanks.”

“Does he really have that much talent?”

“Quite a lot! It feels like a waste for me to teach him. I struggled to learn by force and I can hardly remember anything.”

“Still, I think it would be better to learn from you.”

“Really?”

“‘Teacher Aeryl,’ just imagining it makes me motivated.”

“What?!”

Aeryl burst out laughing, both surprised and pleased. Still in a good mood, he slyly stood up and sat down on Asirion’s lap.

Hiello, familiar with the gesture, embraced him and let out happy pheromones. Though he could now control his pheromones perfectly, sometimes he deliberately let them show.

So cute.

Hiello still had difficulty expressing his emotions. However, Aeryl found his attempts to express and reveal his feelings endearing. Their gazes intertwined, and for a brief moment, the intensity between them deepened.

Knock knock.

“…Come in.”

“Ahem, pardon me. Lady Merel sent a maid to see you.”

A servant opened the door and relayed the message. He was desperately trying not to meet Aeryl and Hiello’s eyes and kept his gaze lowered.

“Lady Merel?”

“Oh, don’t tell me she found out?”

“If she had, she would have come herself. Bring her here.”

At Hiello’s command, the servant quickly left the dining room, and Aeryl stood up, adjusting his clothes. Hiello, though reluctantly, continued to gently stroke Aeryl’s hand.

Aeryl, seeing this, giggled softly.

“Your Grace, Lord Aeryl.”

Lady Merel’s maid greeted them and relayed Lady Merel’s message.

“Lady Merel wishes to see Lord Aeryl.”

“Why?”

“She said she wants to teach you something a Grand Duchess should know, even before marriage.”

“Does it really need to be now?”

Asirion hated the thought of losing Aeryl, even for a moment. But Aeryl lightly tapped his hand and spoke.

“I’ll go.”

“You’re leaving me?”

“Yes. I have things I need to take care of.”

“It’s still winter, though…”

“The nights are long enough.”

Aeryl kissed Hiello’s cheek and comforted him before quickly getting up and walking out before he could be stopped.

To be honest, Aeryl also wanted to spend more time with Hiello, but he forced himself to be decisive. If he didn’t, he might end up doing nothing at all for the rest of the winter.

‘It feels so good, but… I need to face reality soon.’

After visiting the infirmary and the outer quarters the previous day, Aeryl had been struck by a sense of urgency. He was naturally lazy, but with the days slipping by without any meaningful progress, he felt like he needed to change.

He hadn’t planned on taking this long to relax, but every time Hiello tempted him, he gave in…

So, having piano lessons, helping the outer quarters doctor about the frost sickness, and being called by Lady Merel were all signs that it was time to get back to work.

‘But why did she call for me?’

Since he’d just finished his first lesson with Sorel without Lady Merel knowing, he felt oddly guilty. Guided by the maid, Aeryl went to the waiting room of Lady Merel’s office. There, Lady Merel sat on a sofa, looking over some documents.