Chapter 8.3

The subject appeared to be in her early twenties. Wearing a sparkling tiara and a pink dress, the young woman in the portrait filled Andrea’s vision. She seemed to be the owner of the countless luxurious items in the room, smiling down at Andrea as if to greet her. As if she had been waiting to meet her.  

Andrea’s cheek twitched as she stared up at the painting. Goosebumps ran down her entire body. It wasn’t the size of the painting that overwhelmed her. Nor was it the mere existence of the portrait that startled her.  

“…Maria.”  

“Yes, Miss.”

“That woman… doesn’t she look a bit like me?”  

It was because the woman’s appearance bore a striking resemblance to Andrea. Dark hair, blue eyes, skin as pale as porcelain, and delicate, fine facial features. Unlike Andrea, who exuded a mysterious and elegant beauty, the woman in the painting had a bright and youthful aura. Still, when examining each feature closely, they were undeniably similar.  

As Andrea stared blankly at the painting, fragments of a conversation she had with Frederick flashed through her mind.  

“I’m Andrea Heathridge.”  

“I’ve been eager to meet you.”  

“Me?”  

“I once saw you from a distance. You were wearing a pale pink dress and conversing with someone. That day, I was deeply impressed. Do you recall when that was?”  

Andrea murmured softly as she looked at the dress the woman in the painting was wearing.  

“A pink dress…”  

She also recalled what he had said when he handed her the box containing the tiara in the imperial garden.  

“It’s one of my treasures. And now, I wish to give it to you.”  

Andrea’s gaze slowly shifted upward. Confirming the familiar ornament on the woman’s head, Andrea whispered with a sigh,  

“The tiara…”  

Perhaps it was all a misunderstanding. Maybe she was just forcing the puzzle pieces in her hand to fit together. Hearing about something and vaguely imagining it was entirely different from seeing the evidence with her own eyes and touching it with her hands. The sight before her, far exceeding her imagination, might be causing her to misinterpret even Frederick’s casual words.  

Andrea struggled to calm her startled heart. She had declared it boldly to both Michael and Maria, hadn’t she? That it wasn’t a marriage born out of love, so it didn’t matter. After all, both Frederick and she harbored feelings for someone else, so they could endure it. Like most noble couples of the Hecet nobility, they could maintain a distant and indifferent relationship.  

‘I’ve now seen the depths of Frederick with my own eyes. There’s nothing left to surprise me. I know all his weap*ns, so I should be able to endure…’  

Andrea’s train of thought, which had been trailing off like an excuse, was interrupted by Maria.  

“My Lady.”  

Andrea turned to meet Maria’s gaze. The next moment, Andrea’s eyes widened. Maria, who stood a few steps away, had tears streaming down her face. In a voice tinged with sobs, Maria asked,  

“Are you truly going to choose this life here?”  

“…”  

“Of course, there are worse lives out there. The man you meet after escaping Earl Byron might turn out to be even worse. Perhaps the Earl’s heart might gradually turn toward you, and he might never lose the kindness he shows now.” 

Maria took a short breath before continuing.  

“Perhaps it won’t be the worst. Maybe it won’t be as bad as you imagine.”  

“…”  

“But are you truly willing to bet the rest of your life on that possibility? Is it worth that much?”  

Maria’s piercing words made Andrea’s eyes waver. Maria strode toward her and firmly grasped Andrea’s arms. Meeting her gaze with reddened eyes, Maria spoke,  

“I didn’t stop you when you had secret meetings with His Highness, the Crown Prince. Even though, had the master found out, I would’ve been the first to be punished.”  

“Maria.”  

“I’ve watched you since your girlhood, but I’ve never seen you happier than when you were on your way to meet His Highness. Your face would light up whenever you talked about him. It sparkled. Anyone could see that you were deeply in love.”  

After steadying her hurried breathing, Maria continued.  

“I didn’t stop you even when you decided to leave His Highness. In fact, I welcomed it. I hoped you’d meet a man who could return your love. Better that than clinging to a hopeless relationship.”  

“…”  

“Perhaps to you, I’m nothing more than a servant. And that’s fine. But, My Lady, though you might find this presumptuous and grow angry, I’ve always cherished you like family.”  

Andrea quickly shook her head.  

“No, Maria. Don’t say that. You’re so precious to me.”  

“Then, My Lady, please forgive me for being a little presumptuous. Because this is my heartfelt advice.”  

Andrea slowly nodded. Maria tightened her grip on Andrea’s arms.  

“Don’t grow accustomed to unhappiness. Please don’t.”  

Maria’s words made Andrea’s pupils dilate. It felt as though someone had struck her hard on the back of her head. Her mind went blank.  

“Don’t grow accustomed to unhappiness…”  

“Yes. As though the good things in the world were never meant to be yours, as though you weren’t suited for happiness… It’s too soon to resign yourself and give up. You still have so much life ahead of you.”  

“…”  

“Don’t settle for the lesser evil. Always strive for the best, the very best. Just as you once approached His Highness, the Crown Prince, wanting to stay by his side.”  

Maria’s blunt honesty seemed to pierce through Andrea, finally snapping her out of her daze. The fog clouding her mind lifted, and her vision became vividly clear. The chaotic thoughts in her head suddenly organized themselves. Her heart began to pound fiercely.  

Seeing Andrea’s expression, Maria smiled gently and spoke in a soft voice.  

“I want you to be happy, My Lady. Truly.”  

Andrea suddenly remembered that Maria had said the same thing before. It must have been the day Michael’s words had hurt her. That day, too, Maria had smiled warmly and said,  

“Young Lady, I just want you to be happy.”

“…”  

“Whether it’s him, Earl Byron, or someone else entirely… I hope you meet a man who cherishes you. Someone who sees you for who you truly are. I know it’s not something that always works out as we wish, but…”

“Thank you, Maria.”  

“And if it really comes to it, you could just say to h*ll with it and run away!”

As Andrea slowly reflected on her past conversation with Maria, her eyes widened. Her tear-filled gaze wavered like a candle in the wind. After a long moment of deep thought, Andrea slowly parted her red lips.  

“Maria, I have a favor to ask.”  

*** 

“What? Who?”  

The Emperor leaned forward abruptly, as though about to fall. It was the moment his peaceful dream of enjoying a relaxed glass of wine in the drawing room was shattered. Slamming his glass onto the table, he urgently demanded,  

“Say that again. You want to get married? You? All of a sudden?”  

“Yes, Father.”

The cause of the Emperor’s sudden outburst was none other than his only son, Michael Cherleus Hecet. However, Michael, who was calmly brushing his fingers over the embossed patterns on the sofa’s armrest, remained unperturbed. With a slight smirk, he opened his mouth to speak.

“Why are you so surprised? Wasn’t it you, Father, who told me to stop playing around and produce an heir since I’ve reached the proper age for marriage?”

“When did you ever listen to me so well? It’s unsettling because you’re doing something you’ve never done before, you rascal!”

Though the Emperor scolded Michael, he couldn’t hide the pleased smile spreading across his face. Leaning heavily toward the table, he began to fire off questions.

“You said you didn’t like it… but after meeting her a few times, you found she wasn’t so bad?”

At the Emperor’s words, Michael raised an eyebrow.

“I never once said I disliked her.”

“Are you going to deny it now? It seems you’ve conveniently erased from your memory how you protested vehemently when I told you to consider the lady.”

“The lady?”

Michael tilted his head in confusion but soon smiled knowingly.

“I wondered what you were talking about. But you’ve glossed over the most important detail.”

Michael locked eyes with the Emperor and began to speak.

“The person I want to marry is not Lady Fiarenti.”

“Not her?”

Deep furrows appeared on the Emperor’s brow.

“Then who do you intend to marry? There’s been no report of you speaking with any woman other than the Lady Fiarenti recently…”

The Emperor was so flustered that he inadvertently revealed he had been covertly monitoring Michael’s relationships. However, Michael, unfazed, spoke nonchalantly.

“Andrea Heathridge.”

“Heathridge… The Marquis of Heathridge?”

“Yes, I plan to marry the daughter of the Marquis of Heathridge.”

The Emperor’s mind began to race. Despite having compiled a list of suitable matches for Michael, the name “Andrea Heathridge” felt unfamiliar. It was odd since he would have surely taken note of a young lady from a house as prominent as Heathridge.