♫ Pling... Plang... ♫
"Ugh... ngh."
♫ Pling... Plang... ...Pling... Pla... Tzzzt ♫
"This isn't working. I just can't do it!"
Inside a spacious room, a visibly frustrated girl was trying to play the lyre, her eyebrows tightly furrowed. She sat on a couch near the window, sunlight casting a soft glow on the sweat glistening faintly on her face. A gentle breeze drifted through the open window, offering some relief—but not enough to ease her growing irritation.
With her long red hair and wide green eyes, the girl wore a deep crimson dress adorned with white lace. Though clearly designed to look mature, the dress gave her a rather charming and childlike appearance.
A few steps away stood a middle-aged woman, watching her with a sheepish smile. She held a lyre identical to the girl's in her hands, her arms extended to demonstrate.
The woman had neatly tied dark hair in a tight bun and wore an elegant navy-blue gown with long sleeves that covered her arms entirely.
"Princess, you must pluck the strings with your fingertips—not your nails. Please, watch me closely."
♫ Pling... Plang... Pling... Plang... Pling ♫
She played the lyre delicately, pressing it to her chest and using her index finger with graceful precision. She leaned slightly forward to let the girl observe more easily.
The girl carefully mimicked her teacher's posture and reached for the strings again.
♫ Pling... Zzttt... Plang... ♫
But her fingers fumbled clumsily, unable to move the way she wanted. After so many tries, frustration and anger bubbled to the surface once more.
"I told you—it's not working! I can't do it!"