I Became the Tutor of the Royal Twins - Chapter 202

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Chapter 202

Translator: Yonnee

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Sera followed Helios, who led her to a room some ways away from where Rosé and Ferre were staying.

They looked around through the rooms, where there were varieties of curious items, from a large grand piano, to paintings and sculptures.

“Your Majesty, what kind of room is this?”

“Oh, this is a gallery, where we keep a collection of jewelry, paintings and sculptures. I brought you here because it seems like it’s about to rain, but do you not like it here?”

Helios asked for her opinion in a serious manner.

If she didn’t like it, he might really bring her elsewhere right away. However, Sera shook her head.

“No, it’s not like that. Seeing that it’s suddenly cloudy, I also think it’s much better for us to stay indoors.”

Sera murmured as she watched the dark gray clouds from a wide, open window.

“It’s the end of summer, so it’s not surprising. The rainy season must be starting.”

Drawing near to Sera all of a sudden, Helios looked at the same sky with calm eyes as he whispered this.

It was a bright sky just a while ago, but as it quickly darkened, it hid the clear sun.

At the sight of those unusual clouds, Helios closed the window.

Looking for something to do, Sera walked towards the piano, which occupied the center of the large room.

She sat in front of the white grand piano and placed her fingertips upon its surface. Following one step behind her, Helios leaned against the piano.

“Are you good at playing the piano?”

He seemed to be very curious.

“Not exactly. Perhaps about average? I’m not particularly good at it, just normal.”

As she admitted that she wasn’t good at it, Sera looked a bit disappointed.

It was just about the same level as her dance skills, which was just enough to teach Rosé and Ferre the basics last time.

In other words, in this world full of cultured aristocrats, her skill at the piano was not enough to stand out.

“Still, that’s commendable. Please play one song.”

“Your Majesty must be much better than I am.”

“It’s alright. I want to hear it.”

“Um, I’m really not good.”

As he tilted his head to the side and gave her a deep gaze, Sera had no choice but to accept.

Anyone who’d see those eyes would be compelled to do everything he’d ask. Besides that, since Sera liked him, she was even more vulnerable to that gaze.

Letting out a nervous sigh, Sera positioned her fingers over the keys.

Then, one elegant voice resounded through the hall.

“I’m already looking forward to it.”

Looking at her with his languid, violet eyes, Helios said this.

He leaned on the piano and watched her as if he was looking at his lover.

Sera wondered if this truly was a normal relationship between a tutor and her students’ guardian.

Perhaps this situation looked quite like a date.

She had never been in a romantic relationship before, but she knew that the people of this empire her age met and dated in this way.

‘His Majesty must only be doing it without much thought, but…’

Feeling a bit conflicted, Sera took a deep breath.

Then, to start the piece that she’d play to this man she kind of resented a little, she raised both index fingers.

It was a very unsuitable posture to take in front of a piano.

She could feel Helios’s eyes burning with curiosity.

Dan-dan-dan, dan-dan-dan—

Sera tapped the keys lightly and played the chopsticks march.

Perhaps baffled, Helios laughed lightly as he listened to the simple melody of a piece he was hearing for the first time.

“What is the name of that piece?”

Truly curious, he hummed as he asked.

“Did you compose this song, Miss Popo?”

She had to wonder about it herself.

Sera hesitated for a moment, but soon nodded. She just sort of acknowledged that what she learned in her previous life was of her own.

“Something… like that, yes. It’s called the ‘Knife March’.”

Sera named the march with a different but similar utensil since it wouldn’t make sense to bring up ‘chopsticks’ here.

“It’s a simple but fun melody.”

As he listened to the piece carefully, Helios smiled slightly with his eyes and stood straight from leaning back against the piano.

Then, he elegantly approached Sera and soon claimed the seat next to her.

“Would it be alright if you move to the side a little?”

Sera stared at Helios, a bit flustered.

Watching as she seemed unwilling to do so, Helios raised one eyebrow.

“You don’t want to.”

“No, of course not.”

Sera then scooted over.

And Helios was now sitting on her left.

“The melody needs accompaniment.”

From his side profile, he gave her a smile.

Even though it wasn’t such a big deal, Sera was both elated and forlorn due to the smile that’s so close to her.

‘Is it because we’re nearing the end? This won’t ever happen anymore.’

Sera blankly watched as Helios positioned his fingers over the keys.

Straight, long fingers danced on the array of keys. Just as everything else he did, his fingers moved with awe-striking skill.

Sera felt her gaze hardening the moment she realized that he had instantly figured out the perfect accompaniment to the melody she had played only a moment ago.

Now that she thought about it, though she knew more than just one or two pieces on the piano, she unknowingly played the chopsticks march, which led to this.

‘I didn’t think…’

Sera shook her head. She couldn’t have unconsciously chosen the chopsticks march because she wanted to play a duet with him.

“Miss Popo?”

Helios looked puzzled, wordlessly asking if she wasn’t ready yet. His hands were already neatly placed over the keys.

“I’m ready, too.”

Sera also positioned her hands.

One, two—

Without needing to say anything, the two started to play at the same time.

A soft, beautiful melody rang out from the grand piano, and its cheerful accompaniment was as clear and refreshing as the scenery of a verdant summer pasture.

Still, at the back of Sera’s mind, she felt a bit regretful that she couldn’t play a more beautiful piece to further appreciate this moment.

Every time his hand went across the keys, almost—almost—grazing her fingers, Sera’s breathing kept accelerating.

Slow down.

Slow down even more.

She chanted the words like a mantra in her mind, but she couldn’t stop her hands from increasing the tempo of the simple melody.

“Miss Popo. Slow down a little bit.”

At last, Helios spoke to her softly.

The sound of the piano was in line with the beating of her heart. Even so, Helios unilaterally kept up with her accelerando.

He continued to play the accompaniment calmly as if there was nothing wrong, even as their hands were about to cross each other.

‘But with His Majesty’s skill, he’ll be able to play a good accompaniment without having to cross to my space.’

The moment she thought of this though…

Ding—!