Chapter 31
Ebony looked through the dresses Diego had gifted her and picked one from the middle.
She tied her hair up neatly and put on finely crafted jewelry.
Smiling at her well-dressed reflection in the mirror, she finally stepped out into the hallway.
When Gale entered the room as guided, a prepared artist bowed in greeting.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you. I am Defric Noel, the artist in charge of painting your portrait today.”
“Nice to meet you, Monsieur Noel.”
After exchanging introductions, Ebony took a seat opposite the panel.
“Please sit comfortably. Just maintain your posture while I sketch the outline, then afterward, you only need to manage your expression.”
“Alright, I understand.”
The artist’s hand moved confidently across the panel.
As expected of an artist who had taken high society by storm like a comet, his skill was evident.
Ebony enjoyed the warm sunlight streaming in from the right as she waited for the initial sketch to be completed.
At that moment, the artist asked, “I hope you don’t mind me asking, but is there a reason you chose to wear a red dress today? I looked at the portraits of the other members of the Duke’s family, and they were all dressed in blue.”
Typically, when commissioning a family portrait, all members would be painted together to ensure consistency in style.
However, since Ebony had commissioned her portrait separately, Defric had reviewed the existing ones to match the style.
Ever since Irene’s passing, the family had always worn blue in their portraits.
Given the family’s well-known history, Defric could understand the background. However, he couldn’t figure out why Ebony insisted on wearing a color that starkly contrasted with the others.
Was this the rebellion of the once meek and timid noble lady?
“Well, if I’m going to be an outcast anyway, I might as well stand out like the main character.”
Taking advantage of Defric’s momentary distraction, Ebony stretched.
As she did, she felt his gaze on her. She smiled sheepishly.
“Oh, no, I was just surprised…”
Defric quickly refocused and resumed his work.
An hour later, the sketch was finally complete. Though it was only an outline, Ebony was already very pleased with it.
“The base is done, so now you can move freely.”
As he began adding color, a sudden knock disturbed the quiet.
Before permission was given, the door swung open, revealing Edward Dominique.
“How far along is the portrait?”
“We’ve begun the coloring stage.”
“Could I speak with her alone for a moment?”
“Yes, I’ve already prepared the colors, so I can wait.”
“Then, excuse me.”
Edward stopped in front of Ebony, who continued to act as if he weren’t there.
Sighing deeply, he said, “Stand up.”
“……”
“I don’t want to raise my voice here. Stand up.”
Not wanting to cause a scene, Ebony eventually stood. Aware of the surrounding eyes, Edward led her outside.
Ebony, now looking at the garden, spoke first. “I don’t believe we have anything to discuss, Your Grace.”
Her sharp tone made Edward flinch.
After a long pause, he finally spoke. “I heard you commissioned a separate portrait.”
Ebony didn’t bother responding to what he already knew.
“There is already a family portrait on display, and now you’ve discarded it and requested your own.
Isn’t that disrespectful to your family?”
“Oh? But wasn’t it fine when you displayed my portrait separately from the others?”
“…What?”
“As you said, it’s a family portrait. So why was I the only one dressed differently and placed far away?”
Edward fell silent as if struck speechless.
He furrowed his brows, rubbing his temples, then asked in a heavy voice,
“Why are you like this? Why are you so twisted? Do you realize how much trouble your behavior has caused in the mansion? Do you know how much pain you’re causing your father?”
Ebony scoffed.
“You said we were living just fine until now.”
“Yes. You were doing just fine.”
At that, Ebony’s expression turned cold.
“You call that ‘fine’?”
Edward grimaced but continued as if expecting her reaction.
“Herman may not have been a kind older brother to you, but can’t you understand his pain? He lost his mother overnight, too!”
Ebony finally snapped.
“And I lost my entire family!”
Edward’s eyes widened in shock.
“You may have lost a wife or a mother, but I lost everyone.”
“……”
“You said the mansion was peaceful before I changed? Of course, it was. I had no choice but to stay silent through all the hatred.”
She fought back tears, but her weak resolve betrayed her. Her vision blurred like a foggy sky.
“It wasn’t fine. I was just enduring it. Because, stupidly, I loved you all.
Because I foolishly longed for the love of those who hated me.”
This was exactly why she hadn’t wanted to talk to him.
Every time she faced her father, every time she let out her emotions, she was forced to confront just how miserable her past had been.
“And you call us family.”
Even so, she couldn’t stop.
Like a long-suppressed explosion, words poured out.
“Have you ever once called me your daughter?”
“…What?”
“Have you ever once told me you loved me?”
“……”
“Even once… have you not resented me?”
The fury in Edward’s sharp features vanished instantly, leaving behind a blank expression. He stood frozen in silence.
“One-sided relationships are not family.”
“……”
“That’s why I don’t call you ‘Father.’ You don’t deserve to be.”
Edward bit his lip, his face drained of color.
“You’re angry that I don’t call you ‘Father,’ but do you know what? You never once called me your daughter.”
Ebony turned to leave, but he grabbed her arm.
“…So you want to sever ties with me?”
His aged hand trembled violently. He looked completely different from the proud man he once was.
“You may not remember, but you were the one who severed them first.”
Ebony recalled the last time she had seen him in her past life.
The man who had believed Irene’s every word.
The man who had rushed to execute her to protect the family’s reputation.
“You were the one who abandoned me.”
Leaving Edward in confusion, she returned to the room.
Defric, who had been adding colors to the painting, noticed her return. She sat down looking utterly drained.
He hesitated before asking, “Would you like to rest?”
“No, I need to stay for the sake of a perfect portrait.”
“…Are you sure? You don’t look well.”
“This is another moment I have to endure.”
Straightening her posture, she refocused on the portrait.
The coloring process continued uninterrupted until sunset.
When Defric finally turned the panel toward her, Ebony smiled in satisfaction.
“There’s just a little more detail left. I’ll send it to the mansion in two weeks.”
Thanking him, she watched as he left with the large painting.
Two weeks later, Ebony’s portrait arrived.
Amazed by its perfection, she ordered it to be placed in a prime spot in the mansion.
She never said which painting should be removed.
But there was no need to.
Soon after, her portrait—depicting her in a red dress—was proudly displayed in the main hall.
