The Defeated Dragon

Alright.

Liszt didn't actually play “Two Tigers” or “Run Fast”. However, he did go for one of the few piano pieces he was most familiar about.

It was Beethoven's Für Elise.

As to why he played this musical piece, it was naturally because this piece was very simple and familiar. When he was a child, Liszt had a music box. Every time he turned it, it would play Für Elise . Even now, Liszt only needed to close his eyes and he still could hear the same familiar melody.

As one of the world 's greatest piano composers, the story of Beethoven 's deafness in both ears has been written in elementary school textbooks.

But few people actually know that Beethoven is unmarried.

He yearned for love and was captivated by a n.o.ble lady when he was 16 years old. However, due to the difference in status, the affair was not to be and he almost committed suicide. At the age of 20, he fell in love with a widow but missed it again because of  status differences. He was tormented by his childhood ear disease, but he still yearned for true love.

In his late forties, he fell in love with his female student, a young girl named Therese Malfatti.

On impulse, he wrote the short piece  “Bagatelle in A Minor” and gave it to Therese. Later, someone wrote a biography of Beethoven and discovered this piece from Therese's relics. However, when it was published, its original t.i.tle which was “To Teresa” was written as “To Elise”.

Since then, this piano piece has widely circulated around the world.

Because of its simple monophonic melody, even the music box market is dominated by “To Elise” with the remaining half divided between “City of the Sky” and “Cannon”.

Liszt played it for the first time.

Liszt's fingers are still very crude and there were many mistakes. It was not perfect. But when he began to play the second time, he had mastered every note and restored most of “To Elise”.

He played it three times in a row.

With that, Liszt just finished his first ever piano performance in his career.

Like Meopal, he stood up facing the n.o.ble men and women who had stopped dancing on the dance floor and quietly admiring “To Elise”.

Liszt  then turned around and left the piano.

The audience broke into a warm applause, which was more than the applause that Meopal received when he played “Ariel at the Water's Edge”. Most people here have heard Meopal play “Ariel at the Water's Edge”. However, no one has ever heard the short piece “To Elise” before.

On Earth, "To Elise" has been around for a long time and the charm of the work is naturally self-evident. Even if Liszt's performance was only of beginner's level, it still touched many people.

“Excellent!”

Meopal couldn't help but say, “Liszt, you must teach me this musical piece!  I must learn it!”

“No problem, I will take the time to write the score.” Liszt was not into taking things personally, but he enjoyed the applause after the performance.

It wasn't only Meopal that circled Liszt, many n.o.bles leaned in and asked about the piano piece.

A male n.o.bleman exclaimed, “I have never heard of it. It is quite short, but it is very attractive.”

"I just heard it by chance.”

An aristocratic socialite with ordinary features but has such big eyes blinked.  “Sir Liszt, can you teach me how to play this musical piece? Also, does it have a name?”

” 'To Elise', I'll sort out the score and give it to Cousin Meopal, who in turn,  will give you a copy.”

“I like this piano piece, I heard the sweet touch, I heard the sadness of seeing through the world, the sad love of the whole piece, and the longing for love till death do us part!” The n.o.ble and famous lady who spoke held her heart in both hands. She couldn't help but feel sad for Elise.

Liszt said regretfully, “Yes, it's a sad story. I only remember this part of the music which is easier. The really sad part behind it can't be played.” In fact, Liszt did not really taste the sadness of the music itself. Is there any sad color in this sketch?

He only played the beginner part of "To Elise".

But it successfully made Liszt, who wanted to keep a low profile, the focus of the dance.

Even when the pianist came back to the stage and started playing at a performance high level, there were still a lot of n.o.bles talking about the piano music around Liszt.

“Hey, handsome pianist, can I invite you to dance?” A tall n.o.ble lady suddenly squeezed through a few other ladies around Liszt and reached out to him.

Her appearance made it easy for Liszt to think of Elizabeth Olsen, the Scarlet Witch in the Avengers.

She has, however,  golden hair and dark blue eyes.

If 10 points is a perfect score, she can probably get 8.5 points from Liszt, which is much higher than Athena Salmon's 8 points.

“Miss Danica has invited me so I cannot say no.” Liszt grabbed her hand and followed her to the dance floor.

Liszt put his hand around Danica's waist and the pair started to dance slowly to the three-step waltz.

Liszt could feel them getting really close to each other. It was as if their hearts shared a connection and they were sharing each other's warmth.

“I like the song 'To Elise'.”

“I like it too.”

“But when you played it, there were some parts you didn't play smoothly .”

“Yes, I don't play the piano very often. Some fingering techniques have been forgotten.”

“I play the piano every day. I like music, especially that song you played .It is a simple monophonic melody, but it has a unique beauty. I heard the intimacy between the lovers, the low voice and the bountiful love  intoxicated me. “

She said this with her mouth fairly close to Liszt's ear that he could feel the burst of heat.

This kind of action made Liszt want to act without respect , but he choked back and did not express it. “Miss Danica is knowledgeable about music, but unfortunately I can't recreate the original” To Elise ” to let you feel the sad love story told in the tune.”

“No, maybe the most wonderful things are those most lacking. It is very short and easy, but it is the best piano piece. There was no need to add any more melody.”

This kind of impression.

Liszt couldn't help but look at Danica.

“To Elise” was originally a whole piano piece. Many people would have wanted to  listen to the whole story after listening to Liszt's incomplete performance. Only Danica thought that the incomplete part was enough.

This is a woman who actually knows music.

Perhaps this is a socialite nurtured by a high ranking n.o.ble.

Danica Hyacinth's  father is Durant Hyacinth, one of the two Counts on Red Crab Island. According to the information Meopal told him, the 17-year-old Danica is known as the 'Barbed Rose' of Red Crab Island. Comments about her are not very good. Though she is also described as enthusiastic and active with countless suitors around,none of them actually won her heart.

Liszt strongly held Danica's slender waist.

Feeling Danica's soft touch on his chest,  the eye contact between them made Liszt feel a lot of excitement. “In fact, I just made up the story. This musical piece is actually a piano piece of its own. The pianist adored a n.o.ble lady and created it for her on impulse. “

Danica gave Liszt the eye. "So, you lied to everyone.”

“How can it be a lie? Every piano piece has a beautiful story behind it, which can be true or false. Is it that important?”

“Doesn't it matter?”

“The story only provides a small touch. How the melody moves you is the most touching aspect.”

“I can't completely agree with your point of view unless you make up a story more suitable for “To Elise'. “

Liszt was good at making up stories, but he did not agree to Danica's “request”.  Perhaps he can make up a story to please the Count's daughter and develop stories other than those to please Danica. Perhaps with his own temperament and charm, he could naturally win Danica over.

But this was not necessary.

He doesn't like this kind of intentional flattery.

It was either because he had always loved himself more or that he was only interested in Danica's external beauty that he did not feel pursuing the lady with efforts derived from impulse.

“There is no romantic story. It's about a piano teacher who fell in love with one of his female students and that piece sprouted from pa.s.sion.” Liszt said flatly.

Danica gave him another look. “Are you as pa.s.sionate as him now?”

Liszt could only respond, “What?”

It was not until Danica rubbed his thigh lightly that he suddenly realized that his respectful facade was too obvious.

In addition, he has no experience in this field in his two lifetimes. But he was not shy about these things like young people do. “You know it is difficult to keep a calm state of mind in the face of a beautiful young lady, especially one who has an outstanding beauty like yours.” Liszt pulled back to calm the heat a little.

Danica took a big step forward and drew closer. “I accept your praise for me. No one has ever expressed it to me so generously.”

“Well…” Liszt suddenly had a poor vocabulary.

Perhaps there was no need to say anything. They were dancing quietly next to each other's body, following the rhythm of the piano music,gently moving their bodies. They looked at each other between the eyes, the corner of the mouth slightly raised trying to keep a consistent smile.

Danica also stopped talking, following Liszt's footsteps and moving gently.

The piano piece ends.

The two did not immediately separate and continued to hug each other, waiting for the second piano piece. The second song was only halfway, when Danica suddenly asked, “Do you want to go outside for a breather?”

“Let's go.”

Liszt loosened his arms around her and took her outside, quietly exiting the crowded dance floor together. The sky outside was completely dark, and only the lights of Longtaro Castle remained fairly bright.

Servants hurried by in the corridor outside the hall.

Neither of them had any words. They just walked to a secluded corner holding hands. During the walk, they could see several secluded corners of the cloister where other couples hugged each other tightly.

They found a corner with relatively dim crystal lamps.

They stopped in it.

“The air outside is very fresh. You could breathe in the coldness of winter.” Liszt's one hand was on the edge of the window, and the other held on to Danica. “Miss Danica, you are wearing very thin clothes today. It's cold.”

“I'm not cold. It's actually a little hot.” Danica looked at him and suddenly said, “Call me Danica.”

“Danica.”

Liszt looked down on her delicate face touched with light makeup, focusing on her wonderful eyelashes. With her being 1.7 meters tall, Danica was on her toes. She slowly raised her face and gently closed her eyes.

There was no need for more words.

The next moment, Liszt could feel two soft areas.

It was a long time before they felt the need to separate themselves. A crystal silk thread of light could be seen, reflecting the light of the castle in the distance. Danica wrapped his arms around Liszt's neck, unwilling to let go.

Liszt said quickly. “My room is upstairs.”

“Hold me tight.”

Liszt held Danica while running like he had springs on his legs, past the veranda and on to the fourth floor of the castle. He did not respond to the servant who greeted him in the corridor and went directly to the door of his room.

The door was unlocked. The fourth floor of the castle was the residential area of Longtaro Castle.

Click!

He closed the door using his foot and everything went silent.

———-

When Liszt woke up with a sore backache, the sun outside the window had risen eastward. It was a rare sunny day. He sat up and saw the woman beside him sleeping soundly, her blond hair scattered on the pillow.

There was a smell in the room.

Shaking his head, Liszt still felt a little unreal.

The song "To Elise", the pair of them dancing closely to each other, a few intentional and unintentional provocations, it was indeed a crazy night. Recalling the heat from last night, Liszt suddenly felt a little dazed, that is to say, for the first time in his new life, he completely put himself out.

He didn't want to move a lot because the bed might get too loud.

Danica, who was sound asleep, suddenly woke up and saw Liszt dressing himself. “Hi, Liszt, what are you doing?”

“Getting up.”

Liszt put on his trousers, showing bare his upper body, a perfect inverted triangle figure. He walked to Danica's bedside, leaned down, and kissed her forehead lightly. “Don't you need to sleep for a little longer?”

“I can't sleep anymore.” Danico stretched out her hand and drew a circle on his chest. “You can call the castle maid to come in and help you get dressed.”

“On the battlefield, there won't be any servants to help me dress. I like to do it myself. I only need servants for a complicated frac habille.”

"Then I'll call my maid in so I can get up."

She shook a bell and waited for the maid to come in. Danica then put on a new garment with the help of her servant. Liszt also put on a new frac habille with a servant to a.s.sist him. Another castle servant brought in toiletries while Liszt and Danica waited for the servants to finish the morning cleaning.

When the maids left with the toiletries, Liszt and Danica were the only ones left in the room.

Danica rushed over and hugged Liszt's neck enthusiastically. “Kiss me like you're kissing me for the last time.”

“Well …”

After separation.

Danica gasped, “I like the way you play” To Elise “.I like your speech and temperament. You have different eyes. In them I see  ambitions beyond others' reach and loneliness that is out of tune with the whole world.”

She has a very keen sense of touch.

“I guess you saw a dragon,” Liszt said, smiling, “after all,  my biggest ambition is to ride a dragon.”

“I look forward to the day when you ride the dragon. If that day comes, I hope I'm not old yet. You are welcome to come and kiss me at any time … So many people invited me to dance at the ball, but I only chose you, my dear baron. Those people will be jealous of you, just like the women who were jealous of me when I took you away. “

Such intimacy.

Liszt could not tell whether he and Danica were actually in love or it was a momentary pa.s.sion. He just gently opened his hands around her neck. “I guess there must be a lot of broken hearts in Longtaro Castle. But you know I haven't been in it long so I'll never know.”

Liszt then opened the room and said, “Let's go downstairs for breakfast. I'm leaving today.”

"Good morning, dear Danica." Cousin Meopal got up early and saw the pair walk down the stairs and greeted them with a smile.

“Good morning, Brother Meopal.” Danica has always called Meopal his brother, a sign of closeness between the two.

Meopal held out his thumb behind Danica's back and mouthed  “well done” to Liszt. Then he said ,"Liszt, I'm glad to see you grow up."

The teasing was too obvious and rude that it made Liszt want to roll his eyes. 

However, he did do what was implied. Also, Danica was mature enough about it that she need not be coy about the situation. Liszt just went ahead and changed the subject. "Has Levis and Lvera started yet?"

Lvera got up early.

Levis, on the other hand, was a little late. It was nothing unexpected about it since last night, he was busy holding the hands of a n.o.ble socialite and talking about life in the middle of the night.

After breakfast, the Longtaro Castle carriage was ready.

Marquis Merlin came to the gate of the castle on crutches and personally sent his grandchildren away. Not only were the Tulip siblings leaving, but Aunt Melinda's family as well.

“Grandpa, you must take good care of your health. I will come to see you later.” Liszt said a little bit reluctantly.

Marquis Merlin did not appreciate it. “Don't be a woman, just go.”

Relatives greeted each other.

Liszt saw Danica standing with Meopal and smiling at him. Before Liszt could say anything, Danica went straight over and hugged Liszt.

This act was not too much beyond the rules.

It's just a simple embrace of friendship between n.o.bles. As for what kind of friendship it is, different people will have different opinions.

“I thought you would play "To Elise"  for me before you go,” she said.

“We are in a hurry now. If you want to hear it, I'll play it to you next time I come to Red Crab Island.”

“Will you practice it skillfully?”

“If I have free time.”

“I think I will not forget everything about last night for a long time, Liszt, dear.”

“We will always have those memories of Longtaro Castle.” Liszt smiled. It was indeed an experience worth remembering for a long time.

If Danica gives him another gentle and affectionate gesture at this time, he might  stay regardless of everything. He didn't  care about Danica's past, he just wanted to be together in the future. He might want to learn to let go of the n.o.ble ways, but he still has Chinese tradition in his bones.

Fortunately, the sweet lady only said a few more words, and Danica waved goodbye to him.

There was no muddy water.

Liszt nodded lightly and boarded the carriage. The horseman raised the whip and shouted “drive”, and the team started slowly.

Lvera brought her head back into the carriage.

She looked at Liszt, who seemed to be in a trance, and smiled, “Why don't you look back at your barbed rose? My dear brother, you were very popular last night. How many aristocratic ladies were mesmerized by the  song “To Elise” and wanted to stay in your room? Even Danica was charmed by you. “

"That was just basic skills."

Liszt wanted to think deeper,  his head still leaning out the carriage looking at Longtaro Castle which was fading before his eyes. There were still many people at the gate since many n.o.bles also planned to leave today. He could not find the figure of Danica Hyacinth anymore, which he took a bit of disappointment from as reclined back to the carriage.

He put his hands behind his head and rested on the cotton mat behind him.

"I don't know what I'm sad about, but I can't help saying, “Of all the castles in the world and the barons in the castles, she just walked beside me.”

Liszt lost his fantasies of Athena Salmon and had more wonderful experiences brought by Danica Hyacinth.

Liszt felt that he was very fond of Red Crab Island.

Of course, the bigger change was in his mentality.

It was like being reborn.

After a frantic baptism overnight, he became a real adult from inside to outside, from soul to body.

————–

Sapphire calendar January 6, 152, Sea Crab City port, a sunny day.

To get to the port, the Longtaro family provided a fast sailboat to escort the three siblings back to Coral Island.

The ghost ship incident prevented the Longtaro Castle from slacking off in its operations.

Count Schalke has led the Red Crab Island fleet and began to patrol the vast waters between Red Crab Island and Coral Island to clear pirates and search for ghost ships.

Standing on the deck.

The cold sea breeze released Liszt from his fond memories. His  attention temporarily  focused on another aspect.

“Where will the singing demon wait for me?”

It must be on  sea. After all, it is a siren. It is also possible they might hear the singing demon's singing on the trip and then they will be able to find the monster.

However, he was still puzzled about how to get the singing demon.

According to legend, sirens will save people with songs, but they would hide the bodies, never to be seen again. The singing demons, on the other hand, will confuse people with singing and then kill them. In a word, there were no previous doc.u.mentations of human beings seeing singing demons except in knight novels.

Even so, Liszt would still wake up from time to time on the ship. When the fleet entered the sea nearing Coral Island, he still didn't hear any singing at sea, and no strange things happened.

Until they landed at the pier in Coral City.

There was still no trace of a singing demon.

“In this way, the singing monster might be in the waters near Flower Town, no, maybe in the waters around Black Horse Island, waiting for me to catch them. I just don't know how to catch them… will it be like sprites..will we have to sign any contracts?"

He spent a night at Tulip Castle.

With a batch of specialties obtained from Longtaro Castle and Tulip Castle, Liszt couldn't wait to leave early the next day and return to Flower Town, which he had been away from for more than a week.

The snow was white.

The road was muddy.

From a dimensional point of view, Coral Island should have a much higher lat.i.tude than Red Crab Island, so the temperature should be colder. But so far Liszt has not made it clear whether this world is spherical or not and whether there even are North and South Poles here. As for the position of Coral Island in lat.i.tude and longitude, it is still unknown.

And there is a little doubt.

He observed the position of the sun and found that the height of the sun is basically the same in the summer and winter, there was no deviation. This shows that the position of Coral Island is basically unchanged from the sun's view. In other words, the orbit of the planet's rotation  and the orbit of its revolution have no inclination angle.

“It's a pity that there is no astronomer to explain to me what kind of environment this continent is under.”

He remembered that in ancient legends, the Moon Empire had a profession called astrologers. It is said that the astrologers of the moon empire pa.s.sed down the concepts of years and months. Unfortunately, with the demise of the Moon Empire, many technologies, discoveries, and inventions of that era have been lost.

It has now become a fantasy mentioned only through a few words in knight novels.

"Master, we are at Thorns Ridge.” Thomas' voice interrupted Liszt's imagination.

Sure enough, the serfs working in Thorn Ridge can be seen out front. In this winter when snowflakes are dancing, only the serfs of Flower Town have enough food and the strength to go out to work.

Suddenly.

A feeling of “going home” emerged in his mind.

A gold nest or a silver nest is not as good as your own dog nest.

“w.a.n.g w.a.n.g!” Tremblingwoods  must have felt the same way.