Chapter 29 – A Painter’s Enigmatic Muse (1)

She had indeed gone out on a trip with Paola yesterday. Specifically, they went to meet a plaster cast sculptor near the church, and while they were at it, they visited the church.

While Paola talked with the priest whom she knew for a long time, Gris left the two, saying she would be at the plaza. When she arrived at the antique art store, she pretended to look around the store, and when she finally found the courage to ask the owner if he knew a guy named Johannes, only a disappointing answer awaited her.

Unfortunately, the owner shook his head, telling her he just took over the shop recently and so did not know the man.

Luckily, the previous owner of the shop was the current owner’s cousin and told her he would ask around if he had the chance. Left with a meaningless promise, Gris sighed as she took her steps past the forest, exuberant of cypress trees, and back to the mansion.

“Yes, it was so beautiful that I would like to go back one day.”

By that, she meant she really needed to back again. But Bellin was more interested in a different part of the story.

“Did you meet the sculptor? I heard he’s a handsome man.”

Gris recalled her memory of meeting the sculptor on the way back to the mansion. Paola wanted her to meet him so he could make a plaster cast of her and display it in the family plaster cast room.

Unfortunately, Gris didn’t remember what the sculptor looked like. Her mind was caught up on how she could find Johannes. Was he a man? Was he a handsome man? She squinted her eyes as if to help her remember and soon mumbled to herself.

“Yes. I think he was handsome.”

Noticing her indifferent reaction, Bellin replied to her.

“I reckon if you have a brother like Sir Byrenhag, no one would seem handsome enough to you.”

Gris realized something during her time at the mansion. However a conversation started, it always ended with Vianut. It probably meant he was that much important and talented. Gris slowly nodded at Bellin who now patted her hair down with camellia oil.

“Oh, I forgot to tell you. Sir Byrenhag returned yesterday.”

He must have returned from his week’s stay at the Nordvaltz palace. Whenever he was gone, Gris felt at ease.

She wondered if he was yet to find the horseman. Gris held her nervous, cold hands together while Bellin talked to her.

“It seems Sir Byrenhag is finally getting married,” she said.

It was her first time hearing this. Did he have a fiancé?

“Married?”

Bellin continued while she placed a hair accessory on the crown of her head.

“I overheard the civil servants talk, but apparently the King of Nordvaltz have arranged him to marry the eldest daughter of the King of Britin.”

“……”

“To be honest, everyone was worried since Sir Byrenhag had never shown any interest in women. He left everyone anxious whenever he left for battle without leaving a son behind.”

Gris nodded her head as she listened to her. He had as many responsibilities as the amount of power he held in his hands. One of his responsibilities was to have many children, someone to take his place in case something happened to him.

But she had never heard of a man forcefully marry against his will. It was women who gave birth, risking their lives. Men could easily seek pleasure secretly. But Vianut didn’t even do such thing, leaving the officials worried.

“Does he have any special reason?”

Bellin answered as she wiped her hand with a cloth.

“Apparently he deeply misses the fiancé he had when he was younger. Even till now.”

Uncomfortable talking about his past, Bellin suddenly changed the topic to the princess of Britin.

“I heard the princess of Britin is currently studying abroad in a warm country in the south. I suspect they would get married in a month’s time after she comes back.”

It was common for nobles to get married without seeing their partner prior to the wedding. Bellin was certain he was going get married to the princess.

“I’m sure they will get married. I heard the princess is extremely charming. Also anyone that meets Sir Byrenhag will fall for him the moment they see him.”

Gris brightened up upon hearing the news. She was confident that Vianut will be too busy organizing the marriage to be paying attention to her.

After dressing up, Gris left the room with Teer in her arms. The first study past the lobby was where she had her lessons.

When she entered, a room with high ceilings and sunlight peeking through the windows greeted her. She breathed in the smell of dry parchment paper and sat in front of the canvas. She placed Teer on the floor.

Her lesson started when the teacher walked in. Frenze was an art teacher, and he spent the last week teaching her how to effectively draw shades in still-life paintings. They worked on drawing a red apple, and as she created a shine under the stem, as if she could taste the flavor of the apple from the painting itself.

Once she finished with shades, it would be her first piece of art. She was planning on gifting it to Paola, remembering that she liked apple pies.

Excited with her meager artistic accomplishment, she held up her brush. Just then, she heard heavy footsteps descending the stairs.