An Unexpected Proposal

May 18, 2020

"James."
"Yes, Miss."
Fortunately, this time he called her name correctly. Alicia let out a small sigh of relief before quickly revealing her purpose.

"I heard you would be able to paint a new portrait from the drawing I have. Is it possible to create a portrait without seeing the subject in person?"
"Every artist has their own style, so there might be differences compared to seeing the person in real life, but it is possible."
"Then, would you be able to do it with something like this?"

Alicia carefully took out the drawing from the box the maid had brought and handed it to James. It was a shabby sketch, but it was all Alicia could manage to draw, and there was no other choice.
"If someone can describe the subject's appearance, it will be possible. However, since this sketch has no coloring, it would be impossible to add color without a description."
"I can explain."

"You, Miss?"
"Actually, this is my mother."
A natural smile appeared on Alicia's face.

"Ah, I see. No wonder you look so much like her."
James smiled back at Alicia, who looked at him with eyes full of expectation.
"Do we really resemble each other that much?"

"Yes. If you can help as a model, it will make the work much easier."
"I will help with anything I can. If the portrait can be completed, I don't mind what I have to do."
Alicia quickly nodded without thinking, but when her gaze fell on Mrs. Morco, who was observing her, she became slightly embarrassed. As expected, Mrs. Morco’s expression was not favorable. Alicia hurriedly suppressed her excited mood and tried to force a graceful smile. In order to look elegantly with just a slight curve of her lips in any situation, Alicia had endured the twitching of her lips dozens of times.

"Miss, you don’t have to push yourself that hard."
Of course, despite her effort, she still couldn't cross the strict line of Mrs. Morco, but Alicia let out a small sigh and relaxed her lips at the soft whisper she heard in her ear. When she looked up, she was met with a gaze that made her blink reflexively. Silver eyes, like glass beads, were staring at her.
"…Is there something on my face?"
"You're beautiful."

"Pardon?"
Surprised, Alicia accidentally used formal language. She furrowed her brow.
"You don’t need to give unnecessary compliments."

"It’s not an unnecessary compliment."
James smiled again. However, even then, he had not won Alicia’s trust. The beautiful man in front of her looked so much like a fairy that it made Alicia wonder if the stories of fairies living in the forest were true. Hearing compliments from such a man, she could only think that it was something said out of politeness.
"This drawing, did you draw it yourself, Miss?"

"…How did you know?"
"Art carries the feelings of the person who creates it. You must have missed her very much."
"…"

Alicia bit her lip as she stared at the worn-out portrait. The feeling of being exposed under James's gaze, as if he knew everything, made her uneasy.
"Don’t worry too much. The subject's features are captured well, and since you’re willing to model, it won’t be hard to create the portrait. However…"
"However?"

"Why don’t you try drawing it yourself, Miss?"
"Me?"
Alicia’s eyes grew wide like those of a rabbit.

"Yes."
"If you want, I could draw it, but this particular portrait would be much better if you did it yourself."
"I’ve never learned to draw…"

"Even if you’ve never learned, you’re talented enough to do something like this, so it’s more than enough."
"But I’ve never thought about such a thing…"
At the sudden suggestion, Alicia instinctively glanced at Mrs. Morco to gauge her reaction.

"If you’re fine with it, I don’t think it’s a bad idea. After all, art is one of the accomplishments expected of a noble lady."
Alicia had expected Mrs. Morco to refuse, but her reaction was positive. Alicia stared at James with a feeling of being caught off guard.
"If it’s really too much, you can refuse."

"…"
"However, a portrait should be something that the person truly wants to create. Even though it might take more time, it will turn out to be a beautiful painting."
"…"

Looking at James’s beautiful smile, Alicia fidgeted with her fingers. For Alicia, drawing was an act of preserving memories. It was a desperate attempt to remember her mother for a little longer. Even though she had received the suggestion to draw, it felt absurd, and her mind felt numb. However, despite that, she didn’t want to refuse. Clenching her fist tightly, she swallowed a dry lump in her throat.
***
"What brings you here?"

Jerpeneus spoke playfully, raising an eyebrow. Despite always being prepared to communicate, his indifferent younger brother never failed to make him reach out first.
"I already knew the delegation was coming, and I’ve made sure to prepare accordingly, so you don’t need to worry."

"Whatever the significance is, if I don’t feel it, it’s meaningless."

Jerpeneus clicked his tongue as he leaned his chin on his hand, letting out a sigh. He hadn’t thought his brother would change his mind quickly, but he still hoped there might be a crack in Cabelenus’s stubbornness. But, as expected, there was no sign of change in Cabelenus. He was sincere, and Jerpeneus, who had known him for a long time, could see that clearly. It was because of this clarity that Jerpeneus felt troubled.

"I will do my best to welcome them," Cabelenus replied in a flat tone, his face as expressionless as ever, a clear line drawn between him and others. Jerpeneus clicked his tongue inwardly and leaned back in his chair.

"..."

"Such crude language is not appropriate."
Cabelenus furrowed his brows slightly.

"..."

"..."

Jerpeneus spoke with a hint of amusement in his voice, but the coldness in his eyes betrayed his lack of humor.

"So, is that why she’s from the Christi Kingdom?"

A smile spread across Jerpeneus's face as he spoke. He was certain he knew his brother better than anyone. If there was any logic left in Cabelenus, he could never reject the proposal.

"..."

"I’ll decide who I choose."

Jerpeneus flashed a cunning grin. Marriage was no trivial matter; it was a matter of life and death for Cabelenus. Jerpeneus had no intention of playing the benevolent older brother when it came to this issue.

"..."

Thanks to the discovery of the magical stone, Cabelenus's life had been prolonged. But Schwarhan’s chronic problems remained. To resolve them, Cabelenus had to make a choice, and Jerpeneus knew this better than anyone. Cabelenus wasn’t the type to abandon his kingdom easily. Jerpeneus had always disapproved of that, but at this moment, he found himself grateful for it. A man with much to protect would always leave plenty of openings.

"It’s not a decision I’m making for gain."

"..."

Jerpeneus’s face was devoid of humor as he stared at Cabelenus. His half-brother, born of a flawless bloodline, didn’t even realize how rare and valuable that was. To enlighten him on reality, however, was the duty of an elder.

"..."

"You never cease to surprise me, Your Majesty."

Jerpeneus nodded indifferently. He wasn’t unsympathetic to his mother’s life as a concubine of the late emperor, but he was the emperor now. When it came to choices, it was reason, not emotion, that should guide them.
"I will not live the same life as the late emperor."

"I believe that applies to both of us."
<...>

Arranging a marriage and taking Alicia as a concubine would have been easy, but it would have been following in his father’s footsteps. Cabelenus could still remember his mother, who wept alone in the room, no one aware of her sorrow. As long as he remembered that, he could never take that path. That was the least respect he could show his mother.
"No matter what you say, it won’t matter. You already made a bet with me, and I have no intention of losing. It’s only a matter of time."

Jerpeneus exhaled sharply.
"The lady of Schwarhan is already decided, and nothing will change. That’s all I can say."
Cabelenus didn't avoid Jerpeneus's gaze and maintained a neutral expression. Jerpeneus had said that if Cabelenus could meet the women he personally chose for a year and remain unaffected by them, he would approve of Cabelenus’s marriage to Alicia. The young emperor was adept at valuing people. And he knew exactly what kind of wife Cabelenus would need—one who met the required conditions. The marriage arranged by Jerpeneus was clearly not a bad deal. It was the most reasonable suggestion that a brother, who knew Cabelenus well, could make, and the kind of proposal that, in the past, Cabelenus would have easily accepted. After all, in the past, Cabelenus had always believed that marriage was something that could happen as long as the necessary conditions were in place. If a marriage could solve Schwarhan's longstanding troubles, it would definitely be a good bargain. But he didn’t want that anymore. Cabelenus could no longer let Alicia go. The warmth that rustled against him in his arms had become so natural that the thought of it disappearing was unimaginable.

No matter what it took. Jerpeneus hid his true thoughts and smiled leisurely. He knew his younger brother well, but his brother still didn’t know how far Jerpeneus would go to hit rock bottom.