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Graf Urtica, Your Excellency, Vyseheim will come to a stop tomorrow at noon. I shall then accompany you to the capital on behalf of Stadtrat Vyseheim.

I will assist you in investigating this incident.

Furthermore, per protocol, you will be granted freedom of movement within Vyseheim until sundown to make it easier for you to pack your bags and express your goodbyes to those of importance to you.

Of course, considering your special status, as well as the seriousness of this incident, I will personally attend to you throughout your activities in Vyseheim.

Attend me? I expected you to directly say that you're 'surveilling' me.

(Shrugs)

So, where are you planning on going? If possible, please let us know in advance so that––

And if I don't feel like telling you?

Just a friendly reminder - I will be keeping tabs on your every word and action, and my records will greatly affect the outcome of these procedures.

Sure, sure. At this point, I'd rather hear that from some spy or agent. There's a lot more humanity to those types than the likes of you.

Afterglow Hall stands as always, only now, it has fallen silent.

The plaza has thinned out. Only a few casually-dressed people still remain milling about, their eyes full of suspicion.

Please, go easy on me this one time...

No.

This is where Gelais drew his last breath... I just wanted to sing a song he used to enjoy, 'die Melodie für Morgen'...

No, get out of here! Music is strictly prohibited in this jurisdiction at the moment. Are you trying to violate the order?!

But I'm only going to sing a song. I don't know any Originium Arts...

Get out of here right now, or you'll regret it!

Where are you going?

The guard said commoners aren't allowed in, right? Since I'm a noble, I'll vouch for him.

What is it?

Have you forgotten what happened the last time you brought a commoner into a music store?

The incident may not have had serious consequences, nor did anyone pursue the matter. Still, one time can be written off as a young man being ignorant and selfish. Two times, and the same can't be said again.

If you ask me, you've already blurred the line between commoners and nobles in your heart, a line which one must never cross.

Seems like you've calmed down.

I will make it known in my records that Graf Urtica has come to realize his excessive contact with commoners is one of the main reasons behind the tragedy––

Your Excellency?!

Hello.

Ebenholz?

Err, I mean, Graf Urtica... My apologies, I was too sad to think straight...

Please, don't call me that.

About Gelais...

Say no more, I get it. I'm very grateful for your consideration.

But please, don't finish that sentence. They're all watching, listening.

Oh, right, Herr Czerny is leaving the Afterglow tomorrow. Would you like to go see him?

Czerny? Leaving the Afterglow?

You didn't know? He's not doing well, so Hibiscus wants to take him to Rhodes Island for treatment.

Thanks for telling me. I'll go to him right away.

And... my condolences.

Thank you for your kindness...

(Sighs audibly)

Let's get going. And don't make trouble.

I'll make trouble for you any day of the week.

You really think you're not making life harder for those Infected? If you really cared about them, you'd keep your distance.

Ebenholz?!

Where've you been all this time? Mr. Czerny and I have been worried half to death about you––

Don't waste your breath, Hibiscus.

Czerny frowns at the figure standing behind Ebenholz. The noble remains there, motionless.

I heard Czerny was going to leave the Afterglow.

It's true.

That... isn't something I'd expect of the Czerny I know.

Such is the great Graf Urtica, brandishing his razor wit the moment he steps through the door.

That wasn't meant as an insult.

I know. Since you're here, I'd like to hear what you've been up to since they put you under house arrest––

Watch your mouth, uncouth peasant.

...I'll keep that in mind. Now, might we continue our conversation, o highest of noble lords?

Now then, I'm leaving the Afterglow for three reasons.

First, my body is in bad shape. Hibiscus was right - my life isn't forfeited yet, and I shouldn't give up my hope for a future just yet.

Is this the same Czerny who used to compose until he vomited blood? Those are some words worth recording.

I don't think those words are very much like me either. Hibiscus is primarily to blame, as she has been forcing these ideas upon me.

Second, I can no longer do anything for the Afterglow as it is now.

What do you mean by that?

The Stadtrat has taken over the entire district. They...

Ahem–– Ahem.

...have been very considerate of us.

The day after the incident, they placed a ban on playing music in public, claiming it was to 'prevent criminal activity.'

Hmph.

Music stores throughout the Afterglow have been subject to frequent investigation lately, with many of them closing permanently.

I intended to go to have a word with the Stadtrat, but even playing piano in my own home saw them 'politely' breaking into my house. They nearly attacked Ursula last time.

Have they gone mad?!

If you ask me, they're afraid of––

Halt your baseless speculation.

Your Excellency, this is not something that should be discussed with commoners.

Then, I trust you'll explain the situation in private, good sir.

Ignore him, Czerny. What's your third reason?

That would be the most one. My creative process requires something a bit... different.

After the incident, I found myself harboring some... more difficult-to-express feelings in my chest.

I need to connect with something different... something brand new, to expand the vocabulary of my music. Perhaps then, I will be able to give voice to a part of those feelings.

That's the first bit of good news I've heard all day.

I wish you the best.

Ebenholz, what are you planning to do next?

Fräulein, I advise you to change the subject.

Um, is there any place you'd like to go?

An interesting question. How can I go anywhere? Once this city comes to a stop tomorrow...

Disclosing that is a serious crime.

Well, there you have it.

I'll come up with something.

With what? There is nothing to come up with.

Leaking secrets is a serious crime indeed, and there are thousands of laws in Leithanien. It's a single law I'm managing to not break here.

My verdict hasn't been handed down yet, so all I can do is wait––

This is your last warning, Graf Urtica.

So, this pretty much sums up the situation.

There must be a way... I'm sure of it.

Once I'm back at Rhodes Island, I'll go see the Doctor. We'll come up with something, for sure.

Your Doctor is so incredibly capable?

Absolutely.

Why would such an incredible Doctor make such efforts for me?

Don't sell yourself short.

If you weren't the focus of this whole mess, if it was someone else, I can't even imagine what would have become of Vyseheim.

You saw the truth. You stood up to fight. And most importantly, many people... myself included, would have died without your efforts.