My cheeks must have been bright red like ripe fruit right now. I groped my lips, feeling embarrassed by the stark sunlight.
'You, who cherished me...'
"You were wrong this time."
Dante said, his lips curling up.
'It's not just that much.'
Dante suddenly lowered his head.
'...'
My body froze. I could clearly feel the tickling whisper right next to my ear. Even the slightest movement of his lips. My heart felt like it was going to burst. What was he saying?
I couldn't hear a sound. I couldn't read his lips. He soon lifted his head and looked at me with a strangely playful smile. I bit my lip and hurriedly groped.
'That's foul play!'
When I protested, his smile grew a little deeper.
'I didn't see you.'
When I said this while pulling on Dante's sleeve, he closed his eyes and laughed. It was a very joyful smile for someone who made others feel bad. I was about to protest once more, but he came closer. Before I could prepare myself, our lips overlapped again.
'... '
His lips moved while still touching. My eyes widened. This time, every movement felt real. It was as if each letter was engraved on my lips.
'Ah...'
My face felt hot as if it was on fire. My heart was beating faster than before. I shut my eyes tightly, feeling like tears were coming. Breath came rushing in, gently parting my parted lips. As I received the melting kiss, I chewed and chewed the words his lips were pronouncing.
I love you, Ariana.
Every syllable and every letter was so sweet that my tongue ached.
***
Sophie wrote diligently on a note and handed it to me.
[How are you feeling today?]
I smiled and nodded. A look of relief crossed Sophie's face. Sophie wrote another note and handed it over along with a silver tray with a newspaper on it.
[Today's newspaper, Madam.]
She could have just handed me the newspaper, but I smiled because it was funny and thankful that she kept handing me the note. The newspaper I opened was noisy again today. Just like it had been for the past few days. The world was turned upside down after the courthouse was blown up. Thanks to the quick actions of Dante's knights, many of the bombs planted in the courthouse were removed in advance.
'If they had all exploded...'
It would have been a literal hellish tragedy. The Emperor, the nobles in attendance, me and Dante, and the surrounding citizens, would have all lost their lives at once. There was no solid evidence that the Crown Prince was behind the bombing. However, the fact that the Crown Prince had disappeared with his private soldiers that day was the most certain evidence.
This was an unprecedented incident in which the royal family attacked citizens. Moreover, it was clear treason, as the Emperor was almost murdered.
Yesterday afternoon, I met with the Emperor with Dante. I presented the evidence that my grandfather and Uncle Hoffman had collected, which could not be presented at the trial. The evidence clearly showed that the Crown Prince had instigated the death of his brother. The Emperor read all the materials and was silent for a while. Then, after a long time, he slowly opened his mouth.
"I... raised my son wrongly, so you have suffered greatly."
The face of the Emperor who had been saying that became so gloomy that he looked ten years older in a few days. After we left, the Emperor officially deposed the Crown Prince.
'I should call him the deposed Crown Prince now, not the Crown Prince.'
The deposed Crown Prince was still nowhere to be found. However, would someone so obsessed with the throne that he would plot such things really run away like this?
'No way. He must have been plotting something new.'
There were meetings every day at the Duke's house. Rio always showed me the minutes after each meeting, and fortunately, the pursuit of the deposed Prince seemed to be going quite smoothly. That was certainly reassuring news, but... somehow it didn't feel right.
'The minutes only contain too many hopeful stories!'
It was as if the bad stories had been intentionally omitted. As I was flipping through the newspaper with that thought, I suddenly noticed the book lying underneath it. It seemed like Sophie had intentionally placed it underneath the newspaper.
I let out a small laugh as I checked the book. It was a biography of a great artist who composed music even after becoming deaf from a fever in his later years. Sophie's Intentions for leaving it behind were so obvious that I couldn't help but laugh.
'... Is it possible?'
I slowly turned my head. The piano caught my eye. Could I do it too?
***
"They say the Duke's knights have found traces of the deposed Prince."
"Oh, that's good news. But what happened to him?"
"Him?"
"That crazy man. Edward, that vicious criminal!"
"Oh, that crazy bomber."
People's faces were stained with anger. A week ago, the deposed Prince's courthouse bombing incident caused a huge stir in the system, but there was another incident that shocked people just as much. It was the incident when Edward committed a bombing attack on the Duchess of Heigenberg.
"You're saying he did it because he was angry that the Duchess took back the music?"
"How can he be so shameless! He only put his name on the Duchess' great music from the beginning!"
Everyone was outraged. Edward, who had been caught on the spot, was locked up in prison awaiting judgment. Everyone unanimously agreed that he should be sentenced to death.
"And, this is just a rumor, but..."
Someone spoke quietly.
"There is a story that the Duchess suffered an ear injury in that incident."
"Huh? What?!"
"Oh my goodness!"
"How did she get hurt so badly?"
The people covered their mouths. The one who brought the news continued with a gloomy face.
"Well, I heard that she has lost her hearing..."
"What the hell?!"
"Oh my goodness! Such a terrible thing!"
"How could such a tragedy be!"
Everyone was shocked by the cruel news. Some even shed tears. Then someone joined the commotion.
"What did you just say?"
The people who turned to the owner of the voice froze in surprise.
"Oh, my goodness, Prince."
Michael Ende, the first Prince of the Ende Kingdom... There were many rumors that the reason he had remained in the empire since the foundation of the country was to see the Duchess' next performance.
"The Duchess... What did she lose? Did she lose her hearing?"
"That, that... Yes. It is said that she cannot hear at all."
"Ha."
Michael stumbled and placed his hand on the wall.
"How could such a cruel tragedy be possible."
The people mourned together as they watched his sorrowful appearance. Everyone knew that Michael had mastered all the music of the Lopez Opera House, which was later discovered to be the Duchess's work.
"Then I might never hear her music... again."
"Oh, that can't be..."
At Michael's wavering voice, the nobles who had been captivated by Ariana's music began to whisper. A heavy despair settled over the hall.
***
[You will definitely recover. I will pray to God every day.]
[The God of Art will definitely look down on the Duchess.]
'This... What is all this?'
I looked at the piled-up letters, dumbfounded. All of these letters were filled with messages of comfort and wishes for my speedy recovery. People I had never met before were writing to say that they would pray for me every day.
[And these are gifts for the lady.]
The butler Oren, who had been watching this scene with a strangely pleased face, handed me a note and nodded somewhere. Then, the servants brought in several mobile shelves filled with piles of boxes. Are these all the gifts that had arrived for me?
Oren opened the gifts one by one for me.
[Oh my. This is the beard of a black whale! It is a very precious medicinal herb.]
[A hundred-year-old mountain herb! This is a medicine that cannot be obtained even with money!]
Oren wrote exclamations on the notes and showed them to me every time he checked a gift. Thanks to this, I was able to see without fail how many precious and great gifts had arrived for me. Among them, there was a box that was so huge that it caught my eye the most.
'Prince Ende?'
My eyes widened when I saw the name Michael Ende. Michael sent me a letter of consolation along with some kind of medicine that Oren said was very precious.
[Dear Duchess. I heard the heartbreaking news that you have suffered a tragedy. Why did the God of Art give you such talent and then give you this tragedy? However, I am certain that you will definitely recover. I still cannot forget the moment I first heard your music. That trembling and moving moment, I...]
A very long letter.
'What the heck is this...'
I was astonished as I turned the third page of the letter. Michael wrote down his impressions along with an incredible amount of eloquence about how the music I presented at the founding ceremony touched his heart and how other music from Lopez House was.
The Kingdom of Ende is famous for its discerning taste. I didn't know that a genius who graduated from the Royal Academy of Fine Arts with the highest honors would be so impressed by my music. Maybe it was because I read too many excessive words in a short time. My cheeks flushed a little.
'... I'm happy.'
Honestly, I was. It felt very awkward and strange that so many people were wishing me a speedy recovery... but at the same time, I was happy. Michael's letter didn't end there.
[... So if it's okay, I can visit you in person]
That was the moment I read it. A large hand came over and covered the letter. Startled, I looked to the side. Dante was standing there, I wondered when he had come. His face was strangely stiff.
'Duke.'
I pursed my lips in embarrassment. I was about to ask when he had come, but Dante quickly wrote a note.
[You absolutely need to rest, so it would be best not to receive any visits.]
I blinked as I looked at the note he had handed me. Dante, who had tapped my nose and made me look at him, moved his lips.
'You need recovery, don't you?'
'...'
'Right?'
I nodded reflexively, feeling that I should answer yes. Only then did a satisfied smile appear on Dante's lips.
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