The instructor woman gently bowed her head, offering a respectful gesture.
"I'm so glad you managed to do it, Princess Isolde. If you'll allow me, I'd like to excuse myself. It's been a rather long and tiring day."
Isolde's relentless attempts over the past hours had slowly drained the woman's strength and patience.
As she happily strummed the strings of her instrument, Isolde didn't seem to take the woman's words too seriously. She simply gave a slight nod in response.
"Alright, Eleanora. You may go."
With a final elegant bow, Eleanora quietly left the room, her steps soft and graceful.
Elio watched the woman leave with a sharp eye, and the moment the door closed, he spoke up with a hint of impatience.
"So? Now that you've got it, how about putting it down and coming outside? Let's go play already."
Isolde was rarely good at tasks that required dexterity. Compared to her peers, she tended to lag behind in learning new skills. That's why, after all the effort she had put into playing the instrument, she wasn't ready to abandon it just yet.
As she continued the melody, she spoke in a calm tone, her focus still mostly on the music.
"Just a moment… Let me play a little more. I've just started to get it, and I don't want to forget."
Elio sighed and wandered away from her with slow, lazy steps. Reaching the lavish couch in the corner of the room, he threw himself onto it, crossed one leg over the other, and spread his arms wide as he settled in to wait.
♫ Pling... Plang... Pling... Pling... Plang... Pling... ♫
As the soft breeze gently filled the room, Isolde continued to play. There was a deep contentment in her chest, a quiet pleasure that made her fingers lighter. Deep down, a small part of her hoped Elio was watching her with admiration.
Elio, now lounging comfortably, swung his legs in rhythm with the melody and breathed in the crisp air. Though he enjoyed the serenity for a few minutes, his mouth couldn't stay shut for long.
"You really do sound like someone who just started learning. Haha!"
Isolde snapped her head toward him with an irritated glare.
"Well, I am a beginner! Just a minute ago, I didn't even know where to place my fingers!"
Realizing he'd gone too far, Elio lowered his head a little and replied more gently,
"Yeah, yeah… Fair enough. I really am glad you pulled it off."
♫ Pling... Plang... Pling... ♫
Elio stayed quiet for a while, letting her play in peace. But a few moments later, he began to squirm.
"Come on, isn't that enough already? I swear, I can feel my mother walking these halls. It's like she's right behind the door... ready to pounce."
Isolde rolled her eyes and carefully set the lyre aside. There was a note of dry annoyance in her voice.
"Ugh… What is with you and always trying to dodge my mother?"
Elio flinched slightly, his gaze drifting into the void. The memory of "those days" seemed to tighten his chest.
"Dodge her? You have no idea, Isolde… It's like I can't breathe around her. 'Elio, do this. Elio, don't forget that. Elio, try this next.' It's nonstop. I swear, she's even started showing up in my dreams."
He recounted his hardships with theatrical flair, like a veteran soldier describing the horrors of war. His voice trembled, and his face twisted with exaggerated dread.