Chapter 90
“Oh! They even have postcards. I should buy one.”
Just like the saying goes, a sparrow can’t pass by a mill.
In the end, I folded up my resolve to just look around and let it fly away into the sky, picking up a postcard instead.
The image on the postcard was the landscape painting that had caught my eye earlier.
A landscape painted only with pale yellow, light blue, and soft pink.
“I thought so before too, but that pink flower… it’s the same color as Estelle’s hair.”
Moreover, with touches of pale yellow here and there, it looked even more like Estelle’s hair color.
“No wonder I liked it so much.”
I couldn’t help it. I would buy it.
I nodded to myself as I held the postcard in my hand.
“Do you want something, Estelle?”
Having decided to buy the postcard, I looked up at Estelle.
Her face seemed indifferent; unlike Cial, who was sparkling with curiosity, she didn’t seem interested.
“Um… not really. How about you, Reina?”
“Me? I want this postcard.”
Estelle tilted her head and came closer to me.
Then, looking at the postcard in my hand, she said,
“It’s the painting we saw earlier, right?”
“That’s right. It’s my favorite painting from today, and I thought I’d put it on the wall to remember today.”
Yes.
I was going to remember today while looking at this postcard.
Estelle standing up against injustice, as Haboni had told me about.
I smiled as I caressed the pink part of the postcard.
“Reina.”
“Hm?”
As I stroked the postcard, Estelle called out to me.
‘Ah! Did she notice?’
I had purposely said I liked the painting so I wouldn’t lie.
But I guess it was obvious that I was buying it because the pink flowers reminded me of Estelle.
‘I thought it wouldn’t show… maybe I was rubbing it too much.’
I looked at her cute little nose instead of her eyes as I answered.
Because I couldn’t bear to meet Estelle’s eyes, which seemed to be trying to read my mind.
“Did you like the painting?”
“Well… I didn’t dislike it, I guess?”
Huh? Did she notice?
Puzzled, I looked into Estelle’s eyes.
It seemed I had been mistaken. Upon closer look, her gaze wasn’t trying to read my mind—it was simply curious.
‘Ah, the thief feels guilty.’
That was me. How embarrassing.
Feeling awkward, I started babbling.
“It’s wonderful, isn’t it? Being able to freely express your thoughts. And through a painting, you can share with others, leave memories…”
Haha. Even I didn’t quite understand what I was saying.
My head was too tangled.
I didn’t want to hide my awkwardness, but I also needed to answer Estelle’s question.
I was speaking instinctively, unsure if my answer matched her intention.
All I could do was flusteredly blurt out words.
Then suddenly,
“If you like the painting, I’ll buy it for you.”
I jumped at the voice. Claude had silently approached and stood close to me.
Startled, I looked at him.
“Once the exhibition is over, if you tell Professor Bob, you can probably buy it. If you want, I’ll buy it for you.”
…This doesn’t sound like a postcard.
Since he said it has to wait until the exhibition ends, it seems he’s talking about the actual painting.
I quickly shook my head and waved my hand.
“No? Ah, no! It’s fine!”
“Why? If you’re going to put it on the wall, a large painting is better than a small postcard, isn’t it?”
And now, Haboni had quietly joined my side, encouraging me.
What are these people saying! Offering to buy a painting for just anyone.
No matter how much I like someone, that’s not right!
Of course, I wasn’t moved in the slightest.
I frantically shook my head at Haboni.
“Our house isn’t that big, and I can’t take care of such works. Besides, I wouldn’t dare ask a young girl I just met for that!”
“Hmm. Really? What a shame!”
Haboni glanced at Claude and Estelle, shrugged, and said, “It can’t be helped.”
Phew. I almost ended up with an expensive painting I didn’t even want.
I let out a relieved sigh, wiping my forehead with the back of my hand.
A few days after visiting Professor Bob’s exhibition.
Tap, tap, tap…
A man with black hair, Claude, walked down the corridor of the mansion.
The walls were filled with large paintings, without a single window, lit by small chandeliers on the ceiling.
Even the carpet, resistant to dust and moisture, was perfect.
This corridor was not the same as the ones Claude usually saw in the Genofesia mansion.
Claude’s footsteps stopped at the end of the corridor, in front of a door next to a large statue.
As always, he raised his right hand, expressionless.
Knock, knock…
The corridor was quiet, with no servants to guide the way or knights guarding the door.
Perhaps that was why the sound of Claude knocking echoed so loudly.
“Come in.”
A voice came from inside.
Even though he hadn’t revealed his identity, the person on the other side seemed to know who it was.
Claude grasped the door handle and slowly opened the door.
“How have you been, Claude?”
“It’s been a while.”
Inside the room sat a man with faded sky-blue hair, wearing a gentle smile.
He was the head of the Anax Count family and Haboni’s father—Count Brian Anax.
Claude bowed respectfully in response to the Count’s greeting.
A flawless display of proper etiquette.
‘He wasn’t like this as a child…’
Seeing this, the Count felt a twinge of disappointment.
But soon, that disappointment turned into pity.
He knew the reason Claude had changed.
“I’ve heard news of you. Is it hard? Suddenly your father retired from politics, and you became the acting Duke.”
Claude hadn’t been prepared to become the representative of the Genofesia Dukedom.
After the Duchess passed away, the grieving Duke secluded himself, leaving Claude to take on the responsibilities unexpectedly.
Of course, Claude was capable as a minor duke and acting Duke.
Having excelled from a young age, he had received training for successors earlier than his peers and had accompanied the Duke to political matters several times.
So there was no problem with his duties.
It was just that everything had happened suddenly, placing a huge burden on him.
He too had lost his mother as a child.
“Tsk, tsk. That fellow… even though he’s my friend, he didn’t listen when I told him to prepare. Because of an incompetent father, you’re struggling.”
“No, it’s fine.”
The Count clicked his tongue at Claude.
When he was younger, he had been innocent, but now his stoic demeanor and rare smiles still worried the Count.
“I heard from Haboni that you came looking for me.”
“Yes. That’s right.”
But that was not the main reason Claude was summoned.
“You know the prophecy, so I’ll get straight to the point.”
An important matter concerning the Empire and the royal family’s future.
“The Emperor wishes to find the princess.”
There had been an imperial order to locate the missing princess.
Listening to the Count, Claude’s head was in a whirl.
“Apparently, finding her officially is complicated. Many might lie, and moreover…”
“You know the movements of the nobles.”
“Exactly.”
Before the New Year, Claude had seen the birthmark appear on Estelle when she collapsed.
He already knew who the princess was.
“Perhaps in haste after hearing the prophecy, the others have already moved quickly. From what I’ve heard, they’ve even shortlisted candidates.”
Claude was conflicted.
As a family supporting the throne, as a vassal of the Emperor, he knew in his head that he had to reveal who the princess was.
Even if it put Estelle in danger.
Yet somehow…
“Could you keep the birthmark on Estelle a secret?”
Every time Claude tried to speak, Reina’s voice blocked him.
Over and over.
Continuously.
