My Perfect Omega - Chapter 146
“Grandpa, put me down!”
“…All right, but be careful, Rose.”
When Rosalie squirmed and requested to be put down, the Emperor had no choice but to let her go. Unable to hide his disappointment, the Emperor let out a helpless laugh as he saw his grandson glance at him.
The Crown Prince’s son, holding Rosalie’s hand with a confident face, addressed his grandfather and father.
“Children should play with other children to have fun. Isn’t that why everyone was invited? So, please stop taking Rose away.”
The Emperor and the Crown Prince were left speechless at the determined words of the little prince. Watching the two children disappear, the Emperor subtly asked the Crown Prince.
“Do you have any plans for a second child? I’d prefer a granddaughter this time.”
“I hadn’t planned on it, but I suppose I’ll have to reconsider.”
* * *
“Brother, where are we going?”
“To the room with kids your age.”
“Where are the kids playing?”
“They’re playing in the music room. Rose, you know how to play the piano, right?”
Rosalie nodded enthusiastically at the prince’s question.
“Yes! But I like the violin more, just like my mom!”
“I see.”
Walking while chatting, the prince stopped in front of a room guarded closely by sentries.
“Open the door!”
“Yes, sir!”
At his command, the sentries quickly opened the door, and a cacophony of sounds spilled out. There were sounds of the piano being played chaotically and violin strings almost breaking.
Rosalie frowned as she entered the music room.
“Your Highness!”
“Hello!”
Some girls in the room hurried over, lifting their skirts in greeting when they saw the prince. More children, realizing who had arrived, rushed over to greet him as well.
“Are you all practicing your instruments?”
“Yes, we were reviewing what we learned at home.”
“Me too!”
The children, remembering what their parents had told them before coming here, tried to impress the prince. All except for one.
Rosalie’s attention was drawn to a small boy in the corner, visible through the group of children surrounding her. The silver-haired boy was curled up, covering his ears. He looked distressed, and Rosalie instinctively let go of the hand she was holding and ran over.
“What’s wrong?”
She grabbed the boy’s shoulder and asked. The boy flinched and raised his head. His wide, surprised eyes were a luminous peridot green.
“Wow, so pretty.”
His green eyes, shimmering with tears, looked like dew-laden leaves.
“…Who are you?”
“I’m Rosalie. What’s your name?”
“I’m… Zion.”
“I see. Zion, why were you covering your ears?”
At Rosalie’s question, Zion glanced around nervously and murmured softly.
“…My ears hurt.”
“Did they hurt a lot?”
“Yeah, because everyone’s playing was so terrible.”
“…Huh?”
Concerned, Rosalie tilted her head at his odd response. Zion, glaring sharply at the children clinging to the prince behind her, added.
“Their playing was so awful it felt like my eardrums were rotting. I didn’t want to hear it again, so I covered my ears.”
“Then, should I play something for you?”
At Rosalie’s confident words, Zion looked up at her with doubtful eyes. He had never heard music that pleased him in his life.
Of course, he had never listened to a grand orchestra. His family’s estate, a viscountcy, did not have the finances to afford such performances.
“Wait here!”
Rosalie hurried off to fetch a violin. After finding one that suited her size, she lightly plucked the strings with her short fingers, tuning it. Even just tuning it, Zion unknowingly lowered the hands that had been covering his ears.
Once she finished tuning, Rosalie started playing, beginning unexpectedly with a climactic part. The children’s mouths, previously fawning over the prince, shut instantly.
Zion moved closer, realizing that this was the kind of natural talent that others only spoke about. For the first time in his life, Zion heard a captivating performance that truly moved his heart.
