“Wasn’t Count Lopez a classmate of His Highness the Prince at the Arts Academy? Perhaps you are not acquainted?”

“What? Was that so? What’s his name?”

“It should be Edward Lopez.”

Michael tilted his head. It was a name he strangely couldn’t remember at all.

“It seems he didn’t stand out much during his school days. But he must have honed his skills a lot since then to be able to participate in the National Foundation Festival.”

Lopez.

Come to think of it, that lady I saw earlier today…

“Ah, are you referring to that lady? Ariana Heigenberg, who became the Duchess of Heigenberg just a few months ago. Until recently, her name would have been Ariana Lopez.”

He recalled the emerald eyes that had sparkled with intelligence as she explained the painting.

And the graceful back view that he couldn’t take his eyes off until it disappeared from sight.

While Michael was momentarily lost in thought, the red curtain rose.

A lavishly dressed woman appeared on stage to applause.

“It’s the prima soprano. I hear she’s Count Lopez’s younger sister.”

“Oh, it seems his sister is also talented in music.”

Michael’s expectations grew even higher.

* * *

From the lofty box seat.

Seated in the exclusive box for the ducal family, I slowly surveyed below.

‘So this is how it feels. Looking down from here.’

In an opera house, box seats are prepared for the most important guests.

The box seats in the Imperial Opera House were even more special, allowed only for those with royal blood or delegations representing each country.

A place that everyone must look up to with raised heads.

However, rather than such symbolism, I simply liked the unobstructed view itself.

Because I would be able to see at a glance everything that was about to happen in this space.

“You seem satisfied with the view.”

At Dante’s voice, I turned to him reflexively and momentarily held my breath.

His appearance in perfectly fitted formal attire was even more splendid than usual.

The clear and distinct features below the forehead that looked as if carved from the finest ivory, revealed under the perfectly slicked-back black hair.

The soft chandelier light cast over it, creating an intriguing play of light and shadow.

Though I’d encountered this sight several times already today, I still couldn’t get used to it.

I deliberately spoke concisely.

“Yes. Thanks to you.”

Though I answered plainly, I was actually quite satisfied. It ranked among the top luxuries I came to enjoy unintentionally upon becoming a duchess.

Dante grinned and held out a glass to me.

I slightly widened my eyes. What Dante offered was not wine, but champagne.

“I thought we might have occasion to toast soon.”

Dante answered simply to my questioning look.

I stared at him blankly. Dante sometimes, no, often acted as if he knew everything.

“…”

I slowly wrapped my fingers around the neck of the glass. The golden liquid shimmered in an ethereal hue under the chandelier light.

I don’t know much about Dante. What his true purpose and desires are.

Also about why he suddenly stiffened his face and left the room last night when I nodded after he said he would teach me feelings I didn’t know.

But this one thing I could now be certain of.

That the actions I engage in are giving that man pleasure.

I clinked my glass against the one he held out and said,

“I hope you too have an enjoyable viewing, Your Grace.”

“Next will be the performance of by Count Edward Lopez.”

Just then, a voice announcing the next act was heard.

As I lowered my gaze, I saw Edward ascending the stage.

When he, dressed impeccably, bowed politely towards the audience, applause erupted.

Soon the red curtain rose and the stage was revealed.

In the center of it, Elena was seen, blooming like a splendid summer rose.

After sipping the champagne, I raised my opera glasses. Through them, I could see very clearly Elena opening her lips with her eyes closed.

− La la, la la la…

Elena’s enchanting humming resonated across the stage.

Here and there, audience members could be seen whispering to each other at the exotic melody.

Unique notes intertwined with each other, creating a strange harmony.

‘It’s good music.’

Savoring the champagne, I appreciated the music itself for a moment.

The intense melody easily captivated the ear. Closing my eyes, I could almost feel the scorching sun of the distant great desert.

This music was not something like my grandfather’s last masterpiece.

It was certainly not Edward’s original composition as people knew, nor was it even mine where I had directly drawn the musical notes on the score.

The true owner of this music was.

− I hear your footsteps coming from beyond the labyrinth…

At that point, I lowered my opera glasses.

I could see Tomen, the envoy from Karka, sitting in the box seat opposite.

His expression with eyes wide open in disbelief, and even his fist tightly clenched and trembling.

Elena opened her lips wide and took a breath.

A moment later, her voice, rich in volume, dominated the stage.

− Oh my love, strong as a bull, please come to me and embrace me tightly!

Bang!

At that moment, a sudden loud noise was heard.

Tomen could be seen abruptly standing up in the box seat below.

He had sprung up so forcefully that the floor was dented.

“Gasp!”

“Oh my!”

The audience who looked up at the box seat at the commotion were startled.

Tomen had leapt over the box seat and landed on the first floor.

“Kyaaah!”

“Wh-what’s going on!”

The audience sitting right in front of where Tomen had jumped down were shocked nearly to the point of fainting.

Paying no heed, Tomen strode forward and…

“Ugh!”

He grabbed Edward, who was sitting in the front row seat right before the stage, by the collar.

“How dare you!”

Thanks to the sound amplification device installed on the stage, Tomen’s voice could be heard very clearly.

His thunderous voice reverberated throughout the space.

“How dare you insult us!”

* * *

Edward couldn’t gather his wits at all.

“Did you think you’d be safe after insulting Karka?”

The exotic face growling right in front of him was terrifyingly fierce.

‘Isn’t this man the envoy from Karka?’

In a state of shock, Edward forcibly tried to think.

No matter how he thought about it, this was a stranger. Edward couldn’t understand this situation at all.

Like a nightmare that had sprung out of nowhere, Tomen roared.

“We Karkans never tolerate insults!”

“Good heavens!”

“What on earth is going on?!”

The nobles around them retreated in shock.

“What are you doing! Step back this instant, ack!”

A startled guard rushed in, but was knocked down by one of Tomen’s blows.

It was a terrifyingly skillful move, proving that the rumors of them being a born warrior race were not false.

Edward felt cold sweat trickling down his spine.

Though he didn’t know why this madman was acting this way towards him, this killing intent that felt like it would tear his body apart was real.

“L-look here. There seems to be some misunderstanding…”

“Misunderstanding?”

Tomen growled, his eyes flashing white.

“Didn’t you say you were the composer? Then is the composer someone else?”

“What!”

The memory of rummaging through his grandfather’s secret safe vividly flashed through Edward’s mind.

Edward cried out convulsively.

“Of course I’m the composer!”

“Ha.”

The white of his eyes flashed ominously. A sound like an animal’s cry scraped through Tomen’s throat.

It was a sound that made one’s knees weak involuntarily.

“You shameless bastard…”

Has this, this barbaric bastard really gone mad?!

With his collar still gripped tightly, Edward barely held onto his fading consciousness.

Until just moments ago, Edward had thought everything was perfect.

The performance and the singing were flawless. He could feel the surrounding audience being immersed.

He had even witnessed Duke Roman nodding his head in satisfaction.

Alright, just keep going like this.

His heart had been swelling with such thoughts at that moment when suddenly this barbaric madman barged in.

“Why on earth are you doing this!”

“You ask because you don’t know?!”

Of course he was asking because he didn’t know.

The next moment, Edward’s mind went blank at Tomen’s outcry.

“You dare to steal our country’s sacred music and on top of that!”

Tomen shouted, gripping Edward’s collar tightly.

“You have the audacity to insult our founding king!”

What… what on earth is he talking about?

It wouldn’t have been more bewildering and terrifying even if he had been struck by lightning while walking down the street.

Elena and the orchestra also seemed not to know what was going on, frozen in shock.

“What is this commotion!”

At that moment, the Emperor appeared, accompanied by his guard knights.

‘I’m, I’m saved!’

Only then did Edward breathe a sigh of relief. Surely this madman wouldn’t continue to rampage in front of the Emperor.

Tomen gritted his teeth and forcibly bowed his head.

“Your Majesty the Emperor.”

“Explain what this outrageous behavior is about! Tomen of Karka!”

The Emperor thundered.

An envoy from another country barging in and intimidating a titled nobleman at the National Foundation Festival.

It was an unprecedented situation. Something that could not be tolerated without an unavoidable reason.

But where on earth could such a reason exist? No excuse would be understood.

The Emperor, and most people, were thinking this way when.

“This shameless man.”

Tomen pointed at Edward, glaring at him with eyes full of anger.

‘This insane bastard is still!’

Just as Edward drew in a breath in disbelief, it was then.

“He stole my country’s sacred ceremonial music!”

“…?”

For a moment, Edward felt his mind go blank, forgetting both anger and shame.

Had this barbaric bastard just babbled in a foreign language?

If not, why couldn’t he understand it right away?

“Not content with that, he dared to insult our founding king with vile lyrics.”

Tomen continued to growl.

“Please allow us to punish him with death.”