#Side Story 5

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The music started again, and like people who had just enjoyed a good spectacle, the nobles formed small groups and engaged in lively conversations.

The noble ladies approached Queen Silvia to offer their congratulations.

“You’re already beautiful, but seeing you through the genius painter’s work makes you truly stunning.”

“His Majesty has given you a gift you’ll never forget.”

After greeting the Queen, people also approached the painter to greet him.

“I had heard rumors, but to see your painting directly before my eyes like this. Thanks to you, I’ve had a wonderful appreciation.”

“You flatter me.”

Even as the praise continued, Ellin couldn’t easily take her eyes off the painting.

“So the rumors about him being a famous painter weren’t exaggerated.”

Even Dominic, who had little interest in paintings, could tell he was a skilled artist just by looking at that portrait.

He had been momentarily stunned too.

After briefly admiring it inwardly, another thought occurred to him.

If that man painted Ellin, wouldn’t it result in an even more magnificent painting?

He thought his cousin Jonathan had quite an ingenious idea.

He would like to hang a portrait of Ellin painted by that artist in their mansion.

No, better yet, a portrait of the entire family, including their son Ian.

Alment Garcien imagined the scene in his head even before knowing whether he would accept his commission.

The image of the mansion with the portrait of the Linderto ducal family hanging on its wall.

Dominic pulled one corner of his lips into a smile and lightly placed his arm around Ellin’s shoulders.

“I’ve had a good idea.”

Ellin, who had been absorbed in the painting, finally came to her senses at Dominic’s words.

“He seems like an exceptional painter.”

“Yes, truly. A God-given talent. Someone like me couldn’t even follow his foot…”

Before Ellin could finish speaking, Dominic’s eyes gleamed boldly.

His gaze shifted from Ellin to elsewhere, like someone who had spotted good prey.

“Perfect. He seems to be coming this way.”

When Ellin turned her head, Alment Garcien was indeed approaching them.

“Ellin. No matter how much you like it, your expression is too obvious right now.”

Just after whispering in her ear, he fixed his gaze on Alment Garcien with an aristocratic smile.

“Your Grace.”

Alment, who seemed to have already recognized the Duke, greeted him first with proper etiquette.

“My wife seems to admire your excellent skill. She can’t take her eyes off the painting.”

Alment bowed his head once with a humble smile at the young and charming Duke’s words.

“This is the first time I’ve envied the Queen. To become the subject of your painting.”

He let out a hearty laugh at Ellin’s too honest words.

“You’re an interesting person. It’s my honor to meet you again, my lady.”

Ellin was puzzled by his words.

“Pardon? Me? When have we met before?”

The sense of déjà vu she felt earlier when they crossed paths wasn’t a mistake after all.

Ellin tilted her head with an apologetic smile.

“I feel like I’ve seen you somewhere too, but I’m not sure exactly where.”

“At the royal engagement party, when we bumped into each other……”

Before he could finish, Ellin remembered that day.

“Ah! I remember now!”

The memory became clear with that small clue.

‘Right. Now I understand. He stared at me intently after we bumped into each other. Did he say I resembled someone he knew?’

Though it was a brief moment that day, it still remained in her mind. His surprised expression, that face.

‘Who did he mistake me for? I’ve never been told I resemble anyone except my deceased mother.’

She started to feel curious now.

“My wife also paints. She’s gained quite a reputation.”

When the Duke introduced Ellin with a shrug of his shoulders, she tried to stop her husband with her eyes, feeling embarrassed.

Even in front of a genius painter, Dominic proudly boasted about how well his wife painted, unconcerned.

While Ellin herself wanted to hide in a mouse hole, a broad smile appeared on Alment Garcien’s lips.

“I can feel how much the Duke cherishes and loves his wife.”

Then he spoke to Ellin.

“I already knew from His Majesty Jonathan that the Duchess also paints. I’ve been wanting to see your work someday.”

“That’s fortunate. In that case, I’d like to invite you to the ducal residence.”

Dominic, sharp as a hawk catching prey, didn’t miss this opportunity either.

“Since we’re on the subject, how about tomorrow? I’ll send a carriage to where you’re staying. We could have lunch together at the ducal residence.”

Ellin thought Alment would find it awkward and decline her husband’s offer.

Inviting someone to their home so suddenly, just a day in advance.

It might not be polite to him.

“It would be an honor. I’d love to visit the Linderto ducal residence since you’ve invited me.”

However, Ellin was more surprised by his unexpectedly enthusiastic acceptance.

“Excellent. Then we’ll be expecting you tomorrow.”

“Yes. I’ll visit you tomorrow. Well then.”

After this sudden invitation was made, Alment bowed and left.

Dominic smiled with satisfaction as he watched him disappear into the crowd.

“What just happened?”

Ellin looked up at her husband as if she still couldn’t believe tomorrow’s appointment that had been decided in an instant.

“Alment Garcien visiting our mansion.”

She was once again amazed by the Duke’s aggressive execution.

* * *

The next day, the carriage carrying Alment Garcien entered the long tree-lined path leading to the ducal residence.

Looking at the beautiful mansion visible through the window, he became lost in thought.

‘She really resembles her. After talking to her yesterday, they seem even more identical.’

He recalled a woman he had known in the past. And like the same painting, that woman and the Duchess overlapped into a single image.

‘Could it be.’

He wanted to learn more about the young Duchess’s background, but for some reason, people’s expressions weren’t pleasant when he casually asked about her family.

Besides learning that she came from the ruined Nilson family, he couldn’t get any other information about the Duchess.

Some responded with reluctance, suggesting there was nothing good to learn about that family.

He didn’t ask further, as it seemed strange for a foreign visitor to inquire about the Duchess.

‘A lady from a ruined family became a Duchess. What circumstances must have surrounded the young ducal couple?’

He wondered if perhaps the class distinctions in this kingdom had become less rigid than when he was young.

Or perhaps the Duke loved her enough to overcome all difficulties.

He reminisced about a brief, passionate love he once had with a beautiful noble lady during his stay in this kingdom.

The love between himself, a poor artist, and a noble lady was almost impossible.

Moreover, he was a foreigner.

Her parents came to find him and threatened that if he didn’t leave immediately, they would rather throw their daughter out of the house.

They told her to decide whether to abandon her status and family to run away and live unhappily, or to part ways at this point.

He cowardly chose the latter. He rationalized his choice with the excuse that it was for her sake.

He only heard that she had hastily married some nobleman right after he left.

Afterward, he never tried to find out about her. He deliberately avoided it. Knowing would only hurt his heart more.

While reminiscing about that sad, brief, unfulfilled love, the carriage had already stopped in front of the mansion’s entrance.

“We’ve been waiting for you. I’ll escort you.”

Alment entered the ducal residence following what appeared to be a capable butler.

He had expected a grand and rigid atmosphere from the kingdom’s historic ducal family, but the mansion was surprisingly bright and beautiful.

Excellent artworks were noticeable throughout, fitting for a place where the previous Duchess had deep artistic appreciation and the current Duchess also painted.

“You really came.”

A bright voice was heard from somewhere, and the ducal couple walked down the corridor together.

They were a happy, harmonious family—the Duke who seemed like he could be a reliable pillar at any time, his wise and lovely wife, and even their child who resembled both of them perfectly.

“My lady. Your Grace.”

He bowed again in greeting to the ducal couple.

“What shall we do? I’ve invited you here only to be rude. Something urgent has come up that requires me to go to the palace.”

The Duke had already prepared to go out and was holding his hat in his hand. His face clearly showed genuine awkwardness and regret.

“If the palace is calling for you, you must hurry there. Please don’t worry about me.”

At his words, Dominic finally seemed relieved and smiled broadly while lightly embracing Ellin’s shoulders.

“My absence will probably help you two have the conversation you want. I don’t know anything about art or paintings anyway.”

It became clear that the Duke’s reason for inviting him was actually for his wife’s sake.

Alment nodded with a smile.

“Ah! One more thing.”

Dominic turned around as he was leaving, as if he had forgotten something.

“The Queen’s portrait was very impressive. If you would paint my wife, I’d pay double whatever the King paid, regardless of the amount. Of course, it would naturally become a Linderto family treasure passed down through generations. Even after hundreds of years, your portrait of the Duchess would hang in the ducal residence.”

Ellin made an embarrassed expression at her husband’s words, who as always tried to negotiate first with his business mindset.

“Honey!”

Dominic shrugged as if he didn’t understand her firm rebuke.

Alment wasn’t offended at all.

Rather, he laughed out loud and jokingly replied to the Duke.

“If you pay triple, I might consider it.”

When Dominic looked at Ellin with an “I told you so” expression, Ellin’s face turned bright red.

“I’m sorry.”

Alment waved his hand at Ellin’s apology, her ears also flushed.

“It would be an honor for me to paint a portrait of the Linderto ducal family. I think it would be nice to paint a family portrait including both of you and your adorable son.”

Ellin’s eyes widened at those words.

“Really?”

“Gladly. I would be even happier to capture such a beautiful family. I also need to stay here quite a while for some research I’m doing.”

Hearing this, Ellin’s face bloomed with a bright smile.

The moment he saw that smile, Alment once again had the illusion that something was wrong with his eyes.

He saw the woman he had loved overlapping with the Duchess.

“Perhaps……”

He started to ask something but shook his head. A bitter smile remained on his lips.

He had heard that the Duchess’s mother was in prison for misconduct, so she couldn’t possibly be the same woman he knew.

“By the way! You mistook me for someone last time, didn’t you? Could you tell me who that was? I’m curious because the only person who looks exactly like me would be my deceased mother.”

Ellin knew well that she resembled her mother so much that people around her often mistook her for her mother.

So she was even more curious about who he might have confused her with.

“Your mother passed away?”

He seemed quite shocked by Ellin’s answer.

“Then, if I may ask, the person who is in prison is……”

His words cast a momentary shadow across Ellin’s face.