Chapter 78
She couldn’t tell whether this unpleasant feeling was because of that damned George Hamilton or because of Allen Gieberman.
“It’s about Miss Clarence drawing portraits of His Highness the Prince’s friends. She was paid by numerous young ladies who commissioned her. I thought you knew because she stopped after His Highness found out… but I guess you really didn’t?”
Everything clicked in an instant. It wasn’t even surprising—it was exactly the kind of thing Iella would do. After hiring capable people to investigate and finding every trace completely sealed, to discover it was just something so trivial was almost laughable.
“It’s like we’ve hit a massive wall—we can’t find anything at all. When we try to dig, everyone claims they don’t know anything. So I’m just saying… maybe the young lady really followed the prince around because she genuinely liked him? Everyone has parts they don’t want exposed, right? Should I keep digging?”
“No. Stop.”
Hanns’ theory sounded absurd, yet in a corner of his mind, he could see himself agreeing. Ever since he saw Iella’s sketchbook, it had lingered at the back of his thoughts.
It would have been easy to simply conclude that she was an adorable girl acting all confusing and irritating because she liked him. Like everyone else, he could have just assumed her interest and affection toward him were only natural—but it still left a sour taste.
Even so, he ignored it. And now, this was the result of that unease. Yet even with his questions finally answered, something still didn’t sit right.
What was this lingering discomfort?
“Let’s go to the hotel.”
Without overthinking, he redirected the carriage away from Grenville. Since running into Iella was inevitable there, he figured it would be best to stay at a hotel for a while.
Not seeing each other for the time being would be better for both of them. He didn’t want to face her with such a tangled state of mind.
She had just finished getting ready to go out when Lady Linton came into Iella’s room.
“Iella.”
“Aunt?”
“Do you have a moment?”
“Yes, of course.”
Iella greeted her with a smile and guided her into the sitting room.
“I heard you’ll be going to Faryx next month. There’s only a few weeks left—are your preparations going well?”
Faryx was much farther than Altria, which bordered their kingdom. It required a six-hour boat ride across the sea.
Known as the nation of art and culture, Faryx had abolished its monarchy fifty years ago due to a revolution and transitioned into a republic. After several regime changes, it now maintained a constitutional monarchy.
“I’m not the one handling the preparations, so it’s fine.”
Lady Linton looked at Iella with a warm smile.
“I see. But was there something you wanted to talk about?”
“How is painting in Manches these days? Still enjoying it?”
“Yes. I enjoy it.”
“Are people treating you kindly?”
“Mm. Things have improved a lot.”
Iella hesitated for a moment before smiling as if to say not to worry.
She still felt like oil floating on water—always apart, always different. But she didn’t want to voice that and make her family worry.
Of course, she knew they were all aware of what people said about her, but she still wanted to appear fine.
“Do you want to continue painting in Manches?”
“I could paint at home too, but I like it there. I get to learn new things from other artists, and it feels rewarding.”
“I see.”
Lady Linton nodded warmly as Iella calmly expressed her thoughts. Then she took out a booklet she had brought.
“Take this.”
“What is it?”
Iella reached out and received the booklet. On the cover were the words Faryx National Academy of Arts.
“Aunt, this is…?”
“If you want, there’s someone willing to write you a letter of recommendation. Unlike Lafland, Faryx’s National Academy of Arts has quite a few women enrolled. I’m not insisting you must go, but as you know, the Royal Academy here has a long tradition of rejecting women.”
Iella understood very well what her aunt was worried about. She wanted to firmly refuse, to draw a line and say she didn’t want to be a burden—but she hesitated.
“If you truly want to keep drawing and learning, I just wanted you to know that there are paths like this. I know the fulfillment you’re getting in Manches right now must be special, but you can’t waste your talent forever. This is an opportunity to receive proper education.”
Iella could only stare down at the booklet, unable to respond. Seeing her looking so fragile, Lady Linton gently covered her hand and stroked it softly.
“You have Prince Franz, so maybe I’m overstepping. But the choice is yours.”
She was a child overflowing with talent, but also someone worthy of building a happy family with a person she truly loved. It made Lady Linton’s heart ache with affection. She earnestly hoped that whatever path she chose, she would be happy.
“Thank you, Aunt. I’ll think about it.”
“Good. Take time to think carefully. And let’s keep this a secret for now.”
Lady Linton winked as she said it. Iella briefly thought of Laura Clarence and nodded.
“Yes. I will.”
After Lady Linton left the sitting room, Iella slumped onto the sofa with a sigh.
The portrait work was already finished—just the coating remained, which would be applied in a few months. So it was practically complete.
The National Academy of Arts in Faryx… It was a good opportunity. If she couldn’t give up her feelings, then maybe distancing herself physically would be the right choice.
Maybe someday she would hear that His Highness had married. By then, perhaps this foolish heart of hers would have settled down. It was a vain hope—but in the end, clinging to her feelings would only bring her pain.
It wouldn’t be strange to make a firm decision right away, yet it wasn’t easy. Even now, she realized she was still prioritizing the prince above everything else.
“What should I do…”
Iella let out a self-mocking sigh. Painting had always been her greatest love, but at some point, its place had begun to waver.
“Sister.”
Snapped out of her thoughts, Iella looked blankly at Louisa, who had entered the sitting room.
“What did you talk about with Aunt?”
“Nothing much. She just asked how painting in Manches has been.”
“Ahh. Well, you’ve barely been home lately.”
Louisa let out a deep, fluffy sigh.
“Oh, right! You weren’t here yesterday, so you wouldn’t know. There was a huge scandal at the Gieberman ball.”
“Really?”
“Look at this. It even made the papers.”
It was an article about Prince Franz assaulting George Hamilton, the second son of Viscount Hamilton. There were no details—it was a short blurb—but it was enough to shock Iella.
“His Highness? Over what?”
“I dunno. Hamilton was covered in blood.”
“Really? What about His Highness?”
“His Highness? He was totally fine. By the time people arrived, it was already over, so no one knows the details. When I got there, the fight was already done.”
A fight. Just the thought was horrifying. Seeing Iella’s worried expression, Louisa grinned playfully.
“But it seemed like Hamilton was in the wrong. He was the one who got beaten, yet everyone kept quiet. His nickname is ‘Dirty George,’ so you get the idea.”
“Dirty George?”
Iella recalled Billy Edmond from the Vermont estate. If it weren’t for Franz’s quick response back then, she would have been dragged into all kinds of rumors. She shook her head, not wanting to think about it.
“The article is so small, so I guess they don’t want to make it big.”
“What in the world could have made His Highness resort to violence…”
“No clue. But three grown men had to pull him off. Wow. He’s really terrifying when angry. It was like seeing a totally different person.”
Louisa dramatically acted out flames shooting from his eyes.
Iella couldn’t help but agree wholeheartedly.
“They say quiet people are scarier when they’re mad. But really, His Highness wasn’t hurt at all?”
“You don’t need to worry. Like I said, he turned the other guy into a pile of pulp, but he was perfectly fine. Why, are you worried?”
Louisa leaned in, grinning mischievously, studying Iella’s face from every angle.
“How could I not worry when I hear there was a fight? If I didn’t know, that’d be different.”
“True. I was surprised, so I can’t imagine how you feel.”
“I’m glad he’s okay. Anything else happen?”
“What else? Balls are always the same.”
Something felt off. Iella remembered Allen’s strangely glinting eyes in the theater. She had braced herself for trouble, yet nothing had happened. It was puzzling.
Was it because things were too quiet? She let out a dry chuckle. From the moment she was threatened until yesterday, she had been on edge fearing things would be exposed. But now she was almost wishing everything would just blow up and be done with.
“Allen was flying all over the ballroom yesterday. There were twelve dance numbers, and he danced to all of them! If there were a hundred, I bet he’d do them all.”
“He must’ve been the star of the night.”
“Well, now that I’m getting married, he’ll have one less rival. How great is that?”
Watching Louisa shrug smugly, Iella let out a small laugh.
“Seriously? That’s something to be happy about?”
“You don’t get it. Just because I’m getting married, do you know how relieved some women are? They say a woman’s enemy is another woman for a reason.”
Looking at her, Iella laughed as if saying You’re unbelievable.
“So do you hate it?”
“Hate it? Not at all. I don’t care about any of that. As long as I have Andrew, I’m fine.”
“How did it happen between you two? Wasn’t your crush on Marquis Morris’ son?”
“Yeah.”
Her face flushed like a girl deeply in love.
“At first, he wasn’t interested in me. I suffered alone, unable to express it.”
“And then?”
“He confessed at the Rose Festival Ball. He said I kept catching his eye. After that, things moved quickly. Once he realized his feelings, he said there was no reason to hesitate. Same for me.”
“Are you happy?”
“Yeah. I’m so happy.”
She smiled so brightly it looked like she could die from joy. Her eyes sparkled with absolute certainty and overflowing love. It was fascinating and enviable how honest she was.
“Then that’s good. Congratulations, Louisa.”
“Thanks, Sis! Oh—are you heading out now?”
“Yeah.”
“Then walk me to the square. I’m meeting Andrew.”
Her voice was so bright that the good mood was contagious.
