Chapter 114 The Dance Troupe's Request for Help
Mary felt guilty when he looked at her, but for the future of the chorus, she had to be thick-skinned and explain quickly.
"The story goes like this. Our troupe received an invitation from the Hobner family tonight, with a generous fee, and the troupe leader happily took us on a performance. However, to our surprise, our harpist, Kane, suffered a stomach upset and is now in the doctor's care with vomiting and diarrhea. The other musicians aren't as skilled as Kane, and they barely managed the first two performances. The last one... is a piece commissioned by a distinguished guest, requiring exceptional skill. The other musicians aren't up to the task, so the troupe leader sent me here to ask Mr. Al for help."
Elio raised an eyebrow and looked at her with a half-smile. "How can your captain be sure that I'm qualified?"
Mary hesitated and said, "Well... the captain said that if you asked this, it means you are qualified."
Elio thought to himself, remembering Sim's fox-like eyes.
What a cunning woman she is! No wonder she can safely travel around the country with a group of beautiful girls, perform everywhere, and earn high fees.
"Mr. Al, what's your answer?" Mary looked at him expectantly, her hands clasped together, a little nervous.
If Mr. Al had refused, who knows what kind of difficulties the troupe would have faced.
These wealthy masters are very ruthless and can turn their backs on others at any time.
Of course, if it really came to that, she thought Captain Simu would definitely have a way to resolve it, but it might require Bart and the others to take action, and the chorus would have to flee Daoto City overnight.
Elio looked down at the little elf sleeping soundly in his arms. "My brother is still asleep."
"I will take good care of little Amo!" Mary patted her chest and promised, "Please rest assured, Mr. Al, leave him to me."
Bart said: "I will help take care of it."
Stared at by two pairs of burning eyes, Ilio agreed.
Captain Ximu was a nice guy. He only charged two gold coins to take them for a ride and also provided free food along the way. If they refused them, they might not be able to get free food and drinks from the next caravan.
It's just playing a song, a piece of cake.
"Great! Thank you, Mr. Al!" Mary said excitedly. "Without further delay, Mr. Al, get in the car. Bart! Let's go!"
Bart sat back in the front room, and after Ilio carried Shu Li into the carriage, he raised his whip and swung it hard, and the two horses broke into a gallop.
Inside the carriage, Mary knelt in front of a box, took out a performance costume, and unfolded it to show Elio: "Mr. Al, is this suit okay?"
Although the musicians' costumes were not as colorful as the dancers', they were also covered with sequins that looked like broken diamonds, and they sparkled brightly when illuminated by the oil lamps in the carriage.
"Is there anything simpler?" Ilio didn't want to steal the girls' limelight.
"Hey, let me look for it again." Mary rummaged through the box and found a black robe. This black robe had no extra decorations, but the neckline was a little big, revealing the collarbone and half of the shoulder when put on. It was sleeveless and had matching arm rings.
"How about this one?" she asked.
"Just make do with it!" said Ilio.
Mary breathed a sigh of relief and drew up a curtain that covered the dressing room.
Ilio laid the little elf, who was sleeping like a pig, on the soft cushions, took the black robe and went behind the curtain, changing into it quickly.
Mary knelt beside Shu Li and covered him with a small blanket.
Little Amo is so beautiful!
She glanced at the curtain, secretly stretched out her finger and touched the child's cheek.
Oh, it’s so smooth, just like a baby’s skin.
Mary withdrew her fingers and frowned when she saw a few small red marks on little Amo's neck.
Is this the red mark caused by the collar of the coarse cloth shirt?
Captain Simu said that Mr. Al was not as simple as he seemed, and ordinary civilians did not have the money to learn the harp.
Looking at the red marks on little Amo's neck, Mary sighed.
Men really don't know how to take care of children.
She turned and rummaged through the box, trying to find a set of clothes suitable for the child.
"Miss Mary, is this okay?"
A slightly hoarse voice sounded, and Mary subconsciously looked up, looking at the young man who lifted the curtain in the dim light of the oil lamp.
The hair that was usually tied up in a bun was untied and flowed down like smooth black satin. His angular face was extremely handsome, and his pair of black eyes were like mysterious deep pools, with slightly raised corners, which made people fall in love with him at first sight.
He put on the black robe. The wide neckline revealed his sexy collarbone. His well-proportioned figure perfectly supported the robe. He tied a metal belt around his waist. His legs were bare under the robe, slender and strong, which made people's heart beat fast.
Mary's breath hitched and she almost drooled.
She quickly covered her mouth.
This is the first time I realized that male beauty is so attractive.
Mr. Al's outfit is more eye-catching than the girls in the chorus.
Before, he wore coarse cloth and was not particular about details. People only knew that he was handsome, but they didn't think much of him.
Now that she has changed into a new set of clothes, both her appearance and temperament have undergone earth-shaking changes.
There was a natural elegance and dignity about him.
"Miss Mary?" Elio waved his hand in front of the girl's eyes.
"Ah? Oh—okay, okay!" Mary blushed and looked away, not daring to look at him.
Elio, completely unaware of his own charm, smiled and said, "Do you have any pants and shoes? It's quite cold at night, and I don't want to get sick from the cold."
"Yes! Yes!" Mary rummaged through the box frantically and found a pair of matching pants and shoes.
Elio took the pants and shoes and put them on, finishing his outfit.
Ten minutes later, the carriage arrived at its destination.
Elio asked Mary for a thin blanket, wrapped the little elf, and carried the little elf in his arms, following Mary and Bart into a luxurious house.
Shu Li woke up to the sound of beautiful harp.
He opened his eyes drowsily, and saw the unfamiliar environment. There was no familiar smell around him. He suddenly woke up and turned over and sat up.
"Oh, little Amo, are you awake?" Mary asked in a low voice.
Shu Li turned his head in confusion and stared at Mary, with a wary look in his gray-green eyes.
Mary was stunned for a moment, thinking he was scared, and quickly explained softly: "Mr. Al is performing and asked me to take care of you."
She pointed toward the center of the hall.
Shu Li looked in the direction she pointed, and saw Ilio wearing a black robe, with his hair flowing like a waterfall. He was sitting elegantly on a chair, holding a multi-stringed harp in his arms, playing the music with deft fingering.
Seeing Ilio, Shu Li put away his guard and looked around secretly.
It was a luxurious and spacious hall, its two sides packed with people. Aside from the chorus members, the others were all wealthy, brightly dressed. Men and women, young and old, all engrossed in the beautiful music.
The middle-aged man sitting at the head of the table was tall and strong, with gorgeous clothes and rich jewels. He held a golden wine glass in his hand, slowly tasting the wine while enjoying the heavenly music.
Shu Li turned his gaze back to Ilio.
Although he didn't know what happened while he was asleep, Ilio's aura was now fully open, showing half of the elf's style.
And this little bit of charm was enough to make everyone present fall in love with him.
Shu Li had never heard the piece he played before, but from the distinct layers of syllables, she could tell that it was a complex piece that required superb piano skills and extremely strict fingering. Ordinary human musicians would probably not be able to master it without training.
Looking at the situation in the hall, he could roughly guess that the chorus had encountered difficulties during the performance and had to ask Ilio for help.
They were lucky, Ilio did have the ability to save the day.
Mary wiped her sweat secretly when she saw little Amo sitting obediently.
As a child of about ten years old, if her younger brother had woken up in such a situation, he would have made a fuss. But little Amo looked around, understood the situation, and sat quietly without making any noise.
Ilio was playing the harp comfortably. He raised his eyelids and glanced at Shu Li. Seeing that he was awake, he curled the corners of his mouth.
Was the little guy woken up?
He yawned twice in succession and seemed to want to sleep.
He was really exhausted today.
After a whole day of riding in a carriage and taking a magic level test, he stayed up until midnight, when any normal child would have gone to bed.
Ilio's bony fingers turned, skillfully pinching out a long piece of music and bringing it to the end without any disobedience.
After playing the last note, he put down the harp, stood up and said to the middle-aged man in the lead, "Your Excellency, Mr. Hobner, this is the third piece I've played. May I go down and rest?"
Shu Li moved his ears.
Hobner?
Why does this last name sound familiar?
The middle-aged man called Master Hobner put down his wine glass and stared at the handsome musician with his bright brown eyes.
"Mr. Al, your music is so beautiful. Are you interested in staying with me and playing for me every day? I will pay you a high fee."
Ilio replied calmly, "I appreciate Master Hobner's kindness, but I prefer to travel the continent rather than stay in one place."
Hobner narrowed his eyes and tapped his fingers on the armrest of his chair.
The young man sitting to his right stood up and said arrogantly, "You're just a mere musician, don't be ungrateful. We, the Hobners, are one of the most prominent families in Daoto City. We let you stay with my father as a musician because we think highly of you."
When Shu Li heard this familiar voice, he looked over.
My goodness, what a narrow road the enemy meets.
He asked where he had heard the last name Hobner, and it turned out to be the rich young man who was causing trouble in the clothing store.
The owner of the clothing store said that he was from the Hobner family and that if they offended him, they would have no chance of survival in Daoto, so he asked them to leave quickly.
He thought that if he left tomorrow, he would never have any contact with the other party.
I never expected that just a few hours later, I would be performing at someone else's home.
"Merster, don't be rude to Mr. Al." Hobner scolded.
A musician with superb piano skills is hard to come by. If you want to keep him, you must appeal to his emotions and persuade him with reason.
The other party didn't agree to stay, simply because the money wasn't enough.
There is nothing in this world that cannot be solved with money.
"Uncle Hobner, since Mr. Al doesn't want to stay, don't force him."
Another familiar voice sounded, and Shu Li looked in the direction it came from.
Then he saw the wanted greatswordsman and Princess Pedam sitting next to him in boy's clothes.
Shu Li blinked.
What is going on?
How come all the people I know are gathered together in one day?
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