The day’s events proceeded with great success at the inauguration ceremony of the new theater in the city on the Fifth Floor.
Instead of gathering dignitaries for a formal ceremony at a set time, the theater’s inauguration involved a full day of various performances.
This theater, a proper establishment built by the Razekamamiya Kingdom as a royal theater, was having its inaugural performance with the nation’s prestige on the line.
The performers appearing one after another were all renowned in their fields, and the audience was enjoying themselves thoroughly.
This was understandable, as the performers had been officially selected by Razek Amamiya, with prominent figures presenting their best artists.
It was impossible for such performers to bore the audience.
Furthermore, it was rumored that an artist exclusively retained by the royal family would appear as the final performer.
Until now, the Razekamamiya royal family (or rather, King Towa) had hosted parties with famous musicians but had never presented a specific performer.
They had not acted as patrons, but with the completion of the royal theater, this was to be announced, drawing the attention of the audience.
Among them were those who watched, believing that their own artists could never be surpassed.
This was not unfounded confidence; they had never heard rumors of such an incredible performer until now.
If such a person could appear here and immediately produce an astounding performance that everyone would recognize, their existence would surely be rumored about somewhere.
Based on these premises, they waited for the final performer with a somewhat condescending attitude, wondering what artist the royal family had chosen.
They never imagined that their confidence would be so easily shattered until the final performer appeared.
***
As the second-to-last performance concluded, the hall’s lights dimmed.
The lights had dimmed before during intermissions or for dramatic effect, so most of the audience did not stir.
Instead, their attention was focused on the darkened stage, as the performer chosen by the King was about to appear.
Finally, the hall’s lights illuminated the stage, and as the curtain began to rise, the audience’s murmurs died down.
Even for the first performance at the national theater, they knew it was a breach of etiquette to speak during a performance.
As the curtain rose, the audience could see a single performer standing on stage.
However, they could not discern the performer’s face.
This was because the performer wore a mask modeled after a woman.
The dress the performer wore clearly revealed the body shape, indicating it was a woman.
When the woman’s voice resonated through the hall via the amplifier prepared on stage, a commotion arose from some in the audience.
This was because the woman standing in the center of the stage was…
“Everyone, thank you for gathering for the inaugural performance of the Royal Theater. While King Towa decided to build this theater, I, the former queen, am also delighted by its completion.”
It was Floria, the mother of Razek Amamiya’s founding and the current King’s mother!
After declaring her retirement and abdicating the throne to King Towa, former Queen Floria had rarely appeared in public.
Of course, she hadn’t been absent from the public eye for so long that people had forgotten her, but she had certainly become a rare figure, enough to cause a stir among the audience.
Nonetheless, having once stood at the pinnacle of the nation and guided its people, she was unfazed by the audience’s commotion and signaled for quiet with a slight wave of her right hand.
Once the people had completely quieted down, Floria began to speak again.
“I had thought that perhaps it was inappropriate for me, now retired, to appear in public like this, but I hope you will forgive me, a mother who is soft on her child.”
Floria revealed that she was standing on stage at Towa’s request and continued,
“Now, while I’ve taken the liberty of performing a dance, allow me to introduce my small partner.”
As Floria said this and looked towards the wings of the stage, a small girl emerged, carrying Streep.
Upon seeing this, the audience directed confused gazes at the child.
They understood that she was to accompany Floria’s dance, given Floria saying she would dance and the girl emerging with Streep, but they couldn’t comprehend why such a young child would appear on such a grand stage.
Some audience members, misinterpreting the situation, wore expressions of disappointment.
They thought the royal family was exploiting the royal theater’s inauguration ceremony for their personal amusement.
However, while it was natural to think so if one considered it from a common sense perspective, the little girl standing before them was an entity beyond that common sense.
The audience was about to feel their common sense crumble in the moments that followed.
***
Floria, standing center stage and glancing sideways at Miku who was sitting and holding Streep, felt an internal sense of relief, though she didn’t show it on her face.
This was Miku’s first time performing on such a grand stage, and Floria had wondered how she would fare, but it seemed she wasn’t flustered or overly nervous.
She briefly wondered which parent Miku took after for such audacity, then dismissed the thought.
It would be a waste if she, Floria, made a mistake after Miku had so wonderfully taken the stage.
When Floria glanced at the wings, Shurein was nodding with a satisfied expression.
Shurein had cast a barrier that enveloped the venue, negating Miku’s charm-inducing powers.
However, it wasn’t a complete negation; those who left the venue would be freed from the charm’s influence.
This was the method Shurein had proposed the other day to control Miku’s charm.
As the audience’s attention converged, the two performers’ act finally began.
Miku moved first, beginning to play Streep with her small hands.
As she played just a few notes, the expressions of the audience, who had previously scorned her as a child, changed.
Some were already entranced, captivated by the sound.
With just the opening prelude, Miku had captured the hearts of the audience.
After Miku finished the prelude, it was Floria’s turn.
To the music played by Miku, Floria began to dance.
Here too, the gazes of those who had considered it merely a diversion by the former queen shifted.
No, it wasn’t just that.
Even the performers who had appeared on stage earlier watched, drawn into the two’s act.
By the time the performance reached its midpoint, the audience was completely captivated by the duo.
And in time with them, many small lights began to drift in the center of the stage.
These lights flickered and moved up, down, left, and right in sync with the music Miku played and the dance Floria performed.
Some of the audience sensed that the lights were those of spirits.
Spirits, which normally cannot be seen, were emitting light that humans could perceive.
Faced with this fantastical scene, which was beyond ordinary, the audience wished for this moment to never end.
However, unfortunately, all music eventually comes to an end.
Miku finished playing Streep, and as the lingering notes faded, Floria completed her dance. The hall was enveloped in silence.
Miku was puzzled by the lack of reaction from the hall, but Floria, unconcerned, approached Miku, took her hand, and helped her to her feet.
As if in response, thunderous applause erupted from the hall.
This was the debut on the public stage for Floria and Miku.
However, whether there will be future performances is uncertain. (Especially for Floria.)
The audience in the hall was completely mesmerized by Miku’s performance. However, upon leaving, they would feel as if awakening from a dream, breaking free from the charm.
