While Count Horace was floundering in bitterness, embarrassment, and undisguisable excitement, the audience had similar thoughts.

‘When I heard rumors that the Duchess had composed the opera for House Lopez, I thought it couldn’t be true…’

‘It must be more than true. With such talent, no wonder Count Lopez was after her! At least he had an ear for it!’

Among those clapping frantically was Madame Evelyn.

Looking at Ariana perfectly showcasing the dress she had made, Evelyn sniffled with emotion.

‘It was truly a perfect stage. Lady Ariana’s talent is dazzling!’

Now she could fully understand why Dante, who was so obsessed with music that he brought in countless musicians and singers, fell in love with Ariana.

She knew the story of how the two fell in love while Dante was comforting Ariana, who was heartbroken over Lucas’s affair, but it felt like something was missing in between…

Now it made perfect sense.

With such talent, it’s no wonder the Duke couldn’t help but fall for her.

With tears in her eyes, Evelyn clapped even harder.

Amidst the downpour of applause and cheers, Ariana felt a strong sense of unreality.

‘Ah…’

People were calling out her name, and no one else’s.

The feeling was so strange and overwhelming.

‘This is it. From the beginning.’

This place, not backstage, was where I belonged.

Ariana took a slight breath.

This moment seemed like it would remain in her memory longer than looking down at Edward writhing in agony.

Her heart swelled like a balloon with pure, primal emotion.

‘…I’m happy.’

Looking around at the brightly smiling audience, Ariana thought quietly.

The sensation of directly facing people enjoying her music, not hidden behind the scenes, was overwhelmingly sweet.

Perhaps even more than revenge.

“When you’re done venting about the past…”

Suddenly, a man’s voice came to mind.

“You’ll realize. Your reality is here. By the side of this Dante Heigenberg.”

Ariana’s eyes, which had been scanning the audience, fixed on somewhere.

Then suddenly their eyes met. With that intense gaze piercing down at me.

“…”

Ariana calmly met his gaze without wavering.

‘How did you hear it, I wonder.’

Did my music move your heart too?

…If so, I’d be truly happy.

* * *

The next evening.

“That person is…”

“It’s Count Lopez.”

The moment he entered the club, countless gazes fixed on Edward.

Noble men familiar with Edward openly sneered.

“How surprising. That he still has the face to show himself around.”

“Well, he’s always had exceptional perseverance. He kept participating in card games even after losing so much.”

“That’s true.”

Edward’s face flushed red and blue amid the blatant snickering.

There wasn’t a citizen who didn’t know about the incident at the Founding Day Festival.

Thanks to that damned spilling every detail of Edward’s disaster to the whole world.

What was even more infuriating was that it wasn’t even on the front page.

What occupied the front page was…

Ariana Heigenberg Captivates the Imperial Palace!

Ariana Lopez.

That evil girl’s brightly smiling face adorned the front page in huge letters.

‘Damned wench…’

Edward took a rough breath, swallowing his humiliation.

Since yesterday, he felt like he was floundering in a terrible nightmare.

The nightmare didn’t end even when the sun rose. Rather, it only became more cruel.

This morning, men with burly builds barged into the Lopez mansion. Saying they came to collect on debts.

Sir Leonard.

The man who had lent him a large sum believing in his musical talent had stabbed him in the back overnight.

“What is this outrage?! What right do you have to barge into my home!”

In response, the men thrust forward a piece of paper instead of answering.

The debt contract Edward had signed with Leonard.

It stated that if the debt was not repaid within the deadline, it could be substituted with Edward’s possessions.

Yes. It was definitely a document Edward had signed with his own hand.

At the time, he thought there was no way he wouldn’t be able to repay it.

The men pushed their way in and ransacked the mansion. But no one found anything of value.

That’s because the recovery agents sent by the Imperial Palace had already been through once.

For his disgraceful behavior at the Founding Day Festival, the Emperor had imposed a massive fine on Edward.

It was thunderbolt news for Edward, who already had a mountain of debt from borrowing from Leonard.

“If there’s nothing of value, we’ll have to collect in other ways.”

Saying that, the men stared at Edward blankly. It was a chilling gaze.

Human trafficking. Illegal organ harvesting.

Such terrifying words tormented Edward. According to the contract, there were no restrictions on how to repay the debt.

In the end, Edward swallowed his humiliation and bowed his head to the men, pleading.

“P-please let me meet Sir Leonard.”

The place the men then guided him to was right here.

Edward looked around, gritting his teeth. Everywhere he turned, he met mocking gazes.

Soon spotting Leonard, Edward bowed his head before him, suppressing his humiliation.

“Sir. Please give me one more chance.”

“Even if I wanted to, the world won’t anymore.”

Leonard said with a shrug.

“Who would want to appreciate art made by a thief? Especially when we don’t know where else it might have been stolen from.”

“I didn’t steal it!”

Edward cried out miserably.

“…Y-yes. It’s true Ariana drew the foundation of the score! But that girl’s− that child’s understanding of harmony was at a terrible level, so my touch was necessary. Without me, those scores would never have been completed! So it’s not wrong to call it my music!”

“My. Has the news not reached you yet?”

Leonard frowned.

“Lady Ariana already revealed all the original versions of the pieces performed at Lopez Opera House last night. The originals without your ‘touch’, Count.”

An ominous feeling crept over Edward.

Leonard smiled coldly.

“They were much sweeter. Once the crude and tacky excess was removed.”

‘How dare you wag your tongue so carelessly!’

Enraged by the blatant insult, Edward clenched his fists, but could do nothing more.

Sharp laughter rang out from all around.

“Huh. Seeing that reaction, did you really think you had some important influence on Lady Ariana’s music?”

“I listened to the original too, and it was amazing. There’s a limit to how much you can ruin a gem… It takes talent to ruin such beautiful music with just a few edits.”

“If the Count had just kept his hands off, Lopez Opera House would have soared much higher than before.”

Each blatant mockery stabbed at the inferiority complex deep in Edward’s gut.

Leonard smiled and drove in the final nail.

“Please repay the borrowed amount by tomorrow. I’m giving you one day out of consideration for your effort in coming all the way here.”

“…”

“Ah, right. I warned you before, didn’t I? That in exchange for urgently lending you a large sum, my interest would be a bit expensive. Including today’s interest, the total is 480 million Cadinas. If you don’t repay it in full by tomorrow…”

Leonard looked Edward up and down.

“Well. There are ways to collect it somehow.”

It was the same gaze as the men who had barged into the mansion, looking at a piece of meat rather than a person.

Edward glared at Leonard, trembling.

Where on earth was he supposed to get such a large sum right away.

In the past, he might have somehow borrowed money from here and there using his honor as collateral to put out the urgent fire, but now that honor was gone.

Everyone in the Empire was laughing at Edward.

He had nothing left.

To the point of despair.

‘…No.’

Suddenly, Edward’s eyes gleamed with vicious intent.

‘I still have something left.’

Right. He was a nobleman, wasn’t he?

With businessmen on the rise, money had become more important than status in this world.

Buying and selling titles was no longer such a rare occurrence.

‘First, I’ll put out this urgent fire.’

Let’s get rid of that devilish Leonard first with money from selling my title.

Of course, Edward had no intention of actually living as a mere commoner.

‘It won’t be long before the merchant ships return.’

During the time when Lopez House was happily crying out with full houses,

Edward had bought large amounts of stock in the Eastern Maritime Trading Company.

Even when suffering from Ariana’s vicious schemes, he didn’t sell those stocks.

‘It was a very good move.’

Although he only lost at the card game parlors he frequented, just obtaining information about that trading company was a great profit.

After that, as the information spread, other nobles also began to buy stocks one after another.

Thanks to that, Edward’s profits had already reached a considerable level.

‘But selling now would be like burying a diamond mine in front of you for the gold right in front of your eyes.’

The merchant ships would return soon.

Then the trading company would create value incomparable to now.

‘I can buy back the title then.’

Edward swallowed hard and looked at Leonard with determined eyes.

“Sir. …I have something I’d like to deal.”