Devil’s Music

Upon receiving Professor Leontine Price's request, Corigliano, who had seen Kiska's lyrics written in the sketchbook, was greatly surprised and even begged to be entrusted with the task. Despite being a composer and professor, he was unsure of Kiska's talents and promised to teach her. If she lacked talent in composition, he offered to introduce her to some literary acquaintances. It was unclear whether Corigliano's repeated requests were due to his thirst for a genius student after possibly losing Kay to Sharon, or if Kiska's charm had truly appealed to him.

Geon, after hearing Corigliano's persistent requests, promised to consider it after getting the guardian's consent and decided to register for classes and have dinner with the professors. Sharon, concerned about Geon's fame attracting crowds, had reserved a VIP room at the Atlantic Grill at Lincoln Center in advance. Geon and Kiska, with their faces covered with towels, passed through the restaurant to the VIP room.

The waiter, shocked to see Geon's face, requested not to cause a disturbance in exchange for not taking photos or autographs, allowing them to start their quiet and cozy meal. Leontine Price constantly fed Kiska, sitting beside her, whenever delicious food was served. Corigliano, watching this, worried he might lose another genius to Professor Price but soon relaxed, realizing the nearing retirement performance of Professor Price meant it was unlikely.

Geon, tasting a medium-rare steak, suddenly asked, "Professor Price, you said your retirement performance would be an opera, right?"

Leontine Price, turning to Geon with a smile while feeding Kiska a salad, replied, "Of course. What else could the retirement performance of someone who has lived as an opera singer be?"

"And which work do you plan to perform? Even if you compose a new piece, wouldn't you need a script for an opera?"

Leontine Price laughed, placing her fork down, "I plan to use an original script. It's going to be about my life."

Geon, surprised, looked between the professors, "Really? Then who will write the script? Writing an opera script is not an easy task."

"I'm writing it myself. It's not complete yet, but I can't entrust the task of depicting my life to anyone else. I've given Corigliano the unfinished script, and based on that, he's creating the music."

Geon asked again after seeing Corigliano nodding while chewing his steak, "So, the script is unfinished, and the music too? When is the performance?"

"We've already booked the venue. The performance is at the end of January."

"What? So, there's only two months left, and you haven't even started rehearsing? What about casting? Are you planning to use students?"

"Yes, that's probably what will happen."

Geon looked thoughtful, prompting Leontine Price to ask, "Why that look, Kay?"

Geon, serious, was the first to be understood by Sharon, "Kay, you want to help the professor, don't you?"

Geon, looking at Sharon, who seemed to have guessed his thoughts, smiled, "Given my personality, I'd want the professor's last performance to be memorable. Knowing it's not going well makes me want to help. Especially since I can."

Leontine Price, surprised, looked at Geon, who nodded after scratching his head, "Professor Price is a professor I greatly respect. I'd like to help if it's not too much trouble."

Sharon applauded, "Trouble? Having a Billboard chart-topper helping! Professor Price, right?"

Leontine Price nodded with a graceful smile, "If Kay helps, it would be perfect. Are you thinking of helping with the performance?"

"Anything, Professor. I just want to be part of your last performance. It's an honor for me personally."

"Having you play in the orchestra for my last performance would be an honor indeed," they continued discussing enthusiastically until Corigliano, who had been quietly feeding Kiska steak, muttered to himself, wishing he looked like Kay to become an actor.

Hearing this, Sharon laughed, prompting Corigliano to stop chewing and look surprised, causing Kiska to laugh. Sharon suggested, "Helping could be a new experience for Kay, right?"

"New experience? What do you mean?" Geon asked, puzzled.

Sharon explained, "Acting! Opera is where music and acting perfectly merge. How about trying to be on stage as an opera actor? It might suit you better than just playing from behind."

Geon was shocked, "Acting? But there are opera department students. Why should I, with no acting experience, do it?"

Corigliano chimed in, "Lack of acting? I was so surprised by your music video. You looked like a real angel or demon. I must've watched that video over thirty times."

Sharon added, "Right! And you

don't need to perform great acting. You're Kay. Just standing on stage and singing draws people in. Try it, Kay. Any experience related to music will enrich you. As your professor, I recommend it."

Geon looked bewildered at them, then Leontine Price spoke, "Will you help? If Kay participates, it will surely attract more attention. It's my last journey, and I wish for many to see it."

Geon pondered until Sharon made a decisive statement, "All proceeds from Professor Price's last performance will be donated to help with famine in Africa, Kay."

Geon grimaced at Sharon, "You know too much about me. Sigh."

"Of course, I do. Who else at Juilliard knows Kay as much as I do? We've been close for so long."

Geon, chin propped, pondered again before agreeing, influenced by Kiska's gaze, "What do you say, Kiska? Shall we help our grandmother professor?"

Kiska, wide-eyed, prompted Leontine Price to explain the concept of acting to her, eventually making her excited about seeing Kay perform on stage.

Geon, charmed by Kiska's enthusiasm, agreed, "Okay, let's do it."

Sharon was the first to applaud, "Great! Professor, isn't it great? The performance will be a success, and I get to watch Kay act. Everyone's happy!"

"Thank you, Kay. This will be a precious memory for me."

Corigliano added, "Kay acting, I must see it."

As they all shared a joyful moment, Geon, scratching his head in embarrassment, locked eyes with Kiska, who seemed eager to say something. When she gestured towards her chest and then towards Leontine Price, the professors were puzzled until Leontine gently asked if the little lady wanted to help too.

Kiska nodded vigorously, looking at Geon as if saying, "Why can't you understand?" Geon, amused by her cute expression, considered, "You want to help too? Hmm, what could we have you do? Maybe there's a role for a child actor? A small role where Kiska doesn't need to speak might be suitable."

Realizing Kiska's pure desire to help, Geon and the professors pondered her role, with Corigliano hesitantly suggesting, "I have an idea..."

As Sharon encouraged him to share, Corigliano proposed, "How about she joins me in my work? It's about composing."

Sharon, realizing Corigliano's intention not to lose Kiska, laughed, "Oh, trying not to lose Kiska to someone else? But how can Kiska, with no musical knowledge, participate in composing?"

Corigliano clarified, "Not composing."

"Then what?"

Corigliano, looking seriously at Leontine Price and Geon, explained, "For the songs that have music but no lyrics yet. Kiska could write the lyrics."

Geon, surprised, asked, "Lyrics? By Kiska?"

As Corigliano looked intently at Geon, Leontine Price, stroking her chin, asked to see Kiska's written sentences again. After reviewing Kiska's sketchbook, Leontine smiled at Corigliano, "Show Kiska the scenario I sent you. Let's entrust her with this task."

>

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