Chapter 154
Even as I carefully unwrapped the tightly packed painting, her eyes never left it.
When the last layer of wrapping fell away, the painting was revealed.
“…….”
The Empress Dowager’s eyes trembled slightly.
I looked at the painting and spoke in awe.
“Isn’t the girl so beautiful?”
“Is she…?”
“Yes. She looks pure and kind. I’m sure she was a good child.”
“There was a time… she might have been.”
The Empress Dowager’s gaze remained fixed on the painting.
But she seemed to be looking at something beyond the painting.
“It seems the artist loved her very much. You can feel deep affection in the painting. Don’t you think so, Your Majesty?”
“Yes… indeed.”
The Empress Dowager’s eyes trembled, and her lips pressed tightly together.
She no longer thought of speaking to me and just stared endlessly at the painting.
Endlessly.
*
After a while.
The Empress Dowager cautiously opened her mouth.
“Dear, could you perhaps sell this painting to me?”
“Pardon?”
I pretended to be surprised, widening my eyes and glancing sideways as if troubled.
“Ah… but it’s my favorite painting…”
“I will pay any price you ask.”
“I—”
The Empress Dowager couldn’t hide her anxiety, her eyes fixated on my lips as if she would give anything I asked for.
“—I don’t need money.”
The Empress Dowager inhaled sharply, clearly not expecting my response.
“You don’t need money?”
I nodded.
In truth, you can never have too much money.
But what I wanted from this painting wasn’t money.
‘I want something else. Exactly…’
I need your love!
I held back the urge to shout and kept a gloomy face.
The Empress Dowager, realizing she couldn’t simply take the painting from a child, wore a complicated expression.
Her desire for the painting was clear.
But she couldn’t just outright say it was a portrait her late mother had painted of her.
‘Who would believe such a coincidence?’
No one would.
And it wasn’t a coincidence.
‘Because I orchestrated it all.’
“Is… that so…”
The Empress Dowager fell silent, as if struggling to find the right words. Her expression was understandably not good.
Seeing her expression, I pretended to be deep in thought, biting my nails.
Then, as if making a decision, I sighed deeply.
“Your Majesty, do you really like that painting?”
“Yes.”
“Then… I’ll give it to you. Money is not necessary.”
The Empress Dowager’s eyes widened.
She looked as if she couldn’t believe I was saying money was unnecessary when she had been prepared to pay any amount.
“Why?”
“My grandfather said there are many difficult things in the imperial palace.”
I continued, shaking off my somber expression.
“When I was going through tough times, this painting gave me great comfort. I imagine Your Majesty has even more difficult times than I do.”
I smiled brightly, making eye contact with the Empress Dowager.
“I hope this painting brings Your Majesty as much happiness as it did for me.”
Ah…
The Empress Dowager’s ladies-in-waiting around us sighed softly.
They all looked touched.
“……”
The Empress Dowager also stared at me, her gaze deep and intense, unlike before.
“Thank you. But I can’t take such a precious painting from you without giving something in return.”
After pondering, the Empress Dowager asked,
“Dear, are you staying in the capital?”
“No. I’m returning to the Astra estate today.”
“You’re leaving so soon.”
“My father is very busy. It’s hard for him to find more time.”
The Empress Dowager looked at me with a face full of regret.
I chuckled awkwardly.
“Alright. I’ll send a gift to you at the estate.”
“A gift? You really don’t have to…”
“It’s from my heart. Please don’t refuse.”
In truth, I had no intention of refusing from the start.
I giggled inwardly.
After that, we spent a pleasant time together.
The maids, who had always been courteous, became even more kind and offered me various treats.
“Try this. It’s a dessert specially made by the pâtissier for the Empress Dowager.”
“Try this too. It’s an ice cream even His Majesty the Emperor enjoys.”
“Haha, the child eats so heartily. It’s a good sight.”
But isn’t this too much?
I can’t eat all this—
‘Delicious.’
The pâtissier of the Empress Dowager’s palace had excellent skills.
Before I knew it, I was engrossed and devoured the desserts.
After such a happy teatime,
“I really enjoyed today!”
I said my farewell and was about to leave the audience chamber when the Empress Dowager stood up to see me off.
The Empress Dowager smiled and said,
“Tell your grandfather this: I’ve never envied the Duke of Astra in my life, but today, I found one thing to envy.”
I clenched my fist inwardly.
‘Yes! Success!’
I smiled so broadly my eyes almost closed.
“Yes!”
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