William's POV
Eudora flinched as she heard my voice. Her fingers froze on the keys, the last note hovering in the air before fading, leaving the room in silence. She turned her head, eyes widening out of surprise. "M-Master?" She stutters, abruptly standing up making the chair screech, an uncomfortable sound that rang loudly across the room.
She stood there, looking back at the piano then to me, "I apologize," she stammered, her voice hurried and nervous. "I was wandering around when I accidentally stumbled across this room. I know I shouldn't be touching anything…" Eudora's hands clasped tightly together as she spoke.
I drew a slow, steady breath, "no, it's fine…" I said, my voice quieter now, almost to myself. Why did I think it would be Eliot? She is gone, truly gone, yet part of me had clung to hope that she'd be here...
The disappointment settled over me like a shadow. I tried to smooth the expression from my face, but the faint tightening in my chest and the hollow ache in my stomach betrayed me. The silence after the last note pressed down around me, heavy and intimate, making the space feel impossibly vast and empty at the same time.
The room had gone completely quiet now, my eyes locked on Eudora. She wore a soft, troubled frown, her fingers fidgeting with each other while her gaze stayed glued to the floor, as if avoiding mine might lessen her guilt.
She's still feeling bad about it, huh…
I cleared my throat, breaking the heavy silence.
"You can play the piano?" I asked, if only to cut through the tension hanging between us. Her eyes brightened instantly, hands stilled, and finally lifted her head to look at me.
"I do," she said softly. "I love playing the piano, so I… couldn't help myself. I truly am sorry."
I crossed my arms, tilting my head with genuine curiosity. "Commoners like you don't exactly have the luxury of owning a piano," I said as I stepped closer, my boots clicking against the wooden floor. "Most can't even touch one."
"About that…" Eudora's voice turns small, almost shy. "When I was a kid, I… sneaked into the noble realm out of curiosity. One day I stumbled into this open hall and saw people playing the piano. I was mesmerized. It was the first time I'd ever heard real music." A faint, nostalgic smile softens her features. "So I kept watching. Every day, I would always find a way to come back."
I let out a quiet chuckle, running a thumb along his jaw. "Well," he murmurs, amusement dripping into his tone, "then tell me how you managed to sneak into the noble realm. Those with noble blood are the only ones allowed in there."
"Well… there was this supply wagon that drove past my village," Eudora began, twisting a strand of hair behind her ear. "Every morning it went through the East Gate without anyone checking inside. I figured if I timed it right, I could slip under the tarps and ride my way in." She shrugged lightly. "Sometimes the nobles' guards get lazy. That's all."
A smirk formed on my face, my voice gentler than before as I spoke. "So that's how far you went… just to hear a bit of music." I chuckled under my breath. "You were sneaking around even back then. Should I be worried you might sneak away from me too?"
Eudora's eyes widened, genuine surprise flashing across her face. "Oh- no… I assure you I won't leave."
My brows lifted, considering her words for a moment. "I'll take your word for it," I spoke, then nodded toward the piano. "So… can you play for me?"
Eudora looked stunned, glancing from me to the instrument and back again. "Can I really?" she asked, almost breathless.
I stepped toward the piano, leaning against it, a silent gesture of permission and trust. The wood was worn smooth in places, rough in others, the years clearly etched into it, but it still stood proudly at the center of the room. "Go on," I said warmly. "It's completely fine."
She was still hesitant as she approached the piano, her steps small and uncertain. But the moment she sat down, something in her shifted, her shoulders straightened, her eyes brightened, and her fingers hovered over the keys with barely contained excitement.
I waited, watching the anticipation build in her hands. And then her fingers pressed down. Music poured into the quiet room, warm and soft. I closed my eyes, leaning closer into the piano, letting the notes wash over me.
And then…
My eyes snapped open.
The melody… that melody.
I froze, every muscle going still as I listened, making sure I wasn't imagining it.
She was playing that music.
The one I never expected to hear again…
When her fingers pressed the final note, the sound lingered in the air before dissolving into silence. Eudora let out a soft, contented sigh.
I didn't move. Didn't speak. I just stood there, suspended in the shadow of a memory I wasn't ready to face.
"Master? Are you alright?" Her voice drifted from behind me, gentle but startled, snapping me back to the present.
I turned toward her slowly. "Oh- forgive me… I just…" A shuddered breath shook its way out of my chest.
"You're crying. Did I do something?" Eudora asks out of concern.
My body tensed. Only then did I feel the warmth gathering beneath my eyes. I hadn't even noticed the tears. Instinctively, I quickly turned away, raising a hand to cover my eyes.
"It's nothing…" I said quietly, my voice low, I took a few deep breaths trying to steady myself. "But… you did make a few mistakes with the keys there." I tried to shift the mood, forcing a small, casual tone.
Eudora didn't respond at once. When she finally spoke, her voice was soft, almost hesitant. "You… you know how this song is played?"
I took one final deep breath, letting my hand fall from my face. I stood up, straightening myself as I resting my palms lightly on the piano's worn sides. "I know all too well…" I murmured.
My eyes closed, memories flooding back. Because Eliot… Eliot always played this song for me…