♡ TL: Khadija SK
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If you were an aristocrat, you had to have at least one grand and luxurious portrait.
There was also a gallery room for paintings in the Flores Palace, yet it was filled with Maria’s portraits rather than Theodore’s.
Theodore despised the time he had to spend sitting motionless while the painter worked on his portrait, and this was one of the small things he had in common with Annette.
Annette had refused to have a wall portrait painted of her, but Theodore brought in a painter anyway.
He thought it would be amusing to watch her sit still despite her hatred for it.
Standing in front of the room where the painting was being done, Theodore anticipated seeing Annette’s small lips pout adorably in displeasure.
The painting room was located in the farthest corner of the quiet Flores Palace, so no one ever passed by.
That was why the door was left open.
Theodore saw Annette standing in the middle of the sunlit room.
He leaned quietly against the doorway, arms crossed, and gazed at her.
Annette stood straight in the center of the room, her back perfectly upright.
Standing suited her far better than sitting.
The heavy dress seemed to bother her, so she simply stood still with her eyes closed.
Her endurance was so poor that it would be difficult for her to remain still like this for long.
But it was a shame that she kept her eyes shut.
Her light green eyes were the one thing that made Theodore feel like he was looking at her true self, yet now they were hidden from view.
He should tell the painter to be extra careful when painting her eyes, ensuring their shape was captured precisely as they were. Or perhaps he should even have the painter create a separate portrait just of her eyes, framed in the most luxurious, ornate frame available.
But then again, was there even a frame that could do justice to the brilliance of this woman?
As Theodore’s gaze trailed from her gleaming hair down to the delicate line of her neck, he noticed the dress she was wearing.
This portrait was meant to commemorate their wedding.
Since no actual wedding ceremony had taken place, they wanted at least one painting to serve as a record of the event.
That was why Annette was wearing a wedding dress today.
Theodore had heard that darker-colored wedding dresses were trending these days, but hers was pure white—so pristine that it resembled freshly fallen snow.
He had always thought Annette had a pale, translucent complexion, but compared to the delicate lace of the dress, the difference in tone was clear.
Annette’s color was unique—hers alone, unlike anything else in the world.
Just as she had painted his world in bright hues he had never seen before.
After bearing the brand of slavery on his back, Annette had illuminated his world, which had always been pitch dark to its depths.
And now, she was wearing a wedding dress…
The dress worn at a wedding…
A wedding…
After a wedding, the two people become husband and wife…
Then…
The first night follows…
Theodore’s thoughts wandered somewhere they had never gone before.
Even on the day he held an actual wedding with Paula Stadler in the past, he had naturally thought about the formalities that followed, yet he had never considered this particular thought before.
But in any case…
Why was Annette wearing such a revealing dress?
Because of its design, Annette’s body was partially visible beneath the sheer lace fabric…
And the painter was a man.
The moment Theodore realized that the painter was looking at Annette’s barely concealed body, his breathing suddenly quickened.
He had the urge to storm in immediately, cover her up, and kick the painter out, but he hesitated at the last second.
He had no right to do that.
Even though Annette was his wife, his bride, and the woman who had vowed obedience to him, Theodore had no real connection to her—no right to interfere in her personal affairs.
Just as his mother had never wanted anything from his father except marriage, he could not demand anything from Annette beyond fulfilling her duties as the Grand Duchess.
Theodore recalled his parents’ wedding portrait that was hanging somewhere in the gallery room, and dark memories of his mother and childhood surfaced in his mind.
As his vision clouded, the space around him suddenly felt suffocating and oppressive, making him want to leave.
Just as Theodore was about to turn away, Annette opened her eyes as if sensing his presence.
And in the instant their eyes met…
Annette beamed at him.
“Honey~!”
Theodore’s eyes widened at the affectionate title Annette had just called him for the first time.
It was impossible that she meant him, right…?
Just as expected.
“His Highness has arrived, so let’s stop here for today.”
Once again, Theodore had been used.
It was just one of Annette’s tricks to escape this dull situation.
Theodore had no choice but to abandon the idea of leaving and voluntarily stepped closer to Annette. However, as she moved toward him to greet him, she stumbled.
It seemed that her legs had gone stiff from standing for too long.
In any case, her body was far too weak.
Theodore reached out and grabbed her arm to prevent her from falling, which startled Annette. She looked up at him in surprise, then let out a shy laugh, took his arm in a friendly manner, and rested her head on his shoulder.
The embarrassed painter promptly withdrew from the room without hesitation, faced with the sight of a seemingly affectionate couple.
Theodore felt slightly better, thinking that he had shown the painter that he, Annette’s official husband, was the only one allowed to stand this close to her, arms linked.
Of course, the painter had no idea what Theodore was thinking.
Once the painter left, Annette immediately withdrew her arms from Theodore’s and stepped away with a dull face.
Theodore almost reached out to take her arm again without realizing it, but he hesitated and pulled his hand back for reasons he couldn’t quite understand.
Unaware of his reaction behind her, Annette quickly walked to the window, sat on the floor, leaned her back against the window seat, and began to lounge lazily.
“Don’t you know how to use a chair? Why do you always sit on the floor? The window seat is a chair meant for normal people to sit on.”
“But sitting on the floor is more comfortable. I had no idea that standing still and keeping my mouth shut would be such exhausting work.”
“You stood there quietly without uttering a single word in front of that painter, yet here you are, complaining in front of me. Why are you so mean to me?”
“Of course, standing upright is my specialty, but… You could have just taken a photograph of me. Why do we need a painting? Portraits are completely impractical, just a waste of time. Why bring in a painter for months when you can just press a camera shutter and capture a picture in a second?”
“A painting and a photograph are obviously two very different things. We didn’t even have a proper wedding ceremony, so we should at least have a proper portrait to mark your status as Grand Duchess.”
“I know that, which is why I’m cooperating with you.”
“What kind of cooperation is this, when your face looks so strange while being painted?”
“Are you joking? This is a portrait of the Grand Duchess. I have to put on a respectful, dignified expression or something like that.”
“Have you ever seen a portrait where the subject doesn’t even smile? You looked like you were being forced at gunpoint.”
“You mean like this?”
Annette lifted the corners of her lips into a delicate smile…
And it was beautiful.
Even though Theodore knew it was a forced smile, it was still breathtakingly Beautiful.
This was the same smile that had stolen the hearts of all the nobles in Laider.
Annette, the so-called wicked woman, never used to smile so beautifully and enchantingly. But that only made Theodore more concerned.
Every now and then, when Annette—the supposed villainess—smiled lightly while covering her face with a fan, the men standing beside her would lose their footing mid-dance and nearly fall backward or step all over their partners’ feet.
At future parties, even more men would undoubtedly be drawn to Annette. A crackdown seemed necessary.
But with a smile like that, Theodore figured it might be easier to just wipe out all the men in Laider rather than simply controlling the noblemen at the parties.
Among Laider’s aristocracy, it was common for married women to have lovers even after marriage..
But Theodore and Annette weren’t even a real married couple. If a handsome, elegant man approached her, Annette herself might even feel tempted to date him.
After all, love was what made the monotony of daily life pass more quickly.
However, since their marriage was rumored to be a love match, she shouldn’t find a lover too soon.
Theodore began to consider which of the men he knew might become his rival and attempt to pursue Annette, so he could eliminate them before it was too late and she fell for them.
But no matter how he thought about it, there was no man in this empire more handsome than him, so there wouldn’t be much of a problem if she met other men…
Then suddenly, Hugo came to mind.
Even if Annette wasn’t interested in Hugo now, what if her body remembered her love for him and was drawn to him instinctively?
As Theodore wrestled with these thoughts, Annette continued to complain about the ridiculousness of painting a portrait.
He couldn’t quite hear her properly through the storm of dreadful thoughts in his head, but a few of her words stuck in his ears and echoed clearly in his mind.
The words of farewell slipped from Annette’s lips.
Theodore had seen her in a wedding dress and thought of eternity, but Annette had only been thinking about leaving him and returning to where she truly belonged.
It had been his mistake—his misunderstanding.
Annette was absolutely right.
Their relationship was one that would eventually disappear, so there was no need to leave behind a record of it for future generations in the form of a portrait.
Instead, Annette’s presence in this world should remain a secret—erased as quietly as possible from the history of Odentia, leaving no trace behind.
Bitterly, Theodore let go of all his rosy delusions and returned to the harsh reality before him.
His wife was still beautiful, still as translucent as ever…
Like an illusion that would soon fade away.
“Actually, I visited the portrait gallery earlier.”
Annette spoke cautiously.
“I only went to look because the painter mentioned that it would be good to strike a pose similar to the wedding portrait of the late Emperor and Her Majesty the Empress.”
Theodore immediately understood why her tone was careful.
After he had told her about his past with his mother, Annette had become more sensitive when speaking about his parents.
In truth, Theodore had long since considered his past a trivial matter, something he had already forgotten. But Annette—
Annette cared.
“You may hate me for saying this, but you really do resemble His Majesty, the late Emperor Dominic.”
“Unfortunately.”
“I’m not sure whether that makes you a traitor or an unfilial son.”
Annette frowned slightly, as if weighing which of the two terms suited him better.
“But thinking about it, you’re already a traitor to the Empire, aren’t you? Soon, your rebellion will be complete. As if fighting your brother wasn’t enough, you’re now trying to push your nephew off the throne as well. If this isn’t treason, then what is?”
“So, am I guilty in your eyes?”
“I’m guilty with you, too, since I’m helping you.”
Annette looked at him, then quickly turned her gaze away and stared out the window.
Today was the day before the start of the hunting festival.
“The competition starts tomorrow.”
“I will win this time, without a doubt.”
“I will win, too.”
“Shall we place a bet on who will win between us?”
“Great. Whoever catches the most valuable prey will win.”
“It’s not enough to just find it—you have to hunt it, too.”
“Of course. So, may the Goddess of victory bless us both, you and me.”
Annette stepped closer to Theodore, lifted herself onto her toes, and pressed a kiss to his forehead.
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