Made A Mistake

"You have a fair point, Lord Claspine. Why did she come so far to take the place of her sister when she was sick." Jonathan nodded solemnly. "I heard that it was a competition between lady Elene and lady Soliene to decide who will get the job. Right?"

It was Soliene who nodded and came forward. She glared at Elene and then announced in a haughty voice, "if not for her elder sister, i would have won. I am far better than Lady Elene but I could not win against my lady." she gritted her teeth, "but she cheated to win against me. It was lady Elene who planned it."

Her words brought another uproar in the room. Whispers were turning into loud noises. If that was true then Elene would fail the exams and would not be given a second chance. The degree of academy was a common trait between nobles. They have never heard of a noble who failed. She would talk of the empire.

Elene knew this too. But she never feared because she was sure they would never be caught. Her face paled and her hands involuntarily held Harold. But he pushed her hands away with disgust as if they were filthy. 

He gave a quick glare to anxious Elene who started crying.

"I can not believe this. I was locked in my room and suffered injustice and now everyone is blaming me. I would have easily won against lady Selene. I am far better than her. Why would I cheat that also using my elder sister who had not played piano for a year." Elene covered her face with her hands as if she was facing distress. There was no way she would accept the crime. And as long as she refused, no one could accuse her.

Her body shook with anger but it looked like she was trembling while crying. Many looked at her with sympathy. One of them was Lady Agatha. She came forward to end this charade but the man smiled. 

"Can you prove it, my lady?" like an explosion, his words fell into the room turning everyone into a statue. Elene slowly moved her fingers to make sure he had spoken to her.

"I beg your pardon."

"Prove, can you prove that you are better than your sister? It is a simple task. You were going to compete against lady Soliene yesterday. Were you not? I want you to give that test right now." he said those words looking at lady Agatha instead of Elene as if he was challenging that old woman.

Agatha gritted her teeth at the insolence of the investigative officer but contained her anger. Her head snapped at Elene and she commanded in an authoritative voice,

"Elene, go and perform. I want you to shut their mouth with a slap. Go and show them you are much better than everyone." her eyes moved from Elene to Evangeline. 

Evangeline only bowed her head and stayed silent. She had not said anything from start to the end except accepting her mistakes. Elene held her dress tightly, her nails dug into her arms.

She has asked May the song Evangeline performed. Not only has she chosen a high tempo song like Allegro, ending on Andante that Soliene always play but also played it in two different versions. Elene's strength lies in playing low tempo like Adagio and Andante. 

"But master Agatha." She pleaded but the woman glared at her.

"Do you want this charade to continue and disrespect everyone? Play the song better than everyone and slap this man hard on his face. Then he would return without a qualm." she stared at the man with her hands folded in front of her chest. Jonathan smiled sweetly and nodded as if he accepted her condition.

"Not only will i return but i will take lady Evangeline with me as culprit and provide justice to lady Elene." he added, now Elene had no reason to refuse.

No words would be needed. Her music would be her greatest proof. Everyone looked at her with judgmental eyes. Sweat dripped from her face. Her knuckles turned white with the pressure she was holding her dress. Her eyes found Harold who closed his eyes and sighed.

"I.. I am feeling too pressured." she whispered in a vulnerable voice as tears started to fall her eyes again. Hoping someone would feel pity on her and refuse her predicament but Soliene laughed.

"Why? Were you not claiming a minute ago that you can play better than all of us. Why are you afraid now? Is it because you know that you are going to fail.. Miserably?" the words full of mockery that Elene felt insulted. But she dared not shout again. She could feel the eyes of everyone in the room.

"You do not need to do this, Elene. I have already accepted my crime." Evan held her hands and rubbed them softly. Her eyes were soft and assuring that Elene shivered and pushed them. She did not want pity for this woman, everyone but not her. 

Evangeline was the reason for all this. Evan had snatched the love of her family, her lover, position, wealth and power and now she was showing pity to her in the public.

"I will play." she announced with gritted teeth and went to the piano with forced steps. 

Taking a deep breath she stared at the black and white keys as if they would play the music without her touching. She had never been pressured this much. Everyone was looking at her as if she was a clown. Her fingers shivered when she pressed the first key. The voice came out as a shrill.

"Elene, do not look at them. Do not make a mistake." Agatha scolded in a cold tone. Elene nodded again, biting her lips. 

She closed her time and pressed the keys again. This time she was able to play a soft song with a low tempo. It was a beautiful song. But…