Chapter 263: To Alice on the Waltz

Okay.

In fact, Liszt did not play "Two Tigers," nor did he sing "running fast." In fact, what he played was his most familiar piano piece.

Beethoven's "Für Elise."

As for why he played this piece, it was naturally because this piece is very simple and well-known. He had a music box when he was a child, and every time he wound it up, it would tinkle with "Für Elise." To this day, when he closes his eyes, he can still hear that familiar-to-the-point-of-nausea melody in his ears.

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

But few people know that Beethoven remained unmarried throughout his life.

He longed for love. At the age of 16, he was captivated by a noblewoman, but due to their vastly different social statuses, they were forced to part, which almost led him to suicide. At 20, he fell in love with a widow, but again, due to a disparity in social status, they missed their chance. He was tormented by an ear disease since childhood, but he still longed for love.

Approaching the age of 40, he fell in love with his female student, a young girl named Therese Malfatti.

In a moment of impulse, he wrote a small piece in A minor, "Bagatelle," and gave it to Therese. Later, when someone wrote a biography of Beethoven, they discovered this small piece among Therese's belongings, but when it was published, the original title "Für Therese" was mistakenly written as "Für Elise."

Since then, this small piano piece has become widely popular around the world.

Because of its simple single-note melody, it has almost monopolized the music box market—half of it dominated by "Für Elise," with the remaining half divided between "Sky City" and "Canon."

The first time he played it, Liszt's fingers were still awkward, and he made many mistakes, not a perfect performance by any means. But when he played it the second time, he had already mastered every note and was able to reproduce most of "Für Elise."

After playing it three times, he ended his first piano performance in his career.

Like Meopo, he stood up and slightly bowed to the noble men and women in the ballroom who had stopped dancing to quietly appreciate "Für Elise," showing proper etiquette.

When he turned around and left the piano,

There was enthusiastic applause from the audience, more than the applause Meopo received for playing "Eulalie by the Water." Most of the people here had heard Meopo play "Eulalie by the Water" before, but no one had ever heard this short yet exquisite lyrical piece, "Für Elise."

On Earth, "Für Elise" has stood the test of time, and its charm goes without saying. Even though Liszt's performance was at a beginner's level, it still moved many people.

"Brilliant!"

Meopo said joyfully, "Liszt, you must teach me this piece! I want to learn it!"

"No problem, I'll take the time to write out the sheet music," Liszt replied without any sense of hoarding his skill. However, he did enjoy the applause that followed his performance.

Not only did Meopo hover around him, but many other nobles also gathered around him, asking about "Für Elise."

A male noble praised, "I've never heard it before. It's very short but extraordinarily charming."

"I happened to hear it by chance," Liszt replied.

A plain-looking noble lady with big eyes blinked and asked, "Sir Liszt, can you teach me to play this piece? By the way, it must have a name, right?"

"'Für Elise.' I'll organize the sheet music and give it to my cousin Meopo, who will give you a copy."

"I love this piano piece. I heard the sweet emotion, the world-weary melancholy, the sorrowful love story throughout the entire piece, and the longing for eternal love!" The noble lady cupped her hands to her chest as if she were immersed in the sadness of "Für Elise" and unable to extricate herself.

Liszt regretfully said, "Yes, it's a sad story. I only remember this lighter part of the piece. I couldn't play the truly sorrowful part." In truth, he hadn't been able to discern whether this piece had any melancholic color.

A beginner-level "Für Elise"

Successfully made Liszt, who had wanted to stay low-key, the center of attention at the ball.

Even when the pianist resumed playing at a high level, many nobles were still gathered around Liszt, discussing the piano piece.

"Hi, handsome pianist, may I have the honor of a dance with you?" A tall noble lady suddenly pushed aside the other ladies surrounding Liszt and extended her hand to him.

Her appearance easily reminded Liszt of Elizabeth Olsen, the Scarlet Witch from "Avengers: Age of Ultron."

Except her hair was golden, and her eyes were deep blue.

If 10 was the highest score, she would probably get an 8.5 from Liszt, much higher than Athena Salmon's previous score of 8.

"How could I refuse an invitation from Miss Duniko?" Liszt took her hand and followed her onto the dance floor.

As he put his arm around her waist and slowly moved his feet in a dance similar to a waltz, a slow three-step.

Liszt could feel her pressed very close to him, as if their hearts could connect and warm each other.

"I like this 'Für Elise.'"

"So do I."

"But there were some parts where your playing wasn't smooth."

"Yes, I don't play the piano often, and I've forgotten some fingerings."

"I play the piano every day. I love music, especially 'Für Elise.' It has a simple single-note melody but possesses a unique beauty. I heard the whispering of lovers, the low-voiced confession, and the overwhelming love that enchanted me."

As she spoke, she leaned close to Liszt's ear and gently blew a warm breath.

This gesture made him feel a sense of respect, which he barely managed to suppress from showing. "Miss Duniko truly understands music, but I couldn't reproduce the original 'Für Elise' to let you feel the sorrowful love story told in the piece."

"No, perhaps what's incomplete is the most beautiful. It's short, light, yet the best piano piece, and no additional melody is needed."

Hearing such an evaluation,

Liszt couldn't help but view Miss Duniko in a higher light.

"Für Elise" is an independent piano piece. Many people felt regret after hearing his made-up story, thinking it was incomplete. However, Duniko believed that this incomplete part was already complete enough.

This is a woman who truly understands music.

Perhaps this is what a noble-born socialite cultivated by a great aristocratic family is like.

Duniko·Hyacinth, daughter of Durant·Hyacinth, one of the two earls on Red Crab Island. According to information Meopo shared with him, the seventeen-year-old Duniko is known as the thorny rose of Red Crab Island. Her reputation is not entirely positive; she is passionate and proactive, with countless suitors by her side, but no one has truly won her heart.

He held her slender yet firm waist.

Feeling the soft yet elastic sensation against his chest, and the eye contact between them as they leaned in and pulled back, he suddenly felt a surge of excitement: "Actually, the story was something I made up on the spot. This piece of music is, and always was, an independent piano piece. A pianist, infatuated with a noble lady, created it impulsively."

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These interactions don't really touch on the main plot. Do you all enjoy reading them? Feel free to leave your thoughts in the comments section or the review area. Lao Bai will consider adding or removing such content in the future based on your feedback.