âAre you ready?â
âWhat did you prepare?â Apollonia asked in a low voice.
It was ridiculous that there was more food.
The marble table was already full of colorful desserts.
âItâs not food.â replied Uriel calmly.
With a familiar gesture, he poured Apollonia another sip of three champagne.
Eat in turn. But this time, the pink champagne shall be the last one.â
He changed the order of the glasses and placed them in front of Apollonia.
âWhy?â
âI hope the last taste will remain sweet.â Uriel tilted his head slightly and smiled.
He was so fascinating to look at that she wondered if he was a god pouring her ambrosia.
âThe last taste, huh? I guess you really didnât prepare more food.â When Apollonia spoke, Uriel nodded.
âI prepared your favorite song, Your Highness.â
As soon as he finished speaking, the rose vine, about ten steps away from the table where they sat, moved slowly towards them.
âWhat is this?â
The vines opened on both sides as if they were alive, and a small podium was revealed behind them.
On top of it, four musicians were now preparing their own instruments and Apollonia couldnât help but admire the sight.
Uriel really prepared a lot of things for her.
âYou said itâs a song that I like. Is it Loen Edanâs Waltz or Persenâs Rhapsody?â
Apollonia picked out some famous songs that she liked but Uriel merely shook his head.
âIs it the beautiful song we heard in Lishan?â
Apollonia suddenly remembered Tanâs lyre performance.
She even attempted to copy that but she still failed miserably.
âItâs my favorite song. Iâm not interested in anyoneâs music other than yours, Your Highness.â
Uriel finished and nodded to the musicians.
They started playing at the same time.
âThis isâ-â
Apolloniaâs eyes widened when she heard the first verse.
She closed her eyes and exhaled deeply.
It was so familiar, but she hadnât heard it in a long time.
âHow did you know?â
âI asked Maya a long time ago.â
The four musicians playing their own instruments created a perfect harmony with each other.
Their skillful performance suited the weather, atmosphere, and food but it wasnât their outstanding abilities that had provoked Apollonia.
âI wasnât able to find a score.â
âThere was a maid who remembered. I asked her to write it down with Mayaâs help. It may not be accurate, butâââ
Apollonia bit her lips tightly to stop herself from crying.
âWhat would you have done if no one remembered it?â
âYou wouldnât have forgotten it, Your Highness.â
The song they played was written and presented by Princess Elenia on Apolloniaâs eighth birthday.
It didnât happen at a fancy banquet.
On that day, Apollonia had finished one of the Kingâs exams and only showed her face at the banquet in a tired state.
Queen Elenia, who quietly came to her as she was about to go back to her room to sleep, stroked Apolloniaâs hair.
âItâs something I should have done. My mother always felt sorry for me.â
Apollonia shook her head no.
She even told her that she liked studying so that she would be a good Empress someday.
In the bedroom, where only a few maids were present, Queen Elenia played the lyre she had brought.
It was a bright, beautiful, and refreshing song she composed for her one and only daughter, Apollonia.
Princess Elenia looked incredibly radiant as she played the lyre.
However, she wasnât interested in politics, letting the Emperor down because she wasnât fit to lead.
Except for her beautiful hair and a stronger resilience than others, she was told that she had no resemblance to Apollo, but Apollonia could tell.
Her mother was born with her grandfatherâs blood.
As Apolloâs descendant, they possessed the blood of the sun god, his mastery of the bow and of music.
This was one of Apolloniaâs happiest memories.
She had forgotten it until now.
âItâs wonderful, Uriel.â
The musiciansâ performance was very different from that of Princess Elenia.
It was more colorful and rich.
Nevertheless, the nostalgia they had evoked in her was strong.
She turned her head to look at Uriel.
His eyes were directed at the musicians, but Apollonia knew that his entire being was still focused on her.
He was well aware of the fact that Apollonia hated someone staring at her when she was being sad and emotional.
Apollonia drank the champagne Uriel had given her a while ago in the order in which he had taught her.
Bitter first.
Sweet last.
âI hope the last taste will remain sweet.â
She remembered what Uriel said a while ago.
Three sips of alcohol while listening to the music she had missed.
With that, Apollonia thought of her mother with the sweetest taste.
Uriel smiled as she watched the performance.
He sympathized with Apolloniaâs longing and he was also heartbroken because of it.
On the other hand, he was excited about his planâs success.