ARC 1: The Abandoned Lover’s Salvation (6) Chapter 6: Stealing Spotlight? Fine (Part 1)

Eclaire, being 20 years old, is a college student, but because he's too protected, when he was still living with his parents, he studied through a tutor, his circle of friends were also taught by the same tutor and there were only 10-12 students including him.

When he began living with Augustine, he was actually sent to a university, a private university for the elite and rich heirs and the people around the boy were still monitored. However, when he accidentally got drunk while celebrating his best friend's first relationship party, Augustine dropped him from the university and he started learning through online classes, not needing to go out.

Eclaire actually didn't mind at all. Since he's an obedient pup, there's no unwillingness in his nerves and accepted these arrangements. In a short time of studying in school, he developed an interest in the piano and usually practiced by himself with the help of Moran, who gives him pieces to play with and signed him up in online virtual tutoring. He then quickly became a prodigy.

Because of that, he was invited to teach children of elementary class to learn the piano, which he happily agreed to after consulting with Augustine. Surprisingly, Augustine agreed since Eclaire will only be surrounded by kids much more innocent than him.

But when Eclaire and Augustine's relationship soured, Eclaire never touched the piano anymore nor attended the children's piano class. He was always pre-occupied with negative thoughts, gnawing his mind.

Now that Lumiere was here, he really didn't care about the piano since he himself doesn't know how to play, but today is a bit different. A person in front of him appeared, asking how he's been.

"Who's this?" Lumiere asked the system but as the system speaks, he remembered on his own since he shared the real Eclaire's memories.

[Camilo Miranda. 20 years old. Eclaire's best friend. The reason why Eclaire got drunk at school. He's also the one who introduced Eclaire to the piano and sometimes accompany him to teach the children at A Academy.]

Lumiere a.k.a. Eclaire let him enter the house and have Sheena prepare some snacks.

"I'm sorry I haven't been able to accompany you these days…" Lumiere acted shy while fiddling with the teacup.

"Oh that! It's fine, really. I also got busier these days, though I kind of blame you for not contacting me. Even my messages aren't receiving replies!" He exaggerates sadness in his face.

Well that's because Eclaire's phone is actually managed by Augustine and is in the hands of Moran. When they don't want to tell him about these matters, he'd remain oblivious of course! Our dear Eclaire is too much of a saint so he doesn't mind these restrictions at all!

Lumiere picked a small cookie and put it in front of Camilo's mouth while acting cute, "I'm really sorry. Don't be mad, okay? I'll feed you lots~!"

Camilo took the food without any indecent thoughts. After all, he sees Eclaire as a cute little brother. Besides, he already has a girlfriend. It's the same girlfriend he got when they threw a party at school dorms, the same party where Eclaire got drunk.

This is why he's allowed to visit Eclaire.

"By the way, ah… you should've at least told me that you already stopped teaching at A Academy! I went there last week to surprise you but there's another instructor there and it was really awkward y'know?" Camilo grunted while munching the cookies. After that, he took the tea Eclaire is handing him.

Lumiere's eyes glistened for a split second. Stopped as in quitted? He didn't. It's true that Eclaire disappeared out of the blue, but considering his status, the academy wouldn't dare to just remove him as they please and will only hire a temporary tutor instead.

After all, the Dolea family's influence plus the Lughrenoir family's influence isn't small at all. Even without them combining, they are already very influential as they are.

"What?!" Lumiere acted really shocked and sad, "B-But I… I didn't quit! I like playing the piano with the children! I really didn't quit!"

Seeing his friend agitated, Camilo rubs his fluffy hair, "There, there, calm down. I'll go there again and ask, okay? Don't be sad."

"Are they mad at me because I didn't visit?" Eclaire hung his head.

Camilo is also interested. He knows how strict and controlling the people surrounding his friend are, but he didn't retaliate nor say anything because his friend isn't hurting and also isn't unwilling. As long as his friend is happy and living well, it's all good.

"Why didn't you visit?" Camilo asked casually.

Eclaire looked left and right before standing up and sitting beside him. Then he whispered, "I… I got into a fight with Gus so… b-but we're alright now! He even slept with me yesterday and gave me a goodbye kiss earlier!" he blushed.

No, I don't need to hear those things at all! – is what Camilo has in mind.

"Well, fighting is certainly no good. I'm glad you made up." He smiled while Eclaire blushed harder.

Camilo also studies in the same elite university. This means that his family also isn't to be messed with.

"Since that's the case, you don't need to worry about small things. I'll give you back your position as soon as possible." He rubs Eclaire's hair once again but Eclaire actually shook his head and pouted.

"No fair! I'm going too!" Lumiere wants to see the world too, okay? Staying inside the house most of the time can be so boring!

Camilo thought for a minute before saying, "If they allow you to leave then you can come."

And so, Lumiere did his best to act very adorable with Augustine through the phone provided by Moran as he pleaded with his voice. In the end, Augustine can only sigh and agree while also telling Camilo to take good care of his lover.

Camilo can only gulp his own saliva and agree when he heard the words "…if something happens…" without any continuation.

And so, without delay, they both went to A Academy, which is actually not very far from home, but they still need a car ride.

Lumiere felt very excited even though it's a school he's visiting. After all, since coming to this world, the only places he's been at were the mansion and the company. Besides, even with the familiarity he has, he actually still hasn't recovered his memories yet. So to him, everything he sees and experience in this world feels like his first time.

He urged Camilo to sightsee first since it's been a long time since he came back. Of course, his friend agreed and they had fun eating in the stalls, gossiping about the taste and price of the food, students' outfits, attitudes, way of talking, even the building structure. Camilo also took him to the academy's playground.

The playground is usually for preschoolers to elementary kids but Lumiere enjoyed playing as if it's his first time seeing a playground, not even thinking of his age. A bright smile solidified on Eclaire's face, his cheeks flushed red due to excitement. One person and one system played together happily. Camilo grinned while secretly taking adorable pictures of Eclaire and instantly sending them to Augustine.

He also took pictures of them while eating, walking, and took many selfies with Eclaire. Then with his mischievous character, sent all 248 pictures to Augustine. When Augustine saw those pictures, he almost fainted in jealousy, wanting to tear the two apart even if they don't like each other romantically. However, his fingers moved to click save while cropping some pictures of his darling with Camilo.

As Camilo imagines Augustine's jealous-filled face, he couldn't help but chuckle. He knows that Augustine knows how he sees Eclaire and that Eclaire also only sees him as a close friend so he really isn't in any danger of being shot in the head by a stray bullet.

The club's president lowers her head as low as possible when the two visited and asked about the matter, "We're very sorry! We thought that Young Master Dolea lost his interest in teaching because he'd been absent for months and we couldn't contact him in any way. That's why we hired another…"

Lumiere couldn't blame these people either but somehow, he felt that it was a bit… too coincidental?

"So I'm already replaced?" Eclaire asked Camilo, wondering if he really couldn't teach anymore.

Camilo spoke, "Don't worry, since you're already back, no one can replace you."

"T-That…" the president is actually really worried but she spoke either way, "We're very sorry. The new instructor is really very capable and is also well-liked by the kids after 3 months. I'm afraid that if we fire him, the kids would throw a tantrum…"

Lumiere finally felt enlightened. In Eclaire's memory, three months before he abandoned the piano, it was actually the nanny who urged him to focus more on Augustine. After all, someone is trying to flirt with him, he will lose his lover if he continued on focusing on such nonsense.

Eclaire then began to dislike the piano thinking that Augustine might be going after someone because he is too busy with it and didn't pay him any attention.

In those three months, someone actually came? The academy didn't even publicly hire people and just let the matter be but someone actually came to apply? Lumiere couldn't help but scoff. At first, he thought that Jen is also pitiful because he didn't even know he'd bring calamity to other people and only wants to work hard.

But on second thought, why is the nanny actually acting that way? How can Jen take advantage and prepare for every bit of Eclaire's actions and decisions? It's as if he's getting information from Eclaire's side.

While Camilo is pressuring the female president, the sound from the piano room filled the academy. After all, the main piano was connected with the speakers. If one turned it on, the piano will be heard even outside the room and the sound will be broadcasted.

Lumiere tugged on Camilo's arms and asked the sweating president carefully, "Who's the new instructor?" of course, he didn't forget to be cute.

"Yes, yes. His name is Jen Aimee." She spoke.

Of course, who else?

Lumiere smiled very kindly, "Ah~ after hearing the sound of the piano, it truly has been a while! I really want to play the piano too!"

Camilo's mood soured even more and glared the sweating president. He pats Eclaire's back to comfort, "Don't worry, I'll—"

"No need! I don't want to teach anymore! I just want to play the piano!" He giggled so Camilo stopped insisting after asking thrice if Eclaire really doesn't want it anymore.

The president finally breathed a sigh of relief and took them to piano room 2. The room is actually used for mini piano concert or mini piano contest. Like a mock concert and mock contest where the kids practice and prepare before going to the big stage which is the academy's main theatre.

This room, unlike the other, is sound proof and look more like a mini theatre. The sound only travels inside so once the door is closed, no one can hear the music at all.

Camilo sat on the audience's seat as to let Eclaire run wild when he starts playing. There's only one problem that Lumiere realized while he's cracking his fingers in delight.

"System, since Eclaire can play the piano, that means I can too, right?" he inquired.

[Actually, no. The host has to master the skills first.] The system admitted brutally.

"What?! Then what do I do now?! Camilo is watching me! I have to play something amazing!" You didn't even tell me that I couldn't!

[Then, does the host want to buy a piano skill package? It costs 300 points.] The system wondered.

"300?!" Lumiere felt that he's about to cough out blood. After all, he only has 500 points and up until now, he's not touched them for his own desires yet!

"System, you're scamming me, aren't you?" Lumiere glared.

[Host, please listen first. I only charged a high price for this one because skill packs are unavailable when the host is already in a mission world. The skill pack is supposed to be bought inside the system space and be mastered before entering a mission world. The system broke the law for my esteemed host. Shouldn't the host feel a bit responsible for this poor system?]

Lumiere grunted but in the end, his system is really trying to help him. He doesn't want to waste points but it looks like he can't do anything about it.

Hesitantly he asked, "Will I become like Beethoven, Chopin or Mozart if I purchased it?"

[Normally, the host should go through beginner, intermediate, advanced, expert and legendary stage but the system will turn a blind eye on this one and immediately make you a legendary figure that is even better that Beethoven, Chopin and Mozart combined.]

Lumiere's eyes twinkled in delight, "Baby! System baby! I love you so much! Buy! Buy! Buy!"

[Piano Skill Package has been purchased. -300 points. 200 points remaining.]

'Then, shall I start with Mozart?' Lumiere wondered with a confident grin.