The Princess and the Pauper (Arabella)

Chapter 1513

"I've heard that even renowned violinists shy away from performing this piece in public, you know? They're afraid of being

compared to the likes of Mr. Jarvis or Jamie Noelle. But young Alma here, bless her heart, she's got guts. And tonight, she didn't just

step up to the plate - she knocked it out of the park."

"Absolutely. To coax out such sound and feeling at her age? It's quite an accomplishment."

"And if Jamie Noelle were in the crowd, | bet she'd scoop Alma up as a protege in a heartbeat. Looks like our chances are slipping

away."

Alma, absorbing the praises from the stage, could feel she had improved leaps and bounds over her last performance. She locked

eyes with Arabella, a mix of confidence and pride in her gaze.

"Your turn," she passed the violin to Arabella.

That was when many of the guests realized - a duel of the strings was about to unfold.

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"Boy, Alma's really putting it all on the line, eh? Facing off against that girl, knowing full well she's Queena."

"Sure, Queena's a whiz at chess, but her violin chops? That's anybody's guess."

Arabella took the stage, bow in right hand, fingers dancing on the strings, and spun an enchanting melody that gripped everyone

instantly.

"That sound, isn't it eerily similar to Jamie Noelle would produce?"

"We just had Jamie Noelle's rendition of this piece, and now hearing Arabella's take, it's like they're cut from the scloth - their

skill, tone, the sheer presence."

"I'm floored. | thought Alma played beautifully. However, srhythm, sviolin, yet Arabella plays better than her."

And not just a rung or two higher - Arabella's playing was in a different league altogether!

Her music, pure and crystalline, seemed to elevate the room, whisking the guests away into the heart of the composition, leaving

nothing but the image of a girl and her violin, narrating the joys and sorrows of life through her strings.

Alma had only seen life through the lens of cinema, while Arabella had truly lived every bit of joy and pain over the years -

emotionally, Alma could never surpass her.

As the final note hung in the air, a stunned silence lingered before the room erupted into fervent applause.

"This birthday bash has been a blast, especially with Arabella's performance. It's beyond impressive."

"So young, yet she plays the violin like a seasoned maestro."

"Such a treat for the ears."

Arabella's music had taken the audience on a journey through life's highs and lows, its loves and its losses, and they couldn't help

but buzz with excitement.

"That performance could hold its own against any violinist out there today."

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"Only Mr. Jarvis and Jamie Noelle playing a duet could convey the depth of emotion in that piece, but tonight, Arabella showed she

could do it solo!"

"Just one listen, and it leaves you with a heart full of feelings, craving more."

"It was sublime."

It was a soul-stirring performance that seemed to cleanse everyone's hearts.

"I've lived many years, and this is only the second tI've been so moved by a live performance - the first being earlier tonight

with Mr. Jarvis and Jamie Noelle."

"Shere. Rarely does a live performance resonate withlike this."

Alma's face turned ashen. She couldn't believe that after all her hard practice on The Life, Arabella had effortlessly outshone her.

Could Arabella have been secretly mastering this piece all along?

How else could she have played with such finesse?