Chapter 27: Talent and Opportunity (IV) |
“My, isn’t that a portrait? It seems it’s of Grand Duke Deheen.”
“It’s an amazingly impeccable drawing.”
“I can’t quite recall an artist who has this sense of style. I’d like to ask this artist to draw me a piece.”
Aside from the reason the frame was brought, they also wondered why this specific painting was presented. However, after scrutinizing the art, the crowd couldn’t shut their mouths in admiration of its sanctity.
The reactions differed, but on a whole, they all admired the appreciable expertise.
“Who do you think designed such a work of art?”
Deheen rolled up one corner of his mouth and replied in a rather profound voice.
“To draw this well, perhaps it’s Pirka? Or maybe it could be Leven…”
“Isn’t it Lubeng from the last exhibition?”
He seemed to be more amused than ever. His smug shoulders appeared to be soaring into the sky.
“Your Grace, whose skills was this? I’ve never seen such a portrait. It’s a new style of painting. Did you discover someone?”
Pohiba, famous for his art collection, couldn’t hold back his curiosity and approached Deheen. His eyes glistened like a beast searching for its prey.
Deheen smiled haughtily, showing he had expected such reactions.
His mouth twitched, itching to show off since the second he lifted the cloth.
“My daughter drew it.”
At the moment, a different kind of silence swept over the audience.
The air turned cold as if hit by a strong typhoon.
The shocked aristocrats whispered before Deheen as they sent glances towards him.
“Does Grand Duke Deheen have a daughter?”
“No, I’ve never heard of it.”
It was a famous fact that Deheen hasn’t remarried since his ex-wife passed.
The only children she had given birth to were his twin sons.
Speculation erupted everywhere that there might have been a hidden child.
Deheen made it clear so there wouldn’t be nonsense circulating.
“I adopted a child a while ago.”
This was the first adoption announcement made at an official meeting.
Adoption into the grand duke’s family was not something that could simply conclude as simple. It was a big event as his children could lead to heirs to the throne in the future.
“Suddenly, a child?”
“I heard the Grand Duke despised children…”
Deheen, the same person who killed a baby infant right in front of his mother on the battlefield, adopted a daughter.
“All of a sudden… Where did she come from?”
“Is that important?”
“No.”
No one could speak further in front of Deheen.
Everyone just moistened their lips and shifted their eyes from Deheen’s glare.
“I’m going to have a formal party soon, so please congratulate me then.”
“Haha, I’ll be there for sure. Please do invite me.”
“Con, congratulations!”
The mouths of the nobles were as light and quick as ever.
Perhaps the news that Deheen adopted a daughter would soon spread throughout the whole empire.
Anyhow, Deheen’s purpose was to announce Esther’s existence.
He let the nobles continue their chatter, then escaped to the balcony to obtain some fresh air.
“There’s no moon.”
There was no moon in the sky.
On a day when the goddess was not there, it would be a night like this.
Deheen felt that this darkness somehow resembled Esther. He recalled the empty eyes Esther possessed since the first day they met.
“I didn’t think you could have that look on your face.”
Benjamin crept up to Deheen, who was lost in thought. He followed him out to the balcony.
It was only then that Deheen presented a comfortable expression.
“Benjamin? When did you come?”
“I only just arrived. I was a bit late because the wheels of the wagon happened to roll off.”
Benjamin was the only man Deheen ever recognized as an acquaintance. Thanks to experiencing the war together, they acquired great trust from each other.
“Have you seen the portrait?”
“Yes. Quite frankly, I was surprised. You didn’t say anything to me. Please give me at least a hint.”
“It was a sudden decision, so I didn’t have time.”
“I’ll listen to it in detail next time.”
“Yes, let’s make room for ourselves then.”
This place was not a good area for them to speak freely. The two agreed to meet separately and shook hands.
Benjamin then called out to Deheen, somewhat apprehensively.
“Your Grace, may I ask you for a slight favor?”
The intensely loyal Benjamin wasn’t the type to be interested in succession.
He had always been giving credit to others and compensating them, but now he was asking Deheen a favor.
Deheen stared closely at Benjamin before nodding.
“What is it?”
“The portrait I saw earlier. It felt quite sacred.”
Benjamin didn’t fail to notice the consecration of the painting. After all, he was the person currently in charge of the management at the local temple.
Deheen agreed with his bewildering statement, claiming that Esther was a candidate amidst the many other saint candidates.
It was understandable that Esther’s paintings were considered sacred because of her divine power.
“So… I’d like her to draw Noah.”
Benjamin hesitated for a long time before he parted his lips wearily.
Deheen, who intended to grant his dear friend any sort of favor, abruptly lowered his voice, his alertness rising at the name Benjamin mentioned.
“Are you still taking care of Noah?”
“Wouldn’t I have to stay by his side? Even if everyone turns away, I intend to serve him until the very end.”
The voice blown by the wind was lonely and deep. It was a voice mixed with many emotions.
Deheen swept his hair roughly, troubled by the uncalled-for request.
“How is he doing lately?”
“Well, he can’t open his eyes. The priest said there isn’t much time left.”
“….…”
“So, I would like to leave a tiniest bit of his presence. If it’s a portrait painting done with divine power… I’m hoping it will contain a little more of his true image.”
Benjamin bowed his head to keep Deheen from drawing back his offer.
“I know it’s a difficult request. However… can’t you please grant permission for this one? I will never let anyone know. Leave it for me to prepare everything. Just this once.”
“Ha.”
Deheen sighed deeply.
He didn’t want Esther to do anything dangerous, but he couldn’t refuse as Benjamin never asked him for much.
“I’ll speak to my daughter first.”
“Thank you.”
The gazes of the two intertwined on the dark balcony.
★★★
Rabienne visited the saint’s room at the same time every day.
Today, she brought medicine with her like she normally did, but somehow, the saint was sitting in bed.
Rabienne paused as she saw the saint’s conscious appearance.
‘How did it happen?’
She wasn’t dying away like usual, but could bring herself to stay awake. It was strange how this happened.
In any case, Rabienne hid her innermost feelings and presented the saint with a friendly smile.
“Saint! You seem in great shape today. It’s been a while since you rouse from sleep yourself.”
“Yes. The goddess has been in my dream.”
The saint’s eyes remained clear.
Her eyes denoted the same brightness as those in her former days.
Rabienne, who noticed such peculiarness, took a seat next to the saint.
“Wow, really? Why did the goddess appear?”
Rabienne clenched her toes with agitation. However, her ruby-like red eyes twinkled and presented their liveliness.
A smile spread on the saint’s face as she observed the cute expression.
“I’m not feeling well, thus, I’m already seeing a sign of the next saint.”
“…The next saint?”
Rabienne’s lips parted slightly, her heart pounding.
Blood circled all over her body, her expectations rising.
Rabienne’s cheeks flushed. She believed the next saint would be herself.
“What did you see?”
“That’s… it’s not the time to speak yet.”
“I won’t tell anyone. Let me know. Please?”
The saint could not ignore Rabienne’s constant pleading.
It was all the more so as she knew that it was Rabienne who took care of her every day, as well as her position in the temple.
“Then you should keep it to yourself. Alright?”
“Of course. You know how heavy my mouth is.”
Eventually, the saint closed her eyes to recall the dream she had last night.
Even though her body was weakened, she was still athesaint. When she recalled the goddess’s will, her eyes turned hazy.
“The only star in the night sky, the grayish-brown hair that embraces the world…”
“Grayish-brown?”
Rabienne’s clear voice snapped the saint’s will.
The saint quickly shook her head in a desperate attempt.
“Ah, did I just say gray? I, I guess I spoke the wrong word.”
“Yes, you’re mistaken. That can’t be.”
The saint’s awkward way of speaking and expression made it very obvious it was a lie.
But Rabienne smiled, maintaining a look of ignorance.
“Saint, you must take your medicine.”
“Thank you.”
The saint, whose spirit had returned for a moment, soon fell asleep after taking a strong sleeping pill.
The back of Rabienne’s hand trembled as she gazed at her.
“Stupid. There’s no way you can see grayish-brown instead of my hair color. You’re probably drugged and talking shit.”
Rabienne tried pretending that she was fine, but inside her mind, anxiety began to develop. The suspicion that she wasn’t the next saint.
Rabienne then left the sleeping saint.
Though outwardly calm, she was simmering inside.
“Who had grayish-brown hair?”
Although it was an unusual color, quite a few people came to mind. She had no idea who was the individual among them.
Rabienne decided to stop by the office. She wanted to check the list of adult female candidates.
Someone waved and called Rabienne’s name from the other side.
Rabienne checked his face, then smiled broadly.
It was a sincere smile that no one had ever seen before. Rabienne held onto the hem of her skirt and ran quickly towards the man.