poca

A portion of my savings, enough to pay for your course of treatment.

This is all I can do for you, as your former master.

For this day onward, you will not refer to me as 'my lady'. If I should return to Ursus one day, it will not be as a child of the House of Rostov.

I have a codename at Rhodes Island, I am—

Rosa.

You must also address me by this name, I'm just an operator here.

M-My lady…

I still don't understand.

Why do you choose to live like this?

One day... you will understand.

No, I will find out where the Count and Countess are. I'll send Alexey to tell them you're still alive.

You can do what you think is best.

However, when the time comes, I will be the one to make the choice.

*sigh*

Are you sure about this? You could use that money.

What are you doing here?

I told them what happened. Anna was worried about you, so she dragged me along with her.

Thank you.

The money is gone, but I can earn more.

Of course, there are some things that must be done.

Hmph, look at you acting all mature.

It can't be helped. It's as I said, this is all I can do.

Hello, what is it?

Hey, Your Worship, you got a delivery. Real big sucker too.

Oh?

Do you mean—

Yep, your piano's here.

Better hurry back.

Alright!

Zima, Istina, we have to go back, now!

What's the rush? It's not going anywhere!

But I can't wait!

Ugh, the girl's barely got anything fancy in her at all anymore.

And so she's become more and more likable.

Why are you taking her side too?

I'm only stating facts.

I think it's working on you too, Sonya.

I don't like her.

Aw, hell, that piano cost a fortune. If she's gotta move it by herself, she could drop the damned thing and then it'll cost even more money to fix.

Better head back and help her.

Haha, sure.

Let's put it here.

Phew—

Did you make space for the piano before?

Yes, after all, this is the most money I've spent since I came to Rhodes Island.

I've thought about it every day.

I just don't get why the maid was so upset when she found out you bought a piano with money you made yourself.

Because if she recognized that I wasn't nobility, then she would lose someone she thought she could rely on.

So she can rely on herself.

That isn't easy to accept. You know how long it took me to figure it out.

I don't blame her. It's Ursus… No, it's the aristocracy, a powerful system that made her like this.

I hope that in the future, everyone can live by your words, Zima.

So they can rely on themselves.

If you did it, anyone can, right?

And if they can't, I'll go help them figure it out.

Yes... help them figure it out.

Thinking on that... I believe I've found a reason to return to Ursus.

I don't get you. Always talking about the obvious stuff.

And that's why I envy you, you always know what's obvious.

…but I can't pretend I didn't hear what you said before.

So when I told you I wanted to save up for the piano, you actually thought I couldn't do it?

…I never said that.

Hmph, you thought I was pamper and spoiled, that I couldn't press on.

I think it works. Now if Your Worship started bouncing around like me after becoming an operator, <i>that</i> would be weird.

Your Worship is still a fancy girl.

Mhm, in any case, you did exchange your own labor for this piano.

We all hoped you could do it.

Yep yep, isn't that right, Zima?

What are you looking at me for?

A valued member of our team just fulfilled her wish! You're our leader, so of course you've gotta congratulate her!

Uh, congrats.

Thank you.

Now then, fellow members of the Ursus Student Self-government Group, you will be my first audience.

Hooray, I've always wanted to hear Rosa play!

Yes, I'm also looking forward to it.

Uh oh, when you say that, I feel a little shy.

And it's been so long since I last played piano. You're not allowed to laugh at me if I'm not good.

We won't!

Of course.

I wouldn't be able to tell anyway.

If you're gonna play, then play already.

Hmph, I didn't ask you two.

Rosa approaches the piano and presses the keys. For a split second, she feels as if she's turned back into <i>Natalya.</i>

She sits in the center of an extravagant room, filled with distinguished guests attentively watching her performance. She need not worry about anything, she need only enjoy that simpler, more elegant time.

Although, this piano's tone isn't quite as good as the exquisite one she once owned—No, the one she never truly owned.

The piano's roughness drags her back to reality.

Now then, my dear friends, the piece I will be performing for you is—'Für Lorenz'.

The audience is only four girls, and the room is quite simple, and she has many worries.

The sound of the piano rings out, and it's somewhat rough.

But it's for the best.

She chose this, and she loves it.