To Those For Whom Even Regret Is A Luxury (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 17

“Older brother can’t remember anything the day after he gets completely drunk.” He’s exactly like Father in that regard. Ariana suppressed the words that followed and gave a faint smile. “Let’s forget about the firing. The violin is as essential to this piece as life itself.” At those words, the violinists’ faces, which had been pale with despair, instantly flushed with color. “Let’s end this pointless rehearsal here. And, Mr. Ruben.” “…Yes, what? Uh-huh?” Ariana approached Ruben, who responded in a dazed voice. Platinum hair, shimmering nearly silver under the lights, dazzled Ruben’s vision. Eyes as deep and green as a forest, and a poise so elegant it was hard to believe she was only twenty. Though his hand throbbed painfully, Ruben couldn’t tear his eyes away from her. “Give me your hand.” “…Me?” Startled as if waking from a dream, Ruben flinched. Ariana repeated her request with a calm yet firm expression. “I asked for your hand.” “My… my hand? Why, why would you…?” Ariana let out a small sigh. “I know.” “Yes? What?” “You’re injured. On the back of your hand.” “…What?!” He was certain he hadn’t shown any sign of it. ‘Then how…’ How had this lady, watching from afar, noticed something even his colleagues had missed? “How… how did you know?” “Your sound wavered slightly—especially when playing trills. It’s your right index finger, isn’t it? The injured part.” Ruben’s mouth fell open as if he’d seen a ghost. “How… how could you possibly know that so precisely…?” “Because I heard it.” Ariana calmly handed Ruben something that glinted. “Go to the hospital. If you treat it properly without overusing it, it’ll heal in just a few days.” “Oh…” What Ariana had given him was three gold coins. Their light weight made Ruben’s throat tighten. Ariana turned toward the orchestra members, who stood frozen, staring blankly at the scene. “If you all keep today’s incident secret, it’ll remain hidden. As I said, older brother won’t remember anything once he wakes up.” Several members swallowed hard. They could still vividly recall the moment she’d struck Edward on the back of the head with her flute—so resolute and decisive. “But will an incident like today’s truly happen only today?” At her composed question, the members grew solemn. “Everyone.” Ariana’s eyes sparkled quietly as she looked over the members. “Are you satisfied with your treatment at Lopez Opera House?” The members’ eyes widened instantly. Ariana slowly surveyed them. Where should she begin? The answer came quickly. Glancing briefly at Edward, who remained blissfully unconscious on the floor, she spoke. “Every piece performed at Lopez Opera House is my composition—not my older brother’s.” Silence descended heavily. “…” The members exchanged shocked glances, none believing her—except one. “Good heavens…!” Ruben, the only one covering his mouth in astonishment. “Didn’t you ever find it strange? My older brother—he’s always been utterly tone-deaf. He’d constantly complain that a properly tuned instrument needed retuning, insist you played the wrong note when you were right, or overlook mistakes entirely.” The members’ eyes wavered visibly. Instead of further persuasion, Ariana simply walked to the piano. “The score of ‘The Adulteress’s Aria’ you’re holding is a heavily arranged version. The original goes like this.” And she began playing immediately. Clang! The powerful first note struck before anyone could react, followed rapidly by an overwhelming cascade of sound. “…” Several members slowly opened their mouths. The melody and structure were undeniably similar—barely different from the version they’d been playing. Yet those subtle, minute differences completely transformed the piece’s impression. Ariana’s expression remained calm. Her fingers danced on the keys with the grace and delicacy of a nun’s. But the melody they produced was astonishingly raw. The protagonist—a woman lusting after her best friend’s husband. Her gloomy, suffocating desire was woven into every single note. The music was brazenly sensual, filled with such lewdness it made listeners’ faces burn. ‘So music can express this kind of emotion…’ Until now, music had primarily been a vehicle for expressing devotion to God or positive emotions like joy and happiness. Thus, everyone had regarded ‘The Adulteress’s Aria’—which tackled an unusual theme like infidelity—as an intriguing experiment. The piece was already undeniably compelling, so success seemed guaranteed. But this music—this performance—was something far greater. Once released, critics would be stunned. Some would surely rage, calling it a blasphemy against music, the divine art. Yet it would undoubtedly captivate far more ears than it offended. As they listened to the rushing notes, the members stared blankly at the performer. A single thought echoed in all their minds. ‘It’s real.’ The lady effortlessly playing before them—and her music—was genuine. Having heard it with their own ears, no one could deny the truth. “…” Hoo. Ariana exhaled briefly after finishing her performance. In the suffocating silence, she lifted her head and met dozens of dazed, vacant stares fixed upon her. “…Lady Ariana.” Breaking the silence, Orchestra Master Louis stepped forward. He took a respectful stance before Ariana and slowly spoke, his face complex. “When you asked if we were satisfied with our treatment at Lopez Opera House… was it because you intended to offer us another choice?” “You’ve hit it right on the mark.” Ariana closed the piano lid and continued calmly. “I’d like to offer you all new positions—in an orchestra I’ll lead myself, not my older brother. Of course…” She was about to reveal her strongest card—promising salaries far better than their current ones. “I’ll go.” Louis spoke firmly. “I’ll follow you, Lady Ariana.” “…” Taken aback by the swift reply, Ariana blinked momentarily. Then someone rushed forward as if tumbling. “I—I will too!” Ruben raised his hand and cried out. “I’ll follow you too! I’ll get my hand treated right away—I promise I won’t be a burden! Truly! Please, please take me with you!” The boy pleaded earnestly. “Let me play the music you just performed!” “…” Swallowing a strange flutter in her chest, Ariana looked over each member one by one. They waited only for her answer. Their faces were clearly tense—apparently fearing she’d select only a few of them. Ariana moistened her suddenly dry lips with her tongue before speaking. “…That’s unfortunate.” “What?” The members looked at her in confusion; Ruben’s face nearly crumpled into tears. Ariana met each of their eyes with solemnity. “I was just about to promise you salaries far better than what you currently receive…” “Gasp…!” “But since you’ve all come forward before I even made the offer… I suppose there’ll be no raise after all…” Murmurs rippled through the group. The startled members glanced at one another. Amidst the buzzing atmosphere, Ruben declared with resolve. “We… we can’t help it.” Can’t help it? What nonsense. Ariana smiled, looking at the boy who radiated innocent simplicity. “It was a joke. Please, all of you join me. I promise salaries far superior to what Lopez House currently pays.” “…!” Every member’s eyes widened in unison. Louis was the first to steady his breath and respond. “Thank you, Lady Ariana. I swear I’ll never bring shame to your music.” “Th-thank you!” Ruben followed, his voice trembling with emotion. The other members exchanged excited glances. It was then an unexpected sound interrupted them. Kuuuul! “…” Turning toward the noise, they fell momentarily silent. Edward, who’d been sprawled facedown, was now comfortably lying on his back, snoring loudly. Looking down at her thoroughly drunk older brother, Ariana murmured, “Now I need to deal with him…” “We’ll take care of Count Edward!” “Lady Ariana, please don’t worry about the cleanup—go on ahead!” “Yes! We’ll make sure he’s properly taken care of.” The members spoke confidently. If Edward truly remembered nothing—as Ariana claimed—they could easily fabricate a story that he’d simply passed out drunk on his own. After a brief hesitation, Ariana gave a faint smile and nodded. “Then I’ll trust you with it.” “Yes! Leave it to us!” The members answered vigorously, hoisting Edward up. Though his overwhelming alcohol stench made them instinctively frown, they couldn’t afford to mishandle the very first task entrusted to them by their new conductor. “Well, I’ll be…” In the dark audience seats, Elias Lainer, leaning into the shadows, roughly ran a hand through his hair. “What an unpredictable little lady.” Lainer chuckled dryly, muttering to himself in resignation. “I knew you weren’t an ordinary lady when you reached out—but still… Hah. As always, following you brings nothing but surprises.” His eyes sparkling, Lainer turned to his old friend. Crimson eyes stared unwaveringly at a single point on that stage. “Right, Dante?” “…” The man, sunk deeper into shadow than the darkness itself, merely quirked the corner of his lips in reply.

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