TYWML 27

Chapter 27: Asher Winkler:

The room was enormous. It was about the size of combining Riena’s bedroom, sitting room, and dressing room all together.

However, since the curtains were drawn, it was quite dark inside and difficult to see clearly.

Amy walked confidently as if she already knew the entire layout of the room.

“I’ll open the curtains for you, so feel free to look around.”

Amy pulled aside the tightly closed curtains.

Though thick blackout curtains were layered with sheer white fabric underneath, blocking direct sunlight, the room brightened slightly.

Riena couldn’t help but let out a small gasp of admiration as she finally took in the opulent interior of the room.

Paintings didn’t just cover the walls — even the ceiling was adorned with art.

Cherubic angels with small wings hovered above, as if they were guarding the room.

Feigning casual interest, Riena asked Amy, “Is there a portrait of the duke when he was a child?”

“Of course.”

Amy guided her to one side of the room. In a small frame was a familiar face — ‘Cass’, the boy Riena knew well.

Even in the portrait, Cass looked timid and withdrawn, reflecting his shy personality. But Riena felt a fond familiarity in that expression.

“He really does look different now.”

Amy, unaware of the two’s past, offered an explanation.

“The young master was quite different when he was little. He was very frail. It may be hard to imagine now, but he was often sick, and the duchess worried about him a lot.”

“I see…”

Except for the fever she saw when he first arrived at the Dyke estate, she hadn’t known he was that weak.

Riena remained in front of Cass’s portrait for quite a while before reluctantly moving on to another painting.

The next one that caught her eye was a large family portrait.

In it, a black-haired child — likely Cass — and a blonde-haired young man who looked more like a grown-up than a boy sat side by side on chairs.

Cass still looked timid, while the blond youth wore a bright, confident smile.

It was the kind of warm smile that reminded her of spring sunshine.

Behind the two, a blond woman and a red-brown-haired man stood dressed in formal attire.

Riena asked for confirmation.

“Is this child the duke?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“And those behind him must be the former duke and duchess… and the man beside him…?”

“Ah…”

Amy’s face tightened with discomfort. But that was enough for Riena to know.

Asher Winkler.

The former duke and duchess’s firstborn, and Cass’s older brother.

“So that’s the duke’s older brother.”

Amy asked in a surprised tone, “You knew about him?”

“I heard about it once. It was so long ago that I’d forgotten… but hearing his name again reminded me.”

Come to think of it, he even appeared in her dream the night before.

“I think his name was Asher.”

“…That’s right.”

“So this is what he looked like. He seems so kind.”

Remembering Cass’s words — that although their parents were cold, his older brother had been kind — Riena felt a pang in her chest.

He looked so kind in the painting — just how kind must he have been in real life?

The way he gently placed his arm around Cass’s shoulders suggested he had cherished his little brother deeply.

“I heard he died from pneumonia. Is that true?”

Amy was once again surprised at Riena’s knowledge.

“I heard it from my father.”

“Yes, I believe the first young master passed away from pneumonia. He was generally in good health, though not immune to minor illnesses… but for some reason, he didn’t recover from it.”

“I see…”

“I was very young then, so I don’t remember much, but I still clearly recall the grim atmosphere in the manor.”

“Everyone must’ve been shocked and saddened.”

Riena murmured as she kept her gaze on Asher’s portrait.

“When Cass heard the news, he was heartbroken. That was the first time I saw him cry like that.”

“Cass? Oh, that was the duke’s childhood name.”

Seeing Amy confused, Riena smiled softly.

“I’m talking about the duke. You might not know, but he stayed at our estate for a while when he was little.”

“Oh! That must’ve been during the time after the former duchess passed away and the duke left on a trip. So he had gone to the Dyke estate instead.”

“Yeah, I think so.”

Amy clasped her hands and gasped with admiration.

“Oh my, how romantic!”

“Romantic?”

“You met back then, and now you’re engaged, right?”

“Well… I suppose.”

He had indeed proposed to her when they were children, but it was a naive promise made between two kids.

‘Still, he did say he came back to fulfill that promise, so Amy isn’t exactly wrong.’

Excited by the new revelation, Amy begged Riena to tell her more about their childhood.

Riena sat beside her on the sofa and chose her words carefully.

“There’s not much to tell.”

“That’s fine! I’m just curious about the two of you!”

Riena shared some simple stories about their time together as children.

They were completely ordinary memories, but Amy listened intently, reacting with exclamations like “Oh my,” “Really?” and “How adorable!”

But Riena couldn’t bring herself to mention the marriage promise — it was too embarrassing.

“Then one day, we heard that Cass’s brother had passed away. The next day, Cass left the Dyke estate with people from his family. He said he’d come back soon, but I had a feeling he wouldn’t. And in the end, he didn’t.”

“Well, he probably had to begin heir training. Just between us, the former duke was extremely strict.”

“Really?”

“Yes. It must’ve been hard for the sensitive young master to adjust.”

“I remember Cass mentioning something like that too. That their parents were strict, but his brother was very kind. That’s probably why his death was such a shock.”

Riena smiled bitterly.

“Back then, I didn’t even know which noble family he came from, let alone his family situation. If I had, I might’ve treated him better.”

She looked up at another portrait of Cass, one that seemed to be painted around the time they parted.

“So that’s how it happened. Not much of a story, huh?”

“No! It’s absolutely fascinating!”

Amy beamed.

“Honestly, I and everyone else were curious about how you two met. As I said before, the duke showed no interest in women. He would burn marriage proposals without even reading them. It caused friction with the former duke.”

“Really?”

Riena perked up at this new information.

“Yes. And before he inherited the dukedom, he stayed only in the ducal territory. He only came to the capital briefly when he had to meet the emperor.”

“….”

“There were no signs at all… and then suddenly he said he was heading south. He told me, my mother, and a few others to prepare the duchess’s room in the capital residence. I never imagined how all the pieces would come together. Can I tell the others? Everyone will be so interested!”

“Well… it’s something people will eventually find out.”

It was a bit embarrassing, but nothing that needed to be kept secret.

“Anyway, I was always curious about how Cass was doing after returning to the Winkler house. I think this painting must’ve been done after he came back.”

Riena pointed to another painting where Cass stood alone in formal wear.

He looked around fourteen or fifteen, but his expression was stiff and his face tense.

It didn’t match the timid boy she remembered from the Dyke estate, nor the quietly sad boy from the day they parted.

“Yes,” Amy replied, her voice slightly subdued.

“I heard it was painted after a few years of heir training. The former duke saw it and said the young master finally looked like a proper heir.”

“I see… That must be why he looks so different from what I remember.”

But… was that really a good thing?

Riena had her doubts about the former duke’s words.

No matter how she looked at it, Cass in that portrait didn’t seem better off than when he stayed at the Dyke estate.

As an heir to the ducal family, maybe it was a positive development… but as a person?

‘The way he used to express his emotions so openly felt much better.’

Just as their conversation was winding down, a servant came to find them.

“Young lady, Madam Lachapelle has arrived.”

“Oh, right!”

Amy jumped to her feet.

“I completely forgot while listening to your story. Madam Lachapelle said she’d come this afternoon! We have to go!”

Following Amy’s lead, Riena arrived at the drawing room.

Madam Lachapelle had a corseted waist and wore a towering white wig. She was sipping tea with a few staff members.

“Madam, it’s been a while.”

“Oh, Miss Carat. You’re starting to look like a proper young lady now. Looking at your hair gives me inspiration for a new design. Have you thought about letting me make you a dress?”

“I couldn’t possibly afford that. And it’s not like I have anywhere to wear it. Though I am curious about your latest designs.”

“How unfortunate. Do let me know if you change your mind. And that young lady behind you must be…”

“Yes, that’s right. This is Lady Riena Dyke, the duke’s fiancée.”

Amy introduced her, and Madam Lachapelle approached Riena, bowing and extending her hand.

Startled, Riena placed her hand over the madam’s, and she kissed the back of it.

“It’s an honor to be entrusted with your dress, my lady. It’s been a while since I created something for House Winkler, and I’m thrilled.”

“I’m also truly pleased to have you as my dressmaker, madam. I’ve heard no one in the capital can rival your skill.”

Madam Lachapelle burst into laughter, clearly pleased by the compliment.

“You praise me too highly, my lady. But yes, no one in the capital comes close.”

Riena found herself liking the madam’s self-confidence.