Ariana opened the window and took a deep breath. The fresh air of early autumn seeped deep into her lungs. When she raised her head, the high, clear sky filled her vision. Ariana looked up with admiration at the blue sky, where not a single cloud had disappeared.
"It's a perfect day."
"Please let the weather be good on the day of the performance."
It was such a perfect day that all the prayers she had been praying for were worth it. Ariana smiled proudly and looked down at the garden of the ducal palace full of greenery. Today was the day when summer officially gave way to fall. It was also the day when the first performance of "Paradise" would be held.
"The weather is so good that we can even hold the after-party."
Ariana bowed her head and whispered in a gentle voice.
"Isn't that right, Louis?"
A gentle hand caressed her large, swollen belly. Then she felt a faint vibration as if in response.
"Oh my."
Ariana's eyes widened. This had happened dozens of times while her belly was swelling like a full moon, but she still wasn't sure if the baby in her stomach really understood what she said.
'I think he really does understand now.'
Suddenly, she remembered Dante's face in the early stages of her pregnancy, when he had felt the fetus move and had declared with a serious expression that she was definitely a prodigy.
Phew.
A light laugh escaped Ariana's lips. The laugh soon turned into a sigh.
"Ha."
Ariana let out a long, nervous breath. It was the day of her first performance, which she had prepared so much for. She couldn't help but be nervous.
'I hope everyone enjoys it.'
"If it's a stage that I've really prepared for, I don't even get nervous, Lili. I just want to show the audience the stage quickly."
Ariana smiled faintly, recalling her grandfather's voice.
'I don't think I'm that far along yet, Grandpa.'
"Ariana."
At that moment, a welcoming voice was heard. Ariana quickly turned her head and held her breath.
"Oh my... The dark navy uniform perfectly matched his sturdy yet sleek silhouette. Ariana was speechless for a moment and blushed. Although she saw his face every day, it seemed that she hadn't yet developed an immunity. Especially when she saw Dante's appearance, which was a little different from usual.
"You seem very nervous, don't you?"
As if interpreting her tense appearance differently, Dante approached her and stroked the back of her head. The wind that blew near her brought a unique scent. Ariana whispered softly as she inhaled.
"That was the case, but I think I'm okay now."
"Really? That's good."
Dante, who had a snicker, put the red fruit on the silver plate that he had personally brought into Ariana's mouth. Ariana reflexively opened her mouth and chewed it familiarly. The refreshing and sweet taste of ripe cherries spread throughout her mouth. It has subsided now, but at the time when it was at its worst, there was a time when she couldn't eat food that didn't contain cherries.
Cherry preserves, cherry wine, cherry cake, all kinds of cherries... She had eaten them so much that she was sick of them, so now the smell alone would make her sick, but the taste that still lingered in her mouth was sweet.
Was it because there was someone who personally put cherries in her mouth every morning as a fixed routine?
"Louis."
Dante bent down and murmured, gently stroking her round belly.
"Because of your taste, your mother's body smells like cherries all day long."
Ariana swallowed a laugh as she looked down at him grumbling affectionately. Whenever she saw Dante touching her belly like this and whispering to the child, her heart filled with an unbearable sensation, like tickling with feathers.
Dante, herself, and the unborn child. The three of them seemed like a perfect family. Family. Ariana secretly rolled the word that had lost its meaning long ago in her mouth.
"It's a space that is aesthetically perfect."
Princess Katarina, looking around the interior with sharp eyes, commented coldly.
"This space will soon become the landmark of this island."
Ariana smiled at the praise that didn't match her proud voice. She had said that she was so devoted to the mathematics of the science of kingship that she even put aside the paintings she loved so much, and indeed Katarina's eyes were filled with deep fatigue. Nevertheless, her eyes sparkled with anticipation that could not be hidden.
"I endured the hellish continuous classes just thinking about today. Ariana, I'll look forward to it."
"... I hope you're satisfied."
"Ariana, it's an honor to have you."
Prince Michael of Ende smiled brightly and offered a handshake.
"I'm deeply moved that you've given up your seats to all my guests. I'm so happy that I can share Ariana's music with my friends."
As he said that, Michael looked around at the nobles of the Ende Kingdom that he had brought. They were all high-ranking nobles of Ende, and at the same time, they had come all the way from Ende to this place for this one performance.
She remembered the Emperor who had met her last time, looking excited and rejoicing that this would improve relations with the Kingdom of Ende.
'How did one performance turn into such a diplomatic event?'
Ariana tried to smile, swallowing her complicated feelings. When she heard that even the nobles of the Kingdom of Ende were coming, she felt dizzy with the pressure, but today, she could only think of one thing.
"I hope you enjoy it."
No matter where you come from or what you do, I hope you have a happy time in this opera house today. Just like I always do these days. Sophie approached Ariana, who had greeted the special audience members who had arrived first.
"Um, Miss. Can I really sit in the front like this?"
Sophie whispered in a small voice, fiddling with the invitation she had received directly from Ariana.
"It seems like so many people are sitting on either side of me..."
"Of course. I want Sophie to be the closest."
"Hehe. Thank you, Madam. This is my first time sitting in such a nice seat!"
Sophie, who was dressed up nicely for today, smiled brightly. As the performance time approached, a huge crowd began to gather in front of the opera house. People who had sold out their tickets months ago came rushing in like waves to take their seats. After all the audience members were seated, the red curtain finally rose and the performance began.
<Harvest Festival>.
As the title of the performance suggested, the stage was beautifully decorated with autumn leaves, and the people were amazed. The content was simple. The priestesses who serve the God of harvest play in a field full of grain and praise life without any worries or concerns. The simple plot was filled with rich melodies. The splendid tone of the harp, the dreamy waves of the cello, and various instruments sang the same happiness with different voices.
After some time, the red curtain fell and a dazed silence covered the wide space.
"Bravo!"
Someone shouted with applause, breaking the silence that had been so long ago.
"It was the best!"
That was the start of a quick cheer.
Clap, clap, clap!
The audience clapped their hands enthusiastically and shared their feelings in hazy voices.
"It felt like I had a short dream."
"It really is. This is my first time experiencing something like this! It was really... I felt happy."
The applause poured down on the singers, the performers, and finally, Ariana, who came up on stage as a composer. The pouring applause, and the flower petals falling on the stage with the meaning of respect. The eager eyes. Ariana slowly took a deep breath as she felt all of the praise with her whole body.
'Thank goodness.'
The joy of having given this many people a good time. That overwhelming yet brilliant emotion completely colored Ariana's heart.
'I want to feel this feeling for the rest of my life.'
The happiness that was so great that I couldn't get used to it at all, the happiness that had been pouring down for months to the point where I wondered if I would ever be able to calm down, seemed to be finally getting used to it a little. Behind the curtain, the performers were organizing their instruments with excited faces. The theater staff also came and went busily to organize with happy faces. The atmosphere was chaotic, but everyone was excited. There were also voices whispering in anticipation of the after-party that was about to begin.
"Ariana."
Ariana quickly turned around at the sound of the voice. Dante was walking toward her with a beautiful smile on his face.
"Your Highness!"
When she saw Dante's schedule while preparing for the face, she felt sorry for having neglected her performance, and a joy that was so great that it overwhelmed her. When she saw that face, she felt like this joy was finally real.
Just as Ariana was about to approach him happily, Dante's face distorted terribly as he approached.
"Ariana!"
Huh? Ariana turned her head absentmindedly and saw someone rushing toward her. He was wearing a stage crew uniform and was holding a gleaming sword in one hand.
'No!'
Ariana unconsciously wrapped her arms around her stomach. It was the moment when she crouched down, hugging her stomach with her entire body.
Thud!
A strong force pushed Ariana's shoulder.
"Hahaha!"
The stranger burst into a frenzy while raising his sword.
"Die! Die Kkeuk!"
The stranger, who had been knocked down by Dante's fist, looked up at Dante with bloodshot eyes and screamed.
"Dante Heigenberg! Lose your family too! Experience the same pain I did, you devil! Aah!"
The guards who quickly ran over subdued the stranger. The stranger kicked and screamed.
"Aahhh! Let go of me!"
The stranger was the family of a rebel who had been beheaded a few months ago. Dante turned away from the stranger who was being dragged away and hurriedly looked at Ariana, who he had hidden behind his back.
"Ariana."
A trembling hand touched her dry shoulder.
"Ariana. Are you okay?"
It should be okay. Ariana should be okay since he blocked the blade before it touched her. It had to be so.
Ariana, who had been bowing her head, slowly raised her gaze. Her exposed face was pale. There were no visible wounds. Ariana answered with blank eyes.
"Yes... I'm okay."
God. Dante thanked the God he had never called and finally let out a breath. As if trying to reassure him, Ariana continued speaking in a trembling voice.
"It's okay. I'm fine."
Her voice trembled dangerously as she muttered while covering her stomach.
"It's okay, but..."
At that moment, something bright red fell onto the white marble floor.
Drop, drop.
Dante held his breath as he watched the drops of blood falling one by one under Ariana.
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