Chapter 69.2

“Wooooow…”

Her lips curled into a smile, and her eyes sparkled like a child looking at a room full of treasures.

It was her first time seeing paintings with such colors and styles. Even as someone with no knowledge of art, Arina couldn’t help but be in awe.

The colors and realism of the portraits were so lifelike that it felt as if a god had lent him divine paint.

‘I’ve never heard of anyone creating paintings like this.’

The portraits of Arina hanging on the walls varied in attire, expressions, atmosphere, and artistic styles.

In some, she was depicted as a heroic knight and sovereign, while in others, she was a noble lady exuding romance and elegance.

Some of the paintings had colors so intense and provocative that they felt unfamiliar yet unforgettable — the kind of images that might linger in one’s dreams.

“Beautiful.”

She couldn’t take her eyes off each and every painting.

Shudder, shudder, shudder, shudder.

For the first time in her life, Arina experienced an overwhelming flood of emotion.

The ultimate joy that could be experienced through sight alone.

“Aaaah…!”

The peak of that euphoria lay in two of the largest paintings.

They were none other than the portraits featuring herself, the Grand Duchess of the North, and Mary, depicted with her true face as Arina.

It was the scene where Isabel had used her illusion magic, and Arina had acted according to the illusion’s appearance.

A knightly Arina and a feminine Arina.

An adventurer-like Mary and a girlish Mary.

All four sides of herself were presented on one canvas.

Drip.

Tears streamed down Arina’s cheeks.

‘So it really was because of the paintings that he was acting strange all this time.’

At last, she could only admit the truth. Arad had been utterly consumed by his passion for painting.

The brief moment when she had entertained the “worst-case scenario” had now vanished like ashes scattered by the wind.

‘But why… Why did he draw so many pictures of me?’

After wiping away her tears and regaining her composure, she glanced around at the dozens of Arina portraits that filled the room.

‘Don’t tell me…?’

It didn’t take long for her to piece together the reason.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

‘He was thinking of me all along. Me, not Mary!’

Her secret “project” — the one where Mary (Arina) would naturally draw closer to Arad — had a name in her heart.

If Arad had known about it, he might have named it something like “Operation: Arina Wants a Confession”.

Frankly, though, she had been on the verge of giving up on the whole thing lately.

Even her last counseling session with Isabelle had ended with the conclusion: “Don’t rush. Just let things develop naturally.”

‘I see now. I went about this all wrong from the start.’

She finally realized where she had gone wrong.

The first button had been misaligned from the very beginning.

— “In that sense, I think Her Highness the Grand Duchess is truly incredible.”

— “She’s a paragon among sovereigns. I guarantee there’s no ruler in Arcadia who surpasses her.”

The words Arad had often said to Mary now echoed in her mind.

— “If Her Highness had been born in another kingdom instead of the North, she’d have unified the continent by now.”

— “Her Highness’s achievements are so great, someone should write a book about them.”

— “Someday, I hope the silver, gold, and copper coins of this land bear her noble visage.”

Back then, she had taken those words as mere praise of her achievements.

But now, after seeing the paintings, it was clear.

Those words weren’t just about her accomplishments.

They were expressions of affection, perhaps even… admiration.

‘Then… it’s time to reveal the truth! I’ll tell him Mary’s true identity! And then… under the name of Arina, I’ll confess to him!’

Her resolve solidified.

While stroking the necklace that enabled her transformation, she anxiously awaited the arrival of the room’s owner.

But at that moment…

“…? What’s this?”

Her gaze was drawn to three peculiar paintings hanging in the corner.

“Is that… doodling?”

Calling them “paintings” was an overstatement. They were bizarre, grotesque portraits.

“……”

As she stared at them, her face grew more and more serious.

“Don’t tell me…? Are these of Mary?”

Looking closely, it appeared to depict a woman with white hair and gray eyes.

The only person with white hair and gray eyes was Mary.

‘No way… Did he really draw Mary like this?’

No matter how she looked at it, it seemed like he had depicted Mary.

“Why…?”

If it were a portrait of Mary, it should have made her happy. But instead, she felt far from pleased.

One of the portraits had its eyes, nose, and mouth bizarrely distorted in proportions that made it unsettling to look at. Her skin tone was a sickly, undead-like pallor.

Another painting had incorporated all kinds of animals, plants, and food to create Mary’s face.

‘Why did he draw only Mary like this?!’

The first painting felt like a deliberate attack, while the second was odd but at least had some artistic flair.

If she were being extremely generous, she could acknowledge its artistic merit. But that didn’t mean she liked it.

‘He must think less of Mary than I expected…’

Her heart, which had been soaring with joy, awe, and determination, now drooped like a wilted flower.

If Arad had seen her at that moment, he would have been heartbroken. He would have tried to explain the concepts of Surrealism and Cubism on the spot.

— “This necklace’s enchantment reflects the wearer’s inner self through their outward appearance. Your white hair and gray eyes are a reflection of your soul and mana. It’s a sign of how noble and pure you are.”

For some reason, Isabelle’s words from the day of her first transformation suddenly echoed in her mind.

‘I can’t reveal Mary’s true identity now!’

The courage she’d just mustered to reveal her identity and confess her feelings vanished.

‘When Arad starts to see Mary in a better light, then I’ll reveal my true identity and confess!’

She felt an anxious dread that if Arad found out Mary was really Arina, his perception of her might change.

“Mary came by?”

“Yes. But it looks like she left for a bit.”

At that moment, she heard the sound of Arad and Jarvis talking downstairs.

“Manager Teo, was there any trouble at the industrial complex?”

“Nothing noteworthy, sir. But where should I place this?”

“Leave it in the first-floor hall for now. The third floor is too cramped at the moment.”

“Understood! You all heard that, right? Place everything over here.”

Even Teo’s voice could be heard.

Footsteps echoed as they climbed the stairs to the third floor.

“!!”

Arina panicked and dove toward the window.

***

Two days later.

Arad arrived at the Glory Palace with 20 framed paintings, each encased in a protective cover.

“The paintings Count Arad Jin created are finally complete!”

“Let’s go see them! Hurry!”

“They’re paintings by Count Jin, no less! They’re bound to be special!”

Word spread like wildfire throughout the High Tower.

People of influence, nobility, and their families all gathered like a tidal wave.

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