“No, it’s not. This is what I do after sincere reflection. I would like it if you would leave it to me with a comfortable heart.”
“Hmm… If this is what makes you comfortable, then so be it.”
Nina thought to herself, ‘Our lord is an angel’ and worked even harder on Asha’s beauty care.
Her efforts paid off when Asha started getting ready for the portrait with Carlyle.
‘Indeed! Her skin texture is much softer and smoother!’
Nina exclaimed in delight at Asha’s changed skin texture as she applied the cream and powder she had received from the second floor.
She was worried that Asha’s skin might break out if she received too much care in a short period of time, but thanks to her healthy constitution, she didn’t even get a pimple, let alone a rash.
It was the same with her hair.
‘That hair care paste smells bad, but it works well!’
When Asha first arrived from Zyro, her hair was quite shiny, but it had become like dog hair again in a few months. This was because she had been running around the territory for the war, building shelters, planting and harvesting.
However, the herbal essence that she had made by asking a knowledgeable old woman made her hair, which had become rough from being blown by the wind, soft and smooth like seaweed.
Thanks to this, she was able to style her hair neatly without any stray hairs sticking out while braiding it in multiple strands.
‘Her nails are shiny too… and her lips are moist without any peeling… good, good!’
Asha herself seemed to have no idea how she had changed, but Nina thought it was rather fortunate.
This is because she thought that Asha would be embarrassed if she noticed that her appearance had become more beautiful.
In any case, Asha, who had been dressed up with all of Nina’s might, headed to the workshop on the second floor where Carlyle and the painter were waiting, feeling very awkward in her delicate makeup, hair, heavy jewelry, and uncomfortable dress.
Everyone she met on the way said she was pretty, and her ears burned every time.
However, the embarrassing situation did not end when she arrived at the workshop.
“Whew!”
She heard a whistle that she had heard somewhere before.
Carlyle whistled lightly admiring Asha all dressed up,
“Your maid’s skills are quite good, aren’t they? I had even forgotten that my wife was such a beauty.”
“Beauty, that’s nonsense…”
“Don’t you know that you’ve become prettier lately?”
“It’s always the same, so what’s gotten prettier? Stop talking nonsense.”
“Oh… I guess the maid who worked so hard would be upset if she heard that.”
Carlyle smirked as he looked at Asha, whose face seemed to glow thanks to her improved skin.
Asha, who had worked hard to get in shape for the wedding ceremony, had quickly returned to her original state. But now, she was as radiant as she had been on the day of the wedding ceremony.
‘If I tell her she’s gotten prettier, she’ll probably get embarrassed.’
Carlyle was a little disappointed that Asha, who was only critical of her own appearance, was so self-deprecating.
However, Asha was embarrassed by Carlyle, who was dressed in a formal imperial gown and looked handsome, kept saying that she was pretty and beautiful.
‘He’s the one who’s beautiful. I wouldn’t even be noticed if I stood next to him.’
Carlyle was always handsome, but today he seemed to have taken extra care and was even more dazzling than usual.
Compared to his appearance, the Pervaz warriors looked like they belonged to a different race.
Anyway, this was not the time to be concerned about such things.
“Meet Fabian Rusco, one of the most renowned painters in the Empire today.”
Carlyle introduced the man who had been standing awkwardly since earlier.
Fabian quickly knelt down.
“May the utmost glory be upon Your Highness. I greet Your Highness, the Crown Princess.”
“I am Asha Pervaz. It’s nice to meet you.”
Fabian was a man in his late 40s who didn’t look very smart. He looked older because of his bushy beard and his clothes were shabby.
However, despite his awkward appearance, he was a painter who was known as a genius. And he was very passionate about art.
“Then I will just sketch a few compositions today.”
“A few compositions…? But wasn’t it already decided how you were going to paint it?”
“I need to find the composition that suits the two of you best. How can I express your love with a clichéd composition?”
He said as he set up a large easel and fixed the paper.
Asha wanted to bite her tongue when he said the word ‘love’.
‘How can you express something that doesn’t exist? You fraud… .
Anyway, from that moment on, the ordeal began.
‘This is strange…’
Asha sat on the chair in front of Carlyle, her legs crossed, and lightly held the hand that Carlyle had placed on her shoulder.
She felt so embarrassed to be watched pretending to be Carlyle’s gentle and elegant wife. If Decker had been there instead, Asha would have died of shame.
And it wasn’t even worth the time.
“Hmm… .”
“Why? What’s wrong?”
Carlyle asked as Fabian, who had made them try this pose and that pose, sighed.
Here is the translation of the Korean text you provided:
No, it’s not that the composition is bad now…
“You mean it’s not good either.”
“Rather than saying it’s not good, I would say it’s not quite there yet.”
“I see.”
Unlike Carlyle, who was also disappointed, Asha just wanted him to draw anything.
‘Of course not! You’re looking for love that doesn’t exist! It’s a painting that will end up in the Imperial Archives anyway, so just draw it!’
As Asha silently shouted those words in her head, Fabian nodded helplessly. After all, he couldn’t keep the prince standing forever.
He decided to draw it in the best possible composition and made another appointment for two days later. Only then was Asha able to free herself from the uncomfortable and awkward time.
“How many more times do I have to do this?”
“Well, it’s up to the artist.”
“Oh, come on! Haah…”
Carlyle tilted his head at Asha, who sighed in frustration.
“You just have to sit still in pretty clothes, so why are you so tired?”
She was at a loss for words.
Objectively speaking, it was not a difficult task at all.
Even though it was difficult to stay still, she was given a break every 10 minutes, and the total time was only about two hours.
Asha opened her mouth and muttered as if making an excuse.
“It’s uncomfortable when someone stares at me like that…”
“Is that so?”
Carlyle then began to stare at Asha. Without saying a word, for a long time, until Asha couldn’t take it anymore.
“S-stop looking at me!”
“You’re surprisingly shy, aren’t you?”
Asha didn’t appreciate being called shy, even though he didn’t say it in a mean way.
“Isn’t it natural to feel uncomfortable when someone stares at you like that? Don’t you think so, Your Highness?”
“I’m a person who has been on display in front of everyone since I was born.”
Carlyle said it as a joke to tease Asha, but she was a little shocked by his words.
Come to think of it, Carlyle was, as he said, a man who always lived under someone’s gaze. Everyone’s gaze was a given, and he had no right to refuse.
After all, his every move could change the fate of this country and its nobles.
“…You must have had a hard time.”
Carlyle was speechless at the unexpected words of comfort.
“Was it hard?”
“No, I never thought it was that hard. To be more precise, I would say that I never questioned what was taken for granted since I was born.”
“But thinking about it, it couldn’t have been easy living a life always being aware of someone’s gaze.”
“I couldn’t let my true feelings show, no matter where I was or what I was doing. And showing weakness was tantamount to suicide.”
“I see. It must have been hard.”
“What?”
“I said, it must have been hard for you.”
Asha frowned in confusion at Carlyle’s self-objectifying response, unable to understand what he was getting at. Carlyle only chuckled at her expression.
***
“May the glory of God be with you. Your Majesty, I present myself before you.”
“Welcome, Lady Lowry.”
“Thank you for the invitation.”
Viviana curtsied gracefully, like a painting, and went to sit where Beatrice offered.
She was currently attending an outdoor tea party that Beatrice had invited a few ladies to.
‘She must be determined to humiliate me. But I won’t go down without a fight.’
Viviana smiled with her gentle eyes, but she had not relaxed for a single moment since receiving Beatrice’s invitation.
Why was the Empress, who had always treated me like a chicken, suddenly inviting me to a tea party at this point?
To be honest, she didn’t really want to come, but she couldn’t refuse the Empress’s invitation as a mere countess, so she came here reluctantly.
“I think everyone is here.”
Unlike the nervous Viviana, Beatrice looked calm and gentle.
“Thank you all for coming to my invitation today. The autumn sunlight is so beautiful, and I wanted to spend some time relaxing with you all.”
“I heard that Your Majesty has been very busy lately. I think this kind of relaxation is necessary for your health.”
When a lady who was often invited to the Empress’s tea parties chimed in, Beatrice smiled contentedly and nodded to the maid nearby.
Soon, a three-tiered tray with freshly baked pastries and a teapot filled with warm tea were placed on the table.
