Chapter 13
Art Museum
A few days later, Rachel sent over two tickets to the art museum. She didn’t mention it explicitly, but one of them was obviously for Cedric.
I took the tickets and went to find Cedric. In his office, only Baron Hudson was present. The baron told me Cedric was in the reception room and showed me where it was.
Following his directions, I knocked on the door.
“Is the duke here?”
“Princess?”
Cedric appeared, his hair neatly combed back, dressed in a tidy suit.
“Good afternoon, Duke!”
“Good afternoon, Princess.”
The room wasn’t large, occupying only two window sections. One wall was filled with bookshelves, the center held a low tea table, a three-seater sofa, a two-seater sofa, a display cabinet against the wall with jars of tea leaves inside. Light filtered through thick curtains, softly filling the space.
On the table sat a wax candle and the book Cedric had been reading just moments ago. I walked around the room and stood in front of the display cabinet.
“I heard this was the reception room, but it feels more like your personal space?”
“This is the room I usually use for relaxation. I don’t entertain guests here.”
“Then it’s more of a lounge than a reception room.”
“You could say that.”
Cedric didn’t seem to care much about the room’s name. He came over to my side. I looked up at him. He wasn’t coming toward me, but opening the display cabinet. I watched his long fingers pour the tea. He poured my share onto the tea table, then sat on the sofa. The aroma of ginger wafted up.
I went to the bookshelf and pulled out a book.
A Chronological Study on the Continuity of Magic
I placed it back and took out another.
A Convergent Approach of Magic and Physics in Preservation and Maintenance
I returned that one as well. It was next to a philosophy book titled What It Means to See – The Difference Between Spring and Display. It felt strange to place a science book beside a philosophy book.
“You seem very interested in scholarly subjects, Duke.”
I said, averting my gaze from the academic titles that spanned multiple fields.
Cedric silently met my eyes. He seemed to be contemplating my words. His face remained as impassive as ever, but somehow I began to understand his silences, just a little. A short silence meant affirmation; a relatively long silence meant he was choosing his words—something like that.
“There are books and research papers across many fields. Oh… a Plant Encyclopedia? Do you like studying plants too?”
It was the book on the tea table. I walked over and bent slightly to examine it. The subtitle read, From Extinct Plants to Modern Flora. I couldn’t quite guess the duke’s taste.
“I just collected them.”
Though some were very specialized topics that would have been hard to obtain without effort, I figured it was just his hobby. Cedric pushed the book to the end of the tea table.
A sofa was placed perpendicular to the one Cedric sat on. I sat down. As Cedric’s eyes lowered slightly, his long eyelashes became noticeable. From this angle, his dark lashes contrasted beautifully with his red eyes, as striking as his hair.
I took a sip of tea. The strong scent of ginger rose. Clearly, this tea would never become my preference.
“You were knighted, weren’t you, Duke?”
“Yes.”
“A combination of knighthood and academic books seems interesting. The people I’ve met usually had a deep interest in only one field.”
“Is that so?”
“I think it’s good.”
I smiled at him. Cedric lifted his cup, glancing at the tea, then at the book on the table, and finally at me.
Despite appearing so indifferent toward me, Cedric never refused my visits. He paused whatever he was doing, took time for tea, and listened. Was it courtesy toward a foreign princess, or just the ingrained habit of a gentleman?
I placed the art museum tickets on the table to explain why I had come.
“Princess Rachel sent tickets for the art museum. We had promised to go together during her last visit. Since she sent two tickets, I assume one is for you, Duke.”
At the mention of Rachel, Cedric’s gaze shifted to the tickets. He seemed to follow the exhibition title with his eyes.
“Could we go together? It doesn’t seem like a ticket for a specific date. We can coordinate the schedule with the princess.”
I eagerly explained, wanting to create an opportunity for Cedric to meet Rachel.
“I’ll adjust to whatever time is convenient for the princess.”
“Great! Thank you for coming along. I’ll reply to Princess Rachel then.”
I quietly clapped my hands together once, thrilled. I smiled at Cedric.
Out of habit, I brought the cup to my lips, then quickly pulled it away. Ugh, ginger.
The museum wasn’t very far from the duke’s residence.
During the carriage ride, I kept asking questions, and Cedric replied with variations of yes, no, and indeed. It reminded me of a game I used to play with Damon as a child.
“Duke, do you like yes-no games?”
“I’ve never heard of it.”
“I think you would have enjoyed it a lot.”
“Excuse me?”
Even that variation?
Rachel spotted us in front of the museum and waved quickly. A few of her attendants stood behind her.
Cedric stood silently beside me. Rachel and I greeted each other.
“Rachel, how have you been? Thank you for sending the museum tickets.”
“You’ll enjoy it.”
Rachel looked back and forth between Cedric and me, smiling. She seemed in an even better mood than usual. We headed inside the museum.
“Forget or Remember – Special Exhibition on Memory”
A banner with the exhibition title hung above the entrance.
The exhibition was splendid. Each room was arranged thoughtfully, considering the flow of visitors.
The most impressive was Room 5. It displayed artworks depicting scenes from history, from the dragon myths of Lundra 5,000 years ago to the present, arranged chronologically.
The final Room 6 had only one question written on a blank wall:
— Will you forget, or will you remember? —
As we exited the final room, Rachel and Cedric stood there. Rachel said something to Cedric, then lightly tapped his arm without causing pain. Cedric, expressionless, spotted me.
I waved lightly to both of them. His cherry-colored eyes followed my hand.
“It was a great exhibition. It was meaningful to experience Owen’s refined culture.”
I meant it sincerely. Unlike the rugged image of Owen, the land of warriors, Owen’s artists created delicate and beautiful works. The exhibition layout was excellent, rivaling special exhibitions at the Lundra palace featuring famous artists.
“Well, every place has its different sides. A country that wields swords doesn’t just slash away.”
Rachel tugged at the corners of her mouth and laughed, clearly amused by her own joke.
“Thank you for showing me such a great exhibition, Sister Rachel.”
“I’d like to talk more about which works we liked.”
Rachel guided us to a four-story café about ten minutes by carriage from the museum. The popular café was bustling.
We bought drinks and desserts on the first floor and took the staff’s guidance to the fourth floor. Rachel sat beside me, Cedric opposite.
“So, which work impressed you the most?”
Rachel asked as soon as we were seated. I enthusiastically told her about the pieces I had enjoyed. I became excited talking about them.
“Of course, the grandeur of Dragon Lundra!”
I said, clenching my fist. I was proud of the dragon that gave its name to my kingdom.
Rachel smiled at my gesture.
“Besides the animal?”
Animal? That might be a bit irreverent.
“The thing I liked most was the overall layout of Room 5. Arranging the works chronologically, the interpretation of events differed depending on whether the artist was contemporary or from a later generation. It was fascinating.”
“I’m glad you liked Room 5! Cedric probably found it most impressive too, right?”
Rachel laughed mischievously to herself.
She seemed confident in knowing Cedric’s taste, despite his silence and lack of expression since the museum.
With Cedric not responding, Rachel poked him with her finger.
“Hmm? Cedric.”
“Yes.”
He answered dryly. I couldn’t tell if he was genuinely impressed or just humoring her. Still, Rachel’s long acquaintance with Cedric made me trust her judgment.
I saw Cedric and Rachel facing each other. Rachel smiled playfully, and Cedric nodded slowly.
Though I had intended this outing to support Cedric and Rachel’s relationship, at some point, I became completely absorbed in the exhibition. Still, seeing them share their impressions made me feel that the outing wasn’t entirely a failure.
