“Then why did the Second Prince reveal to Elda that he was Jayden? Wasn’t that fact supposed to be kept hidden?”

“It was originally.”

Just then, Germo pulled out a newspaper and placed it on the desk. The publication date wasn’t today or yesterday—it was tomorrow.

He’d secretly swiped it from the print shop.

The gray newsprint that wouldn’t reach the world until tomorrow read:

Second Prince Phaios di Blanterian Avont Attended Imperial Academy from Year 143 of the Imperial Calendar!

Below the eye-catching headline, it continued:

His Highness the Second Prince has been revealed to have concealed his identity and attended the Imperial Academy under an alias starting from year 143 of the Imperial Calendar. 

According to an anonymous classmate, His Highness displayed exceptional physical and academic abilities even during his Academy days.

According to reliable testimony, some students who envied the Second Prince’s abilities at the time ostracized and even bullied His Highness. However, His Highness overcame the bullying. 

True to his aspiration to embrace all imperial citizens, he even won over the nobles who had ostracized him and maintained amicable relations with them until graduation.

The article cleverly mixed truth and lies. But the important thing was something else.

What perception the imperial citizens would form of the Second Prince after this article ran.

A Second Prince who experienced trials like being ostracized, but grew up safely and returned as a hero of the Avont Empire.

The Second Prince must have enrolled in the Imperial Academy to prove his abilities and shed the label of being the Emperor’s beloved mistress’s illegitimate child.

Since he couldn’t yet protect himself, it’s presumed he attended under an alias rather than his real name, fearing the First Prince’s faction might reach out to harm him.

Then the puzzle pieces roughly fit together.

“Good work.”

Astaire patted Germo’s shoulder with satisfaction.

Germo looked at the Duke with disbelief, then broke into a wide smile.

“Yes! Just leave it to me!”

He rarely received praise from Astaire, so being recognized by him after such a long time felt good.

“So what do you plan to do?”

“For now, let’s just watch a little longer.”

Germo was worried.

He recalled the dark expression on Duchess Seyfried’s face that he’d occasionally encountered. 

Even though she was someone he served, he secretly thought Astaire was going too far with this matter.

“Just wait.”

“Pardon?”

“My turn will come.”

If they’d found out the Duchess’s location, the priority should be going to retrieve her immediately. But Astaire only spoke incomprehensible words.

* * *

The next morning arrived.

Chirp chirp, chirp chirp. With the sound of sparrows and morning sunlight seeping through the curtains, Daphne opened her eyes earlier than anyone.

After washing up briefly in the bathroom attached to the guest room and getting dressed, she came down to the first floor.

Breakfast was already prepared when she came down. Tomer sat in front of it, reading the newspaper while drinking coffee.

Daphne exchanged light morning greetings with him and quickly ate breakfast.

Seeing Daphne’s empty bowl, Tomer folded his newspaper.

“Well then, are you ready for your first day at work, Daphne?”

“Yes.”

When he asked with a grin, Daphne nodded while wearing what could be called a resolute smile.

The gallery where Tomer worked—and where Daphne would work from now on—wasn’t far from their house.

After walking about ten minutes, a gallery building painted pure white soon revealed itself.

“Welcome to Belinda Gallery.”

Tomer spread both arms at the gallery entrance and smiled welcomingly.

Inside, various aesthetic paintings were displayed at regular intervals. The atmosphere was completely white and quiet, allowing total concentration on appreciating the artwork.

Daphne walked slowly and exclaimed in admiration.

This would be her workplace from now on.

A space where she would work on her own, not with Astaire’s help.

The feeling was extraordinary.

“There aren’t that many works, but we’re recognized as a substantial gallery for a small city. We have quite a few visitors and people wanting to purchase works.”

Times had changed now, and art was no longer the exclusive domain of nobles.

Wealthy commoners were starting to buy art for showing off, and some people who caught the scent of money early were investing in undervalued artworks or sponsoring promising artists to plan for the future.

So even if Daphne couldn’t see the future, she thought she’d be fine if she learned this art-related business well from the man.

“For now, look around overall and observe what kinds of works our gallery exhibits and sells. I’ll go do my work in the meantime.”

“Yes!”

Tomer seemed busy with work—after giving Daphne a tour of the gallery, he disappeared immediately. He seemed apologetic for not being able to explain the gallery more properly to Daphne, but Daphne was fine with it.

She never forgot anything she saw or heard once anyway.

There were many aesthetic and beautiful artworks.

From emerging artists whose names were mentioned in social circles to well-known popular artists. The range of exhibited works was quite broad. Yet it was interesting to see this gallery’s own character according to the categorized sections.

Daphne quickly finished touring the gallery and returned to Tomer’s office. He pointed to one wall of the room and said.

“After you finish looking around, you can read the books on this wall. They’re various art theory, criticism, and art history books, so they’ll help a lot while working.”

Then he returned to his paperwork, seemingly having much to do.

Daphne pulled out the thickest book from the bookshelf.

If I’m going to read, I should read something like this.

She speed-read through the thick book of over 500 pages in an instant. Then she read the next book beside it. After that, another book. And another.

After reading books like that for a while, the sun had already set.

“How’s the studying going?”

“Ah… yes.”

“Feel free to ask if you’re curious about anything. For today, just think of it as getting used to the workplace and relax. I’ll teach you the work properly starting tomorrow.”

“Yes, sounds good.”

Daphne answered with sparkling eyes.

It was a field she’d never once thought about trying in her life, but that’s precisely why it interested her.

Diving n*ked without any equipment into a new world like a vast ocean was both frightening and exciting at the same time.

“Oh my, I almost ran late.”

Suddenly looking at his watch, Tomer hurriedly tidied his desk and stood in front of the mirror, hastily adjusting his clothes.

“Where are you going?”

“I have to meet a key client of our gallery. It’s a very important appointment.”

“Yes, have a good meeting.”

Even as Daphne nodded, Tomer kept touching and retouching his hair. Must be a very important client.

Thinking lightly about it, Daphne concentrated on reading her book again, then headed to the exhibition hall. There, Tomer was conversing with a client.

Just then, Daphne’s eyes momentarily met with the client standing in front of Tomer.

Tomer’s gaze naturally turned toward Daphne too. Tomer beckoned Daphne with his hand, and when she approached, he said amiably to the client.

“This is a gallery staff member who started working today.”

“Hello.”

Daphne greeted Tomer’s client. Since he’d repeatedly said this was an important client, it seemed good to make a favorable impression on him going forward.

“So you don’t have the artwork I’m looking for?”

“Hmm, well…”

Buttons fastened up to his chin, sharp eyes, and even glasses that made those eyes shine even more keenly.

Even at a glance, the client looked extremely picky.

“The work like <Cottage on the Hill> you mentioned before hasn’t come in yet, so when a similar work comes into our gallery, I’ll definitely contact you first…”

“Are you looking for a work like <Cottage on the Hill>?”

Just then, Daphne asked a question.

Both Tomer’s and the client’s eyes fixed on her.

Daphne pretended not to notice their surprise and continued speaking smoothly without pause.

“For works with a similar style, there’s <Apples and Pears>. That work had its first exhibition at a gallery in the capital in year 103 of the Imperial Calendar and caused a sensation among critics at the time. After passing through three collectors, it’s now displayed here at Belinda Gallery.”

“Daphne, how did you…?”

Tomer whispered in her ear from beside her.

Daphne just smiled silently.

Even for a small gallery, there were hundreds of works including those stored in the collection room. Tomer looked at Daphne with amazement—she’d remembered all of them and even made an accurate recommendation to the client.

Of course, all of that was as easy as breathing for Daphne.

“Ah, there was such a painting? May I see it?”

“Yes, please follow me and I’ll guide you.”

Daphne even helped guide the client without hesitation. Tomer followed behind her as she walked forward step by step without pause. Soon Tomer whispered in her ear again.

“Do you know where <Apples and Pears> is in the storage? You won’t be familiar yet, so I’ll take care of the rest.”

Tomer looked somewhat apologetic for having her—who’d just started today—do what he should properly be doing.

Daphne smiled and whispered to Tomer.

“It’s okay. It’s in Room 17 in the basement, section 187-A.”

“That’s right, but… wait, how do you know that? Even I would have to check the storage records once.”

“There are ways.”

Of course, Daphne didn’t reveal that she had perfect recall. She planned never to reveal it—not now, not later, not ever.

She didn’t want to be used like before anymore.

Heading to the storage room, Daphne made a firm resolution.

That night, Daphne successfully helped Tomer complete a transaction with an important art buyer.

“Well done, Daphne. You worked very hard today.”

“Not at all, Mr. Belinda worked hard teaching me.”

“Oh come on, what did I even do?”

Tomer and Daphne exchanged friendly conversation while closing the storage room door.

Tomer seemed to have a lot on his mind.

“What’s wrong?”

“Well, Daphne.”

Tomer didn’t open his mouth easily. Daphne suddenly grew anxious, stopped walking, and looked at him.

“It’s just… so how was work today? It wasn’t too difficult, and there wasn’t too much to do, right?”

It was a typical question for the first day of work, but she felt a strange sense of déjà vu. Daphne observed Tomer’s oddly anxious expression for a moment before answering.

“No. Of course it wasn’t easy, but it was fun. I even thought I was doing rewarding work.”

“I see. That’s really good. So, about that. Won’t you continue working at our gallery from now on?”

So that’s what he’d been building up to say. But Tomer seemed somehow nervous.

“Yes. Of course.”

“What a relief!”

Tomer even let out a sigh of relief, truly relieved. Why? Daphne made a puzzled expression.