In the afternoon, when I headed to the castle, Richard, who had just finished a painting, invited me for tea. While drinking tea, it seemed he was deciding on the next subject for his artwork.
“By the way, Your Highness Richard, do you not paint portraits?”
None of the paintings in Richardās room depicted people. Curious, I asked him about it, and Richard nodded while adding sugar to his black tea.
“Yeah. Portraits… how should I put it? When I paint them, I get this strange feeling that I can read what the person is thinking in their mind, so I donāt really want to paint them.”
“You’re talking about what theyāre thinking?”
“Yeah. Maybe itās just my imagination. But when Iām painting, I only see beautiful things. If I try to draw a person, my view becomes distorted somehow.”
“Is that so?”
I couldnāt understand that feeling myself, but there must be something only Richard can perceive.
Perhaps, the person Richard wants to paint simply hasn’t appeared yet.
“The person I want to paint?”
“Yes. When the right person appears, Iām sure Iāll be able to paint more easily.”
“I hope so,” he said with a smile, taking a sip from his teacup.
(Maybe, he has an instinctive sense of something inside people.)
Human emotions are complex, and they are not always pure or beautiful. Richard might be sensitive to such things, which could explain why he finds it difficult to stare at people and paint them.
(Iāve kind of suspected heās delicate, but heās very perceptive of the subtle nuances of peopleās hearts.)
I understand why Klaus is concerned about Richard. Being too sensitive can make life difficult. Klaus probably works hard to protect Richardās delicate heart. But Richard also seems aware of Klausās feelings and is always a step ahead, being considerate.
(This must be a never-ending cycle.)
However, this isnāt something Lena can solve. Sheās quite resilient and thinks he should just relax a little more, but telling a delicate person such things would only cause trouble.
“By the way, what will you do with that painting?”
Hearing āthat painting,ā I looked back at the picture of a bluebird leaning against the corner of Richardās room. After Klaus took it back, I made a few additional touches, and it remains unfinished, still not handed over to Klaus.
“I canāt exactly say itās a gift for the person who took it back.”
“Thatās true…”
Klaus would probably be troubled if I gave it to him.
“I think Iāll take it home since it might be in the way. But even then, itāll probably just stay in a corner of my room…”
“Really? Then, if you donāt mind, could you give it to me?”
“That painting? I donāt mind, but…”
“Then, Iāll take it. Thank you!”
As Richard smiled, I couldnāt help but smile back. Just then, perhaps during a break from work, Klaus entered the room.
Seeing Klausās face made my heart jump, and I lowered my gaze quickly, pretending to sip my tea so he wouldnāt notice my reddening face.
“Older brother, whatās wrong? Did something trouble you?”
Klaus looked at me as usual, but Richard seemed to see something different.
Realizing heād been caught, Klaus showed a slightly awkward expression.
“Nothing… I just thought the upcoming Georgesā party was coming up soon.”
“Itās a fiancĆ©ās party.”
“You’re probably going to skip it anyway, right?”
“Iām still a child.”
“…That excuse wonāt work once youāre an adult, you know,” Klaus sighed, sitting down beside me with a look that seemed to say it was obvious.
My body temperature surged, and my hands trembling slightly as I held my teacup.
Richard glanced at me with a slight smile.
“Then, perhaps your older brotherās concern is about the woman who will be his partner at the party.”
“Exactly, but how do you always know?”
“Because, brother, you always have the same concern,” Richard replied with a sigh, reaching for a cookie on the table.
“Every time you choose a partner, some bizarre rumor starts spreading that sheās my fiancĆ©eāthough, of course, itās mostly caused by that woman herself.”
“Rumor?”
When I looked up curiously, Klausās eyes met mine directly. Flustered, I hurriedly looked away.
Klaus didnāt seem to suspect anything unusual about my behavior and nodded as if confirming something.
“Whenever I ask someone to be my partner for the party, a strange rumor starts that sheās my fiancĆ©eāthough itās always the same source: that woman herself. I donāt get it.”
“Thatās why you often go to the party alone, but this time itās being held at the castle, so you canāt attend without a partner.”
“Who decided that no one should attend royal parties alone?”
“Umm, it was King Six Generations ago.”
“Thatās unnecessary…”
“Itās not always the case. This rule has helped many young men and women just starting their social debut, who donāt know much about etiquette, to avoid trouble.”
At royal parties, foreign dignitaries are often invited. If someone unfamiliar with manners mingles among the guests, it can be problematic. So, in that sense, itās not a bad rule. Invitations are sent to homes, so itās easier to prevent young, still somewhat childish, nobles from crashing the partyāespecially those coming with relatives or guardians.
Since my engagement was broken six years ago, I havenāt attended a royal party even once. I probably wonāt this time either. My father might attend with some relative, but I certainly canāt.
“The partyās in five days. Shouldnāt we start looking seriously now?”
“I know… I know, butā”
Klaus exhaled deeply, and Richard clapped his hands together.
“How about Lena? Wouldnāt she be a good choice? I think brother would feel more at ease.”
That was a suggestion I hadnāt considered. Klaus suddenly looked up at Lena, who blushed intensely under his gaze.
“Th-Thatās impossible! I could never be Klaus-samaās partner!” I shook my head vigorously.
What will Richard suggest to Klaus?
“Actually, Richardās right. Youād be a reliable partner.”
“N-No, I couldnāt! If I became Klaus-samaās partner, Iād only embarrass him!”
“What are you saying? Thatās impossible.”
“But…!” I protested, a 22-year-old countess who had once had her engagement broken. No matter how kind Klaus was, the worldās eyes werenāt the same. I tried desperately to dissuade him, but he was completely serious.
“Please, will you do this for me? Truly, I beg you!” Klaus bowed deeply, his face serious, and I couldnāt refuse any longer.
(Maybe my life will burn out in five days…)
Becoming Klausās partner, I couldnāt imagine staying safe. My face was alternately red and pale, and I nodded with a faint, mosquito-like voice, “Yes…”
~Ā·~Ā·*Ā· . Ā·**##^^##**Ā· . Ā·*Ā·~Ā·~
Hey there, Itās Green Rose š
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 December, 6.
See you then!!
