Just as Zephany returned to her seat beside Kendrick, the lights in the Grand Hall dimmed suddenly. A hushed gasp swept across the room. Then, a single spotlight cut through the darkness, casting a soft glow on the grand piano that stood alone on stage.
People murmured among themselves.
"Is this it?" a woman in the row behind whispered, leaning toward her partner.
"Must be. The invitation said the prodigy would perform last," her partner replied, eyes glued to the stage.
"But who could it be?" another guest chimed in, clutching his wine glass tightly. "No one knows the name. It just said 'a legend reborn'."
A group of elegantly dressed older ladies exchanged excited looks.
"I bet it's that girl from Austria—Clara Villeneuve," one said knowingly. "She disappeared for years, remember? This might be her comeback."
"No, no," another disagreed, fanning herself. "I heard it might be a child protege who aged out of the spotlight. Maybe the daughter of some wealthy socialite."
