“My brother doesn’t remember anything after getting drunk.”
He’s just like father in that regard.
Swallowing her next words, Ariana smiled faintly.
“Forget about firing. The violin is like life itself for this piece.”
At those words, the violinists’ faces, which had been pale with despair, suddenly bloomed.
“Let’s end this pointless rehearsal. And, Mr. Ruben.”
“Y-yes? Yes?”
Ariana approached Ruben, who answered with a dazed voice.
Her platinum blonde hair, shimmering like silver in the light, dazzled Ruben’s vision.
Eyes like verdant forests, and a grace unbelievable for someone just twenty years old.
Even though his hand was throbbing, Ruben couldn’t take his eyes off her.
“Give me your hand.”
“…Pardon?”
Ruben startled, as if waking from a dream.
Ariana repeated with a calm, yet firm expression.
“I said, give me your hand.”
“M-my hand? W-why are you…”
Ariana let out a small sigh.
“I know.”
“P-pardon?”
“You’re injured. The back of your hand.”
“…What?!”
He could have sworn he hadn’t shown any sign of it.
‘But how.’
How did this lady, who had only been watching from afar, notice what even his colleagues hadn’t?
“How… how did you know?”
“The sound wavered slightly. Especially during the trills. It’s your right index finger, isn’t it? The injured part.”
Ruben’s mouth gaped open as if he’d seen a ghost.
“H-h-how could you tell so precisely…”
“Because I heard it.”
Ariana calmly replied and handed something shiny to Ruben.
“Go to the hospital. If you get treatment without overexerting it, it should heal in a few days.”
“Ah…”
What Ariana handed over were three gold coins. Ruben felt a lump in his throat at their light weight.
Ariana turned to face the members who were staring at this scene with blank expressions.
“Today’s events can remain a secret if you all keep your mouths shut. As I said, my brother won’t remember anything when he wakes up.”
Some members gulped.
The resolute figure of her striking Edward’s head with the flute still lingered in their minds.
“But will something like today only happen today?”
At this calm question, the members each wore serious expressions.
“Everyone.”
Ariana’s eyes sparkled quietly as she looked around at the members.
“Are you satisfied with the treatment at Lopez Opera House?”
The members’ eyes widened instantly.
Ariana slowly looked around at them.
Where should she start? The conclusion came quickly.
Glancing at Edward, who was still lying face down oblivious to the world, she said,
“All the music of Lopez Opera House is my work. Not my brother’s.”
Silence descended.
“…”
The members exchanged glances with shocked faces. None seemed to believe it.
“Oh my…!”
Except for Ruben, who covered his mouth as if in shock.
“Haven’t you ever thought it strange? My brother, he’s oddly insensitive to music. Constantly nitpicking about tuning already tuned instruments. Insisting correct notes are wrong, or not noticing when something is played incorrectly.”
The members’ eyes wavered greatly.
Instead of trying to persuade them further, Ariana walked to the piano.
“The ‘Aria of the Adulteress’ score you’re holding is a heavily arranged version. The original goes like this.”
And immediately, the performance began.
Ta-da!
Before they could be startled by the intense first note, the sound continued to surge.
“…”
Several members slowly opened their mouths.
It was clearly a similar melody, similar structure. Not much different from the piece they had been playing.
But those subtle and minute differences completely transformed the impression of the piece.
Ariana’s expression was calm. Her fingers striking the keys were as elegant and delicate as a nun’s.
However, the melody those fingers created was unbelievably explicit.
The female protagonist coveting her sister-like friend’s husband.
That gloomy and sticky desire was intertwined in every note. It was music full of lewdness and darkness enough to make listeners’ faces flush.
‘To think such emotions could be expressed through music…’
Until now, music had generally been a tool to express love for God, or positive emotions like joy or pleasure.
So everyone thought this ‘Aria of the Adulteress’ with its unusual theme of adultery was an interesting attempt.
The piece was quite excellent too, so they predicted it would surely be a hit.
But this, this music was something beyond that.
If this music is released, critics will be shocked.
Some might rage, calling it a blasphemy against music, the art of God.
But surely, it would captivate the ears of many more.
Listening to the surging performance, the members blankly stared at the performer.
Similar thoughts were arising in their minds.
‘It’s real.’
The lady freely playing the keys before their eyes, and this lady’s music, were real.
It was a truth no one could deny after hearing it with their own ears.
“…”
Whew.
Having finished her performance, Ariana exhaled briefly.
In the breathtaking silence, she raised her head. And found dozens of eyes staring at her blankly, as if in a daze.
“…Lady Ariana.”
Breaking the silence, orchestra master Louis stepped forward.
Taking his place in front of Ariana with a respectful posture, he slowly opened his mouth with a complex expression.
“When you asked if we were ‘satisfied with the treatment at Lopez Opera House,’ was it because you intended to present us with another option?”
“You guessed correctly.”
Ariana slowly continued speaking as she closed the piano lid.
“I want to propose a new workplace to you all. An orchestra that I will run, not my brother. Of course…”
I promise a much better level of salary than now.
Just as Ariana was about to reveal this important card,
“I’ll go.”
Louis said in a resolute tone.
“I’ll follow you. Lady Ariana.”
“…”
Ariana blinked for a moment at the faster-than-expected answer.
Just then, someone came running as if rolling.
“M-me too.”
Ruben exclaimed, raising his hand high.
“I’ll follow you too! I-I’ll get my hand treated right away. I promise I won’t be a hindrance! Really. So please take me with you.”
The boy pleaded in a desperate voice.
“Please let me play that music you just performed.”
“…”
Swallowing the strange feeling tickling her chest, Ariana looked around at each member.
The members were just waiting for Ariana’s answer.
Judging by the tension evident on their faces, they seemed to misunderstand that she might select and take only a few of them.
Ariana moistened her parched lips with her tongue and opened her mouth.
“…That’s unfortunate.”
“Pardon?”
The members looked at Ariana with confused eyes. Ruben’s face looked like he was about to cry.
Ariana made eye contact with each of them with a serious expression.
“I was just about to promise a much better level of salary than now.”
“Gasp…!”
“Since you all came like this before I could make the offer, then let’s forget about the salary increase…”
Rustle.
The startled members looked at each other.
Amidst the murmuring atmosphere, Ruben spoke with a determined expression.
“W-well, it can’t be helped.”
What do you mean it can’t be helped.
Ariana smiled as she looked at the boy exuding an air of naivety.
“I’m joking. Please, all of you, come with me. I promise a much better level of salary than what Lopez House is paying now.”
“…!”
The members’ eyes all widened at once.
Louis was the first to catch his breath and answer.
“Thank you, Lady Ariana. We will not let your music down.”
“Th-thank you!”
Ruben cried out next, on the verge of tears. The other members also exchanged excited glances.
It was around then that an unexpected noise was heard.
Snore!
“…”
Those who turned toward the noise were momentarily at a loss for words.
Edward, who had been lying face down, was now comfortably sprawled out snoring.
Looking down at her drunk brother, Ariana muttered.
“Now I need to clean this up…”
“We’ll take care of the Count!”
“Lady Ariana, please don’t worry about the aftermath and go back now!”
“Yes! We’ll make sure to clean up properly.”
The members said confidently.
If Edward doesn’t remember today’s events as Ariana said, they can arrange the situation as if he just collapsed alone from drunkenness.
After pondering briefly, Ariana nodded with a faint smile.
“Then I’ll leave it to you.”
“Yes! Leave it to us!”
The members answered energetically as they supported Edward.
Though they involuntarily frowned at the terrible smell of alcohol, they couldn’t carelessly perform the first task entrusted by their new conductor.
“Well, now…”
In the dark audience seats.
Elias Rainer, the man leaning against the darkness, roughly ran his hand through the back of his hair.
“She’s a lady beyond prediction.”
Rainer muttered to himself with a wry laugh.
“I figured she wasn’t an ordinary lady since you reached out to her… Huh, well. As expected, following you always leads to surprises.”
With sparkling eyes, Rainer turned to his old friend.
Red eyes were fixed on one point on that stage without a single waver.
“Isn’t that right? Dante.”
“…”
The man, blending into the shadows darker than darkness itself, merely lifted the corner of his lips instead of answering.
Why She Is Still Unmoved (Female-dominant)
One-line summary: He uses various methods to seek her affection, but she remains unmoved.
Synopsis:
Si Qingyu is a doctor who has saved countless lives and enjoys tranquility.
Luo Shaoxuan is ruthless, deeply scheming, and the top young master in the capital. He admires Si Qingyu.
Luo Shaoxuan: I want to be the only one in your eyes and heart.
Features a cold and calm female lead vs A noble and scheming male lead.
There will be both sweetness and torture towards the male after their marriage.
