“Congratulations to all the new students on your enrollment.”

As the surroundings, which had been stunned into silence, began to regain their composure and murmur, His Majesty stood up and addressed the new students.

“Having witnessed the recent commotion, you may have been shocked by the actions of your former classmate, with whom you had been honing your skills together, and perhaps felt uneasy about not having seen through her true nature. Some of you might have even found her charming. That’s understandable. She was adept at discerning what people desired and providing it.

She is a monster. Devoid of conscience, she lied effortlessly, manipulated, and ensnared people.

But she had no companions. Only pawns she manipulated. That’s why she has been caught and will now face the consequences of her crimes. You all possess a conscience. By helping each other with that conscience, you can form trustworthy friendships. Even if another monster like her appears, having companions will enable you to stand against them. I hope you all find such companions in this academy.”

“Seems like he’s saying all the right things, but does he really think he can gloss over it like this?”

During His Majesty’s speech, Brei whispered to Melissa, but of course, Melissa did not respond.

“Now, let me introduce the state guest I have invited as a celebration of your enrollment.”

With His Majesty’s words, the stage lights dimmed, and a magical tool illuminated Melissa, seated at the very back of the audience. Melissa slowly stood up and curtsied.

The aqua-green dress she received from His Royal Highness, the younger brother of the king, as an apology for Brei’s harassment, sparkled like Lake Lawton, reminding her of the warm memories of the people there.

“Miss Melissa Telfortz, a court musician invited from the Telfort Empire. Originally, she was supposed to attend the entrance ceremony of the Empire’s Magic Academy today, but due to her exceptional talent, having completed her magical manipulation before enrollment, she was granted a one-week delay and invited to our country for this occasion. …Miss Melissa, please play the piano for our new students.”

Melissa is no longer Melissa Johnston. After winning the Apollon Prize at the Telfort International Competition last autumn, she became a court musician and is now Melissa Telfortz, owned by the Telfort Emperor.

“Please, go ahead.”

Escorting her is Prince Aubrey, dressed in the male uniform of Wainwright Magic Academy. Melissa is instructed to walk slowly to the stage while the piano is being set up.

As Melissa walks towards the stage with Brei’s escort, she sees Josh and Rose entering from the entrance. Rose is already crying. They had been invited for Melissa’s grand moment and Nate’s entrance ceremony but were asked to wait in a separate room to avoid making Amelia uncomfortable.

The aqua-green ribbon in Melissa’s golden hair also catches the light, sparkling. Though it’s not the kind of ribbon one would typically wear on such an occasion, it holds more value to Melissa than any gemstone.

“Vanessa.”

“Dalia.”

Melissa hears her father and grandmother murmuring but does not look their way. Because Nate is waiting for her on the stage.

As Melissa approaches the stairs to the stage, the stage lights up, revealing the piano and Nate. Brei hands over the escort to Nate.

“Melissa. You look beautiful.”

It’s been three and a half years since Melissa last saw Nate. He’s now a head taller, and his voice is much deeper than she remembers, but his aqua-green eyes and the warmth of his hand remain unchanged. Melissa smiles back at him.

“Thank you. You look handsome too, Nate.”

Melissa doesn’t mind that Nate looks just like Amelia.

Melissa doesn’t understand why her father and grandmother are so fixated on her mother Vanessa and grandmother Dalia’s appearances. Even if Nate were to die and someone who looked just like him appeared, she could never love that person as a replacement. It would be disrespectful to both the replacement and the Nate she loved.

As Melissa and Nate reach the center of the stage near the piano, a voice calls out from the front row.

“Your Majesty! What do you mean by Melissa being Melissa Telfortz? As Duke Johnston, I do not recall approving Melissa’s removal from the family registry.”

Her father is questioning His Majesty. As Rose had predicted, her father seems to have superimposed her mother onto Melissa, now with golden hair. Melissa turns to look at her father for the first time.

“Mel, you’ve grown so much.”

Her grandmother speaks, but Melissa ignores her. To her grandmother, Mel is Amelia, not Melissa. She has heard that her grandmother Dalia and mother Vanessa looked very much alike. Even if Melissa’s eye color is blue instead of red, being a spitting image of her mother except for the eye color seems acceptable to her grandmother, but Melissa doesn’t care.

“When one becomes a court musician of the Empire, they automatically become a citizen of the Empire and are removed from the noble registry. Your permission is not required for Melissa’s removal from the Johnston family.”

“I did not permit Melissa to become a court musician.”

Despite His Majesty’s explanation, her father continues to argue. Nate, who is escorting Melissa, squeezes her hand. Wanting to reassure him, Melissa squeezes back.

“I, the King, have permitted it. Do you have any objections to my decision?”

The signature on Melissa’s application for the Telfort International Competition was provided by His Majesty. His Royal Highness, the king’s younger brother, arranged this, fearing that Brei, whose existence had been hidden, might not be recognized as a royal signature, and to prevent her father from causing trouble with the Empire.

“Moreover, Miss Melissa became a court musician of the Empire last autumn and withdrew from the noble academy. She no longer holds a noble title. You not only missed her graduation ceremony from the noble academy but also failed to check her graduation certificate or noble status. …I have heard that Melissa was sent away from the Johnston ducal house in the capital to a rural estate just before her 11th birthday and had no contact with the Johnston family for five years. Having not seen her for five years and not even noticed her withdrawal from the noble academy, what issue is there with Melissa leaving the Johnston ducal house?”

Her father falls silent, unable to answer His Majesty’s question. If he were to honestly discuss the magical repulsion with Amelia, it would reveal that he prioritized an adopted child over his own. And that adopted child has just been arrested for murder.

“Your silence implies consent. …Just as I was trying to improve the atmosphere, worsened by your daughter, I am left speechless by your audacity.”

The daughter referred to is Amelia. The future of the Johnston ducal house, which neglected its own daughter, adopted a murderer, and made her the fiancée of the first prince, looks bleak.

His Majesty looks at Melissa, perhaps checking if she has anything to say. It feels like an eternity since she last had something to say. The 10-year-old Melissa, who was hurt by their every move, is no more. Melissa shakes her head.

“The daughter of the Johnston ducal house has been arrested and will not enroll in this magic academy. I would like to tell you to leave, but I will specially permit you to listen to Miss Melissa’s piano performance. Learn the excellence of what you have let go and regret your past actions.”

This occasion was arranged by His Majesty. Originally, Melissa was supposed to attend the entrance ceremony of the Empire’s Magic Academy, but His Majesty, believing it better for Melissa to properly sever ties with the Johnston ducal house, arranged with the Emperor of the Empire for Melissa to be here today.

Her father and grandmother sit down, looking lifeless. Her brother is not here, but Melissa feels no regret. After her mother’s death, only her father and brother listened to her piano, but now Melissa has many who will listen. She no longer needs her brother to listen.

Melissa sits on the chair Nate pulled out for her, confirms that Nate has stepped aside, and begins to play.

The piece is “The Time of Parting.”

It might not be suitable for an entrance ceremony. Though it’s a piece filled with memories of Nate, even without those memories, Melissa would have chosen this piece.

Today is a day of farewells for Melissa—farewell to the fear of Amelia, farewell to her family, farewell to her country. For the queen and Prince Eldred, it’s a farewell to smooth sailing days; for the Johnston ducal house, a farewell to two daughters and their reputation; for Brei, a farewell to carefree days. Everyone has their own farewell to the days before.

Melissa plays the sad melody with all her heart, saying “goodbye.”

Nate’s mother used to hum “The Time of Parting” cheerfully. Melissa can somewhat understand that feeling. Though the melody is sad, there’s a hint of hope.

Melissa imagines it as evening. A song of farewell bathed in the orange light of the setting sun. It’s sad that it will soon be dark, but there’s a bright home to return to. And tomorrow will come again.

With such feelings, Melissa plays “The Time of Parting.”