Other people might not know, but I certainly recognized it—the fact that Sina had captured our image in that painting.

The emotion on the young girl’s face was exactly like my own when I had received the bouquet from Yezar. That overwhelming feeling, as if tears might spill at any moment, yet filled with such joy I didn’t know what to do.

‘If my emotions were so vividly reflected in Sina’s eyes, then surely Yezar, standing so close, must have seen them even more clearly?’

The thought made my cheeks flush. Around me, people paused before the painting, softly sharing their impressions.

“This painting is truly wonderful…….”

“Indeed. Without a word, you can feel the love they’re whispering to each other. It stirs the heart, makes it flutter… It brings back vivid memories of that innocent, youthful love from long ago.”

“Painter Cortina always draws the eye, but this piece especially so. What could the boy be whispering to the girl? Is it perhaps a declaration of love?”

“Wouldn’t it be? The title is ‘Whisper of Love,’ after all.”

I shifted my gaze from the young girl to the boy. Fully absorbed in her, his lips were slightly parted, as if whispering something.

Indeed. Was the boy really confessing his love?

Suddenly, I grew curious.

“Yezar, what do you think of the painting titled ‘Whisper of Love’?”

I wanted to know how he perceived it. Yezar smiled gently at me, his eyes crinkling at the corners.

“I find it deeply touching. The bouquet the girl holds must have been picked by the boy. His shoe tips are stained with dirt, and grass stains mark the sleeves of his clothes. Yet he pays no mind to any of it—his eyes hold only the girl.”

“That’s true. I hadn’t noticed…….”

I had been so focused on their expressions that I missed these details. Only now did I begin to see them. Not just his shoes and sleeves—specks of dust were even scattered like smudges across the boy’s pale skin.

‘The boy doesn’t care at all about getting himself dirty, as long as it brings joy to the girl…….’

The thought made the boy’s sincerity resonate even more deeply within me.

“Then, what do you think the boy whispered to the girl? Does it seem like a confession of love?”

“Well… I think the boy wishes for the girl to smile. She has such a sorrowful look in her eyes. So perhaps what he whispered was…….”

His gaze naturally turned toward me. His clear blue eyes shimmered softly.

“It might have been a plea not to be so sad. But after seeing her smile, he might then whisper that he picked the flowers just for her—whisper his love.”

Love? Love…….

“R-really?”

I stammered without realizing, flustered. Why? Because I couldn’t help wondering—when Yezar once handed me that bouquet, was it also because he wanted to see me smile?

That he prepared the bouquet for me. That he wanted me to smile. That he loved the sight of my smile……. I found myself caught in such a delusion.

I swallowed the words I couldn’t say to Yezar.

‘Do you know, Yezar? This painting was inspired by Sina watching us. So your impression… it feels as if you’re confessing your love to me, and this illusion makes me so flustered.’

Surely, there were no blooming flowers in the exhibition hall. Yet it felt as if a sweet floral scent brushed past my nose.

‘Now I understand why you insisted we come together.’

Had I come alone, I would have missed your words and simply left, having seen only a charming image of youthful lovers.

One special painting, capturing me and Yezar. I felt deeply grateful to Sina for gifting me this.

***

After leaving the exhibition, Yezar and I had dinner. The restaurant we’d reserved was splendid, and we leisurely shared our thoughts on the painting as we ate.

‘The painting Sina created was wonderful, and the food was delicious too.’

It was a day beyond anything I could have wished for. But then Yezar suddenly began leading me away in a hurry. Where could he be taking me, if not to the lakeside?

He said it was a secret, so I didn’t ask. But now, hurrying like this, my curiosity grew. Of course, my biggest concern was nearly tripping over my heels.

“Wait a moment, Yezar! I’m going to fall!”

“Oh! I’m so sorry… It’s later than I expected. Would you like me to carry you instead?”

He moved as if to lift me immediately. I shook my head, insisting I was fine.

“Carry me? No, it’s alright! If we’re late, we’ll just hurry a little. Just enough not to fall.”

Yezar nodded. But I could tell he was worried—perhaps my heel had been injured from the shoes.

‘Hmph. Even in a rush, he worries about me. But saying it’s late… could he have another place reserved?’

Yet we weren’t taking a carriage. Instead, we walked up a narrow path behind the lakeside.

“Where exactly are we going? Can’t you tell me now?”

He didn’t answer my question. Soon, an open field spread before us, the dark night sky fully visible.

“Wow. Where is this?”

I never imagined such a place existed. And now that we’d arrived, I saw people gradually sitting on benches, gazing at the sky—seeming to wait for something.

Soon, Yezar guided me to a bench. I followed obediently.

“Madam, please keep watching the sky.”

I looked up at his words. Then, suddenly, a meteor shower began streaking across the pitch-black sky.

‘Goodness……! Now I understand why we were in such a rush.’

It was as if the stars themselves were playing a game, drawing beautiful trails across the night canvas. I gaped in awe, unaware of my own expression.

But his gaze wasn’t on the sky—it was fixed on me.

“Yezar, aren’t you looking! Hurry and watch!”

Even as I urged him, he kept staring at my face, as if checking for something. Then he shook his head, smiling.

“I didn’t come here to watch. It’s fine. I wanted to show this to you. So seeing your joyful expression is more special to me than the sky itself.”

Hearing that, I couldn’t urge him to look up again. His words melted like sugar, tickling my heart.

I turned my eyes back to the night sky and, catching a small breeze with the falling starlight, made a quiet wish.

‘I humbly wish that my husband, who gifted me this beautiful scene, will always love me like the warm afternoon sun.’

***

After spending a long while enjoying the scene he had arranged, we climbed into the carriage. Perhaps because it was a humid summer night, a faint warmth lingered inside the carriage even now.

“Did you change your schedule just to show me the shooting stars?”

“Embarrassingly, I only remembered it late. I wanted to give you a unique memory. I couldn’t forget your expression when you laughed by the fountain that day.”

“Thank you. The sight of the falling stars was so beautiful I nearly lost myself. I’ve never seen anything like it.”

The meteor shower he showed me was breathtaking. Even now, closing my eyes, I could vividly see countless streaks of white light cascading down.

Then I remembered his hurried back as he worried I might miss the sight—and a soft laugh escaped me.

What should I do? I care for him so much. I selfishly wish he would love me like a gentle spring breeze.

“Yezar, could you come a little closer?”

As he drew near, a cool, crisp fragrance washed over me. Just for today, let the heavens pretend not to notice my selfishness.

I gently placed my hand over his, which rested on the carriage seat. He didn’t push me away.

My lips brushed feather-light against Yezar’s eyes, his cheeks, the tip of his nose, and finally, his lips.

Our breaths, flustered and warm, mingled with the summer heat. Our lips met softly, blending together in mutual longing. Like blank white canvas, we colored it with our own hues. My entire being filled with him.

***

“Madam, Marchioness Stemun has replied to your letter so quickly.”

I burst into laughter at Ember’s words, touched by Sina’s sweetness. The day after visiting the exhibition, I had sent her a letter filled with my impressions and heartfelt gratitude.

For her reply to arrive in less than three days! As I slowly opened her letter, joy spilled through every line, impossible to conceal.

Our detailed impressions of the piece titled ‘Whisper of Love’ seemed to have been the highest praise Sina could receive.

“I’m the one who should be thanking her…….”

After all, seeing that painting of young lovers made me feel as if I’d heard a love confession myself. Seeing Sina’s clearly excited letter, I couldn’t help but smile.

Then came a knock at the door. May soon entered, announcing an unexpected visitor.

“Madam, Valentino Orbetian of the Orbetian family is here. Shall I let him in?”

“Valentino…… You mean my older brother?”

“Yes, that’s what he said.”

He said he was too busy to meet immediately, yet here he comes so easily.

‘I sent a letter saying I couldn’t receive my elder brother. And now he arrives without even notifying me.’

A sense of indifference rose within me—how typical of him.

“Let him in.”