Like seeing the shadows at dawn,
The red soundboard is full of black stems. Is it the deterioration of the maple tree that has endured the years? Someone said so. The tears of countless violinists, and the marks of the melody carved by the devil. The strings that cross the fingerboard sparkle silvery as if they will come to life at any moment. The tip of the bow is like a sharp blade that stirs the lungs. Ah, how many people have longed to hear that melody.
"Right, that was the fantasy."
How could I not know?
Anyone interested in classical music cannot help but know this instrument, a masterpiece of the legendary and unfortunate Antonio Stradivari. The world was in an uproar over the illusion that disappeared into a handful of ashes in the past life. A wealthy Chinese man who owned the famous instrument said an absurd story that the illusion ignited on its own. However, the moment I saw it with my own eyes, the wealthy man's words became real.
Thump.
At that moment, Son Yu-ha walked towards the violin as if possessed.
"Grandpa, what is this?"
Even to a young child, it would not look like an ordinary violin. Perhaps he would not be able to determine exactly what the instrument in front of him was. It was certainly quiet, but it seemed alive.
"It's a gift that Grandpa prepared for Hyun."
For me?
Only then did I remember the baduk game I had played with Chairman Wang. Who would have thought that the gift he was giving me was a Stradivarius! I still remember the fantastic auction price. Later, it was sold to a wealthy Chinese man for the highest price ever for a musical instrument, and it was featured prominently in overseas news.
"Hyun-ah, do you not like it?"
How could I hate it?
Thump thump thump.
From the moment I saw the vision, my heart was pounding like crazy.
*
-Beware of the blonde devil.
Another story handed down by Gramophone. A blonde beauty entered the meeting place frowning in the unseasonable downpour. Gramophone editor Adam Whishaw saw her and raised his hand.
"The weather is really fucking crazy."
The beauty, who spoke harshly despite her gorgeous appearance, sat cross-legged on the sofa. Her legs were so long that one might have suspected she was a model. Sharon, another senior editor at Gramophone, skillfully put a cigarette in her mouth. There were many smokers in the bar, but Sharon's figure stood out among them.
"Adam, you came back from your business trip?"
As the cumulus clouds reached the ceiling, Sharon leaned forward.
"While you were away I was busy reforming the sprouts that had been sprouting. Most people who come to Gramophone think they are great critics, when in reality they are just newbies who can't do anything on their own."
"Sharon, when you're in the position of editor-in-chief, you don't have to manage everyone like that. I see you all the time, and you're as cranky as the weather in London. Isn't that why everyone avoids you?"
"Oh my, who is worried about whom?"
Sharon didn't mind Adam sitting across from her. He was the only person she could talk to at Gramophone. That's all.
"I heard a strange rumor, that the London Symphony wrote a letter of recommendation."
"Spencer?"
Sharon nodded briefly in agreement. It was Spencer who had been the principal conductor of the London Symphony Orchestra with great fame. Spencer himself represented the London Symphony Orchestra. However, he had never taught anyone, let alone written a letter of recommendation for a competition. It was probably because there were no new talents who could surpass his standards, but also because his pride as a maestro was sky-high. Where did such a ridiculous rumor come from that he wrote a letter of recommendation?
"That's not all, another great master has also written a letter of recommendation. It's to the same person who wrote the London Symphony."
Sharon's blonde hair rippled wildly.
It was a story that Adam could not understand at all. Why would two masters be involved in the same person?
"The queen you've been longing for so desperately, she wrote a letter of recommendation."
At that moment, Adam's eyes opened wide. Sharon was puzzled by Adam's sudden appearance, which showed little change in emotion. It was only the smoke from Adam's cigarette that lingered in the air.
"anyone?"
What are you asking?
"The person who received recommendations from both the London Symphony and the Queen at the same time."
"Isn't that just a groundless rumor?"
Sharon couldn't continue. Adam's eyes were unusual. She thought it was a false rumor. The person who had received the letter of recommendation was an unfamiliar violinist whose name she had never heard of. Sharon took a deep drag on her cigarette. It was a habit that came about when she was worried. Soon, the smoke poured out like fog.
and,
"hyeon."
The blonde devil remembered the violinist's name.
*
"her."
Chairman Wang quietly exclaimed in admiration. He never imagined that he would reject that violin. Even to a layman who was not familiar with classical music, it was an extraordinary instrument. It was so fascinating that it was dazzling just by looking at it, but he could not even guess how someone who played the violin would feel.
"Inspiration, did you see Hyun's eyes just now?"
Chairman Yoo nodded in response to Chairman Wang's question. It was the first time he had seen such burning eyes.
"But you still insisted on giving it to me, even though I said I would give it to you in full. In the end, you said you would only borrow it for the concours?"
It was hard to believe that he had the self-control of a young child. He even looked sad when he came close enough to touch the violin and then withdrew his hand. Chairman Wang, who was proud of his discerning eye, had his say. In an instant, Chairman Wang grabbed Chairman Yoo's hand. But his eyes were not ordinary.
"Ahem."
Chairman Yoo coughs and pulls his hand away. After all, he was not the one in a hurry.
* * *
The masters of the violin world were gathering one after another in Brussels, Belgium. The reason they gathered together, who were secluded and focused only on music, was simple. For Queen Elizabeth. The war of strings returned after four long years, and for those who had been waiting for the birth of a new star, could there be a better day than this?
"after."
Eva greeted the masters with a deep breath. Each and every one of them was a prominent figure in the music world who was treated as a VIP by the country. That was why she had to be extra careful. Their personalities were also different, so it was like mixing together paints that did not mix. If there was one thing they had in common, it was that they loved and hated the violin more than anyone else.
"Is it true that the Queen and London nominated one person at the same time?"
The words uttered by the Russian master froze the room. They knew who Queen and London were referring to. In fact, there were some among them who had felt frustrated by Queen and London. The silence continued.
"Then let's look at that friend first."
The Chinese master smiled and gave a friendly smile. Eva got up from her seat, feeling the pressure squeezing her whole body. Many violinists applied for the global preliminaries, and only those who were selected in the first round had their performance videos sent to the judges. Playing the violin in Brussels was a high wall.
Chijik.
After a brief silence, a video was projected on the spacious TV screen. When we heard that Queen and London had sent letters of recommendation to one person at the same time, everyone thought it was just a rumor. However, now that it was proven to be true and not a rumor, the masters' interest was not directed to any newcomers. Will the season of violin come again?
That was when.
"earthly."
Someone let out a questioning sigh. It wasn't a concert hall at first glance. It would probably be a hotel banquet hall. But the child on stage was too young. How could such a young child capture the hearts of the Queen and London? It didn't make sense. The moment the maestros doubted their eyes, the child finally lifted his bow.
*
'Oh, I should have just accepted it.'
These past few days, I've been feeling a bit uneasy, like I'm on a roller coaster. That's because I've had these fantasies keep flashing through my head. Why didn't I just accept it when you gave it to me?
'Because he's Chairman Wang!'
I hesitated even more because I knew the price of Stradivari. Especially the fantasy was so expensive that it would later become the highest price for a musical instrument at Sotheby's. Chairman Wang would not give me something like that for no reason. In his past life, he was a scholarship student at Jeil Group and observed the workings of a conglomerate family more closely than anyone else.
no way.
For a moment, a single person came to mind, but I quickly erased it from my mind. I decided not to stop the woman who came or the woman who left, but she was still too young to be considered a woman. No, not yet.
"Hyun-ah, what are you thinking so deeply about?"
I raised my head at the sound of my grandfather's voice.
"Grandpa said he was going to buy me something delicious today, so I'm looking forward to it."
He wiped his expression and showed a meaningless smile. At that moment, the car driven by Mr. Kim arrived at the Sili Hotel. It was a restaurant he had been to several times in his past life. However, he followed his grandfather as if it was his first time there. He was still thinking about the fantasy in his head.
By the way.
'Are those people models?'
A white couple who appear to be middle-aged, but both of them are so long and slender that they look like models.
*
"Adam, how are you going to find him in this big Korea?"
Sharon, the chief editor of Gramophone, waved her blonde hair as if she was complaining. She had flown to Korea knowing only the name of the violinist. However, there was no way to know who the person called 'Hyeon' was. Adam was just enjoying his meal with a strange smile.
"Adam, are you spilling the soup right now? You're such a helpless person!"
A sight that would have taken the breath away of the Gramophone clerks. Of the three demons handed down in Gramophone, aren't two of them eating while facing each other? As Sharon's voice grew louder, so did the surrounding eyes. However, rather than eavesdropping on their conversation, more attention was drawn to the two's splendid appearances.
"You're sitting in a place where you can't even smoke, really. I don't like you, Adam. You came here for an interview and ended up quitting smoking, which wasn't even in your plans."
"So Sharon, who told you to come with me?"
Sharon, a famous smoker, frowned when she couldn't smoke. No matter how delicious the dinner was, what's the use of it if there's no cigarette? At that moment, Sharon's eyes met the gaze of a boy across from her. Soon, Sharon's blue eyes gradually focused on the shape of the boy's mouth.
Be quiet, ma'am.
The boy was clearly saying that.