“So, Your Majesty, you’re not interested in this kind of thing?”

The current piece was also by the same artist as before.

Checking the date of the exhibit, she noted that only half a year had passed, yet the style had dramatically changed. A small flower seemed to have bloomed in the previously gloomy atmosphere.

Half a year.

Chloe, pondering over this time frame, laughed quietly to herself.

Half a year after the scandal broke, Callis brought Helena. It took another half a year for the two to eventually divorce.

Time can feel short or long, ambiguous and contradictory.

Chloe carefully read the description under the painting before moving on to the next.

Her concentration momentarily wavered, and then her companion replied.

“If you guess how many times I’ve visited here, you can figure out the answer. Visitors from foreign lands always make a point to come here.”

“Ah…”

“Seeing the princess would be far more interesting. She even seems more like a work of art.”

Kun ran his fingers through Chloe’s golden hair.

Any other noblewoman would have blushed and swatted away his hand, but Chloe remained indifferent.

She probably thought he was referring to the hair fluttering over her black gloves.

Kun chose not to correct her, feeling it was a typical misconception for her.

At the same time the conversation ended, Chloe’s appreciation of the artwork also concluded.

The painting depicted a lavish party held by the royal family. Clearly, it was not a subject that would interest her, who was already weary of high society.

The next painting was of Emperor Kun’s coronation day, shimmering in gold dust and surrounded by cheering crowds.

“How did you come to the village? The invitation didn’t specify a time or place…”

Chloe mumbled, seemingly recalling something earlier.

“No need to wonder. This meeting was my idea to begin with.”

“You asked for my opinion, didn’t you?”

“I knew you would agree. That’s why I asked.”

“…”

“Always.”

Kun had already made arrangements with the coachman.

On the third day of enjoying their trip and heading back to the capital, they were to arrive at the village at noon.

Kun then extended one hand. Tied to his left ring finger was the ribbon that had been tied to a dove’s leg.

“I can’t argue even if I wanted to. It may be tiresome for you to hear, but I can only praise Your Majesty’s brilliance.”

“That’s something fresh when heard from you.”

“Is it?”

“A modest princess like you wouldn’t deny my words.”

“Right?”

“Yes.”

Chloe, in the end, was swayed by his words.

It was better to reluctantly accept the compliment than to claim that the Emperor was wrong.

However, her expression betrayed her discomfort.

Kun found her earnest yet conflicted demeanor amusing and lifted the corner of his mouth.

Only his lips were visible beneath the mask that covered his face.

It was troublesome that his emotions showed through the one area he couldn’t conceal.

“This is when I declared war. Regrettably, it was when I was planning to invade your homeland.”

So, he continued to steer the conversation, to divert the attention of his companion.
“This was when I first stood on the official stage, having returned after declaring a truce and promising peace.”

Chloe knew all these things, yet she enjoyed his sweet explanations. Just as a mother’s bedtime story felt fresh and entertaining every night, so did Kun’s.

So, at some point, she closed her eyes first. After listening to Kun’s narration, she envisioned the scenes in her head.

And when she encountered the artwork, it felt different. Despite having seen it in books, it felt as if she was viewing it for the first time.

“Then, this one…”

Suddenly, Kun’s voice stopped.

His speech stalled, his voice unable to escape into the world.

Damn it, didn’t I remove that?

Growing tired of seeing the same paintings repeatedly, he had eventually just skimmed through the art gallery.

As a result, he had forgotten to remove some trash tucked away in a corner.

“What is this…?”

Unable to contain her curiosity, Chloe lifted her eyelids.

What awaited her was an image of Callis’s wedding.

In the painting, Callis was sheathed in a sword, swearing an oath to his bride. As if to prove he was a knight, he looked very robust and full.

“It’s the Duke’s wedding. I’m not present, though.”

She blankly stared at the painting.

Perhaps intentionally, the colors in the painting had somewhat faded, making her faded emotions and memories even more pronounced.

“That man is a talk of the Empire. Called either a hero for stopping an Empire intent on subjugating weaker nations and bringing peace, or a villain for putting brakes on an Empire destined to be the world’s absolute.”

“…”

“The painter seems to consider the Duke the former. The painting is quite lovely.”

Having concluded her admiration, she bitterly smiled. It was as if a rush of emotions crossed her mind when she saw the me inside the painting.

What expression had she been wearing then?

Initially sold to an unknown man and feeling miserable, she fell in love when she realized he was a hero of the kingdom.

“Forget it.”

The solemn voice of Kun caught the ankle of the woman sinking into the past.

“That wedding isn’t yours, Princess.”

The hidden agony seeped through his comforting voice.

“Remember only the future with me, Princess. A future that will neither fade nor become the past. Understand, Chloe Prihid?”

As he spoke, he was branding a new mark on her, who had not yet even removed the mark of the Duke’s house.