"Love...?"
The child made a puzzled expression.
'I knew this would happen.'
Ariana sighed as she watched him. When Louis was a baby, Dante had frequent contact with the child. He would rub his cheeks together when no one was looking, and when Louis had a fever, he would often stay by his side and pat him all night long.
However, as Louis grew older, Dante's overt displays of affection also quickly disappeared. Ariana guessed that it had something to do with Dante's childhood. Although she couldn't ask for the details, she could easily guess that his childhood as an illegitimate child was not affluent. An Indifferent father and a stepmother who hated him. His relationship with his biological mother...
'It didn't seem smooth.'
Ariana had never seen Dante commemorate his biological mother's death anniversary. Even though he was the one who moved his mother's grave, which was buried outside the castle, inside the castle. Anyway, he said that people can only give as much love as they have learned. It was natural that Dante, who did not receive proper parental affection and grew up, was awkward in loving his own child.
"Your Dad is just a little awkward in expressing affection."
"Awkward? Dad?"
The child's eyes widened. It seemed that he did not understand that his father could be awkward as well. Louis tilted his head sharply. Ariana lowered her head slightly and whispered as if telling a secret.
"Yeah. Dad actually loves Louis very much."
His wide eyes narrowed and she looked at Ariana with a suspicious look. Ariana quickly racked her brain to find evidence.
"Oh, right. When Louis was in Mom's womb, there was something that almost got you seriously hurt. And your father cried at that time?"
"Ugh?"
The child was startled.
"Crying? Dad?"
"Then..."
"Ugh, no, Louise..."
He cried so sadly, even calling his name.
"To be exact, I think she called him Louise, not Louis."
At that time, Dante still firmly believed that the child in her stomach was his daughter. Leaving aside personal matters, Ariana performed a realistic reenactment. The child's eyes quickly turned into lanterns.
"Really? Dad cried because of me?"
"I told you so. Is that all? Have you ever seen the desk calendar in your father's office, Louis?"
"No?"
"Then you wouldn't have known. There are stickers for the day Louis first babbled, the day you got your teeth, and the day you started walking. Your Dad put them up himself, saying they were events that should be commemorated every year."
"Huh...?"
Louis' eyes widened again as if he couldn't imagine it at all.
"That's true. I was really surprised when I first saw him do that."
Where did he get the elephant-shaped stickers? He decorated the parenting calendar with a serious face. Was that all?
Ariana secretly swallowed a laugh. The way he felt the fetus moving at a time when it was impossible for there to be fetal movement and excitedly called him a prodigy, the way he pretended not to notice and blushed when the child first said "daddy," it was hard to list all the evidence of the father's love for the child.
Ariana wrapped her arms around the child's shoulders.
"Louis. Do you want to make a promise to Mommy?"
The child blinked his round eyes. Ariana smiled brightly and stroked his curly hair.
"Soon..."
The child listened intently to what she continued.
"Will Louis help too? Then Dad will definitely be twice as happy."
"Um, I don't think so... "
"Absolutely not."
Ariana assured him, kissing the child's round forehead.
"So promise to help Mommy. Okay?"
The child who hesitated for a moment finally crossed his little fingers.
***
Paradise. The opera house, which had been talked about by the Islanders for its enormous scale even before its completion, became the island's greatest landmark as soon as it opened. It was not uncommon for people to flock to Paradise, where even the princess was amazed by its beauty and grandeur. However, the atmosphere of the people inside was completely different today. A heavy tension hung around them.
"What should I do? I have to do well..."
"I failed last year and the year before. I will definitely pass this year."
Today was the day of the open recruitment for the Lopez Orchestra members. Each participant held their instrument and desperately looked at the sheet music. If you asked who the best orchestra in the empire was at the moment, anyone would point to the Lopez Orchestra without hesitation.
In just a few years, the Lopez Orchestra had risen to become the best workplace among musicians. All the pieces played here were considered masterpieces, and no performer would turn them down. And the person who was making those famous songs one after another...
Click.
At that moment, the door opened and the judges began to enter. Everyone who was tuning their instruments and fiddling with the sheet music all became tense.
'Oh my, it's Ariana.'
'Oh my, behind that...'
Everyone became tense once more at the sight of the man entering behind the woman with flowing platinum hair.
'Even the Duke came?'
'They say you two are so close, and you even came to this place together.'
Some nodded with pleased faces. But after a while, even these people began to feel greatly embarrassed. The Duke, who they thought would see Arlana off and leave, took a seat at one of the judges' seats. Then, he crossed his arms, leaned back deeply against the back of the chair, and began to look at the contestants with his eyes judging them.
Soon, the group performance began in that state.
"..."
The beautiful melody soon began to fill the hall. The song that became a huge hit after its first release in Paradise last year was skillfully performed by the participants. However, they stared at the sheet music with serious faces, Most of the participants' heads were spinning with similar thoughts as they played with their eyes closed as if in communion with the music.
'Duke... doesn't it seem like he's staring at us?'
'If I make a mistake and ruin Ariana's song, my neck will fall off...'
'I'm going crazy. I'm so nervous.'
'Let's get a grip. If we want to become true professional musicians, we can't give in to this pressure!'
It was because of the gaze of the Duke, who was crossing his arms in a corner of the judging panel. Even though his height and frame were unusually intimidating, it was hard to believe that he, just a man, could exude such a presence.
'Let's do our best, let's do our best...'
The judging ended in a much more serious and solemn atmosphere than the usual preliminary judging.
***
"Whew, today's schedule is finally over."
Ariana groaned as she collapsed on the soft sofa. Maintaining a state of intense concentration for several hours during the judging was a task that even the most physically fit could not handle. However, she could not ignore even one team. She knew that each and every one of them had applied with sincerity.
"You worked hard, Ariana."
"Ah..."
A large hand came over and began gently massaging the area around Ariana's neck. The stiff muscles melted away in an instant under the skilled movements of his hands. Ariana was once again amazed by the amazing massage skills that she received every time. There was no doubt that her husband could do anything with his body.
"So. How was the impression?"
"Oh, they were all really great. I think most of them were nervous because the judges were watching, so they couldn't show their skills..."
"Paradise is a grand theater. If they can't even withstand the gazes of a few people, then it means they're not ready to join the orchestra."
Dante answered in a cold voice.
"If you applied here, then you must have had a chance to perform in front of others."
'That's true, but it's also true that it's not common to play in front of a war hero who's always glaring at you with scary eyes...'
Ariana buried that thought and smiled brightly.
"The Duke is right."
"Isn't that so?"
"Yes. Anyway, I'm really happy that I was able to recruit many good people today."
"I guess there were some people you liked."
"Yes, there were many. Especially the 17th participant who applied as a tenor."
Ah, that tenor. The hand that was stroking the back of his white neck suddenly stopped.
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