It was half a joke and half a longing for the past that made her accept his proposal to reenact Osguir’s painting.

Jane knew that now and then were different, but she wanted to go back to that time for a moment. While there was still a chance.

Because it seemed impossible after the truth was revealed.

So she accepted, but looking at Osguir’s painting hanging opposite the bed made her feel embarrassed.

Jane was once again amazed by Hugo’s abilities. She had no idea he could move such a large painting in an instant. Moving high-priced artwork was difficult.

Not only the ‘Song of the Night’. Cain purchased all of Osguir’s paintings.

Hugo suggested borrowing them for free since he had donated the works before, but Cain flatly refused.

Cain had always loved Osguir’s paintings.

He had given up those paintings because of his relationship with Jane, so it was only natural that he would retrieve them once the relationship improved a bit.

‘It doesn’t mean anything special.’

But Jane kept having other thoughts.

His words about keeping Osguir’s paintings in Somnium House for a lifetime sounded like he wanted to keep Jane by his side.

‘That’s an absurd thought.’

“Aren’t you going to get ready?”

Cain put an end to Jane’s thoughts.

He looked at Jane from behind the canvas with a stoic face as he prepared to paint.

He was quite a painter, and he looked like an artist with a pencil in hand in front of the easel.

“I’ll be waiting all night for the model to get ready.”

“I’m just going to imitate it roughly.”

Jane had enough conscience not to suggest giving up entirely.

Despite his stoic expression, she could feel the anticipation in him as he twirled the pencil between his fingers.

‘He must really like painting.’

Cain’s eyes sparkled so much that Jane had that thought.

“Jane, don’t be nervous. It’s just painting. Or are you expecting a situation to be nervous about?”

Cain tilted his head. His gaze turned sensual for a moment.

“That’s not it.”

“I’m glad it’s not. I want to paint too. I really feel like painting for the first time in a long while.”

When Cain got serious, Jane couldn’t stall any longer. She undressed like the woman in ‘Song of the Night’.

“Stop staring.”

“I can’t paint without looking.”

“I’m not ready yet.”

“Are you embarrassed? You need to get used to it. You’re the model.”

Cain didn’t back down at all. In the end, he took in every moment of Jane getting ready and lying on the bed.

At this point, Jane felt like whatever would be, would be.

Since it had come to this, she hoped he would paint her more beautifully than the woman in ‘Song of the Night’.

“I’m looking forward to it.”

With those words, the conversation ended.

In the suffocating silence, the only sound was the pencil brushing against the canvas.

The two took each other in with their eyes.

Jane looked at Cain painting, and Cain looked at the graceful lines of Jane’s body.

Sometimes Cain let out a hot breath as if the painting wasn’t going well.

For a moment, a sticky light flashed in his plain eyes. At those times, Jane gripped the thin cloth barely covering her body.

Cain’s work progressed smoothly except for when he sighed.

He painted silently until the sunset light pouring in through the large window disappeared and Highly came in to turn on the lights.

As if painting a masterpiece with his life on the line, he immersed himself in the painting.

No, he was lost in Jane.

Painting Jane was half a joke. He had proposed it as a light amusement, thinking she also missed those days.

But the moment he hung Osguir’s painting on one wall of Somnium Mansion, it was no longer a joke.

Cain had completely returned to that time in the past.

Jane and Cain simultaneously felt a magical sensation that could be called enchanting.

Cain looked at Jane without even blinking. Looking at Jane on the bed with the feelings from back then, he was suddenly frightened.

Jane felt distant. He had an ominous premonition that she would leave the moment he faltered.

His heart constricted at the absurd thought that Jane would look at his painting and leave, saying she didn’t like it.

So he drew the lines carefully.

But it was impossible to capture the beautiful lines she possessed on the canvas. Above all, something hot kept welling up, disrupting his concentration.

Nevertheless, Cain did not put down the pencil. Because he felt the need to record Jane’s today and now.

The night was long, Jane was beautiful, and his desire burned, but he simply drew this moment.

Until dawn.

Without taking their eyes off each other, Jane and Cain’s own ‘Song of the Night’ continued.

* * *

Jane and Cain fell asleep only at dawn. He collapsed on top of Jane’s body without even washing his hands.

Jane wanted to see the painting, but she fell asleep while stroking the back of Cain’s head.

Posing as a model and maintaining the same posture for so long made all her muscles ache.

She was surprised anew at how difficult it was to be the subject of someone’s gaze.

And she woke up to the sound of rustling, but Cain’s canvas was gone. Cain, who had woken up earlier than Jane, had already put it away.

“Why are you up so early?”

“I have somewhere to go. Sleep more.”

Cain had already finished dressing. It meant that Jane had slept in quite late.

“What about the painting?”

Jane asked, hugging the blanket tightly while sitting on the bed.

“Do you want to see it?”

Jane nodded. Cain smiled brilliantly and brought his face close to Jane’s.

Jane’s heart pounded as she faced his handsome face up close in the morning without even a hint of swelling. She had promised herself not to be excited when looking at him, but it was irresistible.

Her own promise easily wavered whenever his almond-shaped eyes curved.

Cain smiled with a twinkle in his eyes and tidied Jane’s disheveled hair.

“Later. I have some more touches to make.”

‘I don’t know if my painting will be able to fully resemble your beauty even with that.’

He was determined to keep working on it until he at least wasn’t ashamed of it himself.

Cain moved away and picked up his jacket.

“Where are you going?”

“Quite far. I’ll be back tomorrow.”

Jane didn’t ask what it was about.

At that time, she was thinking of meeting Cedric.

* * *

These days, Cedric had been busy dealing with the incident caused by Augustus.

He didn’t know when Augustus had fallen into gambling, but his gambling debts were substantial.

His meager assets had long been squandered, and he had even misappropriated the Rose Party’s public funds.

Cedric fiercely confronted Augustus. He even told him to keep his hands off the Rose Party’s affairs for the time being and that he would pay off the debts.

Naturally, Augustus protested, but he backed down at the mention of not paying off the debts.

Cedric was on his way back after settling Augustus’ debts, which had nothing to do with him.

His steps were very slow, with his body and mind exhausted.

But the moment he saw the figure standing in front of the Tuo Company, it changed.

Color returned to his face and his steps quickened.

“Jane!”

Cedric called out happily. Jane turned her head and saw him running toward her.

Jane was wearing a pink bonnet and a light green dress. Was that why? She looked like a flower bud about to bloom at any moment.

Only her surroundings shone uniquely bright. Seeing that, a gust of wind blew through Cedric’s stuffy chest.

Cedric stood in front of Jane with a face that had forgotten his fatigue.

“What brings you here?”

“I came to see you, Cedric.”

“Me?”

Cedric’s eyes went wide and then gently closed. He was as delighted as someone who had hit the jackpot while walking down the street.

On the other hand, Jane’s face darkened.

She had a purpose. Her pure heart and his were of a different nature, vastly different.

“Jane, shall we go inside? Is this your first time at the Tuo Company in Hausten? There’s unexpectedly a lot to see.”

Cedric opened the door to the Tuo Company.

“The tour can wait, Cedric. Before that, there’s something I want to ask.”

Cedric’s facial muscles gradually stiffened as he sensed the meaningful energy in Jane’s monotonous tone.

He seemed to ponder for a moment before opening the door to the Tuo Company wider.

“Let’s go to my office, Jane.”

“Tea? Or milk?”

Cedric asked after guiding Jane to the office. He could have just brought out tea, but he deliberately mentioned milk to make a small effort to ease Jane’s tension.

‘Was I acting too serious?’

Jane reflected and matched his effort.

“Black tea. With milk on the side. And I need honey too.”

“You’ve developed a child’s taste.”

Cutely.

Cedric suppressed a laugh and asked an employee to bring the tea.

“Have you been well?”

While waiting for the tea, Cedric and Jane conversed as if they had returned to the past. Asking about each other’s well-being, expressing concern for health, and wishing for good fortune.

The real conversation only began after the tea arrived.

Jane poured milk into the black tea and added honey. Then, absentmindedly stirring the tea with a spoon, she asked,

“You said you had something to say about our parents’ deaths, right Cedric?”

Cedric nodded as if he had expected her question.

Jane put down the spoon. Without even tasting the tea, she urged him for an answer.

“Tell me, Cedric.”

Cedric couldn’t comfortably tell her to have some tea first. Jane’s expression was desperate.

She looked like someone who had to silently take steps forward despite knowing there was a cliff ahead.

“Shall I explain step by step, or do you want me to tell you the conclusion first?”

“The conclusion first.”

It’s better to be hit first. At Jane’s choice, Cedric closed his eyes tightly.

“The reason Count Whitney was executed so hastily is……”

Cedric dragged out his words.