"So I said, don't bother with these things. Just follow what I said."

"You never listen, you never listen, you just have to come over and do all these unnecessary things…"

"You can't win against Turing, why are you...?"

Scarlett kept chattering incessantly by Diana's side.

The two of them were walking aimlessly on the street, and it seemed that Scarlett was very unhappy about Diana not consulting her about coming to see Turing.

"There are rumors that she has broken ties with her mother... Maybe she won't compete anymore, right?"

"That's not entirely impossible."

"I'll go find her and ask her face to face, and if that's the case, all the better."

"As long as big sister, no... Turing doesn't compete. The championship will be in my pocket, right? We don't need to do anything to her anymore."

As Diana spoke, she stopped in her tracks, in front of the entrance to a music hall.

"Wait."

"Can you hear it, is that a piano?"

Melodious piano music drifted out of the lonely music hall. Although Diana could feel the pianist's mediocre skills inside, she couldn't help but be intrigued by the emotionally charged melodies in the piano music.

Scarlett frowned as if recalling something unpleasant.

"This is... probably my third sister practicing the piano at home."

"I wonder what kind of spell Turing has cast on her, she's now obsessed with performing on stage."

"She used to be disdainful of these things."

Diana was slightly puzzled by Scarlett's words.

"What do you mean...? What's the relationship between Turing and her?"

Diana asked.

"I'm not quite sure, they seem to have formed some kind of band together."

Scarlett replied.

"I see... so that's how it is."

After hearing Scarlett's words, Diana looked pensive as she gazed at the music hall next to her, quietly pondering something.

"Let's go inside and take a look."

Before long, Diana immediately said.

She took small steps and walked straight into the music hall.

"Hey, you... sigh."

Helpless, Scarlett followed Diana into the hall.

----------

"..."

Yorkshire was biting her lower lip tightly, her brows furrowed deeply, her eyes fixed on the black and white piano keys, almost piercing through them.

She mustered all her concentration, focusing all her attention on the music score and the black and white keys in front of her.

Gritting her teeth, she tensed her muscles, staring at the piano keys, taking several deep breaths in a row, drinking some water, even engaging in pre-competition mental preparation, self-reassurance. Anything that could help overcome nervousness, she did it.

But even so, she couldn't control her trembling hands.

She was too scared.

Just the thought of the countless audience sitting below, eagerly anticipating beautiful melodies, made her so nervous she couldn't control herself.

The experience of being speechless in front of thousands of people in the square during the grand celebrations still haunted her.

She was choked with fear.

The silent atmosphere felt like the hand of an executioner holding a knife, cutting her to shreds.

"Extend your fingers as much as possible, don't be timid."

"Focus on your technique, don't let discouragement get to you..."

Suddenly, a hand broke through the personal space barrier, gently and tenderly placed on the back of Yorkshire's hand.

"Keep your breath in your chest, don't rush to let it out."

"...the longer you hold it, the better."

Before Yorkshire could turn around to see who was speaking, the delicate hand on her back, delicate like a peony, firmly pressed against Yorkshire, fingers like the wind playing the piano keys.

"...amazing...so amazing."

The piano notes echoed continuously, one ripple after another, layer upon layer, the wave-like music stirring up, filling Yorkshire's withered heart with azure blue springs.

Gradually, Diana released her hand, but Yorkshire's hand did not stop. She continued, relentlessly, tapping the keys like a dance, like her life depended on it.

She hadn't taken a single breath, her face turning crimson.

"Th-thank you...this technique really works!"

After finishing the piece, Yorkshire expressed her gratitude.

The lack of oxygen indeed forced her to concentrate...but for Yorkshire, whose piano skills were already outstanding, the psychological effect was more significant.

"No need to thank me for this...but if you really want to thank me, could you do me a favor?"

Yorkshire turned around, surprised to see the face of Diana, a fellow aristocrat like herself.

"I want to visit Turing in prison, but if I go alone, she won't want to see me."

"Could you take me along to see her?"