Flower in the Trap - Chapter 10

“Kaellian?” Linaelina called out softly.

Snapped out of his thoughts, Kaellian felt a flicker of panic at being caught off guard. “Do you…. Do you play the piano?” He quickly brought up the subject, trying to cover up the unease in his heart.

Linaelina blinked, clearly surprised by the sudden question. “Uh, …… yes, a little.” She replied with some hesitation, “My mother had hired a teacher when she was alive… but after she passed, she stopped.”

Kaellian’s fingers tightened slightly around his teacup, and he took a sip of his tea. For noblewomen, being trained in music, dance, and etiquette was not just tradition, it was a symbol of status and pride. Yet even that had been denied to her. Yet the Empress hadn’t even bothered to provide her with these basic foundation.

Without another word, he stood and reached out his hand to her. “Take me to the piano room.”

His tone was so casual that Linaelina froze for a moment before giving a gentle nod. She led Kaellian down a quiet corridor toward the piano room. Sunlight filtered through the blinds, casting warm stripes of light across the polished black surface of the piano.

Kaellian stepped forward, lifted the lid, and pressed a few keys to test the sound. A faint chime rang out. He gestured toward the bench.

“Go on. Play the piece you’re most best at.”

Linaelina sat down, her fingers hovering uncertainly above the keys. “I… I don’t play well,” she whispered, then began to play a melody.

Kaellian stood aside, listening intently. His eyes narrowed slightly as he analyzed her technique… Basic skill, unrefined fingering, a stiffness that betrayed lack of consistent practice.

When the piece came to an end, Linaelina turned toward him, her expression cautious as she awaited his response.

Kaellian didn’t answer her immediately. Instead, he asked, “Do you know where this piece came from?”

Linaelina shook her head slowly. “…I don’t.”

He stepped closer, moving behind her. His arms reached around her shoulders, his long fingers settling gently on the keys.

“This piece was originally composed for lovers parted by war,” he said softly.

He pressed into the keys, drawing out a low, lingering note. The sound flowed like moonlight touching a quiet lake, serene yet rippling with something deeper beneath the surface.

He began to play in earnest, his voice low and steady. “The melody begins softly, a symbol of quiet longing. Then it rises, capturing the shock of tragic news, the ache of mourning, and finally, the quiet relief that comes with letting go.”

Kaellian’s fingers glided effortlessly over the keys. Unlike Linaelina’s hesitant playing, his performance was refined and rich in emotion. Each note seemed to flow directly from his soul, mournful yet resolute, touching the deepest chords of the human heart.

Linaelina listened in a daze, her fingertips unconsciously curling in her lap. She hardly dared to breathe, afraid that even the smallest sound might disturb the fragile spell cast by his playing.

“……Amazing.” She could not help but whisper, her voice soft as a breeze that dared not disturb the lingering notes still echoing through the beams. “Truly, it is so moving. You play beautifully.”

The words may have been simple, but they could not conceal the wonder and genuine admiration in her eyes.

Kaellian glanced at her sideways, noticing the way her gaze shimmered with emotion. A faint smile tugged at the corners of his lips. No one could easily turn away from such sincerity.

He had learned to play the piano not out of passion, but because his mother had loved it. Over time, he discovered something more. Through people’s reactions to music, he could glimpse into their hearts, sense the weight of their emotions, and sometimes even spot the weaknesses and flaws in their character.

To him, music was another form of silent interrogation.

“This piece is beautiful, but it is still a little early for you to truly understand it.” His tone carried no reproach as he gently pointed out the flaws in Linaelina’s performance.

He moved to sit beside her on the bench. “I will teach you another one.” The moment he spoke, music began to flow from his fingertips like a soft breeze in spring, light and playful, carrying with it the scent of blooming flowers and fresh grass.

“This one is about the colors of spring.”

Linaelina listened attentively, her fingertips subconsciously swaying slightly to the melody. Her original stiff expression gradually softened in the music, and a hint of relaxation and smile reached the corners of her eyes.

Kaellian caught a glimpse of that light smile and lost focus for a moment. It was not the modest smile a noblewoman wore to curry favor but a pure and sincere expression of joy, untouched and unpretentious.

The sincerity in her expression touched him more than any calculated flattery. Just for a moment, Kaellian lost hold of his purpose and the plans he had so carefully made.

“I’ll start teaching you piano from now on,” he said abruptly.

Linaelina lifted her gaze, her eyes wide with surprise and disbelief.

Kaellian didn’t look at her, his gaze still fixed on the piano keys. He paused for a moment and said, “I will teach you many more things…” as if reminding himself of his original intentions.”

“Since you’ve chosen to use me,” he finally looked at her, his gaze dark and unwavering, “then learn from me…. until you are strong enough to face the world.”

Linaelina remained silent, her eyes fixed on Kaellian.

“I’ll be a strict teacher,” he added calmly. “Will you learn or not?”

Linaelina was caught off guard by the sudden shift in his tone. It wasn’t cruel, but it carried a deliberate chill that made her drop her gaze to her hands resting in her lap.

After a long time, she nodded her head gently, her voice was soft yet filled with sincerity. “Learn…”

A satisfied smile played on Kaellian’s lips as he extended his right hand toward her.

“I’ll play the main melody. You follow me. Keep steady and do not try to rush the rhythm.”

Linaelina blinked, confused. “What?”

“Your hand. Put it up.” He urged in a calm voice.

Hesitantly, Linaelina lifted her left hand and hovered it above the keys. Just then, a light, flowing introduction spilled from Kaellian’s fingertips, as if spring water had broken through a frozen surface and found its way into music.

Linaelina was briefly lost in the sound, her eyes fixed on his hands, until Kaellian spoke again. “Chords.”

Like waking from a dream, Linaelina began to play. The first notes were shaky, tentative like a beginner taking unsure steps. But Kaellian’s rhythm remained steady, like a river guiding her along, helping her relax and find her flow.

“Press a little harder.” He whispered.

Linaelina bit her lip and tried to relax her shoulders, adjusting the pressure in response to his subtle cues. Gradually, her bass grew steady and rhythmic, gently blending with Kaellian’s melody. She became like an invisible veil, soft and delicate, yet quietly supporting the foundation of the piece. She was like an invisible veil, soft but holding up the backbone of the piece.

As the music continued, Kerian glanced at her from the side.

She remained focused on the keys, her eyes unwavering, her long lashes casting a faint shadow across her cheeks. Her fingertips were still unpracticed, but there was a quiet confidence in them. With complete trust, she placed the rhythm in his hands and allowed herself to follow his lead.

At that moment, something in Kaellian’s heart quietly shifted.

From now on, this was how it would be. He would take advantage of her defenselessness, letting her obey his every command and live and die for him.

As the duet neared its end, his right hand gradually slowed. He released the final notes with a softness that felt like a whisper. Linaelina noticed and stopped as well.

When the last note fell, the piano fell silent, but the melody still lingered in the room, echoing gently between the two of them as if reluctant to leave.

After a long pause, Kaellian rose to his feet and closed the piano lid with his usual composure and grace. He did not look at her again. His fingers, still carrying the sensation of the keys, curled faintly at his side.

Kaellian moved toward the door, locking away the faint ripple of emotion that stirred inside him. “The first lesson begins tomorrow morning.”

With those words, he left without looking back, hiding everything he felt in the silence of his retreating figure.

Author’s Note: I have no experience playing the piano and have never learned it formally. Everything written here is based on things I’ve read online, so please take it as creative nonsense rather than technical accuracy.