The long and delicate ten fingers gracefully danced on the piano keys. It felt like a heavy rain shower.
Then it happened. The resonance of the piano stopped.
“Who?”
Staring as if enchanted, Eunseo was suddenly taken aback by the concentrated gaze.
Unable to get an answer, Jungwoo turned his head towards Taeha, leaving his fingers on the keys as they were, and asked him.
“Who is it?”
Taeha, who was nearby, dropped two drops of water into a glass of mahogany-colored whiskey and took a sip.
He hadn’t heard a report about Eunseo coming back abruptly because of Jungwoo. So he hadn’t even known if she was at home.
The subtle vanilla scent descended hotly down the esophagus.
“Who is it?”
As Taeha asked again, tilting the glass, Eunseo, who had regained her composure, answered without hesitation.
“It’s the worker.”
“Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto No. 2, 1st Movement. It was a bit melancholic, wasn’t it?”
“It was good.”
If possible, to the extent that I want to confine it in my ears whenever I want to hear it, I want to turn it on.
“It’s my first time. Actually hearing the sound of a grand piano.”
“You can listen up close. Come here, come here.”
Jungwoo playfully flicked his fingers and called Eunseo.
Eunseo, after glancing at Taeha, descended the skipped floor hesitantly.
“Sit there.”
Jungwoo gestured to a wing chair next to the piano with his eyes. Eunseo sat down, but it was the first time anyone had sat in such an uncomfortable posture in a wing chair meant for comfort.
“Lean back comfortably.”
Confirming that Eunseo leaned back, Jungwoo lifted his fingers back to the piano keys.
As the performance began, Eunseo concentrated. The fingers flowing over the keys, the bangs that collided with her forehead like waves, and the melody ringing in her ears touched somewhere deep in her chest.
Taeha, who was watching Eunseo, quickly poured whiskey into his glass.
It wasn’t the usual gaze. It wasn’t the gaze of someone being chased, the gaze of injustice, or the occasional gaze that seemed to ask something.
It wasn’t dry or sad, and even the minimum defense seemed to have disappeared from his gaze.
Did he sprinkle holy water in his eyes? Why are they sparkling like that?
Can a person be so relaxed with just one piano performance?
Unbeknownst to her, the 12-minute performance came to an end.
“Thank you for listening. Very, very…”
Eunseo’s eyes were filled with an overwhelming gift.
“Very, very?”
“It was cool.”
Cool…….
Should I tell them I made mistakes around 2 minutes and 6 minutes? Even thinking about it, I burst into a laugh at my own clumsiness.
“Today was so enjoyable. Well, I’ll be going in. You two rest.”
“Don’t go, come here. It’s your first time hearing the sound of a grand piano, right? It might be your first time touching it too.”
Jungwoo lightly tapped the seat next to the chair I was sitting in.
“Hurry up.”
Eunseo hesitated and looked at Taeha, but he remained silent with an unreadable expression.
“Stop worrying about Taeha. Have you only lived scolded?”
Only then did Eunseo put her eco-bag on the bar and sat cautiously next to Jungwoo.
“Ever played the piano?”
“No. It’s my first time.”
“Well, this is ‘do.'”
Jungwoo first struck the keys and then gestured. Eunseo’s fingers were carefully placed on the keys.
Ding. When the sound echoed, Eunseo smiled like a child.
“This is ‘re.'”
This time, Eunseo followed him again. And, like a student checking if she did it right, she smiled at Jungwoo.
“Mi.”
The space between them could barely fit a fist. Taeha downed his drink and looked at their backs.
It seems they can’t take it anymore, but seeing them smile so brightly, I couldn’t bring myself to say anything.
Do, re, mi, fa, sol, la, ti, do.
As each note rose, the discomfort in my heart increased by one octave.
Let’s end it here.
Whether that prayer worked or not, fortunately, Eunseo stood up not long after.
“Thank you. I’ll be going.”
“You can’t just leave!”
Jungwoo shouted at Eunseo, who was just getting up from the chair.
“Yes?”
“Wipe your mouth and leaving like that would be disappointing. Anyone can’t play my performance.”
“Sorry. It’s late, and it seems like we’re disturbing your conversation.”
Taeha filled the fourth glass. As the appropriate height of the alcohol rose, two drops of water fell. Gentle ripples emerged on the calm surface.
“Pay for the performance and leave.”
It’s starting again. Taeha let out a low laugh.
Thanks to Jungwoo’s boyish appearance, he stood out in the eyes of women wherever he went, and he fully utilized that charm, always having a fulfilling dating life.
If he liked it, he generously showed kindness anytime, anywhere, even if he didn’t, he was affectionate.
It’s often called manipulation.
“I don’t have much to give.”
Tsk. Taeha clicked his tongue.
Even I, who haven’t dated, understand that meaning.
Even if it’s not asking for something materialistic, such a foolish answer.
“What should I give you? Ah!”
After a short exclamation, Eunseo said softly, “Applause,” and clapped her palms together, making a clapping sound. As Jungwoo’s expression changed, the applause gradually grew louder.
“Other than that, cut fruit as payment for the performance. Taeha can’t do that. Look at his hands. He looks like he’s scared of physical labor. He’s built up a lot of work in the kitchen, which is why he’s afraid. Have some fruit while playing around.”
“Fruit?”
Don’t ask unnecessary questions; assess the situation. The working hours are over, so turn around and go back to your room. Before something awkward happens for no reason. Since you’re not really an employee, you wouldn’t know where things like fruit are.
Instead of Taeha, I wanted to respond.
“Why? Don’t you like it?”
“The working hours are over.”
In the end, Taeha stepped forward. Warning signals rang in my head.
The Villainous Demon Lord Laid an Egg for Her (Female-Dominated)
Several months after transmigrating into a book, Yu Wu found herself facing the demon lord Li You, who could no longer conceal his dragon horns. With one hand on her aching waist and the other gripping a sharp sword, she stared at him.
The demon lord’s eyes were red with fury:
“This is all your doing! Today, I won’t rest until I kill you!”
Yu Wu rubbed her temples. Putting aside the taboo against bloodshed during pregnancy, wasn’t it this very man who willingly walked into her trap that day?!
Warnings:
- Male pregnancy.
- Height ratios are set to mirror typical male-female height proportions.
- Characters include a foot-loving demon lord and an eldest daughter from an immortal family’s concubine lineage.
