It was my biological older brother, Edward.

“…Move aside for now.”

Feeling like I might vomit at any moment, I tried to brush past Edward.

But Edward approached carelessly, paying no heed.

“You still haven’t signed? The ‘Heaven’ proposal I told you about.”

‘Still going on about that.’

Edward was filled with ambition to build a massive cabaret named ‘Heaven’ in the empire.

The plan was to hire beautiful singers and dancers and build a comprehensive entertainment facility. While it looked plausible on the surface, to me it was clearly a project doomed to fail.

‘At best, it would only become an imitation of an already existing precedent.’

After all, the empire already had a true earthly paradise created by Dante Heigenberg.

“I told you, Brother. I will not be putting my seal on that document.”

The construction of ‘Heaven’ required a truly astronomical amount of money.

Since even all the money earned so far was not enough, Edward had his eyes on the assets in my personal bank vault.

The family heirloom left only to me by my late grandfather.

These days, Edward was persistently chasing after me to get my seal on the document to use it as collateral for the ‘Heaven’ construction funds.

“Damn it, Ariana! I understand that you, being a woman, don’t know much about business. But a golden opportunity that will bring in money just by building it-”

“…Elena.”

I spat out the words as if vomiting.

“Elena committed adultery with my husband.”

“What?”

“She spent the night with my husband, and says she’s carrying his child.”

“Ha! That wench finally…”

Seeing Edward muttering with furrowed brows, I instinctively realized.

“You already knew, Brother.”

“…”

Edward frowned with an unpleasant expression. I mumbled blankly.

“You knew and kept it secret from me. …Why?”

No, now I seemed to know the answer.

“Were you afraid I would whine annoyingly if I knew the truth?”

So, afraid that I would lie down and say I couldn’t provide songs anymore for the opera house that had become a golden goose for the family business?

“Ha, damn it.”

Edward ruffled his hair roughly and burst out.

“Why are you doing this to me? You should have kept your husband in check yourself! Tapping on the piano all day like a woman obsessed with work, would you be attracted to such a wife if you were him?”

“…”

“This might even be for the best. Use this chance to come to your senses. Stop lounging around the house, put on some makeup, dress up nicely! Huh? The Duke sees those willowy singers at the opera house every day, how could a plain wife like you catch his eye?”

“…I see.”

I murmured as if in a trance.

Edward exhaled and then patted my head.

“Now you’re starting to make sense. The Duke probably just wavered momentarily. If you just follow my advice, the Duke will-”

“So… that’s how it was.”

“What?”

I repeated in a dazed voice.

‘That’s how it was. Stupid Ariana.’

Now everything was clearly visible.

My brother, my sister, and my husband.

My family whom I loved did not see me as a human being.

I was nothing more than livestock producing golden eggs called hit songs. Nothing more, nothing less.

“Ariana!”

I saw my husband, Lucas, shouting roughly as he ran over.

With Elena trailing behind, shedding crocodile tears.

“Come here right now. We need to talk!”

“Sister, sister! How could you just leave like this!”

The disgusting duet made me feel like my head was about to split open.

I squeezed my eyes shut and shouted.

“Sto…p!”

At the precarious scream, everyone fell silent for a moment.

But the silence was brief. Lucas approached with a stern face.

“You’re being too emotional right now. Calm down and listen to me first.”

Listen?

What need was there for words?

‘I saw with my own eyes an action more certain than any words.’

Lucas’s pathetic excuses rather cooled my heart.

I looked around, panting shallowly.

The people I had loved and relied on flashed before my eyes one by one.

‘I wanted to be loved by you.’

I wanted to be a lovable wife, a reliable sister, a good older sister.

I thought that if I worked hard, I could restore the reputation as a “musical family” that had faded so quickly after grandfather passed away.

Then I thought we could return to those happy times when grandfather was alive.

With my people, my family.

‘Stupid Ariana.’

Not even realizing I was being thoroughly deceived by those very “my people”.

“…Lucas.”

“Yes. Have you calmed down a bit-”

“Let’s separate.”

“What?”

Lucas’s eyes widened.

I exhaled a trembling breath. Words I had never once thought would flow from my mouth.

But no matter how unfamiliar and trembling, I had to do what needed to be done.

‘I can’t pretend not to know and obey after learning all the truth.’

Because I must not deceive even myself.

“Whew… Ariana. Alright, I understand you’re very upset right now.”

Lucas, who had been frozen in shock, soon tried to soothe me, shaking his head.

In a sweet voice, as if trying to lure an ignorant child with candy.

“But think carefully. Are you saying you’d become a divorcee by separating from me? Do you know how divorcees are treated in the empire? You’ll be kicked out penniless without receiving a penny of assets. Hmm?”

“I don’t need any other assets. I’ll just take my songs.”

“Ha! Did you say your songs?”

Edward, who had been listening to the conversation with his mouth agape, rushed in.

“You just came up with a few chords, I did all the core work! How are those your songs?”

“Do you really think that, Edward?”

I quietly looked at Edward. Edward flinched for a moment and fumbled with his lips.

I used to believe those words.

Edward only touched the tiniest parts of my sheet music. One note, maybe two accents.

Then he claimed that was the finishing touch that elevated the lacking piece into a work of art.

“Haa… Oh my. Naive Ariana.”

Lucas shook his head and wrapped an arm around my shoulders.

The tender touch suddenly reminded me of the sight of him caressing my younger sister’s thigh. Nausea welled up.

“Your songs, you say. How can you claim credit for those? The representative composer of the Lopez Opera House known to the world is Count Lopez. Not you.”

“That’s right! Your Excellency is correct! If it weren’t for my reputation and arrangements, would your songs have ever seen the light of day?”

Edward, emboldened again, chimed in with Lucas’s words.

“…I see, so that’s how it is.”

When I quietly replied, Lucas and Edward exchanged glances. They seemed to think I had backed down.

I slowly opened my mouth again.

“Then I’ll go to a bar and start talking.”

At those words, the three people’s eyes widened simultaneously.

“We might meet in the gossip columns. [Head of the renowned musical Lopez family, Count Lopez, actually tone-deaf]. [All his music was his twin sister’s].”

A blue flame blazed in Edward’s eyes.

“Hey! Have you really gone mad?!”

“This headline sounds promising too. [Duke Fedegrin’s affair with sister-in-law. Partner is ‘Opera’s Flower’ Elena Lopez].”

My lips felt bruised from spewing out the sensational headlines.

I tried to hold it back, but a single tear finally streamed down.

I looked around at the three with wet eyes.

“…Well then, take care everyone. See you in court.”

“Ariana!”

“Sister, why are you really doing this!”

“Damn it! Grab her!”

I ran out of the mansion like a madwoman.

Neigh!

I mounted a horse tied up in the stable and spurred it on, and the horse galloped away like an arrow.

Feeling the fierce wind slap my face, I let out a sob.

‘Don’t cry.’

I’ve cut out the rotten part, so I can start over.

Again, one more time…

‘But can I really start over?’

Divorce, court.

I spat out harsh words as if they were nothing, but my whole body was trembling.

Husband, brother, younger sister.

My family whom I believed to be my people.

Now that I know such people have been betraying me so miserably, I probably won’t be able to trust anyone ever again.

Even if I breathe and move with this broken heart, can that be called living?

I’ll never be able to sincerely rejoice in others’ happiness, rely on them, and love them like before.

What on earth can I…

Bang!

At that moment, a terrible pain shot through my entire body.

I collapsed to the ground, falling off the horse like a marionette with cut strings.

Rattle rattle rattle…

I heard the idling sound of the automobile Edward had recently purchased, saying he needed to acquire new technology.

‘It hurts.’

I couldn’t breathe from the surreal pain.

Every joint in my body screamed.

Is that red river flowing over there my blood?

“Damn it all! You crazy bitch, I told you to stop!”

I heard Edward jump out of the car and run over.

“Kyaaaaaah!”

Elena’s shrill scream as well.

“What if you kill her!”

“I was just trying to block her way! She suddenly jumped in front of me, what was I supposed to do!”

“If Ariana dies, who will make my songs now?! And what about the funds for building Heaven!”

“Damn it, I’ll make the songs! She just scribbled some notes in the first place, it was my touch that created true masterpieces! And the funds… w-wait a second.”

Edward looked around and crept towards me.

Then he lifted my blood-stained finger with disgust and carefully pressed it onto some document.

“…”

The document was the proposal Edward had thrust at me earlier.

Agreeing to allow the circulation of funds for the construction of ‘Heaven’.

“It’s, it’s done. She put her seal on it.”

Edward muttered in a voice full of ecstasy.

“Heh, heheh, good. This is all I need. Once ‘Heaven’ is completed, I’ll be richer than the emperor!”

The voice stained with greed was more hideous than any beast or insect.

“Ah… Oh dear. Poor Ariana. What happened to your beautiful body.”

My husband, Lucas, knelt before me. Then he whispered in a regretful voice.

“You should have known better than to act out like this.”

“Lu, cas…”

“I’m sorry, Ariana. But I did truly love you once. This is the truth. Even though you were dull and boring.”

“Hic…”

“But when a woman with a face similar to yours acts coy and flirtatious unlike you, what man could resist? Right? It’s your sister’s fault for being such a temptress.”

Goodbye then, Ariana.

The man who was my husband whispered.

“We’ll play the requiem you composed at your funeral.”

Lucas closed my eyelids as if bestowing a final act of mercy.

With my now almost hazy mind, I repeated to myself.

‘Ah…’

Stupid Ariana. Foolish Ariana.

Pathetic Ariana, who trusted and gave everything to such people just because they were family.

‘What a miserable life.’

No one would commemorate the story of a dull and lacking woman who was betrayed and abandoned. It was a wretched farce that not a single spectator would attend.

I felt the sound of my life gradually fading away.

Like smorzando, slowly dying away.

And diminuendo, diminuendo until it could no longer be heard…

‘No. Not like this. This kind of ending…’

Miserable regret welled up, but it was helpless before the falling stage curtain.

‘Not like this…’

And finally, al fine.

It was perfect silence.