The applause continued to echo throughout the grand auditorium of the Winter Palace.
But even as their hands moved, many of the listeners still seemed lost in the emotions the song had left behind.
Among the lower seats, a middle-aged noble slowly shook his head in disbelief while clapping.
"That song… it sounded like someone finally speaking the words they had kept buried for years."
Beside him, a young musician nodded slowly, his gaze still fixed on the stage.
"It wasn't just a confession," he murmured. "It felt like someone calling out through silence itself… as if they were afraid their voice might never reach the person they were singing for!"
Another guest, an elderly scholar who had been listening quietly with his eyes closed during the performance, finally opened them.
"The beginning felt like the voice of someone who had run from their feelings for too long," he said thoughtfully. "But when the melody rose… it was as if they finally chose to face those emotions instead of hiding from them."
Several people nearby nodded unconsciously.
A noblewoman spoke softly while continuing to applaud. "And the part where the song spoke about staying beside someone even when everything was lost…"
Her voice trembled slightly. "That didn't sound like despair. It sounded like a promise. A promise to remain even when the world itself falls apart."
The murmurs slowly spread across the hall as more listeners shared their thoughts.
"And the ending…" someone whispered. "It sounded like a final message. As if the singer was telling the one they cared about to keep walking forward after they were gone."
High above them, within the royal viewing chamber, the King of Dresden continued clapping with a wide smile on his face.
"Haha! Wonderful!" He shook his head in admiration as he watched the young man on the stage.
"That boy didn't just sing a song. He told a story!"
Princess Molly, who had already risen to her feet, nodded enthusiastically while applauding.
"It felt like hearing someone call out from a place no one else could reach."
Her eyes shone brightly. "Like a voice that refused to disappear, even in silence."
Meanwhile, the Queen remained seated for a moment longer, her gaze resting quietly on Knox. The applause around her continued to thunder through the hall. Eventually, she raised her hands and joined the applause as well.
Her expression remained composed and dignified, though the faint narrowing of her eyes suggested she was studying the young man on the stage with far greater attention than before.
And still—
The applause did not stop.
Because what Knox had performed on that stage had not been merely a song. It had been a voice calling through silence. And every person in that hall had heard it.
The applause continued for quite some time.
Even after Knox had bowed once, many of the guests were still clapping, unwilling to let the moment end so quickly. The sound rolled across the auditorium like a steady wave, filling every corner of the Winter Palace.
Knox waited politely for a moment longer before offering another short bow toward the audience.
Then he turned away from the piano.
The stage lights followed him briefly as he stepped away from the instrument, the polished surface of the grand piano reflecting the faint glow of the chandeliers above. His movements were calm and unhurried, as though the thunderous applause surrounding him had nothing to do with him at all.
At the side of the stage, one of the event organizers hurried forward.
"Sir Knox," the man said, his voice filled with both relief and excitement. "Thank you for that performance. I believe everyone here will remember it for a long time."
Knox smiled lightly. "I'm glad it was enjoyable."
Another staff member quickly stepped in to guide him toward the corridor behind the stage. The applause was still echoing through the hall as Knox walked down the short staircase that led backstage.
Even there, a few palace attendants paused in their duties to bow respectfully as he passed.
Meanwhile, inside the royal viewing chamber above the auditorium, Princess Molly had already risen from her seat.
Her eyes were still bright with excitement from the performance.
"Father!" she said, turning toward the king, "may I greet him for a moment?"
The King chuckled softly. "Haha! Go ahead."
He waved his hand casually. "After a performance like that, it would be strange if the host did not offer their thanks."
Molly did not need to be told twice.
She gave a quick bow before leaving the royal chamber, her steps noticeably quicker than before as she made her way toward the backstage corridor.
A short while later, Knox had just stepped into the hallway behind the stage when he heard approaching footsteps.
He turned slightly.
Princess Molly appeared at the end of the corridor, accompanied by two attendants who kept a respectful distance behind her.
She slowed her pace as she approached, regaining the composed demeanor expected of a princess before stopping a few steps away from him.
"Sir Knox." She gave a graceful bow.
"I wished to thank you personally for your performance."
Her expression carried a warmth that was difficult to hide. "That song… it was truly remarkable."
For a moment she seemed to search for the right words.
"It felt as though the music itself was telling a story about someone who refused to abandon the person they cared about, even when everything else had fallen apart."
Her gaze met Knox's. "And the ending… it felt like a message left behind for someone precious."
Knox listened quietly before giving a small nod. "I'm glad the meaning reached you."
Molly's smile grew slightly brighter at that. "More than reached me," she replied softly. "I believe it reached everyone in that hall."
For a moment, the corridor fell quiet again.
The distant applause from the auditorium had not yet completely faded, its echo still rolling faintly through the hallways of the Winter Palace.
Princess Molly was about to say something more when Knox spoke first.
"By the way, Your Highness," he said lightly, "it feels a little awkward being called 'Sir.' Considering your position, it sounds rather strange."
Molly blinked in confusion.
Knox continued with a small smile.
"How about simply calling me Knox, whenever the situation allows it? For example, when things are less formal."
For a moment—
Princess Molly's mind completely short-circuited.
Her expression froze. Her eyes widened slightly.
It took her brain a second longer than usual to process what he had just said.
One of the attendants standing behind her quietly cleared her throat.
"Your Highness…"
That single word snapped Molly back to reality.
"Ah—!"
She straightened immediately.
"R-Really?!"
Then she coughed softly, trying to regain her composure.
"Ehem… if that's the case, then you may also call me Molly whenever the situation allows it, as you said."
A faint smile appeared on her face. "…Hehe."
The attendants behind her exchanged brief glances but said nothing.
Knox chuckled softly. "Alright then, Molly."
The princess's ears turned slightly red, though she tried her best to maintain the dignified composure expected of someone of royal blood.
Her expression froze again for the smallest fraction of a second before she quickly regained her composure. Although she tried to maintain the calm elegance expected of royalty, the faint warmth rising to her cheeks betrayed her efforts.
"…Yes," she replied, trying to sound as dignified as possible.
There was a short pause between them.
Molly clasped her hands lightly in front of her as if organizing her thoughts before speaking again.
"To be honest," she said, her tone calmer now, "I did not expect you to perform today."
Her gaze shifted slightly toward the direction of the auditorium hall behind them, as though the lingering memory of the song was still present somewhere beyond the corridor walls.
"When the announcement was made, everyone was surprised."
She looked back at him. "But after hearing the song… I think everyone understood why you chose to perform."
Knox tilted his head slightly. "Oh?"
Molly nodded.
"The song felt… sincere," she explained. "Not like a performance meant to impress people, but more like someone speaking directly from the heart."
Her eyes softened slightly as she continued. "The part where the song spoke about staying beside someone even when everything else was lost… it felt like a promise."
She hesitated for a moment before adding quietly, "And the ending felt like a message left behind for someone important."
For a brief moment she seemed almost embarrassed by how seriously she had analyzed the song.
"…At least that is how it sounded to me."
Knox listened quietly, his expression relaxed.
Then he gave a small nod. "That's not a bad interpretation."
Molly blinked. "Interpretation?"
"Yes."
Knox leaned lightly against the corridor wall, his posture casual.
"A song like that doesn't belong to the singer once it's heard," he said calmly. "The meaning changes depending on the person listening."
He looked at her. "So if that's what you heard in it… then that's what the song became."
For a moment Molly simply stared at him.
Then a small smile appeared on her face. "…I like that way of thinking."
Behind them, one of the attendants spoke gently. "Your Highness, the exhibition will soon proceed to the next program."
Molly turned slightly. "Ah, right."
She looked back at Knox.
"If you are free, Knox, perhaps you would like to walk through the rest of the exhibition with me?"
Her tone was polite, but the hopeful glimmer in her eyes was difficult to hide.
"After all," she added lightly, "it would be unfortunate if the guest of honor left without seeing the rest of the Winter Palace."
Molly's hopeful expression had barely settled when a calm voice suddenly appeared from the end of the corridor.
"That sounds like a wonderful idea."
Both of them turned.
Standing a few steps away was Jane.
She had arrived so quietly that neither Knox nor Molly had noticed when she entered the corridor. Her posture remained as composed as ever, her arms loosely folded as she observed the two of them.
To an outside observer, the scene would have looked rather amusing.
Princess Molly stood there with a polite, slightly hopeful smile, while Jane's tall, calm presence radiated a quiet authority that filled the entire corridor.
If someone were to describe the moment metaphorically, it would have looked almost like a black tigress calmly staring down at a bright yellow chick that had wandered a little too close.
Molly, who had only just regained her composure moments earlier, suddenly stiffened again.
"V–Vice President Jane!"
She quickly straightened her posture.
Jane inclined her head politely. "Your Highness."
Her tone remained courteous, yet the faint smile on her lips suggested she had already understood exactly what was happening.
"I appreciate your kindness in guiding our student through the exhibition."
Molly waved her hands lightly.
"Oh—no, it is not trouble at all! I was simply—"
Jane nodded gently before she could finish.
"However."
That single word immediately changed the atmosphere.
Knox quietly rubbed the back of his neck.
He already knew where this was going.
Jane's calm gaze shifted toward him.
"Our student has already caused quite a disturbance today."
Her voice remained polite, but there was a subtle firmness behind it.
"It would be inappropriate for him to monopolize the princess's time any further."
Molly opened her mouth slightly as if she wanted to protest, but the dignified logic of Jane's words made it difficult to argue.
"I… suppose that is true."
Jane then looked back toward Knox. "Well?"
Knox raised both hands slightly in surrender. "Understood, Sister Jane."
Molly blinked. "…Sister?"
Jane did not react to the title at all. Instead, she turned back toward the princess and gave another small, respectful bow.
"Thank you again for your hospitality today, Your Highness."
Molly hesitated for a moment before returning the bow. "I hope you enjoy the rest of your stay in Dresden."
Jane nodded. "I am certain we will."
Then she placed a hand lightly on Knox's shoulder. The gesture looked casual. Yet the message behind it was unmistakably clear.
You are coming with me.
Knox let out a quiet sigh of amusement.
"Well then," he said, glancing once more at Molly, "I suppose we'll continue this conversation another time."
Molly smiled, though there was a faint trace of disappointment hidden behind her polite expression.
"…I would like that."
Jane had already begun walking down the corridor. Knox gave the princess one last casual wave before following after her.
As the two figures disappeared down the hallway, Molly remained standing where she was.
For a moment, she stared at the empty corridor. Then she quietly placed a hand over her chest.
"…Knox."
Her voice was barely above a whisper.
And the faint smile on her face refused to disappear.
Jane walked ahead with her usual calm pace, Knox following a step behind her as they moved along the long corridor of the Winter Palace.
The soft glow of the chandeliers illuminated the marble floor beneath their feet, their reflections stretching faintly across the polished surface.
Knox slipped both hands into his pockets.
"Well, that ended earlier than I expected."
Jane glanced at him from the corner of her eye. "You're the one who decided to perform."
Knox shrugged lightly. "True."
They continued walking for a short distance before turning into a wider hallway that connected the auditorium area with the guest wing of the palace.
Several familiar figures were already waiting there.
The assistant professors from Kizen who had accompanied Jane earlier were standing near the corridor entrance, quietly discussing something among themselves.
When they noticed Jane approaching, they straightened immediately.
"Vice President."
Jane nodded slightly in acknowledgement.
One of the assistant professors adjusted his glasses and looked toward Knox with a faint smile.
"That performance of yours certainly caused quite a stir."
Knox gave a helpless chuckle.
Before the conversation could continue further, a palace servant approached them with a respectful bow.
"Vice President Jane, honored guests of Kizen."
Jane turned toward him. "Yes?"
The servant spoke politely. "The final performance of today's exhibition has concluded. His Majesty has instructed that the guests may now return to their respective chambers."
He gestured slightly toward the outer corridor.
"The attendants will guide everyone back to the guest residences prepared for them."
One of the assistant professors nodded. "That makes sense. It has already been a long day."
Jane gave a small nod as well. "Understood."
The servant bowed again before stepping aside to allow them passage.
Outside the Winter Palace, several palace attendants had already begun guiding groups of guests toward the residential wing of the royal estate. The evening air had grown cooler, and the palace gardens were illuminated by rows of lanterns placed along the stone pathways.
The palace itself looked entirely different under the soft glow of night.
Calmer.
Quieter.
After the bustling events of the day, the atmosphere now carried a sense of gentle stillness.
Knox glanced up at the night sky above the palace grounds.
"So that's it for Day One."
Jane folded her arms as she walked.
"For the official event, yes."
Her eyes shifted briefly toward him. "But knowing you, I doubt today was the only thing you were thinking about."
Knox smiled faintly. "Who knows."
Ahead of them, the guest residence prepared for the Kizen delegation slowly came into view, its windows glowing warmly against the darkened gardens.
And with that—
The first day in Dresden quietly came to an end.