Chapter 8 - Enchanted

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"What?! Dad no, this music is for us. I-- I'm not quite ready yet and I'm uhm not sure whether other people would like it how you guys did"

Malia herself liked the idea, however; she was well aware that she was transmigrated in the middle of an ongoing novel.

As much as she wanted to, she didn't want the novel to go haywire. She wanted to avoid changing the novel that much and possibly ruining the lives of other characters. She decided to live quietly and just get some benefits on the side.

She also planned to focus on and change the music industry after the main characters in the novel graduate, which also marks the end of the novel.

"Honey, this music is not something you should hide. We don't know much about music, but we know that this music is remarkable. We want the world to know", her mother insisted.

"Mom, we don't even know if someone would be willing to produce it," Malia said as an excuse.

"Malia, you have to stop living in the shadows. I also heard other melodies earlier and I believe it was also amazing. We can both produce those two. And if no one wants to produce it then I'll build a company that will. I am even willing to buy you a radio station if you want."

'Woah, isn't that too much? This doting father is too excessive.'

She then remembered his statement, "Uhm what other melody are you referring to?", she asked her father.

The marquis started humming the tune of Beethoven's Für Elise. She relaxed after hearing the hum.

'Whew, thank God it was Für Elise Haha'

She is happy with the immense support from this new family. Who would dare to say that she isn't loved or isn't pampered?

She was just thinking of another excuse when her brother interjected.

"Lia, remember last summer, Viscountess Lucia insulted you in front of other people during the anniversary of Duke and Duchess Carter. She forced you to play the piano after her daughter played one. She made awful comments about how mediocre your piano talent was. Don't you want to prove her wrong this time?"

'Who and what?!'

"We all know that she did that to make her daughter shine more. We didn't tell you this, but your father ended all business negotiations between our families. They suffered quite a bit but they somehow managed to get back after Alice got engaged because of that piano fiasco at the duke's house."

"Wha—I mean, yeah... I remember that. I—I already forgave them. However, remembering the humiliation they gave me and the efforts that you invested in it. I think it would be unfair not to get back at them."

'Yeah, whatever. The novel wasn't involved in any music-related part anyway. And if I'm being honest, me being here, breathing and kicking should have already affected the novel one way or another.'

'Alright, let's do it. No turning back!'

Everyone smiled as they saw the determination in her eyes and her change of outlook.

"But!... I don't want this music to be produced. This is something I would play for you guys alone and it's a sentimental piece for me." She positioned herself facing the piano once again.

"Let me play you a song. That I want the world to know", she added.

She looked focused and breathed in and out. This was one of her favorite songs to play on the piano and at that particular moment, she can confidently say that she remembered every part of it.

Malia decided to perform "Enchanted" by Taylor Swift.

She started playing the introduction of the song and later started to sing the lyrics to the melody. Her beautiful voice echoed and filled the room. Her extraordinary piano skills were suitably displayed.

Everyone else in the room was looking at her in awe. They could not believe that there she could create a song that gives a romantic feeling of love after meeting someone unexpectedly and hoping for a new love to blossom. They could feel her emotion in every note she expressed.

"…Please don't have somebody waiting on youuuu...", Malia ended her performance.

Everyone was silent and kept staring at her. She also didn't know whether she gave TS justice in her performance, so she only stared back.

"Was it bad? I – I can try something else.", she told them.

Her mother stood up and hugged her tightly.

Later on, her mother started crying.

"Lia, Darling… I'm so proud to be your mother."

"I feel the same way, I was so impressed! This song is indeed incredibly beautiful.", her father commented, also teary-eyed.

Malia smiled at them. She poured her emotions into that song, wanting to impress them.

"I just wanted to ask." Her brother spoke.

"That song wasn't for Cedric, right?", he added.

"NO WAY! Why would I create a song for him? He's not worth it. It was for someone else. I met him at our cousin's birthday celebration", she lied and used the event that Malia previously attended which was mentioned in her diary.

"Hmm… and who was that?", Matthew was looking at her suspiciously.

"I don't know. I just felt like I liked him and somehow created a song after that. BUT! I no longer like him now, just like how I no longer have feelings for Cedric." she clarified.

"Also, let's stop mentioning him, okay? Please?", she added.

Her brother smiled at her.

"Alright, alright. Got it. Don't be mad now Haha", Matthew laughed at his sister's squinting eyes.

"Dad, can I also request a guitar, banjo, bass guitar, electric guitar, mandolin, organ, and drum set? I believe I needed to produce the song."

The Marquis assumed that she wanted to hire artists to play the instruments she mentioned.

"Darling, after hearing your song, I decided right then to buy Urban Music and Production's studio and company. Before you refuse, I just wanted to let you know that this is going to be my gift to you. This will be my advance gift for your debut this November. Please don't refuse daddy, okay?", her father pleaded.

"Last time, you refused a gold mine business from your dad. So, this time, please accept this one sweety." Her mother said, also looking rather tearful.

'What? Malia was given a gold mine. This girl is so lucky!'

Malia simply nodded, "Thank you, father and mother. However, I want you to deal with this business for now; you can hire the right people for the job using your connections. I'll be at the academy most of the time, so I can't manage it for now. I'll try my best to master the needed knowledge to run the business in the future."

"I'm so glad about your decision. You don't have to worry about this. Trust me."

"I'll be the first one to buy your music, that's for sure!" her brother commented.

"Hahaha, yeah, you better buy it."

"Alright, we'll discuss this more later. I'm famished.", the Marchioness said.

"Me too!" - Matthew

Everyone stood up and they all went to the dining room where the table was already set.

They all enjoyed their meal, smiling and discussing future plans for the company, as well as asking Malia about the song "Enchanted".

After the meal, Malia went back to the entertainment room and wrote the lyrics of the song including the keys needed to perform it. She was so excited and so focused that she forgot about the time. If you are indeed having fun, nothing else matters.

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Her father acted rather immediately. Everything was ready by Thursday the next week, July 21st of the imperial year 596.

He had already acquired the company by paying twice the amount of the company's current value.

Who would decline such an offer for a dying company anyway? The Marquis retained some old employees that were worthy of their position and hired other workers that could bring good benefits to the company.

Malia was relaxed for the most part except when her father tasked her to create a new name for the company.

She spent the entire day thinking of a good catchy name for the company. She was really bad at it. She would ask Lily's opinion or her brother, but no one could really help her with it.

On Wednesday morning, she finally decided on a name that she felt was good enough for people to remember. She actually had three options in mind, but she let her parents and brother vote instead and the one with the highest vote was chosen.

In the afternoon, she designed the company logo with the help of her brother, who seemed to be skilled at drawing. All she had to do was roughly sketch and explain to him what it was and what she would like it to look like.

After consulting with her father later that day, she also submitted the logo to the company that would make the sign for the building.

The next day, Thursday morning, she was at the company waiting for the artists who would be playing the banjo, bass guitar, electric guitar, mandolin, drums, and organ. All the equipment needed is in the studio.

Malia was astonished to see how equipped the studio was and how close it was to the real thing in her old world. It's just that there are no CD tapes, so everything will be recorded on vinyl as a storage medium.

After a few minutes, the artists appeared, and her father started to introduce himself and Malia to everyone in the room. He also introduced other personnel assigned to the project.

Malia learned their names and discovered that almost everyone was a son or daughter of nobles, except for one commoner girl named Ashley who plays the guitar.

'Indeed, those with money to buy expensive musical instruments would naturally be the ones to excel in that field.' Malia thought.

She glanced at Ashley for a second and she could already tell that Ashley was not delighted with this encounter.

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Ashley had been staring at Malia since she was introduced to the group.

'Lucky snake, I hate these people the most; those who are pampered by their parents so much. Tsk'

Ashley was born into a commoner family with a merchant father. Their business is good, so, she never experienced hunger as other commoners do. However, she had always been spiteful to noble daughters who were treated like goddesses and had better privileges than her.

If compared to other noble girls, she is no doubt beautiful as well, but that will not change her social status, no matter what she does.

She decided to study hard, but her grades cannot admit her to be one of the scholars in the academy. She gave up that endeavor as her goals suddenly changed after her close aunt married a poor baron's house. Sure, the baron looked disgusting, but her aunt's status elevated, and she was treated better than commoner housewives in their neighborhood.

At that moment, she decided to look for a nobleman to fish out and marry. She is beautiful; so surely, she can get herself a young and capable nobleman to marry.

Later on, a chance was presented to her. In their town, a group of noble households decided to provide donations and relief goods after a massive fire broke out. There, she met Caleb. Handsome, flirty, and rich—he was everything she could wish for.

She seized that opportunity and initiated the talk together with some flirty moves she learned from her aunt.

You could say that she did great since Caleb was tempted by her unique allure. They made it official that night and sealed it with a kiss.

Since they cannot meet secretly, Caleb suggests that she master playing the guitar and pass the audition for their band. If she passes the audition and becomes a member, then no one would question their closeness or if they are ever seen together.

Ashley did not waste time and practiced hard to learn and master the guitar for four months. She spent all her time focusing on mastering the instrument. And it all paid off. She was selected to be the guitarist of their band. However, she did not know that Caleb also took part in the selection and bribed other reviewers.

They had been together for 3 years now and Ashley had given Caleb everything she got; however, she never received a proposal from him. Sometimes, seeing Caleb talking to other girls would make her cranky and irrational.

At present, Ashley is once again slapped with the reality of her commoner and humble status. Despite her beautiful face, she is no better than the girl in front of her who was given everything she could not even dream of having.

'Ugh, talentless, yet she's granted everything she wants.'

She really hated the idea of working for this girl but she couldn't do anything. After all, the girl owned the company itself. She could only curse from the inside.

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"Alright, thank you so much everyone for being here. Our goal today is to familiarize ourselves with the song and make an accompaniment to support the piano piece that Malia composed herself." The Marquis explained.

"Father, may I add something?" Malia interrupted.

"Yes, go on."

"I will perform the chorus of the song on every instrument here. I will only do it twice. You will have 30 minutes to prepare yourself. Those who can perform it will stay, but if you cannot play it or your performance wasn't satisfactory, then we will look for someone else. Got it?"

Malia wanted to make sure to pull out anyone who was not up to her standards. In the future, she will be working alongside the same people, and she doesn't want to settle on anyone inferior to her. She wants everything to be flawless for her debut.

Everyone nodded in agreement. Ashley, on the other hand, rolled her eyes and smirked.

'Tsk, how can she be so pretentious, as if she could play all the instruments here.'

The Marquis was also surprised to hear that Malia would play every instrument. He never heard Malia practicing other instruments except for the piano. However, seeing how serious she was, he decided to just trust his daughter.

'I should try to make more effort to understand Lia. It seems that I know almost nothing about her.' he thought.

"Alright, everyone in the room. Please sign this contract of the non-disclosure agreement. This is to outline confidential material, knowledge, or information that we wish to share with you and that we are expecting that the information will remain confidential. You will pay a fine and possibly be imprisoned if these materials are leaked or distributed without our permission. Do you have any questions?" It was Sean, one of the record producers that stayed at the company.

No one questioned the contract, since everyone was familiar with it as they produced folk songs before with the same agreement.

"So, shall we all move to the recording room?" It was the marquis who asked after everyone finished signing their contracts.

Everyone shook their heads and followed the Marquis to the recording enclosure.

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--- end of chapter 8 ---

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