“Listen carefully, and make sure you donât mess up. Youâre surprisingly careless, after all.”
With those stern words from her father, Regina boarded the waiting carriage.
She was wearing a light green dress, a birthday gift from Betty, and around her neck was a lace ribbon, a present from Alex.
Her blond hair, tinged with a reddish hue, was styled in a half-updo and secured with a ruby hair ornament, a keepsake from her mother.
(Oh, Iâm so nervous…)
Duke Klaus Adelbard, the Ice Chancellor.
His icy gaze, as sharp as icicles, and his words, cutting and relentless. His profile, never smiling, is rumored to resemble an exquisitely crafted plaster statueâcold and utterly unapproachableâ the cold-hearted and unrivaled younger brother of the king.
This year, Klaus turns twenty-eight. Despite his remarkably handsome appearance, he remains single, feared by women due to his aloofness.
He is often compared to the cheerful third prince, Clarence, and called the smiling prince, while Klaus is known as the absolute zero noble.
(Just a little, even if itâs only a tiny bit, canât you remember even a little of what happened six years agoâŚ?)
She knows she just wants to meet the artist who drew the picture, but she canât help but hold faint hopes â the girlâs heart is like that.
She doesnât think she can become anything with Klaus, not in the slightest, but just for a moment, even a second, could there be something sweet and sour? Something like that?
(Hands washed thoroughly, perfume on, and cologne⌠If he even shakes my hand, Iâll keep todayâs gloves framed and display them forever!)
As the castle drew nearer, her heart pounded impossibly loudly.
Finally, the carriage stopped in front of the castle. When she stepped out, a messenger from the Claymore family, who had visited the previous day, was waiting. Apparently, he is one of Klausâs aides.
âWeâve been expecting you. I will guide you,â he said.
Led by the messenger, Regina headed toward Klausâs room, where he was waiting.
His room was decorated in monochrome tones, with the only splash of color being a landscape painting hanging on the wall.
(What a delicate landscape painting…)
She often uses the phrase âa painting that captures the scene exactly as it is,â but this painting was different. It wasnât just a realistic depiction; it was more delicate, graceful, and beautifulâalmost as if it showed a view only someone who sees beyond the ordinary could perceive. At the same time, somehow, even though it was stunningly beautiful, it felt stark and somewhat coldâas if gazing at a jewel. Beautiful, yet unapproachable and icy to the touch.
When the messenger informed Klaus of Reginaâs arrival and left, Klaus instructed her to sit on the sofa.
Feeling her tiny fingers tremble, Regina bowed slightly to Klaus and sat down as he had told her to.
A tea set was brought onto the low table, and Klaus sat across from her.
His cool, teal eyes fixed directly on Regina.
âI apologize for summoning you so suddenly,â he said.
His crisp voice made Reginaâs heart race. It was the same as six years ago. He seemed not to remember her, but that was fine. Just seeing him again so close made her happy.
âYou drew that sky painting exhibited at the museum, right?â
âYes…â
Her voice wavered with nervousness.
She nodded quickly, and Klaus crossed his arms.
âIâve looked into you a bit. Sorry for the intrusion, but why did you enter the museum contest? Most noble women your age are probably married and raising children by now. But youâre still single. No fiancĂŠ, it seems. Are you seriously aiming to be a painter, Countess?â
Klausâs question was perfectly reasonable. Noble womenâs role is to marry for the familyâs sake. Of course, noble men marry to preserve their house, but noble womenâs prime marrying age is shorter. In that sense, Regina was approaching the age of marriage delay.
The Claymore family wasnât wealthy, but as a daughter of a count, she could find a husband if she wasnât too picky. Yet she hadnât, and it might seem like she was just playing around.
(Heâs done his homework, so I canât lie easilyâŚ)
And honestly, she didnât think her situation was something worth hiding.
Regina looked directly into Klausâs eyes.
âYou probably already know if youâve researched me, but I am a woman who had her engagement broken once. No respectable match awaits someone like me. I have a younger brother who is much younger, and since my mother is gone, I decided it would be better to stay by my brotherâs side as a substitute mother. When he inherits the family estate, I plan to leave home so as not to be a burden. Thatâs part of why I entered the contest. Iâm quite clumsy, and outside of painting, I have no other skills.â
ââŚI see. Sorry for asking such a rude question,â Klaus said, looking somewhat uncomfortable, perhaps not expecting her to answer so seriously.
âPlease donât worry. Itâs rare for a countess whoâs not married at this age,â she replied.
Klaus sighed and rubbed his forehead.
âActually, I called you here because my younger brother wanted to meet you. But heâs still young and very sensitive. I couldnât let him get close to someone who might be unsuitable, so I just wanted to know more about you. Itâs not that I look down on you for being unmarried.â
âI see,â Regina replied.
The younger brother he mentioned must be Richard, the youngest prince. Klaus wasnât interested in her artwork, which was a bit disappointing, but just being able to meet him like this was enough.
âSo, I hate to ask, but could you meet my brother? Heâs quite taken with your paintings, and Iâd like you to meet him if youâre willing.â
âYes, of courseâŚâ
âGood. Well then, I apologize for the sudden request, but please come with me now. I donât have much time myself.â
Klaus, being in a high position as a chancellor, was busy. Yet he took the time to fulfill his brotherâs wish.
(Six years ago, I thought the same… Heâs really kind.)
He doesnât smile much and is said to have a sharp personality, but Klaus is actually very gentle deep down. If he werenât, he wouldnât bother helping a girl he doesnât even knowâwho had her engagement broken six years ago.
He led Regina to a room slightly apart from his, where he knocked softly on the door. No reply came, and Klaus shrugged with a sigh.
âRichard, come in.â
When Klaus opened the door without waiting for a response, a remarkably beautiful boy with shoulder-length silver hair was intensely focused on painting on his canvas.
(This is Lord Richard…)
Few nobles have seen his face because he barely leaves the estate.
He resembled Klaus but was more delicateâlike a piece of glass art, making her feel as if she were gazing at something fragile and exquisite.
âPlease, sit down. Richard gets so absorbed that he doesnât notice his surroundings… and Elvis isnât here either,â Klaus said, gazing around.
Regina sat on the sofa at his invitation, and surprisingly, Klaus sat down beside her.
(So closeâŚ!)
Startled, Regina stiffened and straightened her posture. Noticing her reaction, Klaus slightly lowered his eyebrows and made a small, âOhâ sound.
âSorry. I seem to scare women sometimes. If youâre uncomfortable, I can step backâŚâ
âN-No! Itâs not that! Just a little surprise,â Regina hurriedly replied, hoping he would stay.
Honestly, she hoped he would stay like this. Sheâd been expecting a little sweet and sour feelingâsomething memorable.
âI see. Well, I hate to ask, but until Richard notices you, could you wait here a little longer? Elvisâwell, Richardâs aideâusually helps to keep his attention by making noise at a good moment, but heâs out somewhere now, so I canât say how long youâll have to waitâŚâ
Richard apparently gets so immersed in his painting that he tunes out everything else.
(I understand that feeling a little. Though, I donât have quite as much focus as Lord Richard…)
He becomes entirely absorbed in what heâs painting, blocking out everything elseâlike a trance. Regina sometimes experiences this state when sheâs deeply focused, as if something is descending upon her.
âRichard is fond of both painting and music, but he especially loves painting. Itâs not rare for him to spend entire days in front of a canvas,â Klaus explained.
âPrince Klaus also paints and plays music?â
âI? No, Iâm hopeless at those. I like watching and listening, but I donât have the skill to boast about. Both my brother and Richard are like thatâperhaps theyâre blessed by the gods of art. Richard has always been naturally talented in those areas,â Klaus said.
âI think I understand. âŚPrince Richard looks very happy.â
âHappy?â
âYes. The way he holds his brushâhe seems driven by something⌠like heâs rushing to bring his imagination to life. Heâs eager to see his ideas take shape,â Regina replied.
âIâve never thought about it that way. That boy⌠he doesnât smile much, after all,â Klaus said.
His expression rarely shows his feelings, making his joy or sadness hard to read. But Regina could tell that Richard truly enjoyed painting.
âDoes he? âŚThatâs good then.â
Klaus looked at Richard and slightly raised the corner of his mouth.
(Smiled!)
Richard never smiles, and thatâs why heâs called the Ice Chancellor. But right now, Klaus had actually smiled.
(No way!! He smiledâŚ! What should I do? I think Iâm going to get nosebleedâŚ!)
What a rare sight to witness. Regina instinctively clasped her hands together, awestruck.
âIf heâs happy, thatâs all that matters. Just knowing that makes calling you here worthwhile,â Klaus said softly.
âTh-Thank you…â Reginaâs cheeks flushed intensely. Klaus might not have intended it, but somehow, having been needed by him made her feel so happy, embarrassed, and excited that her heart was racing.
As they watched Richard together, a servant gently knocked and peeked inside.
âYour Grace, itâs about time for the meeting,â he said.
âOh, is it? Alright, Iâll go right away,â Klaus replied, frowning slightly.
He looked back at Richard once more, then stood up reluctantly.
âPlease wait here a little longer. Iâll be back as soon as the meetingâs over. If anything happens, just say youâre my guest. I havenât told Richard youâre coming, but if you mention my name, heâll understand immediately. Heâs a clever boy,â Klaus said.
âY-Yes,â Regina replied.
He then told his aide to wait outside the room, in case anything happened, and hurried out.
Left alone, Regina watched Richard absorbed in his painting and gently narrowed her eyes with a soft smile.
(Heh, he looks just like little Lord Klaus⌠So adorableâŚ)
~¡~¡*¡ . ¡**##^^##**¡ . ¡*¡~¡~
Hey there, Itâs Green Rose đ
Since I human I might have make some mistakes while translating so please if you find them let me know here in the comments or in the Discord group so I can correct them and be careful in the future so they do not repeat.
Thank you so much for reading, I hope you enjoyed this chapter.
~~~Next Chapter~~~
Next chapter will be released on September, 13.
See you then!!
