The Stepmother Has Left - Chapter 18

When she asked back, he asked again.

 

“Why didn’t you? You were single until you married the Duke, too.”

 

“Me? I…”

 

Cassia thought for a moment at his question and scratched her head in embarrassment.

 

“I just didn’t do it because there was no one I wanted to…”

 

“Me too.”

 

“…”

 

“I just can’t have a formal marriage.”

 

Seeing him talking while looking at her, Cassia burst into a giggle as she looked at him.

 

He also looked at her and smiled softly. The sound of their laughter spread through the open air.

 

As time passed, the laughter faded.

 

And when it had subsided entirely, he asked.

 

“Then, how about now?”

 

In an instant, his voice changed. A voice that was cautious, but had many meanings, became dazed for a moment. As she turned around, a strange gaze came upon her.

 

“Are you thinking about marriage or dating…?”

 

The smile slowly faded from her face.

 

His unfamiliar gaze looking at her…

 

It happened in an instant.

 

It was a feeling that sprouted in an instant.

 

When she met his unfamiliar gaze, she heard his voice continuing.

 

“You liked me when you were young.”

 

At that moment, a fleeting moment passed.

 

One second felt like a thousand years.

 

In the meantime, his face, which became one with the blue sea, slowly penetrated into her heart. It soaked the blood that might have flowed all over her body and immediately made her heart jolt.

 

‘Thud’

 

Her heart fell as she stared blankly at him.

 

Her heart started pounding.

 

Her face heated up.

 

Cassia took a step back from him.

 

“…There is a secluded gallery on the way from the town of Lawrencia to the city.”

 

He looked at her. He seemed to try to connect something but didn’t connect it right away.

 

“…Come to pay a visit when you have time.”

 

After she finished speaking, she left as if to run away.

 

She couldn’t hide her blushing face.

 

His gaze stayed on her back as she ran away.

 

***

 

Returning to the gallery, the first thing she did was take out a white canvas.

 

She put the paint she wanted on the large white canvas and started moving the brush as her hand drove.

 

It was an instinctive gesture to clear her confused mind.

 

The brush moved from time to time, conveying the feelings that were faithful to her heart.

 

Meanwhile, the thoughts and memories she had set aside for a long while as a child, came to her mind as vivid as if it happened yesterday.

 

The first time she went to a villa, a long time, ago after receiving Diana’s invitation.

 

On the way, she tripped over a stone in front of the Count’s villa.

 

“Ah!”

 

She rolled up the hem of the dress slightly and looked at her knew, and blood was oozing out through the torn flesh. When her forehead was wrinkled because of the pain in the place she bumped onto, a long, white hand reached out in front of her.

 

“Are you okay?”

 

Cassia slowly lifted her head.

 

A boy with the same impression as Diana reached out his hand to her.

 

A boy with handsome features that resembled Diana and didn’t resemble at the same time.

 

Was it because of the sun shining behind him?

 

As a child, she had an illusion that light was leaking from him.

 

“Can you stand up?”’

 

“Ah, yes…”

 

Her heart was pounding.

 

She took his hand and stood up.

 

Her face was as red as a ripe apple.

 

“Your knee is bruised. This is my house, and if it’s okay with you, I’ll call the maid and help you clean the wound.”

 

And that is how Cassia learned that the pretty boy was Diana’s older brother.

 

And he was also a hot topic among the nobles due to his outstanding appearance.

 

Having been her senior by a few grades at the academy, he was extremely popular with girls her age. There was no girl who didn’t like him, who read books in the library, played sports with friends, and studied well.

 

Somehow he didn’t create a scandal or socialize with anyone, but there was a moment when she shyly liked him from afar for a while.

 

But next to him, he was always followed by girls as much as boys followed Diana in the social circles. He used to be friendly when he saw Cassia, but she avoided him.

 

She gave up on her greed early.

 

He was so perfect that she couldn’t even lust after him as a commoner.

 

It was her first love that bloomed for a while and faded away…

 

Cassia was able to stop the brush from moving after a few days when the paint tubes ran out of paint.

 

When she finished drawing, she felt the pleasure of releasing the accumulated emotions after a long time.

 

Cassia looked at the finished painting, full of colors, and hung it on the wall.

 

The next day, Irwin saw the new painting added to the gallery and asked.

 

“Do you have someone you like?”

 

“The picture has a refreshing feeling. Yellow, red, purple, and color changes have diversified.”

 

‘Maybe he’s a wandering fortune-teller.’

 

But Cassia was quietly taking a sip of tea. While painting, her mind had gained calm stability again.

 

“It seems that something happened during the break. You seem to have a very big change of heart.”

 

He came before her and tilted his head. His silver-haired bangs were gently ruffled.

 

But she paid more attention to his face, to be precise, the expression on his face than his head.

 

So, that expression was very strange.

 

“Who is it? The person who shook your heart.”

 

Somehow, he looked like he didn’t like something.

 

Cassia looked at him without answering.

 

And she glanced at the picture she painted.

 

She opened her mouth slowly.

 

“A few days ago, I met a good relationship that I had long forgotten.”

 

“…Is that so?”

 

“The reunion with that person brought back emotions and memories that I had forgotten for a long time. I tried to express them in the painting. It was a painting that was closer to resolving my emotions rather than expressing them.”

 

“I see.”

 

She didn’t really try to change the expression that had shaken her heart.

 

It was because her heart, which had always been empty and subdued, was really excited after a long time. It was also the feeling that she could never deny, just like the pleasant feelings she felt while meeting Irwin.

 

Perhaps the colors of the painting were significantly influenced by that.

 

“It is a secret who it is… I am not obligated to tell you, am I?”

 

“Ah.”

 

At her words, Irwin took a step back, made a small noise, and continued.

 

“Of course. There is no need to force it.”

 

“It’s just… I’m curious. Who is the man who changed your picture?”

 

His eyes darkened.

 

A strange gaze was directed to her face.

 

It was the kind of eyes that couldn’t accurately capture the emotions beneath his gaze. It was then.

 

The gallery door opened with a faint sound.

 

Cassia and Irwin turned their heads.

 

They watched as someone slowly walked through the door.

 

It was Michael.

 

***

 

The sight of the tall man entering the gallery spread immense joy in her heart.

 

Cassia smiled as she got up from her seat and greeted him.

 

“You are here, Michael.”

 

“I see you again. How have you been…?”

 

Meanwhile, Michael, who was about to greet Cassia, found Irwin standing next to her.

 

His eyes slightly narrowed.

 

He looked at Irwin, who was standing next to her with his arms crossed, and opened his mouth blankly.

 

There was confusion in his gaze.

 

‘Why is this person here?’

 

‘That kind of look…’

 

Irwin also looked straight at Michael and did not avert his eyes.

 

Unlike before, the current situation was very interesting.

 

Michael immediately coughed and looked at Cassia.

 

He didn’t show it, but he was looking at the man.

 

“…There are customers.”

 

“He is a regular customer who visits here a lot.”

 

Cassia smiled and casually introduced Irwin to Michael.

 

“His name is Irwin. Irwin, this is Michael. He is the head of the Allison family. I happen to know him personally.”

 

When Michael heard Irwin’s name, he looked more puzzled, but then hid it.

 

Irwin approached him slowly. Standing in front of Michael, he held out his hand first.

 

“Hello, Count Allison. I’m called Irwin. I am just an ordinary citizen.”

 

“I came to this place by chance while travelling, and it is a great honour to meet such a noble person here.”

 

“… I’m Michael. Nice to meet you.”

 

It was a common situation for a noble with a title of Michael’s to not show respect to commoners.

 

However, despite his embarrassment, he held Irwin’s hand in a polite and respectful way.

 

They had eyes on each other.

 

Soon the hands fell.

 

“…I should get going for today.”

 

Irwin went back to his seat and started putting on the cloak he had taken off.

 

“You can stay a little longer,” Cassia said.

 

“No, I’m done drinking coffee, and I’m done appreciating the painting. I can’t interrupt your conversation.”

 

“I will be back soon. See you next time.”

 

After Irwin smiled at Cassia, he put on his cloak and went outside.

 

Michael watched him disappear through the closed door. He couldn’t take his gaze from Irwin’s back, and asked Cassia like a whisper.

 

“…That guest… Since when did he come here?”

 

“It’s been a while. It’s been less than a month.”

 

“I see.”

 

“…By the way…”

 

Breaking the silence that flowed for a while, Cassia looked at Michael, smiled and said.

 

“I thought you wouldn’t come, but you really did.”

 

“Ah.”

 

Michael turned to her. There was a smile on his lips too.

 

“How can I not come after you invited me? I’m sorry I kept you waiting for a long time.”

 

“What are you talking about? Do you want coffee?”

 

“That would be nice.”

 

“Warm or cold? If you add ice, it becomes a cold coffee.”

 

“…Then can I ask for something cold?”

 

Somehow, the atmosphere of being strangely nervous subsided again, and the gallery regained its peace.