To Those For Whom Even Regret Is A Luxury (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 13
“Huh? Y-yes…?”
At Ariana’s matter-of-fact gesture, Rosalyn unconsciously clasped her hand.
Helping Rosalyn to her feet while she still looked dazed, Ariana calmly said,
“Once we go inside, I’ll ask for a warm drink first. Use it to warm your body and loosen your throat. Leave the rest to me.”
“W-what…? What exactly do you mean by ‘the rest’?”
Hearing Rosalyn’s bewildered voice, Ariana suddenly realized something.
Ah, I forgot to explain. After a brief moment of self-reproach, Ariana spoke.
“I’ll be your accompanist. So go ahead and sing.”
“R-really?”
Rosalyn’s eyes widened instantly.
She darted forward, drawing close to Ariana, and fired off questions in rapid succession.
“Seriously? Really? Are you sure?”
“Yes. Absolutely.”
“The song I’m going to sing is ‘On Possession’… Isn’t that… really difficult?”
“Ah, that one.”
Ariana gave a light nod.
“It does require quite a bit of technical skill in the accompaniment.”
“R-right…?”
Rosalyn’s face instantly fell into a pout.
Should I not have said anything?
What if this miraculously encountered accompanist runs away after hearing how hard the piece is?
No, but if I don’t say it, how can she even attempt the accompaniment…? Still! What if she says she can’t do it!
‘Should I change my mind right now? I don’t care if it’s a children’s nursery rhyme—as long as I can just stand on stage!’
Just as Rosalyn’s thoughts spiraled into utter confusion, a voice like salvation dropped into her ear.
“It’s alright.”
Ariana fell briefly into thought.
‘On Possession’.
It was a piece that unusually shifted frequently between minor and major keys.
Edward had outright criticized it the first time he heard it, calling it a composition without foundation.
Even back then, when composing the piece, Ariana knew that such constant key changes weren’t orthodox—but she felt it was the only way to capture the heroine’s dramatic emotional shifts.
And the result had been a tremendous success.
‘On Possession’ had become the signature aria of the opera that sold out the Lopez Opera House for the very first time.
The accompaniment was difficult precisely because of those frequent key changes—but each shift existed for a reason: to mirror the heroine’s evolving emotional state.
As long as she remembered that reason, it wouldn’t be hard.
Even if she couldn’t recall every single note, as long as she understood why her past self had written each one.
“Um… should we choose a different song? Something with an easier accompaniment…?”
Seeing Ariana fall silent for a moment, Rosalyn nervously suggested, her eyes darting about.
Ariana simply shook her head gently and replied,
“No, let’s do ‘On Possession.’ I’m confident about it.”
“Y-you really are?”
“Yes.”
Nodding, Ariana turned to look at Rosalyn and gave a faint smile.
“After all, I composed it myself.”
* * *
Gazing up at the stage, Ariana murmured slowly to herself.
“So this is what Paradise was like back then.”
The stage setup was messier than she’d expected.
Of course, it wasn’t a proper venue like an opera house, but considering how, in five years, Paradise would shake the very foundations of the system, this was surprisingly shabby.
‘Then again, there were rumors that Dante never intended to grow Paradise this way from the start.’
His interest supposedly lay not in stages, performances, or operas—but solely in “music” and “sound” themselves.
And even five years later, the reason for his obsession with sound remained shrouded in mystery.
‘Anyway, we can’t perform like this.’
The same music played inside a cave versus out in an open field would sound worlds apart.
Even the finest music required a proper acoustic space where sound could resonate fully.
Having reached her conclusion, Ariana called over a passing waiter.
“The stage and seating are too close together. It’s uncomfortable for the singer, and the acoustics won’t carry properly.”
The suddenly stopped waiter blinked, looking bewildered.
“So… what should we do?”
“Create more distance, and assign a few staff members to guard the stage only.”
“Ah, okay…”
“The reflector panels are also positioned incorrectly. Please angle them to face each other a bit more.”
“Huh… who on earth messed with this arrangement?”
‘Just who is this lady, anyway?’
Although utterly baffled, the waiter followed Ariana’s instructions.
Though he’d never seen her before, her natural, authoritative manner felt oddly familiar.
Moreover, everything she said made perfect sense—he found himself complying almost instinctively.
One of the resting staff members jerked his chin toward the scene.
“Who’s that lady?”
“No idea. She says she’s the accompanist.”
His companion, watching with disinterest, just shrugged.
“The accompanist? Then who’s the singer? Don’t tell me it’s that country-looking girl way over there?”
“Why’s the singer’s nose so red? Is she Rudolph or something?”
“Guess she’s been standing outside too long. Someone said they saw her sobbing earlier.”
“Outside on such a freezing day? Seriously? Doesn’t she even know basic vocal care?”
“Think she’s coming down with a cold? She’s shivering like crazy. How’s she supposed to sing properly?”
“Just leave her be. It’s a throwaway time slot anyway.”
It was a weekday afternoon—an awkward hour before evening.
The time when the venue saw the fewest customers, so whoever took the stage hardly mattered.
If the performance turned out terrible, they could always drag her off mid-show.
Patrons who’d been idly sipping drinks and giggling since the afternoon glanced toward the busy stage briefly—but that was all.
“Why’s it so hectic over there?”
“They say there’s a performance.”
“Ugh, I liked this time slot because it was quiet.”
On the stage that no one cared about, Rosalyn stepped up.
‘Whew…’
Her audience consisted only of a few drunken nobles and indifferent waitstaff.
Yet just standing on stage—not in some desolate alley—filled Rosalyn with joy.
‘There are people here who’ll listen to my song.’
She had to do her very best—really give it her all.
Rosalyn steeled her resolve dozens of times before turning around.
Ariana, seated at the piano and checking the keys, looked like a scene from a pristine landscape painting.
Compared to her own trembling self, Ariana exuded a calmness and maturity from another world—Rosalyn couldn’t help but sigh in admiration.
‘Since my savior came, I’ll really give it my all.’
That despicable, cowardly traitor Mark was gone—but in his place, her savior had appeared like a miracle.
She was determined not to waste this stroke of luck.
Soon, Ariana began playing the first notes.
“Ah…”
That single phrase was enough.
She could already feel the fundamental difference between that heartless philanderer Mark’s playing and this lady’s.
Where Mark’s performance had merely been a mechanical reproduction of notes from the sheet music, Ariana’s carried a story beyond the notes.
‘On Possession’.
It was the aria sung by the infamous seductress when she stumbles into a cathedral by chance, meets a priest, and falls headlong into love.
It’s the moment she realizes a true, overwhelming desire stirring within her—a desire no jewel or handsome man had ever awakened—and rejoices in it.
The emotion that cries out: “Even if that radiant being loses all its light, I must seize it with my own hands.”
The mournful D minor that began resonating seemed to dredge that yearning up from the very depths of one’s gut.
As though entranced, Rosalyn slowly opened her mouth.
– I want even your gaze and every breath to be mine.
Nobles who’d been clinking glasses without pause blinked and turned their attention.
With each line of lyrics drawing eyes toward her, Rosalyn felt a thrilling shiver run from head to toe.
The heroine’s desperate longing—to possess every glance and gesture of the priest—spread through Rosalyn’s own body.
The melody rising thickly from Ariana’s fingertips carried Rosalyn straight into the cathedral, face-to-face with the beautiful priest.
– If I desire you this much, why can’t we be together?
As the aria reached its climax, those seated stopped clinking their glasses.
Even those idly dancing or passing by indifferently found themselves drawn to look.
As the accompaniment surged toward its peak, Rosalyn’s voice swelled with it.
“Wow… who is that girl?”
“Her voice is incredible, but that piano—it’s art… Is this really ‘On Possession’? Did it sound like this before?”
“Shh! Quiet! I can’t hear!”
People began trickling into the previously half-empty audience seats.
Amid the many eyes fixed on her, Rosalyn felt her heart racing wildly.
The next passage was where the heroine fully embraces and blooms with the feverish intensity of her first love.
Feeling the heroine’s pain and joy deep in her chest, Rosalyn opened her mouth.
“If only you could be mine… ugh!”
In an instant, Rosalyn’s body froze as if struck by lightning.
A sharp jolt shot through her vocal cords—painful enough to draw tears.
Fortunately, it came right at the end of a phrase, so it wasn’t too noticeable—but a few audience members did glance at her curiously.
‘Ugh, it hurts…’
While the short interlude played, Rosalyn’s heart pounded frantically.
Something was wrong with her throat. She didn’t even need to try speaking to know it for certain.
Was it the lingering effect of standing too long in the cold? She’d thought the warm drink Ariana gave her had soothed it—but apparently not.
‘What do I do? The next phrase is an extremely high note.’
Thump. Thump. Thump.
Her heart began hammering madly—but now from an entirely different kind of feeling than the excitement she’d felt just moments ago.
If she forced out that high note in this state, her vocal cords would be seriously damaged.
Yet Rosalyn was determined to finish this performance flawlessly, no matter what.
Ariana’s playing had already brought her to a state of perfect unity with the heroine’s emotions.
She didn’t want to ruin this moment—this feeling.
‘But if I force it out, my pitch will wobble.’
Just imagining it sent chills down her spine.
If only she had even a minute to rest her voice…
What should she do? How can I…?
It was just as she waited in dread for the approaching phrase that—
‘…Huh?’
Suddenly, Rosalyn realized—the interlude hadn’t ended yet.
It wasn’t that time had slowed down because she was panicking.
The interlude at this part was definitely brief—but Ariana’s playing showed no sign of stopping. Instead, it surged forward into uncharted territory.
‘Wait… that passage isn’t in this song at all?’
Rosalyn stared blankly at the piano—and her eyes met Ariana’s emerald-green gaze.
In that instant, Rosalyn understood as if struck by lightning.
‘She’s buying me time.’
Her savior was creating time for her.
Freely improvising a melody that existed nowhere in the original score.
Male lead is a clingy little husband
One-line summary: The male lead is initially an arrogant, noble, love-deprived brat, later a cute, clingy, scheming little jealous one.
Introduction:
One day, Lu Yuner’s soul transmigrates into a female-dominant world. She enters the Imperial Academy and takes up the position of a doctoral instructor, teaching classes and grading schoolwork.
One day, she encounters the young prince Su Qingwan secretly skipping class from the male academy.
As a result, Su Qingwan is punished.
From then on, Su Qingwan sees Lu Yuner as a “thorn in his side”.
But before long, this “thorn” becomes the person he cherishes most, and he goes to great lengths to win Lu Yuner’s affection.
Mini scene 1:
One day, the sun is high in the sky but Su Qingwan still hasn’t gotten up for class.
Servant Xiaoyuan: “Young prince, it’s time for class. You’ll be late otherwise.”
Su Qingwan says arrogantly: “I’m not going. I am the esteemed prince, my status is so noble, why should I suffer this hardship? Besides, isn’t learning all this just to please women? Hmph, they’re not worthy!”
Mini scene 2:
After Su Qingwan falls for someone, he completely changes. He no longer skips class and diligently learns how to be a good husband and father. But he discovers that Sister Yuner is always surrounded by admirers.
Drunk and overcome with jealousy one day, he clings to Lu Yuner, crying beautifully like a pear blossom in the rain.
Su Qingwan: “Qingwan likes Sister Yuner.”
Lu Yuner: “Young prince, you’re drunk.”
Su Qingwan: “Qingwan isn’t drunk. Qingwan likes Sister Yuner, likes you so much, likes you to bits…” Before he can finish, Lu Yuner’s eyes flash with emotion and she leans in closer.
[Reading Guide]
1. The female lead is gentle, gracious, humble and polite but not weak. The male lead is initially an arrogant, noble, love-deprived brat, later a cute, clingy, scheming little jealous one.
2. 1v1, a bit torturous in the beginning but definitely sweet later on.
_____
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