CHAPTER 61
Lincia’s face turned bright red.
“Wh-what are you saying…?”
“Is it wrong for a husband to want to see his wife?”
“That’s not it, it just feels… strange.”
When Lincia murmured softly, Harvich looked at her.
“Then I’ll have to say it more often until it doesn’t feel strange.”
His red eyes were filled with a vivid, overwhelming emotion.
Meeting his gentle gaze made her heart stir in an indescribable way.
Even though she had just drunk water, her mouth felt completely dry.
Lincia parted her lips slightly, then pressed them shut.
“What did you do today?”
He asked as if they were ordinary lovers curious about each other’s day.
“I was with Anna. We read books together.”
“And your meals?”
“I ate everything properly.”
“Well done.”
As if praising her, Harvich gently stroked her cheek with his other hand.
“Did you need anything?”
“Oh—” Lincia let out a short sound and hesitated before meeting his eyes.
“Our wedding portrait.”
“Now that I think about it, I’ve never actually seen it.”
Harvich’s hand froze in midair as he was caressing her cheek.
“My maid was curious about it too…”
“I understand.”
Harvich’s lips stiffened slightly.
“I’ll make sure you can see it right away.”
With that, he stood up from his seat.
He said he would step out briefly, and before the sun had even set, he returned.
Leaving the bedroom door open, he looked at Lincia.
“Your Highness, I’ve brought what you asked for.”
“Come in.”
Two attendants struggled as they carried something large and hung it on one wall.
The portrait was taller than an adult man.
After the servants left, Harvich removed the white cloth covering it.
“This is the portrait you said you wanted to see.”
The first thing that caught her eye was a man in a white formal uniform against a black background.
His stern expression was the same as always, giving off a subdued aura.
In contrast, the woman holding his hand wore an expression full of excitement and affection.
Her white dress and red jewels blended beautifully.
Lincia stared at the woman in the painting as if seeing something unfamiliar.
She had received many portraits in the Imperial Palace, but none had felt like this.
It somehow conveyed how much care had been put into painting her.
It was clear the artist had poured more attention into her than into Harvich, the master of the Grand Duke’s estate.
Lincia hadn’t even been able to ask for revisions during the sketch stage—she had only heard it was completed.
But the woman in the portrait was unmistakably her.
“…I want to show it to Anna.”
“As you wish.”
The portrait remained in the bedroom long after the sun went down.
Harvich had called Anna to see it but didn’t return to the room until much later that night.
Anna admired the portrait endlessly, calling it beautiful over and over.
Just as Lincia was about to prepare for bed, Harvich returned and ordered the portrait to be removed.
“This is the key to the room where it’s stored.”
Sensing her disappointment, Harvich handed her a golden key.
“You may go see it anytime you wish.”
Lincia smiled faintly at his considerate words.
“Thank you.”
“I’m happy to grant what you desire.”
Harvich pulled her into his arms.
Since confessing his feelings, he had become more affectionate.
She didn’t dislike it.
After a brief embrace, Harvich hesitated and then spoke.
“The Emperor is leaving.”
To be precise, he meant the Emperor would depart tonight, but Harvich decided to omit that part.
The moment Lincia heard Yulias’s name, her expression darkened.
“He didn’t ask to see you or make any unreasonable requests, so don’t worry.”
Harvich gently caressed her flushed cheek to comfort her.
As he brushed the corners of her reddened eyes, Lincia slowly closed them.
“…Did you speak with him today?”
Harvich nodded.
He had met Yulias after showing the portrait to Lincia and leaving the room.
Yulias was in the main castle, not the outer one.
The man who shouldn’t have been there seemed too relaxed—so much so that Harvich almost thought he was mistaken about which castle he stood in.
“What brings you here?”
“No need to be so wary. I came to see you. I heard you were in the main castle.”
Yulias answered with his usual calm tone, as if his presence there was nothing unusual.
When Harvich had first allowed him to stay in the territory, he’d made one clear request: never step foot in the main castle.
But Yulias, as if he had forgotten their conversation, stood there shamelessly.
“I plan to return tonight.”
Harvich exhaled quietly.
As he turned his head, he saw the sky already dark.
It was strange that Yulias had chosen such a noisy day to visit the main castle, and even stranger that he came only to say he was leaving.
“Before the snow piles up too high. If I slip and die on the way back, who’ll take my place? My sister’s the only royal left. If I die, she’ll become the Emperor.”
At his sharp remark, Harvich’s brow furrowed.
There was no way the conversation he’d had with Hue had leaked.
But Yulias had an exceptional instinct for political undercurrents—he must have sensed something from the atmosphere of the Grand Duke’s estate.
Otherwise, the man who swore not to leave before Oberok’s punishment wouldn’t have suddenly changed his mind.
“Of course, I’m joking. Even if I die, my sister will never become Emperor.”
“……”
Yulias patted Harvich’s shoulder twice and left the main castle without looking back.
Remembering that moment, Harvich’s jaw tightened.
“Are you sure you’re alright?”
Lincia’s voice pulled him out of his thoughts.
Before he realized it, she had risen slightly, holding his shoulder and meeting his eyes.
Her clear violet gaze fixed on him, and his heart gave a sudden jolt.
Harvich clasped her hand gently.
Perhaps because he had realized he’d never even shown her their wedding portrait, he felt a strong desire to keep her close tonight.
He didn’t want to let her go.
If he could have let her go easily, he would never have admitted his feelings in the first place.
“I’m fine.”
Lincia brushed his cheek softly with her other hand.
Her fingers, smooth except for the calluses from holding a brush, gave him a strange sense of calm.
Harvich leaned his face into her touch.
“I love you.”
His sudden confession made Lincia’s face flush deeply.
He tightened his grip on her hand and buried his face in her shoulder.
Whatever noise stirred outside or within the castle, as long as it didn’t reach her ears, it didn’t matter.
“You should get some rest now.”
