Dante remembered the 17th tenor. Not only was he exceptionally powerful and timbre, but he was also thick enough to make the hall feel cramped, making him hard to forget.
'The development of his biceps and pectoralis major was particularly impressive.'
Dante thought as he recalled the unusually swollen chest of the 17th that caught the attention of all the female contestants.
'To maintain that much muscle mass, he must have spent a considerable amount of time training every day. I don't know why he would have such a big body instead of just practicing his singing as a singer.'
"His technique was really amazing. He could go up to F# steadily, and his powerful voice really Impressed me."
'That's all.'
Dante thought to himself. Judging from the way she spoke with a blushing smile, it seemed that the 17th tenor's skills had really satisfied Ariana. Dante's eyebrows quirked slightly. It wasn't a very pleasant feeling to hear his wife praising another man. Of course, he didn't want to reveal his narrow-minded feelings to the point of jealousy toward his wife who was just working hard. So Dante let out a calm voice.
"Yeah. Her tone is also excellent."
"Ah... tone. Yes. Objectively, it was definitely like that."
"Objectively?"
"Hmm."
Ariana hesitated slightly and smiled shyly.
"Actually, I've lost my objectivity when it comes to men's voices for a long time."
"Why?"
Ariana looked back at the questionable voice. Their eyes met blankly. Ariana realized as she met Dante's suspicious eyes. Her husband really didn't know the answer. Ariana slowly looked away and confessed in an embarrassed voice.
"Why... Well, I guess it's because I hear the Duke's voice every day?"
"...My voice?"
Dante absentmindedly touched his neck. He could feel a faint scar on the part where his scapula protruded. It was a scar from when he was on the battlefield a long time ago, when he was poisoned by an assassin sent by his stepmother and was left trembling, by the barbarians. His voice changed a little after he got the wound. Dante's voice, which was originally low for a man, became subtly rough. It was especially so when he lowered his tone. Dante considered his voice as one of the many scars he had received on the battlefield. Dante didn't like it, but it was already engraved, so there was nothing he could do about it.
He caressed my neck and asked absentmindedly,
"Does my voice bother you?"
"Yes?"
Ariana looked up at him with blank eyes.
"Does it bother me? No matter how subjective the realm of taste such as tone is, why would you say such an absurd thing? I really like your voice, Duke...
'Sometimes, when something I like too much is denied, I get excited.'
Ariana lowered her voice, realizing that she had reacted too violently without realizing it. Embarrassment belatedly came over her.
"... Ah."
Looking down at Ariana's reaction, Dante realized briefly. That's right. It seems that some part of him was being attractive to Ariana without him knowing it.
He muttered, chewing on the realization he had just gained.
"That's why you asked me to call your name five times last night..."
"Duke!"
Ariana looked around in shock and covered Dante's mouth. Dante, who had kept his mouth shut, smiled broadly. He didn't care how his voice sounded to others. He also thought that Ariana's taste in voices was unique. But whatever it was, coincidence after coincidence, his wife liked his voice. That conclusion satisfied Dante, and that was all that mattered.
He pulled Ariana's hand that was covering his mouth and pressed his lips against her palm.
"Ariana."
Ariana's cheeks turned bright red when he deliberately made a low sound as if he was scratching his throat.
Dante's eyes widened in satisfaction.
"Shall we go home soon?"
"...Yes."
Ariana nodded, visibly embarrassed. Dante laughed at his own petty jealousy for looking down on the tenor who was serious about chest exercises, whether it was number 16 or 17.
She even liked my voice, so why waste my emotions on such useless things.
Ariana, who had been sitting up obediently, suddenly came to her senses the next moment.
"Oh, I just need to finish the list of successful candidates. It'll be over soon."
"Yeah. Was there anyone else you particularly liked?"
"Um... Oh, I really liked the cellist, number 35."
Ariana answered quickly. Even her eyes sparkled, showing that she really liked the contestant she was talking about this time. Dante chuckled and said,
"Number 35? That one must have been exceptionally skilled, right?"
If Ariana, who had led all sorts of excellent performers, was praising them like that, then they must have been special.
'Ariana is usually a bit soft-spoken, but she's very picky about her musical skills, so he must be very talented-'
"His skills are great, but more than anything, his looks are really outstanding."
"...His looks?"
"Yes. Duke, you remember him, right? You're so handsome that it's hard to forget him once you see him."
Ariana's cheeks were slightly flushed as she spoke.
'... Are my eyes dim right now?'
Dante blinked once, but what he saw was the same. Her pretty green eyes were so sparkling that they looked like stars. Dante spoke in a voice as hard as a piece of wood.
"...There was someone like that. I didn't know."
"Oh, you don't remember? Anyway, I'll definitely put him on the list of successful candidates."
"These days, fan culture is much more developed than before, so I think the individual charm of each performer is important."
"...If we recruit a popular performer, the performance will definitely be more successful. Then it will also help the Duke, who is the greatest supporter of our orchestra, right?"
Ariana said with a proud smile. No. I don't care if I don't sell a single ticket, Ariana. Besides, you, this is the first time you've told another man besides me that he's handsome. Was it just that I had never met a guy whose face I liked?
Dante barely suppressed the desire to say that, and instead, as a husband who respects and admires his wife's work, smiled generously and said,
"You should pick whoever you want."
"Yes. Thank you for saying that!"
Ariana smiled brightly. Damn it. Dante gritted his teeth inwardly.
***
"Wahahahaha!"
"You're so funny!"
The spacious concert hall was filled with happy laughter. Today was the first Friday of the month. The Lopez Orchestra members were always invited to the Heigenberg mansion on this day every month to enjoy a grand dinner. The sumptuous meal enjoyed in the palatial mansion was truly extravagant. Many of the members considered this to be the most valuable benefit of the Lopez Orchestra.
After the dinner, they were even allowed to receive private lessons from Ariana in her concert hall. This time, thanks to the new members joining, the atmosphere was more cheerful and lively than usual. And at the center of that atmosphere were two people.
"Well, then let's change the pitch this way. It'll convey the emotion better."
Ariana was smiling gently and guiding each member.
"That's much better. As expected from Ariana."
The two young men who confidently took the seats closest to Ariana were those two. Alex Vito, 25 years old, cellist, Ariana acknowledged as 'very handsome'. Alex smiled gently at Rosalind.
"That makes Rosalind's gorgeous tone come alive a lot."
"Thank you..."
Rosalind covered both cheeks and didn't know what to do. Looking at Alex with dreamy eyes, it seemed like Rosalind had already finished dating and even registering her marriage. Ariana's pleased gaze also reached Alex.
"Master?"
At that moment, a strange voice called out to Dante. Dante glanced around. His closest aide, Rio, was there. His eyes were filled with wonder.
"Why are you standing there?"
'Like a transfer student who doesn't fit in with the class and is standing awkwardly...'
Rio blinked. He never thought that such an adjective would come to mind when looking at his master. Rio looked back and forth between Dante, who was standing outside the window, and the inside, and said,
"If you're interested, come in. I'm sure everyone will be happy."
"Do you really think so?"
"Um... no."
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