And then she smiled softly, speaking as if to herself.
“But it exists. I’ve seen it. A place hidden like a precious pearl between cliffs.”
This painting depicted the sea of Leonteheim, a sight Violet never got to behold.
Just as Violet had described it:
A coastline nestled between cliffs, hiding like a pearl.
At that moment, Iris felt tears welling—tears she never wanted to show—if she blinked once more.
Watching Sylvia, the Earl of Huttledum scratched his head in embarrassment, his voice uneasy.
“I had originally planned to send this as a gift to the main estate, but I thought you’d prefer it donated here, so I took the liberty of deciding. If this displeases you—”
“No, no.”
Sylvia’s anger wasn’t with him but with something deeper.
She could no longer truly feel the painting as she once did.
Though she had never before felt sadness from the loss of color, now she was gripped by despair.
Her beloved younger sister, Violet.
“Perhaps I no longer deserve to miss you.”
The memory space Violet spoke of could no longer be vividly sensed by Sylvia.
She knew the painting showed a sea with waves, and the foam breaking on the shore—but the seasonal hues that confirmed its reality were completely absent.
Before tears could fall, Sylvia turned away. Just as she was about to speak of taking the painting home, a gentle female voice interrupted.
“Is this the Ursil coastline?”
The voice was familiar to Sylvia but unknown to the others.
They quickly turned to see a woman with soft lavender hair tilting her head.
Her striking beauty caused several to blush and cough nervously.
“The Duchess?”
Sylvia’s words froze the crowd.
‘The Duchess…?’
‘Cedric’s wife?’
Before the thought was fully formed, Cedric appeared from behind.
Wondering where his wife was rushing off to.
“Was there a painting you wished to see?”
Though he spoke to Iris, his sharp gaze was directed toward Earl Huttledum and the other nobles.
His eyes briefly softened when meeting Sylvia’s, then immediately fixed on the painting on the wall.
Cedric’s brow furrowed deeply.
“That is…”
“Is it an unsigned Montelain? I didn’t expect an interest in northern nature.”
Cedric had spoken of this artist downstairs, saying he liked them.
His lips curved in a pleasing arc, but Iris’s eyes cooled sharply.
“However, I believe the painting is incorrect.”
At her words, the Duchess’s smile faded completely.
Her gaze shifted to Earl Huttledum.
Like Cedric earlier, Iris addressed her husband quietly.
“It looks like the sea at midday in midwinter, but isn’t the tide too high?”
But Iris’s gaze pierced the falsehoods told around her.
“In winter, the sea in Leonteheim is at its lowest height during midday.”
“That’s why it feels so strange.”
Though not shown in the painting, if one visits the winter shoreline, red sands are visible.
“It seems influenced by something, copied after another scene.”
This time, Iris looked at Sylvia.
Something heavy settled deep in Sylvia’s heart.
She looked once more at the painting.
As she cleared away the haze of past memories, the true image came into focus.
Another painting seemed superimposed over this one—one she had purchased long ago.
The crashing waves she had just failed to perceive now perfectly overlaid the scene.
It was a trap.
Sylvia’s deep violet eyes trembled quietly, aware of the deception.
The Earl of Huttledum hastily tried to speak as the fierce anger etched on Sylvia’s face grew, but she sharply raised her hand to silence him.
“How dare you insult me.”
“L-Lady, please hear me out. Paintings can differ from reality—”
“This person has never once painted a scene that defies nature’s laws. Every painting I’ve collected proves that. If you wish, I can bring dozens of paintings I’ve gathered for you to verify.”
Sylvia continued with unwavering confidence.
“I have such evidence backing my argument—what will you do now?”
As Sylvia prepared to send someone immediately to fetch the paintings, Huttledum’s face turned pale.
Among those works would surely be the very sea painting he had commissioned a forger to replicate.
“Lady! Please, hear us out just this once, we beg you.”
“When have I ever silenced you? Tell me where my claim is wrong!”
Sylvia believed she had lost power as the head of the Tran clan compared to her prime years—true, she had aged and weakened.
Yet to others, nothing could be further from the truth.
Her forceful pressure on Huttledum’s faction proved she was still indispensable to Tran.
She laid bare that no one else could replace her position.
“Leave this place immediately. You are henceforth barred from all Tran holdings.”
“Lady!”
Without another word, Sylvia blew a sonic whistle.
From somewhere, Jana appeared instantly.
Guards stationed throughout the gallery rushed in.
Sylvia merely waved her right hand.
That was enough.
“My father was reckless! Please grant us mercy just once!”
“Lady! We were foolish, only wishing to please you—!”
They dropped to their knees, begging, but the Tran knights remained unmoved.
The hand that dared insult the clan leader was harsh.
The faction was forcibly expelled from the gallery.
After the uproar died down, silence settled.
Sylvia, barely standing, grasped her head as if reaching her limit and collapsed.
“Countess!”
“Lady!”
Iris and Jana rushed to her side.
Iris caught Sylvia as she faltered and placed the back of her hand to her forehead—her temperature was rising.
“Lady Tran, you should rest.”
Jana, clutching Sylvia’s skirts, eyed the kind Iris warily as she hesitated to speak.
“That’s right, Lady. We should go…”
Sylvia’s weary eyelashes fluttered.
Tears she had held back finally spilled.
Iris chose to ignore those tears, while Jana buried her face in Sylvia’s skirts.
Silently apologizing to Violet, Sylvia managed a faint smile toward Iris.
“For some reason, it seems I only show my ugly side before you.”
“No, that’s not true…”
“Truly, thank you.”
Sylvia clasped Iris’s hand warmly.
Iris had no way to understand why Sylvia had looked so sorrowful upon seeing that painting.
But at this moment, all she wanted was to comfort her—
A woman who had walked through decades of loss, waiting alone for the day her life would end.
And that feeling reached Sylvia fully.
“This child’s sky-blue eyes…”
They were like Violet’s—
Unfiltered and genuinely expressive.
Perhaps today was an extraordinarily rare day for her.
Though Sylvia had long tried to keep distance from Cedric, today she couldn’t let go of the hand she had finally grasped.
“If it’s alright, may I invite you to dinner?”
“Ah.”
“A small token of my gratitude. Please.”
Iris did not pull back her hand, but turned her gaze to Cedric.
This was not a promise she could make alone.
Yet Cedric appeared indifferent.
Rather—
‘Why that expression?’
His face showed shock but also the same hurt Sylvia wore.
Just as Iris was about to ask if he was alright, Cedric spoke.
“Understood.”
Both Iris and Sylvia looked at him in surprise.
With long strides, Cedric approached carefully, helping both Iris and his kin to their feet.
“Can you walk?”
“Ah… Yes, I’m fine.”
Sylvia spoke, emotions still raw.
Cedric, who had been about to leave pulling the dazed Iris, paused for a moment.
“Lady.”
“Hm?”
Still startled, Sylvia hurried to answer.
But Cedric couldn’t even look at her.
“No, I’ll see you outside.”
In the end, as always, he cut off the conversation first.
The Tran estate, located in the North, was not far from the art gallery.
“Wow.”
Iris, who had seen many magnificent architectures, couldn’t help but marvel at the Tran estate.
Though the mansion was built with dull gray bricks—often scorned and avoided by many—it differed from the recent trend of building upward, as it was only two stories tall.
Instead, it boasted perfect symmetry stretching sideways, with the upper floor’s balcony completely opened to form a terrace garden.
As she admired the view, the carriage soon stopped before the grand gate.
“Welcome, Duke and Duchess of Leontheim. I am Tania, chief maid of Tran.”
“Ah, pleased to meet you. You must be Iris Leontheim.”
“I’ve heard much about you. Duke Leontheim, it’s an honor.”
A woman with bright orange hair and golden eyes, similar yet more radiant than Janna’s, smiled warmly.
Though she looked no older than a girl, she carried a weight similar to Janna’s—but unlike young Janna, she was better at hiding her energy.
Just as Sylvia entered the mansion, Janna and Iris locked eyes.
Like a cat caught doing mischief, Janna blinked in surprise and hurried inside.
“Cute, isn’t she?”
“Ah.”
“My younger sister is shy at first, but once you talk to her, you’ll see she’s warm-hearted.”
No wonder they looked alike—they were family.
Tania said no more after that.
She excused herself to help the stablehands move luggage.
“I’ll inform Butler Vincent of your arrival.”
“Thank you.”
Yurian seemed a bit busy with the sudden additional schedule.
When Iris nodded, he went to Tania for a communication device.
After they disappeared, Iris finally asked what had been on her mind.
“How was the gallery… were you alright?”
Cedric blinked a couple of times and looked at Iris.
His languid red eyes met hers, making her bite her lip nervously. His face was still unfamiliar despite the many times she’d seen it.
Cedric scratched his cheek with a nervous expression, then gently intertwined his fingers with hers.
“If there’s a chance… I’ll definitely tell you.”
Iris mulled over those words for a moment, then smiled quietly.
He must be referring to his relationship with Sylvia and why he accepted the dinner invitation.
She believed he would tell her someday.
“I’ll wait.”
She loosened their entwined fingers, clasping them properly, and entered the mansion with Cedric.
The dinner went smoothly.
Sylvia was more prone to nervousness than expected—or perhaps it was because it was their first meal together with her nephew.
Still…
You’ve been collecting that artist’s paintings all along, haven’t you?
For the first time, Cedric asked Sylvia.
Flustered but sincere, she answered,
“Yes. For Violet.”
“...I see.”
There was some fruit to be reaped after all.
Iris sensed it too—after the meal, Sylvia seemed reluctant to see them leave.
But sadly, there was no reason to keep them.
Just a moment ago, that was.
“It’s snowing heavily.”
Yurian shook his tired head, snowflakes falling from his blue hair.
“I think it would be reckless to go out now.”
“Is it that bad?”
“It’s falling so much that even the wheels melting it off can’t keep up.”
That certainly sounded dangerous.
From a distance, Sylvia approached with a hint of excitement.
“Then, how about staying here for the night?”
Seeing her overly pleased reaction, she quickly stepped back a bit.
So Iris took her hand first.
“Then… would it be alright if we stayed the night?”
There was no other choice anyway.
With that said, preparations moved quickly.
By the time Iris contacted Vincent via the communication device, rooms had been readied for Cedric and herself.
Even lying in bed, Iris couldn’t fall asleep for a long time.
Just as she was dozing off, an itch in her throat woke her completely.
“Cedric… are you asleep?”
No answer came from beside her.
Hmm. He must be sleeping.
She wanted water but felt awkward summoning a servant—Cedric might wake up, and this wasn’t her own estate after all.
In the end, Iris quietly slipped out from the bed, careful not to wake Cedric. She wrapped herself tightly in a crimson blanket and walked down the corridor.
The shadows cast by the snow outside danced gracefully on the floor and walls through the wide windows, creating a serene atmosphere.
‘I think it was this way.’
Following the vague memories of the path, Iris stopped in front of a door.
There, Jana was crouched on her knees, waving her hand toward the shadow of the snow outside—though it was utterly unreachable.
Noticing someone’s gaze upon her, Jana slowly turned her head toward Iris and immediately went on guard.
“Um… Hello.”
“Hmph.”
Iris greeted, but Jana promptly turned away.
I had hoped to talk to her once, but
‘At this state, it looks difficult even to start a conversation…’
Thinking so, Iris gently approached Jana’s side.
“Why are you here?”
Of course, she was caught right away.
“Um—did you get lost?”
“As if. This is my master’s estate.”
“That may be, but isn’t it time to sleep now?”
At Iris’s words, Jana pouted and shook her head.
Though she said nothing more, Iris could roughly guess—
This child cannot sleep.
Watching her quietly for a moment, Iris carefully leaned against the wall and sat down.
“Then, can I sit here too?”
Chapter 85