Chapter 50: The Siren's Song (1)

Meanwhile, Carrie was engrossed with relationship advice in her room. She had already knelt on one knee and busily scribbled down Louis’ words of wisdom.

“So…you’re saying it’s important to build rapport first? And then gradually express my feelings step by step?”

“Mmm-hmm.”

With his mouth full of cookies, Louis nodded at Carrie’s enthusiastic question. Absorbed in eating, he half-heartedly responded, but Carrie, fully engrossed in love advice, didn’t notice his lack of attention.

“And avoid sudden confessions or giving gifts too early?”

“Mmm-hmm.”

As Carrie continued jotting down Louis’ tips, his face suddenly darkened, leading him to clutch his head and exclaim:

“Everything…I’ve been doing all along!”

“Well, you should have chosen your advisor more carefully from the start,” Louis chided him half-heartedly.

A dark cloud loomed over Carrie’s head at this criticism. Unable to bear it any longer, Louis offered some hope.

“It’s not completely hopeless yet.”

“R-really?”

“Yeah. After ten attempts, she might finally give in.”

“For real?”

“Mm-hmm. Out of pity or guilt, she might agree to meet with you… Of course, if you go too far, she’ll lose interest altogether.”

”…Winning a lady’s heart is no easy task.”

Louis rolled his eyes at Carrie sounding like he had experienced life’s ups and downs already.

He’s such a mature kid for his age. Can you believe he was only ten four years ago?

Louis bit into his cookie and asked, “So why do you like Lady Lucia so much?”

“She is…like light to me. Five years ago, my dark future brightened as if it were daytime when I first laid eyes on her.”

“…” Louis’s hand froze mid-reach for another cookie, staring at Carrie with disbelief.

So he started visiting that place four years ago because he fell for her at first sight five years ago? At just nine years old?

Louis couldn’t help but be impressed by Carrie once again. Unaware of Louis’s thoughts, Carrie continued praising Lucia.

“Her gestures, her smile, and her singing voice… My heart was hers from the moment I saw her.”

“…That’s quite a long-winded explanation for falling in love with her singing voice.”

“It wasn’t just any song! Lady Lucia’s voice is truly heavenly!”

Louis interrupted Carrie’s impassioned speech. “So why doesn’t she sing anymore?”

“…Well, that’s because…”

The question cast a shadow over Carrie’s face. He hesitated briefly before opening his mouth again.

“It was a tragedy.”

“…A tragedy?”

After some more hesitation, Carrie shared Lucia’s story with Louis.

Upon hearing it all, Louis nodded solemnly. “I see.”

Lucia, once known as the siren of Luft Hagenn, could no longer sing due to a tragic accident.

It happened on her eighteenth birthday four years ago.

On that fateful day, Lucia had pestered her parents to attend a famous show she’d been dying to see after learning it was coming to Luft Hagenn. Her adorable persistence over the course of a month paid off when they promised to take her for her birthday.

Big sis…

I’m fine. Have fun.

With Moana staying behind at the inn due to overnight guests, the rest of the family headed out to the theater together. Tragedy struck there.

Hiiiinnn!

Lucia!

No!

For some unknown reason, a horse and carriage suddenly careened toward Lucia. Her parents shielded their daughter with their own bodies, allowing Lucia to survive with minor injuries. However…

M-Mom… Dad!

Her parents had sacrificed themselves to protect her on the spot. Lucia felt immense guilt over their deaths.

If only I hadn’t… If only I hadn’t asked them to go to that concert with me…

The belief that she was responsible for their deaths ate away at her. She thought those memories might fade as time passed, but they never did.

A-ahhh!

Whenever she tried singing, vivid recollections of that fateful day came rushing back, and…

Ahhh… Aaaaaargh!

…the horrifying memory robbed her of her voice.

As Louis pieced together Lucia’s tragic story, he looked upon her with pity.

Perhaps her trauma from that performance is resurfacing…

At that moment, Louis’s eyes gleamed brightly. If Pablo had been there, he would have exclaimed, “Are you trying to sell another potion again!” at his expression.

Louis grinned and whispered slyly, “That necklace, you’re planning to gift it to Sis Lucia, right?”

“Yes, exactly. As you said, I can’t give it to her impulsively now, but someday, I’ll definitely present it to her! There couldn’t be a more fitting necklace for Lady Lucia.”

“Hmm… By the way…”

“Yes?”

“For a siren who cannot sing anymore… isn’t the gift of ‘Siren’s Tears’ somewhat tragically ironic?”

”…?!”

Louis’s words caught Carrie completely off guard, and her face betrayed her shock.

“R-really?!”

“It might be hurtful for Sis Lucia not being able to sing despite wanting to… Giving her a necklace named ‘Siren’s Tears’ seems rather cruel.”

“Oh…”

Carrie’s face turned pale at this revelation.

Seeing her reaction brought a smirk to Louis’s lips as he slowly began his maneuvering.

“So here’s my proposal.”

”…Proposal?”

“Yes, a proposal. Are you interested?”

“Go on…”

“If I can make Sis Lucia sing again…you give me that necklace.”

“What?”

The unexpected proposal left Carrie bewildered. Louis didn’t give her time to think; he needed to push hard while she was disoriented, so she wouldn’t realize what was happening.

“Why? Don’t you want to see Sis Lucia singing again?”

“N-no, that’s not it!”

“Then is this necklace more valuable than seeing Sis Lucia sing?”

“Not at all!”

“So if Sis Lucia can sing once more, giving me such a necklace would be no issue for you, right?”

“Y-yes.” Although something felt off about the conversation flow, Carrie nodded vigorously since there was nothing technically wrong with his statements.

Louis glanced at the fish halfway out of the water and concluded, “So if I make Sis Lucia sing again, you’ll give me that necklace?”

“Wh-what?”

“Why? You don’t want to? Wow… Is your affection for Sis Lucia limited to just this pendant?” Louis’s provocative question infuriated Carrie.

“F-fine!” he yelled.

With twinkling eyes, Louis swiftly extended his hand. “Man-to-man!”

“A deal is a deal!” Carrie shook hands with Louis.

Having completely reeled him in, Louis beamed brightly.

With this gentleman’s agreement with Carrie, Louis safely returned to the siren sanctuary.

Moana, who was wiping down a table, looked puzzled as she spotted him.

“Oh? You’re back alone? Where’s your uncle?”

“He’s drinking.”

“What?! That old man! What if something happens to our little Louis while he’s gone?!”

Despite having known Louis for only one night, Moana naturally referred to him as “our” Louis. He quietly approached her and peered up, asking:

“Where is Sis Lucia?”

“You have a crush on Lucia, don’t you, sweetie?”

“Yes! I really like Sis Lucia!”

“Ha ha, she’s in her room. Want to go see her?”

“Yes!”

Won over by Louis’s charming act, Moana took his hand and led him towards Lucia’s room.

Louis quietly followed Moana, but as soon as she turned away, he flashed a mischievous grin.

Every journey begins with a single step!

Soon, they arrived at Lucia’s room.

Knock, knock.

“Lucia?”

“Hm? What is it?”

“Louis wants to see you.”

As soon as Moana finished knocking, the door swung open. Lucia greeted them with a wide smile and looked down at Louis.

“Our little Louis, do you want to play with Sis?”

Louis nodded enthusiastically, prompting Lucia to extend her hand and gently pull him inside. Pleased by this scene, Moana turned back to resume her work.

Inside Lucia’s room…

“What does our little Louis like?” Lucia asked as she seated Louis on her bed.

While she spoke, Louis took a moment to observe her room. Its neat and charming decor seemed reflective of her personality.

Suddenly, Louis spotted something that caught his eye. A look of excitement briefly flashed across his face as he sprang into action.

“Yay!”

“Huh?”

Louis jumped off the bed and rushed toward one side of the room. Lucia quietly observed him.

He stopped in front of an object leaning against the wall.

Is it some kind of guitar?

It was the most frequently used item in Lucia’s room: an instrument with four strings resembling a guitar.

Louis pointed at it curiously. “What’s this?”

“It’s called a barhem…”

“A barhem?”

”…It’s a musical instrument.”

“Instrument? Sis, play me something on it!” Louis’s pleading eyes made Lucia hesitate momentarily.

After struggling internally for a brief moment, she eventually succumbed to his wide-eyed gaze and picked up the barhem.

“…” Louis watched her hesitantly hold onto the barre.

The well-used instrument was immaculate, indicating how much Lucia cherished and cared for it.

“Phew…” Lucia gently exhaled as she placed the barre across her knees. One hand cradled its long neck while the other rested above the strings of the soundbox.

Louis spread out a mat on the ground in front of Lucia and sat down, watching her intently.

Playing this is similar to playing a guitar.

Dingling—

As Lucia’s fingers brushed against the strings, clear notes rang out.

Even the sound is somewhat alike.

Curious, Louis focused all her attention on Lucia.

Soon, Lucia’s hands began moving gracefully over the strings.

“Oh…”

Louis’s mouth slightly dropped open at the harmonious notes Lucia produced with her guzheng.

It’s beautiful…

Both Lucia playing the guzheng and the clear melody she created were captivating to Louis’s senses. Although it was his first time seeing this instrument, he could immediately tell that Lucia possessed exceptional skill.

Now I understand why Carrie fell head over heels for her.

If there existed people favored by the god of music, they would surely look like Lucia playing the guzheng. Her performance appeared effortless yet breathtakingly beautiful. Louis couldn’t even imagine how mesmerizing it would be if she added singing to her enchanting instrumental melody.

Dingling…

Lucia’s brief but intense performance came to an end.

Clap, clap, clap.

Louis enthusiastically clapped with his small white hands.

Lucia bashfully blushed at the applause.

Seeing this, Louis tugged on her skirt and pleaded, “One more song! Please play one more!”

“Hmm… Maybe I should.”

It had been a while since she last played, and it had also been some time since she’d performed for an audience. Although the only listener was a young child, Lucia felt invigorated knowing someone appreciated her music. With renewed enthusiasm, she began playing again, looking even more relaxed than before.

The gentle melody brought a smile to Louis’s face.

Good. Let’s take it step by step.

By steadily guiding Lucia up each stair, they would eventually reach their goal: the reward awaiting them at the top—the Tears of the Siren.