Watching the Emperor’s eyes widen, I continued speaking.

“Your Majesty, you need not prepare an orchestra either. My people are already prepared.”

“…Huh.”

After a brief silence, the Emperor let out a short exclamation.

I bowed respectfully and said:

“I implore you, Your Majesty.”

For a while, no words came from the Emperor.

Perhaps it was too unreasonable a request after all.

There had never been a precedent in the Empire for a woman to present art alone at the Founding Festival.

‘If the Emperor refuses, I’ll have to use other methods.’

That was the original plan, but it was an excessively roundabout approach.

‘But if I’m rejected, I’ll have no choice but to take that route…’

Just as I was thinking that, it happened.

Clap, clap, clap.

Hearing the sudden sound of applause, I turned to the side in a daze.

“Congratulations, Your Majesty,” said Dante, leisurely clapping his hands.

“You’ve just earned 500 million.”

“…How much did I earn?”

“500 million, I said.”

Dante smiled crookedly.

“That’s the price I was willing to pay when I first heard my wife’s composition.”

I stared at him with my mouth slightly open.

I couldn’t believe he would bring that up here.

Unlike me, who had lost my voice in surprise, Dante continued speaking smoothly.

“Since she’s offering to reveal it for free at the Founding Festival, Your Majesty has indeed earned 500 million.”

Having said that, Dante finally turned to me and smiled broadly.

“As expected, you have great generosity. Befitting of my wife.”

The gaze directed at me was as kind and gentle as a caring husband. A slight chill ran down my nape.

The Emperor, who had been blinking a few times, rubbed his forehead and said:

“No… what on earth is this about? You were willing to spend 500 million on a single piece? Hah, what an exaggeration. Even if you wanted to gild your wife’s face, there’s a limit!”

Dante replied to the Emperor, who was waving his hand and laughing hollowly, without changing his expression:

“Good art is worth more than that.”

I stared at Dante with widened eyes.

The thoughts I always had were flowing from his mouth.

Cultural arts have the power to dominate people’s souls.

I had directly seen how the future paradise and the Lopez Opera House led people’s trends and culture.

People bought whatever clothes and jewelry the singers wore, and nobles hosting balls willingly paid large sums to borrow the waltz pieces I composed for a single night.

On days when popular singers or performers held concerts, fans flocked like clouds, to the point where it became a social phenomenon.

‘But music gaining that much power is still a few years away.’

Yet Dante was asserting the power of art without a hint of doubt.

As if he himself had directly experienced that power and knew it well.

“Unlike items that are finished once sold, music has no form. This means it can maintain its value even after being sold repeatedly.”

I could see the Emperor paying attention to the neatly unfolding logic.

Dante continued speaking. Like a seasoned businessman, confidently and at ease.

“It could also put the Kingdom of Ende in its place, who pride themselves as the sanctuary of arts. You know, don’t you? How they openly mock the Empire, saying we only know how to throw money around and know nothing of artistic elegance or subtlety.”

“…Nngh.”

A low groan escaped the Emperor’s lips.

The Emperor, furrowing his brow, began to pour out complaints.

“I pour an enormous amount of money into the Founding Festival every year. The event representing the Empire is essentially the face of our country. But those Ende bastards…”

The Emperor clenched his fist.

“Every time, every year, they don’t hide their mocking gazes. No matter how much money we invest in the stage, they say we lack that damned ‘artistry’…!”

“How was it when the Music Master was alive?”

“Things were very different then!”

The Emperor slammed the armrest of the imperial throne.

“Even their royalty came asking if they could perform his songs in their country. Even those Ende bastards couldn’t hide their admiration! Eduardo, his presence alone made the Founding Festival break the record for most visitors every year.”

“And it just so happens that his granddaughter is right here.”

At Dante’s words, the Emperor turned to look at me.

The Emperor’s eyes, fixed on me, gradually widened, and finally, he opened his eyes wide as if he had made a decision.

“My lady.”

The Emperor called me with intense vigor.

For a moment, I saw the image of a bull seeing a red flag overlapping with the Emperor’s face.

“If I allow you to perform on the Founding Festival stage, can you definitively put those Ende fellows in their place?”

Meeting his blazing gaze, I took a moment to catch my breath.

There was only one answer I could give.

“…Even if I have to dedicate my soul, I will surely elevate our national prestige.”

“That’s a refreshing answer. I like it!”

The Emperor laughed heartily, but still scrutinized me with sharp eyes. It seemed the weighing was not over yet.

I couldn’t just remain frustrated. After all, presenting a female artist’s performance at the Founding Festival in the conservative Empire required some risk-taking.

After pondering for a moment, I made up my mind and opened my mouth.

“Forgive my boldness, Your Majesty. If the fact that I am a woman is causing you to hesitate,”

The Emperor’s eyebrow twitched. It seemed I had hit the mark.

I continued speaking in a tone that was neither too presumptuous nor too servile.

“I dare to promise you this. Despite being a woman, I will make even the Kingdom of Ende acknowledge Your Majesty’s discernment in selecting me.”

“…Hahaha!”

The Emperor suddenly burst into hearty laughter.

“Now this is a masterpiece of an answer. A spirit no less than that of men. What a spirited lady indeed!”

“…Thank you, Your Majesty.”

I responded with a slightly dazed feeling, not expecting this level of reaction.

The Emperor, with remnants of laughter on his face, stroked his chin and muttered.

“Yes. I like the spirit of the Duchess, and even the Duke vouches for her… Perhaps I should trust her this once.”

The Emperor’s eyes curved into crescent moons.

“I shall grant you the very last stage. I look forward to it!”

My eyes widened slightly.

The very last stage was always reserved for only the most outstanding artist.

This was undoubtedly an unexpected triumph.

“…Thank you, Your Majesty. I will not disappoint you.”

A weak thrill spread through my heart.

I would be able to present my song on the same stage as my grandfather.

Unlike before, solely under my own name.

A completely different sentiment from when I had only planned it in my head ran to the tips of my fingers.

I turned my head to look at Dante.

‘He helped. …Me.’

With just a few short words, Dante had stripped away the Emperor’s preconceptions in one fell swoop.

He made him see me not as a ‘woman who had never learned composition,’ but solely as the ‘granddaughter of the Music Master.’

Without his help, it wouldn’t have been this smooth.

Of course, Dante had stepped in because it was more advantageous for him if I performed at the Founding Festival.

But that didn’t dilute my feelings of gratitude.

A pure feeling of thankfulness tickled my chest. As I was thinking about how to repay this sentiment,

Dante met my gaze, as if sensing it. A strange light flashed in his red eyes.

“My, my wife.”

Dante leaned towards me and whispered.

“Save those heated gazes for when we’re alone.”

“…”

How could he say such things without batting an eye.

As I was silently aghast, a pleased voice was heard.

“It’s the prime of youth, the prime of youth indeed.”

“That’s enough. You’re embarrassing us.”

Dante said with a voice that wasn’t embarrassed at all, smirking.

At that sight, the Emperor laughed heartily and exclaimed:

“We can’t keep newlyweds too long, so I’ll let you go now. You there, escort the Duke and Duchess!”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

The approaching attendants guided us. The eyes of the attendants glancing at us were filled with undisguisable curiosity.

* * *

The next day.

Despite it being the middle of the day that should have been full of vitality, the interior of the Lopez mansion was filled with a strangely damp and quiet air.

In one corner, gathered servants whispered in lowered voices.

“Did you all see today’s ‘Imperial Morning’?”

“Of course I did. My goodness, could it be true? Even for ‘Imperial Morning’, it’s hard to believe.”

“I know. It’s too sudden. That Marquis Fedegrin…”

The maids looked at each other and whispered simultaneously.

“To think he’d be stripped of his title as Marquis!”

This incident surrounding Lucas Fedegrin was undoubtedly the hottest topic in the Empire today.

For an ancient noble family to lose their title overnight. And for the reason of collaborating with a rebel group, no less.

“I still can’t believe it. Is it even possible? They were always so arrogant about being a founding family, a long-standing loyal house.”

“Exactly. But it turns out they were borrowing money from rebel groups? Paying such high interest? Good grief, it’s outrageous!”

“If Ariana had gone through with the marriage, wouldn’t the Lopez family have been ruined too, being entangled with rebels?”

The servants nodded in agreement.

“Ariana overturning the marriage was truly a godsend, no matter how you look at it.”

“That goes without saying. Ariana completely turned her life around, didn’t she? Even today, did you see the article? About the wedding dress Ariana wore. They say it must have cost at least 50 million Cardina.”

“What?! 50 million Cardina for a single dress?”

“Wow, it’s a completely different world. Haaa, I’m envious.”

The servants, who had briefly strayed off topic, refocused on today’s main news.

The catalyst for this shocking incident was Elena Lopez, and Ariana Heigenberg, who has been on everyone’s lips in the Empire lately.

“According to the article, Elena’s testimony seems to have played a big role. As you know, the Mar… well, he’s not a Marquis anymore. That man had immunity. If Elena hadn’t reported him for other crimes, the investigation itself would have been impossible.”

“But honestly, that crime was a bit laughable.”

The servants frowned as they recalled the reported content that Lucas had repeatedly forcibly molested Elena.

“Remember what Elena used to make us do every time the Marquis visited the mansion?”

“Of course. She kept shouting, ‘Make sure you look prettier than my sister, more eye-catching!'”

“And now she says she couldn’t tell the truth because she was afraid of hurting Ariana… Come on.”

“Honestly, it’s a story that even a passing dog wouldn’t believe in the Lopez mansion.”

The servants exchanged mischievous glances.

“Hmm. What should we do? Should we try reporting this?”

“To ‘Imperial Morning’? Do you think they’d pay us for the tip?”

“They might pay quite a bit? It’s the hottest story these days.”

Crash!

The servants screamed at the sound of a wine glass shattering.

“Kyaaaa!”

“Shut up!”

Edward, who had appeared from somewhere, shouted like lightning.