Published: July 4, 2025
This is a slightly shorter interlude.
On the 20th (Saturday) at midnight, I will post "2600 characters from the beginning of Part 3."
Thank you in advance for that.
Sera had noticed the faint sound of a violin playing.
The skill was clumsy.
Rather, it felt like the person had just picked up the instrument for the first time in the past few days.
Moreover, the sound was coming from the room that Sera was about to enter.
"What’s this?"
She had been told she could enter without knocking, so she quietly opened the door and peeked inside.
Surely, if Abel were watching, he would say with an exasperated tone:
"Sera is starting to move like Ryo..."
If Sera heard this, she would actually be very happy.
Inside the room, a violin lesson was taking place.
The one receiving lessons was Prince Noah.
His mother, Princess Rhea, sat in the corner of the room, watching with a smile on her face.
Sera quietly walked over to Rhea.
"Oh, Sera. You brought the documents, right?"
"Yes, I did bring them. But... are you in the middle of a violin practice?"
"Yes, I found out after I got married, but it seems that all the children born into the Naitorei royal family must be able to play the violin."
"That’s impressive."
Rhea said with a wry smile, and Sera was surprised.
Neither Rhea nor Sera could play the violin.
"The requirement to be able to play is..."
"It seems that the restorer of the kingdom, King Richard, was a master violinist, and that has influenced things. Therefore, being able to play the violin isn’t just a hobby; it’s a job."
"But Prince Noah is only three years old..."
"Yes. Now that he’s three, it seems he’s starting his lessons."
"Being part of royalty is tough."
Sera sighed.
In addition to acquiring practical knowledge for governing the country, royals are expected to master many cultural arts, martial arts, dance, horseback riding, and even sailing.
When representing the kingdom abroad as "the face of the kingdom," any embarrassment reflects upon both the kingdom and its citizens.
That said...
Growing up in an environment where mastering those skills is taken for granted is not normal.
However, Sera understood.
The Rhea in front of her had been making efforts to master those skills after marrying into the royal family.
"As someone who came from outside, that doesn’t concern the foreign citizens. I don’t want our kingdom’s reputation to suffer because of me."
Her nonchalant smile while working on her dance lessons was impressive...
If started at a young age, the time to master those skills is relatively short.
However, if one starts as an adult... in many cases, it requires quite a bit of time.
That’s why Rhea’s efforts were commendable.
Everything was for the kingdom and its citizens.
The citizens of the kingdom wouldn’t ridicule or laugh at Rhea.
But that wasn’t the point.
It was to avoid the citizens being subjected to sneers about having such a queen.
Yet, Rhea actually had her own feelings.
It was undoubtedly tough, but she didn’t dislike it.
That was... because it was the path her beloved had once taken.
Now, she had come to walk that path herself... because she was permitted to...
Abel had walked that path since he was small, and now she was also walking it... because of that, it was tough, but not painful.
The human heart is complex.
"I had heard that Abel could play the violin, but I heard that Ryo can play the piano. However, I don’t know that instrument. Do you know it, Rhea?"
"Piano? Well, I’ve never heard of it. At least, it’s not an instrument known in the Central Nations."
Rhea tilted her head in response to Sera’s question.
Since entering the royal family, Rhea had been learning about the political situations of the various nations in the Central Nations, as well as aspects of traditional culture and daily life.
The higher one rises in status, the more knowledge and cultural education outside of practical matters are required.
Moreover, no matter how high one’s practical abilities are, if one doesn’t know anything else, they may not be entrusted with responsible positions.