545 One Mans Orchestra (1/2)

After the gloomy melody, a cello appeared before Lucien, who turned it around delicately and played music that was as profound as a man's voice. The violin, having lost support, simply floated in midair.

Enshrouded in the romantic atmosphere weaved by the conversation of the mellow cello and the soft violin, Natasha recalled her first encounter with Lucien. Because of a Symphony of Fate, the two of them were first connected, and because of their mutual interest in music and Lucien's humor and delightful self-embarrassment now and then, she gradually became his good friend, which allowed her to discover his advantages other than music. He was calm, gentle, smart and fun. There was no pressure to hang around with him, and she could be herself freely.

Those were the days that were as beautiful as the spring of April. Perhaps, it was in their deepening relationship that she gradually forgot Lucien's gender. Their love sprouted for the first time.

In the easy and pleasant melody, musical instruments behind and next to Lucien echoed on their own with his violin.

Those musical instruments seemed to be given their own souls and gathered into the concert of an orchestra. It was also as if many transparent musicians were playing together with Lucien.

Thanks to magic, Lucien's solo performance sounded like a minor orchestra.

The soft violin and the magnificent cello 'stood' together again. The deep feelings and the reluctance to say goodbye surfaced in Natasha's heart clearly. That was the farewell after their life-and-death escape and their support for each other. Lucien was about to leave Aalto for Holm. She believed that they would meet again, and she knew it was in the best interests of Lucien, so she let him go generously, but she still found herself missing him although they hadn't been separated yet.

Perhaps it was at that time, when Lucien carried her through the dark forest determinedly, that their friendship transformed. However, because of the pain that Sylvia brought her and her negligence, she merely regarded their feelings as those between two good friends.

From the brass instrument, a creepy, rigorous melody spread out. Grief, fear, panic, sorrow and other feelings flowed out while the violin was competing with the allegro in the band. Natasha seemed to have sensed Lucien's hesitation and agony after he realized that he fell in love with her. She also recalled her suffering back when she was in the abbey. The sole comfort for her at that time was the letters from Lucien. However, having walked further and further down the path of magic, and having disgraced the Cannon and the Doctrines again and again, he seemed unable to even keep being a good friend to her, a devout believer and the future duchess.

The violin let out resolution and anger. Natasha seemed to have heard Lucien's sigh when he made up his mind, and remembered how she treated Lucien as her best friend just like before, overcoming her psychological barriers. However, the pressure from the Church, the duchy, her father, the Violet family and the citizens cast everything into shadow again. They raged like storms and presaged the possible tragic ending.

In retrospect, Natasha realized that she had regarded Lucien as the most peaceful and gentle part of her mind since then, but her perception was enveloped by the mists of her habits back then.

Lucien continued playing the violin, and the cello began to play itself while nobody was around, as if it were listening to the violin's subtle confession of love. Then, Lucien turned to the cello, and the violin started to play on its own, as if the time had come for the gentlemen to tell his feelings and for the lady to listen.

It reminded Natasha of the beautiful scene when they met again in Holm and finally told each other their feelings towards each other. It was sweet and warm, but the lovely memory did not last when the melody turned hasty and sharp. The situation in Holm, the danger one year later, and her worries for her father who was far away in Orvarit all turned into rapid notes that constituted a grievous scene. The melody that feathered the wonder of love emanated the sorrow that could make souls cry in such an atmosphere.

Natasha had seen such devastation before, but her emotional experience with Sylvia was not as deep. The moment she thought that Lucien and her would end up like this, she felt that the music whose sadness reached her soul was speaking for herself. She clenched her fists and vowed to break all the obstacles.

But what if her father was the obstacle, and it was a helpless choice for Lucien's safety?

Obstacles were not so easy to be broken!

Natasha's face was somewhat twisted while she struggled in her heart. As her sorrow reached the summit, she finally took a step. Any difficulty could possibly be resolved, and giving up meant that they would never see the dawn. At such a moment, she could only press forward and try to resolve the difficulties until she died!

As if moved by her determination, after the intense grief, the flutes played the soft, splendid melody again together with the harp. Natasha seemed to see the view of Mountain Paradise where all pains were gone and only happiness was left. In the end, the violin began to play the thematic melody in solo again.

This time, there was no more vague sorrow, but only comforting beauty.

Such an atmosphere was like two hands that still held each other after all the vicissitudes of life, the warm eyes of understanding after all the difficulties were overcome, and two butterflies that danced with their dreamy wings around each other after breaking away from the thick cocoons that shackled them.

The music stopped, but the melody still lingered, awing everything into silence with its beauty.

”I have never heard such a music style before, but it is also the most beautiful violin melody I have ever heard. Thank you for your birthday gift, and thank 'Lucien Orchestra' for their performance.” A long time later, Natasha finally said hoarsely, ”I like the final part best. It seems to have sublimed the whole music.”

Half a month ago, after much deliberation, Lucien selected The Butterfly Lovers' Violin Concerto, which was composed by Mr. He Zhanhao and Mr. Chen Gang. While it was a tragedy, the 'Turning Into Butterflies' part represented beautiful hope, and he could express his feelings with it after slight adaptation. It was also fit for the conditions between himself and Natasha.

Putting down the violin, Lucien stood and bowed, ”I'm honored that you like it.”

”I noticed that you used a lot of different tricks when you played the violin. For example, sometimes you only used two strings.” Natasha walked to Lucien's side with a smile and pulled him back to the table. Seeing that he was about to explain, she hurried to hint that it was unnecessary and simply went on. ”It's not easy to see you play the violin. Its charm is entirely different from that of the piano. However, it is not the time for this right now. The music just now let me scrutinize our relationship in retrospect. I find it hard to hold back my feelings. I only want to have you and feel you.”

Lucien smiled, ”It's your birthday today. You'll be the queen.”

Naughtiness beamed out of Natasha's smile. ”Is that so? Excellent. That's what I want, too. Since today is my birthday, I'll take the lead of everything. You can only accept and cannot take any action until I tell you to. Do you understand?”