In a bedroom dimly lit by cozy lights.
"It's strange."
Ariana muttered as she felt a hand gently stroking her hair.
"What?"
"Today's practice."
The hand that was stroking stopped. Ariana continued, lost in thought.
"The members didn't make a single mistake. It was the first day they were trying out a new part... It was surprisingly perfect. How much did they all practice?"
"The members' job is to play, so of course they should."
The fingers that had paused for a moment began to stroke her platinum hair again. Ariana tilted her head at the affectionate voice.
"However, the shadows under your eyes all seem to indicate that you haven't slept properly... You shouldn't practice while harming your health. I'm worried that I've set the schedule too tightly."
"What should I worry about?"
Dante raised the corners of his lips.
"I guess they all voluntarily devoted themselves to practicing because they like your song so much."
Dante whispered, his lips pressed right next to Ariana's ear.
"This song was really good, too."
"... Did it?"
Ariana blushed, slightly shrugging her neck. The first performance of Paradise, which she had received as a wedding gift. Of course, she wanted to do it perfectly. If only she had the heart to devote herself to composing, even if it meant devoting all day and night to it.
"Yes, since it's something that makes you happy, Madam, composing at an appropriate level will definitely help with prenatal education. However, you must keep in mind what I said about the 'appropriate' level."
Recalling the doctor's advice, she would stop when she felt like she had been working for too long, but perhaps because of the time limit, she seemed to be more efficient. Thanks to that, her recent compositions and the members' practices were going very smoothly. Today, too, if she thought about the progress, it was perfect.
Ariana blinked as she recalled today's practice.
"And also, it seemed like everyone was strangely avoiding eye contact with me."
"It's natural not to look at each other recklessly. You're like heaven."
"Yes? What do you mean like heaven?"
Ariana let out a small laugh and made a slightly serious expression.
"Even Mr. Ruben had such a strangely stiff attitude that I felt strange. He's the member who treats me the most. Oh, you wouldn't know if I just called him Ruben, right? He's the youngest member of our orchestra, but he plays the violin really well."
"I see."
"I'll introduce you next time. Oh, not just Ruben, but I have to introduce all the members formally."
Thinking about it, Ariana felt sorry that they hadn't even had a proper introduction yet.
"They're all really talented and sincere."
"Yes."
Dante whispered, kissing her platinum hair.
"I'm looking forward to it."
Ariana blushed again as she met his smiling face. No matter how much she experienced Dante being affectionate, she still couldn't get used to it. People who only knew his infamy on the battlefield wouldn't even imagine this kind of behavior, but in fact, Dante was much more affectionate and thoughtful than he seemed.
She knew that fact well now. Not only to herself, but also to the butler, the attending physician, and the other servants.
'He may be rough in his expression and cold in his impression, but he is not like that inside.'
So he would definitely be able to get along well with the members.
"Anyway, today, it was actually a little disappointing that he seemed to be distancing himself from not only anyone else but also Mr. Ruben."
Dante narrowed his brows at the small, muttering voice.
"Do you like it when that young punk acts so brazenly as if he is friendly?"
"Yes?"
Ariana looked around in surprise at the sudden words. She saw Dante with a strangely sullen expression. Ariana blinked a few times and then answered obediently.
"Yes."
Dante's mouth hardened.
"Maybe because he treats me so openly, I feel like he's like a little brother to me? Like a son?"
"Ah. Son."
Dante lowered his eyes and chuckled.
"But you know, Your Highness."
Ariana's eyes sparkled as something came to mind and she looked up at Dante.
"Will our child be a girl or a boy?"
Dante raised the corners of his mouth at her cautiously whispered question.
"Do you want to know?"
"Of course."
"A girl."
Ariana's eyes widened at the affectionate yet firm voice.
"Huh? How can you be sure?"
"I can just tell. It'll be a girl. She looks just like you."
There was not a single shred of doubt In his soft voice. Ariana let out a small laugh.
"Well, I thought it would be nice to have a son who resembles the Duke."
Dante hesitated as she confessed with a small smile.
"... A son who resembles me?"
"Yes."
Ariana nodded fervently.
"A son who resembles the Duke when he was young. Just thinking about it makes me so cute."
"And he'll be very dignified, right? You were like that when you were young, too. I remember you being as sturdy as an adult when you saved me. The Duke's son, so it must be exactly like that time."
"Hmm."
Dante covered his mouth to hide his trembling expression.
"That guy is a bit difficult to raise."
"Ahhhh! This damned bastard again!"
"Ah, devil! He's the devil! Oh, don't come near me! Aaaah!"
"Please save me! Kkaaaah!"
Dante suppressed the screams of his half-brothers from childhood that brushed his ears. The child had to be a girl. It had to be.
"Huh? What did you say?"
"Nothing."
"Actually, there was a name that just came to mind this morning."
Ariana confessed in a small voice, smiling shyly.
"How about Luise?"
"Good. Easy to say."
Dante added with a grin.
"It's a girl's name, so you can call me Luise."
"Why are you so sure?"
Ariana burst out laughing.
"It could be a boy. Right, Luise?"
"Your mother has no sense, Luise."
Dante whispered sweetly, stroking Ariana's belly. Ariana looked down at him and laughed in vain. The hand that was gently stroking her flat belly, which showed no sign of calling, was so affectionate. It was a peaceful and calm night. Calm like the night sea without a single wave, yet full.
'May there be more days like this in the future?'
May this miraculous time last forever. Ariana prayed to God for a long time.
***
The criminals were lined up and headed to the execution grounds with their limbs tied up.
"Waaaaah!"
"You bastards who deserve to be punished! You traitors!"
People jeered at the miserable members of the Dawn Order and the rebels. Ariana, who had been watching the scene from a high place, turned around after watching the leader of the Dawn Order stand in front of the gallows first. She wanted to watch their end, but she wanted to only take in the beautiful sights now that she was carrying Luise in her belly. After some time had passed, Sophie approached Ariana, who was quietly turning the pages of music in her room.
"Are you done?"
"Yes, ma'am."
Sophie, who had watched the execution ceremony until the end, nodded. It was definitely a scene that Ariana was glad she had chosen not to see. Just before they were executed, several of the traitors cursed Dante's name. They seemed to regard Dante, who had taken over as the commander-in-chief of the imperial army and defeated them, as their mortal enemy.
'Even so, in the end, he disappeared like the dew on the execution ground.'
After the prisoners were executed one by one, the last one to be executed was the deposed Prince. The deposed Prince ended his life under the cold gaze of those who were angry at his evil deeds of harming even his own relatives for the throne. However, what was more memorable than his last moments was the moment when Edward was executed. While hanging on the gallows, Edward let out a curse.
"Arianna! Damn you! Do you think you can be happy on your own after making me like this?"
It is said that Edward went crazy with jealousy after hearing that Ariana had taken over the Lopez House and as if that wasn't enough, had acquired a huge opera house called Paradise.
"I will become a vengeful ghost and come back to curse you! I will definitely make you unhappy!"
"Arianna! I was wrong. Please save this brother!"
The sight of him alternately cursing and pleading as if he had completely lost his mind, was incredibly creepy.
'Ugh... that crazy person.'
Sophie shuddered as she recalled the madman's eyes that had been twitching and twitching. There was no need to tell Ariana that petty and disgusting curse. After all, that bastard had already paid for his crimes and left this world, and now there would be no one left to torment Ariana.
'Yes. It's really over now.'
Sophie nodded and shook Edward's end from her mind. The villain was punished and Ariana had finally found love. It was a happy ending like the end of a fairy tale. Everything was perfect. Perfect.
"Everyone paid for their crimes."
Sophie smiled brightly as she said that. She sincerely hoped that only happy things would happen in the future for her young lady.
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