“I’m sorry. I was thinking about something else and didn’t realize it.”
Eden apologized briefly. It was hard to sense anything strange in his affectionately smiling face. There was no hostility in his gaze toward Marlon either. It seemed like it was just an instinctive action.
“And the other one is Roy Dillon’s last masterpiece. He painted the landscape of the Isle of Lanier.”
Meanwhile, the Emperor naturally moved on to the second topic.
“You probably don’t know, but we’re developing Laner Island.”
It was a public disclosure about the island and business that had been kept secret.
“Grand Duke Burnett began developing Laner Island together with the Duke of Lane.”
The Emperor smiled happily. It was not an artificial smile like when he had previously officiated at the wedding of Malone and Ilya.
“In the process, the Grand Duke clarified the ownership of the island that everyone had forgotten, and completed all negotiations to avoid any future disputes.”
At the Emperor's nod, servants brought a canvas covered with cloth into the main hall. The painter Roy Dillon was with them. Cecilia looked interested in the news for the first time.
“That alone would have been satisfying, but I heard that he painted that landscape as Roy Dillon’s last painting.”
At the Emperor's gesture, the attendant removed the cloth covering the painting. At the same time, under the chandelier light, a pink-tinted landscape of the island came into view.
“Didn’t you say it was an island where poor people gathered?”
“Oh my God. It’s so beautiful.”
The people gathered there were murmurs and took steps toward the painting one by one.
“What do you think? In the future, don’t you think the tourism industry will bring in a lot of revenue for the royal family?”
The Emperor looked at them with a satisfied face and then asked a question. Everyone nodded as if no one could deny what he was asking.
“If there’s one thing I regret, it’s that the painting isn’t mine...”
The Emperor muttered, licking his lips briefly.
'This is for Cecilia.'
Eden's answer to her father, who was excitedly asking if it was a gift for him, was clean. It was so firm that it even upset him.
“Roy Dillon’s last masterpiece was promised to the Grand Duchess, so he must keep his promise.”
Cecilia's eyes widened. It was news that even Eden had never heard before.
“The Grand Duke asked me to praise the Grand Duchess’s work in this matter, so I hastily promised to do so.”
The Emperor nodded warmly at Eden and Cecilia. Cecilia grabbed Eden's hand and stood up.
“In fact, the development of the island and the search for stability began with the very small act of the Grand Duchess listening to the concerns of her chambermaid.”
“...”
“I cannot but commend your voluntary efforts on behalf of the Crown and Wyatt, Eden. And Cecilia.”
Cecilia bowed her head slightly in humility at the emperor's praise. Applause poured in.
“So it goes without saying that Roy Dillon’s last work should be yours.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty.”
Cecilia thanked the Emperor again and turned her gaze to the painting that contained her memories of that day.
Roy Dillon's paintings were clearly intended to promote the island and its future tourism. But that wasn't the only purpose.
“...”
Cecilia quietly turned her head as Eden gently stroked the back of her hand with his thumb. As if waiting for their eyes to meet, Eden looked down at Cecilia and smiled beautifully like a painting.
The conviction pierced his head. Roy Dillon's last masterpiece was not simply a publicity stunt. It was a way to win her favor.
And that is...
Eden apologized briefly. It was hard to sense anything strange in his affectionately smiling face. There was no hostility in his gaze toward Marlon either. It seemed like it was just an instinctive action.
“And the other one is Roy Dillon’s last masterpiece. He painted the landscape of the Isle of Lanier.”
Meanwhile, the Emperor naturally moved on to the second topic.
“You probably don’t know, but we’re developing Laner Island.”
It was a public disclosure about the island and business that had been kept secret.
“Grand Duke Burnett began developing Laner Island together with the Duke of Lane.”
The Emperor smiled happily. It was not an artificial smile like when he had previously officiated at the wedding of Malone and Ilya.
“In the process, the Grand Duke clarified the ownership of the island that everyone had forgotten, and completed all negotiations to avoid any future disputes.”
At the Emperor's nod, servants brought a canvas covered with cloth into the main hall. The painter Roy Dillon was with them. Cecilia looked interested in the news for the first time.
“That alone would have been satisfying, but I heard that he painted that landscape as Roy Dillon’s last painting.”
At the Emperor's gesture, the attendant removed the cloth covering the painting. At the same time, under the chandelier light, a pink-tinted landscape of the island came into view.
“Didn’t you say it was an island where poor people gathered?”
“Oh my God. It’s so beautiful.”
The people gathered there were murmurs and took steps toward the painting one by one.
“What do you think? In the future, don’t you think the tourism industry will bring in a lot of revenue for the royal family?”
The Emperor looked at them with a satisfied face and then asked a question. Everyone nodded as if no one could deny what he was asking.
“If there’s one thing I regret, it’s that the painting isn’t mine...”
The Emperor muttered, licking his lips briefly.
'This is for Cecilia.'
Eden's answer to her father, who was excitedly asking if it was a gift for him, was clean. It was so firm that it even upset him.
“Roy Dillon’s last masterpiece was promised to the Grand Duchess, so he must keep his promise.”
Cecilia's eyes widened. It was news that even Eden had never heard before.
“The Grand Duke asked me to praise the Grand Duchess’s work in this matter, so I hastily promised to do so.”
The Emperor nodded warmly at Eden and Cecilia. Cecilia grabbed Eden's hand and stood up.
“In fact, the development of the island and the search for stability began with the very small act of the Grand Duchess listening to the concerns of her chambermaid.”
“...”
“I cannot but commend your voluntary efforts on behalf of the Crown and Wyatt, Eden. And Cecilia.”
Cecilia bowed her head slightly in humility at the emperor's praise. Applause poured in.
“So it goes without saying that Roy Dillon’s last work should be yours.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty.”
Cecilia thanked the Emperor again and turned her gaze to the painting that contained her memories of that day.
Roy Dillon's paintings were clearly intended to promote the island and its future tourism. But that wasn't the only purpose.
“...”
Cecilia quietly turned her head as Eden gently stroked the back of her hand with his thumb. As if waiting for their eyes to meet, Eden looked down at Cecilia and smiled beautifully like a painting.
The conviction pierced his head. Roy Dillon's last masterpiece was not simply a publicity stunt. It was a way to win her favor.
And that is...
***
The music began. After the Emperor, the main character, danced briefly with the Empress and left, it was the turn of the children.
Aster asked Isabella to dance, and Damon asked Laura of the Orca House to dance. In the meantime, Eden also naturally reached out to Cecilia. Cecilia took Eden's hand and bowed slightly on her knees.
It had been a long time since she had danced, but her steps were natural. Thanks to her past glory, she was more skilled in dancing than anyone else.
“...You’ve become more skilled.”
Everyone praised Cecilia's dancing skills, saying she looked like a butterfly. Eden was no exception.
“Who is your partner?”
Eden smiled faintly at Cecilia's whispering. With each step, their attached bodies moved away a little.
As she spun around holding Eden's hand, the blue dress he had complimented danced like waves. Just like Cecilia's true feelings, which were desperate to shake his heart.
He wanted to grab onto it, the pulling force was strong. Eden's arm wrapped around Cecilia's waist, who was being pulled by Eden's strength. Cecilia felt his heartbeat transmitted to her chest, which was pressed against hers, along with the sound of a chin.
"It's hard?"
Now she knows it wasn't just her being out of breath from dancing, because Cecilia still remembers the same heartbeat she felt when she danced at the wedding reception.
“...No, it’s okay.”
So, even though she was breathing hard, she couldn't help but smile. Eden smiled along with Cecilia, who said it was okay. She didn't even know why she was smiling.
“I think we should take a break.”
Then, he suggested to Cecilia, who was catching her breath, that she take a rest. Cecilia did not refuse, and left the main floor, half-embraced in Eden’s arms. After that, they went out to the terrace where there was a cool breeze and a few people.
“I’m a little thirsty.”
As Cecilia continued to mutter while fanning herself as if she was still hot, Eden stood up from his seat.
“I’ll get you something to drink. You’re resting.”
Then he closed the terrace door and went outside. The curtain in front of the terrace was half-closed as if it were intended to prevent other people from entering.
Cecilia, who had confirmed this, turned around and leaned against the terrace railing.
"Ah."
Then, as expected, an intruder appeared to disturb the peaceful silence.
“Hello, Your Highness the Grand Duchess.”
It was Malone Jackinson.
“While looking for a place to rest for a while, I ended up finding a place where there were passengers.”
The face that gently raised its lips was disgusting. Cecilia faced him with a polite smile.
“If you knew now, wouldn’t it be better to go out?”
Malone smiled at Cecilia's response. The cool smile suited him well. The shell was certainly useful.
“As an apology...”
Malone, who had been so lucky, took a brisk step forward. Cecilia also opened her eyes wide and flinched involuntarily at the unexpected situation.
Malone took hold of Cecilia's languid hand and gave it a brief kiss on the back. The kiss felt somewhat sticky and was not an expression of affection or greeting.
“Do the Jackinsons teach you to kiss the back of the hand as an apology? Without permission?”
“Then let’s say it is an expression of regret.”
Malone replied slyly.
“I thought you’d let me have a second dance since our eyes met so many times at the venue.”
And he put a little more force into the hand holding Cecilia. In particular, the contact was unpleasantly close, as he secretly scratched the soft skin on the inside of her palm.
"I?"
Cecilia laughed at Malone but did not pull her hand away from his grasp. It was soon time for Eden to return.
“Cecilia.”
As expected, Eden appeared silently and called Cecilia's name. Malone, who had been shamelessly raising his head and laughing, fell away from Cecilia in surprise.
“I brought you something to drink.”
Eden's face was as usual. Cecilia accepted the glass Eden offered her with a brief expression of gratitude.
“But who is this person?”
Then, Eden naturally wrapped his arms around Cecilia's waist and pulled her close to his body.
“You saw it earlier. The Duke of Jackinson, who His Majesty arranged the marriage with Ilya...”
“Malone Jackinson of the House of Jackinson to the Grand Duke of Burnett...”
Just as Malone was about to bow and greet him with an awkward smile,
“Ilya Nova, that sleazy woman and her fate.”
A sharp criticism fell on his head. Malone couldn't control his expression and moved his lips.
“I wonder where that beloved lover was and why he drifted here alone.”
“...”
“If it’s as I guessed, it seems like you and that woman are a great match.”
Malone's hands shook slightly at the mocking remark. Coming from a wealthy family, it was unlikely that he would ever hear such insulting language from anyone.
“Your Highness, there is a misunderstanding.”
Cecilia stepped forward as if to mediate. At that moment, Eden’s arm around Cecilia’s waist briefly tightened. She opened her eyes wide without realizing it, and it was a surprisingly strong force.
"Your Highness."
Cecilia was surprised when she called out, but his strength immediately drained.
“It’s not you who should be the one to explain things, it’s me.”
Eden whispered with a friendly smile. Cecilia turned her head in Malone's direction and motioned for him to explain himself quickly.
“...You misunderstood, Your Highness. As Her Highness the Grand Duchess had said, I came to rest for a while and just happened to run into her. I simply kissed her hand as a greeting to see her.”
Only then did Malone bow his head and make an excuse. It was a poor lie, but it was an excuse that had to be accepted.
It was the night of Eden's father's birthday party. How could a son spread rumors on such a special day? Moreover, the person who caused the rumors was the one who hosted the wedding and was the daughter-in-law of the Second Prince whom he loved so much? It was impossible.
“Just go ahead.”
Cecilia answered on Eden's behalf. Malone bowed his head once more and saluted the Grand Duke and his wife before leaving the terrace.
“Either.”
“Don’t worry, I won’t misunderstand. I know better than anyone that you’re not that kind of person.”
Eden raised one hand and stopped Cecilia from speaking. Cecilia blinked slowly.
"But..."
Eden looked down at his wife who was still in his arms. He didn't say anything. Cecilia placed her glass on the terrace railing and leaned against the man's arms who was completely enclosing her, smiling quietly.
She liked the anxiety mixed with Eden's slow heartbeat. She was glad that he could become that kind of person.
Aster asked Isabella to dance, and Damon asked Laura of the Orca House to dance. In the meantime, Eden also naturally reached out to Cecilia. Cecilia took Eden's hand and bowed slightly on her knees.
It had been a long time since she had danced, but her steps were natural. Thanks to her past glory, she was more skilled in dancing than anyone else.
“...You’ve become more skilled.”
Everyone praised Cecilia's dancing skills, saying she looked like a butterfly. Eden was no exception.
“Who is your partner?”
Eden smiled faintly at Cecilia's whispering. With each step, their attached bodies moved away a little.
As she spun around holding Eden's hand, the blue dress he had complimented danced like waves. Just like Cecilia's true feelings, which were desperate to shake his heart.
He wanted to grab onto it, the pulling force was strong. Eden's arm wrapped around Cecilia's waist, who was being pulled by Eden's strength. Cecilia felt his heartbeat transmitted to her chest, which was pressed against hers, along with the sound of a chin.
"It's hard?"
Now she knows it wasn't just her being out of breath from dancing, because Cecilia still remembers the same heartbeat she felt when she danced at the wedding reception.
“...No, it’s okay.”
So, even though she was breathing hard, she couldn't help but smile. Eden smiled along with Cecilia, who said it was okay. She didn't even know why she was smiling.
“I think we should take a break.”
Then, he suggested to Cecilia, who was catching her breath, that she take a rest. Cecilia did not refuse, and left the main floor, half-embraced in Eden’s arms. After that, they went out to the terrace where there was a cool breeze and a few people.
“I’m a little thirsty.”
As Cecilia continued to mutter while fanning herself as if she was still hot, Eden stood up from his seat.
“I’ll get you something to drink. You’re resting.”
Then he closed the terrace door and went outside. The curtain in front of the terrace was half-closed as if it were intended to prevent other people from entering.
Cecilia, who had confirmed this, turned around and leaned against the terrace railing.
"Ah."
Then, as expected, an intruder appeared to disturb the peaceful silence.
“Hello, Your Highness the Grand Duchess.”
It was Malone Jackinson.
“While looking for a place to rest for a while, I ended up finding a place where there were passengers.”
The face that gently raised its lips was disgusting. Cecilia faced him with a polite smile.
“If you knew now, wouldn’t it be better to go out?”
Malone smiled at Cecilia's response. The cool smile suited him well. The shell was certainly useful.
“As an apology...”
Malone, who had been so lucky, took a brisk step forward. Cecilia also opened her eyes wide and flinched involuntarily at the unexpected situation.
Malone took hold of Cecilia's languid hand and gave it a brief kiss on the back. The kiss felt somewhat sticky and was not an expression of affection or greeting.
“Do the Jackinsons teach you to kiss the back of the hand as an apology? Without permission?”
“Then let’s say it is an expression of regret.”
Malone replied slyly.
“I thought you’d let me have a second dance since our eyes met so many times at the venue.”
And he put a little more force into the hand holding Cecilia. In particular, the contact was unpleasantly close, as he secretly scratched the soft skin on the inside of her palm.
"I?"
Cecilia laughed at Malone but did not pull her hand away from his grasp. It was soon time for Eden to return.
“Cecilia.”
As expected, Eden appeared silently and called Cecilia's name. Malone, who had been shamelessly raising his head and laughing, fell away from Cecilia in surprise.
“I brought you something to drink.”
Eden's face was as usual. Cecilia accepted the glass Eden offered her with a brief expression of gratitude.
“But who is this person?”
Then, Eden naturally wrapped his arms around Cecilia's waist and pulled her close to his body.
“You saw it earlier. The Duke of Jackinson, who His Majesty arranged the marriage with Ilya...”
“Malone Jackinson of the House of Jackinson to the Grand Duke of Burnett...”
Just as Malone was about to bow and greet him with an awkward smile,
“Ilya Nova, that sleazy woman and her fate.”
A sharp criticism fell on his head. Malone couldn't control his expression and moved his lips.
“I wonder where that beloved lover was and why he drifted here alone.”
“...”
“If it’s as I guessed, it seems like you and that woman are a great match.”
Malone's hands shook slightly at the mocking remark. Coming from a wealthy family, it was unlikely that he would ever hear such insulting language from anyone.
“Your Highness, there is a misunderstanding.”
Cecilia stepped forward as if to mediate. At that moment, Eden’s arm around Cecilia’s waist briefly tightened. She opened her eyes wide without realizing it, and it was a surprisingly strong force.
"Your Highness."
Cecilia was surprised when she called out, but his strength immediately drained.
“It’s not you who should be the one to explain things, it’s me.”
Eden whispered with a friendly smile. Cecilia turned her head in Malone's direction and motioned for him to explain himself quickly.
“...You misunderstood, Your Highness. As Her Highness the Grand Duchess had said, I came to rest for a while and just happened to run into her. I simply kissed her hand as a greeting to see her.”
Only then did Malone bow his head and make an excuse. It was a poor lie, but it was an excuse that had to be accepted.
It was the night of Eden's father's birthday party. How could a son spread rumors on such a special day? Moreover, the person who caused the rumors was the one who hosted the wedding and was the daughter-in-law of the Second Prince whom he loved so much? It was impossible.
“Just go ahead.”
Cecilia answered on Eden's behalf. Malone bowed his head once more and saluted the Grand Duke and his wife before leaving the terrace.
“Either.”
“Don’t worry, I won’t misunderstand. I know better than anyone that you’re not that kind of person.”
Eden raised one hand and stopped Cecilia from speaking. Cecilia blinked slowly.
"But..."
Eden looked down at his wife who was still in his arms. He didn't say anything. Cecilia placed her glass on the terrace railing and leaned against the man's arms who was completely enclosing her, smiling quietly.
She liked the anxiety mixed with Eden's slow heartbeat. She was glad that he could become that kind of person.
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