"Welcome, Master, Madam!"
The servants bowed as they welcomed the Duke and Duchess who were returning from an outing. Linda blushed slightly as she took in the sight of the two.
"How can they be so beautiful?"
The two had never gone out together since their wedding. To be exact, Ariana had never gone out properly. That was why it had been a long time since Linda had seen the Duke and Duchess standing side by side dressed up like that.
Ariana stretched her legs out of the carriage and Dante escorted her. What a dazzling couple they were. Linda's heart swelled with pride. However, even this seemingly perfect couple had a secret.
"Are you going to sleep together today?"
It was a secret only among the servants of the Duke's residence that the two had never spent the night together in the master bedroom. It was something she couldn't understand. Dante's gaze, which scanned Ariana's nape or lowered eyelashes, was sometimes so thick and explicit that Linda's cheeks turned red.
"Um, Ma'am. Shall I prepare the bath?"
Ariana shook her head at the head maid's polite question.
"I'll go to the recital room."
Hmm. Today is no different. As expected of our mistress. She is so faithful every night...
Linda sighed and stepped aside. Everyone in the Duke's residence knew that Ariana had been staying up all night in the recital room every single day for the past month. Still, there was hope.
Linda stole a glance at Dante's back as he followed Ariana into the recital room. Ariana glanced at him with eyes that could not hide her bewilderment.
Then, thud. The heavy door to the recital room closed.
"... Hoho."
Because it was perfectly soundproofed, no one knew exactly what was going on inside.
***
The closed door of the concert hall was quiet. Perhaps because it was perfectly soundproofed, it was as if we were the only ones left in the world. I felt suffocated by this silence, but I wondered if he didn't care, Dante strode over and sat deep into the sofa, crossing his long legs leisurely.
I stopped myself from sitting on the piano stool and opened my mouth.
"Are you going to sit there again today?"
"Yes."
I hesitated, then gathered my courage and said.
"... I think I've told you this before, but I can't concentrate when Your Highness is here."
"Lies."
Dante smirked.
"Once you start, even I quickly forgotten."
I looked at him, unable to hide my bewilderment. Yes, well, wasn't he the one who casually hugged my waist, calling me my wife, my wife, even at the Count's residence?
As if we were a couple who truly loved each other. I will probably never have that kind of silliness again.
While I was thinking that, Dante arrogantly nodded his chin.
"Start."
"..."
I looked at him with eyes filled with a slight protest, but he didn't even blink an eye. In the end, I gave up, took a deep breath, and placed my fingers on the keyboard.
'If I concentrate once, I will forget it right away? I couldn't understand why he was that...'
He knows something. I quietly clenched and unclenched my fist. Even though I was sitting with my back to Dante, the back of my head kept tingling. Dante didn't seem to know, but it wasn't easy to forget that presence.
"... Hoo."
I took a deep breath and tried to concentrate on the score. The part I had already seen dozens, hundreds of times caught my eye again. Even though I had been working on it until dawn today, I still couldn't think of any particular musical idea for this part. I pressed the keys here and there. I continued playing for quite a while, but I still didn't like it, so I stopped and stared at the score.
"..."
Huh. A small groan escaped my lips.
For the past month, I devoted myself to this one song every single day. Especially at night, I devoted myself to playing the score I had been working on while the sun was up. Dante often watched me do that. And, when I was deeply engrossed in playing, I would suddenly turn my head with a strange sense of discomfort...
"Ah."
I would find Dante on the sofa or leaning against the doorway with his eyes closed. When I stopped playing in confusion, Dante would open his eyes without fail soon after.
"Why are you stopping?"
Then he urged me in a sleepy voice. Then I had to continue playing with my nerves on edge. My back and the back of my neck felt unbearably ticklish... Is he still asleep?
In the middle of playing for a while, that thought suddenly occurred to me. Slowing down the tempo, I cautiously looked back and felt my heart sink. Red eyes were staring straight at me. Now, with those piercing gazes that gave me a sense of deja vu.
"What's wrong?"
Dante moved his lips.
"You seem to be having trouble concentrating today."
Yes. Because it was the day you came in.
"Is it because of your brother?"
Dante furrowed his eyebrows in displeasure. No, it was because of Dante. I had to swallow my absurd feelings. Thinking of Edward had never made me feel this complicated. Even today, my dear brother has taken the bait. He must be digging through the secret safe right now.
Just thinking about it makes me laugh refreshingly. So the only one who was disturbing my mind was Dante. If only that man's gaze hadn't continued to disturb the back of my neck...
'No, no.'
I shook my head and scolded myself. I couldn't blame Dante for this. In fact, there was a problem with the progress of the work. The aria was almost finished. However, there was one part that I was still not satisfied with. It was the scene where the girl, the main character of the aria, was completely absorbed in the Joy of the festival for the first time. This part was extremely joyful and beautiful, but also somehow bizarre.
The joy I experienced for the first time, the overwhelming joy that made me forget the passage of time, was not normal.
"Hmm."
Dante stroked his chin once and approached me, swinging his long legs. He got closer in an instant and bent over the sheet music.
"Is there a part that you're having trouble with?"
Because I had stopped playing, the surroundings were once again immersed in silence. In extreme silence, the five senses become sensitive. The fact that my sense of smell was so keenly sensitive to the unfamiliar and refreshing scent that suddenly came was also irresistible. I turned my head slightly and said,
"... It's a feeling that's a little difficult to express."
"What is it?"
"They say that excessive joy and sadness are connected. I want to express that."
"Hmm?"
Dante opened his eyes slightly wide as if he was surprised. His gaze turned to me and soon became squinty.
"So what you're saying is,"
Dante said, smirking.
"You're curious about a feeling that's so pleasant it's almost like crying."
"..."
I furrowed my brow slightly.
'That's... different, isn't it?'
And somehow, coming from that person's mouth, it felt very sinister. Dante took a step closer to me and bowed his head.
"Shall I teach you?"
"..."
Only then did I fully realize Dante's true intentions and swallowed my breath.
"This is my first time teaching someone."
His rough, callused fingertips lightly grabbed my chin.
"If it can help you with your work, I'll do my best."
"..."
I bit my lower lip. Dante's eyes, speech, and gestures all hinted at the actions that would follow. The first and second kisses, which took place at different weddings, were strange and overwhelming. The third...
....I couldn't come to my senses because of the strange sensation of butterflies fluttering in my stomach. Then what would happen the fourth time?
Confused, I clenched my fists and looked up at him. Every time this happened, I felt a little resentful that I was always being manipulated by that person. Was it because of that strange trick? My lips blurted out words without me knowing.
"Do you know that much?"
Dante opened his eyes slightly wide and immediately chuckled.
"Perhaps more than you?"
He lightly touched the bridge of my nose as if it was funny.
'You've been alive for a long time.'
No. I don't know about you. Of course, in all the years I've lived, before and after I died, I couldn't compare to this man's skill.
I couldn't figure out why I felt so resentful. I took a deep breath and grabbed his collar. Dante's eyes widened again.
"...Then."
Then. I moved my lips slightly.
"Then please tell me... What it feels like."
I heard Dante take a short breath. Because we were so close, I could clearly feel his chest muscles slightly expanding under his shirt. My heart was pounding like crazy. I tried to look up at him as if nothing had happened.
***
Right after Ariana and Dante left, the party ended in a chaotic atmosphere. Edward silently glared at the lobby where the guests had flowed out like an ebb tide. The area around his neck that had been tightened since Dante had grabbed him by the collar earlier was still uncomfortable.
Footsteps approached Edward.
"You look very heartbroken, Count Lopez."
"... Sir Leonard."
"By the way, you're going to submit the third part of <Fantasy Butterfly> to the National Foundation Festival."
Yes. That was the main topic of today. It received a huge response when it was presented. It was considered a success. However, after the Duke appeared, he had to worry that the guests might have completely forgotten the important announcement. Everyone was talking about Dante and Ariana until the moment they left.
Edward gritted his teeth. Ariana, that wicked thing, had ruined today's banquet, which should have been perfect. Thinking about the overall humiliation he had suffered today, his heart burned like a fireball.
"Yes. I'll upload the third part which has never been released before. It's guaranteed to be a success."
Since it was the first time the famous final part of <Fantasy Butterfly> was being released, it was only natural that it would be a hit.
"So don't worry, Your Grace-."
Tsk. Leonard clicked his tongue and shrugged.
"What a disappointment."
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