Chapter 43

When dancing, if you mess up one step, you often stumble through the entire song.  

Today was such a day for Sabrina.  

Chase, noticing her awkwardly shifting her gaze here and there, asked worriedly,  

“Sabrina, are you feeling unwell? Did you push yourself too hard when you should’ve rested more?”  

Sabrina quickly shook her head.  

“No, I’m fine.”  

“Your face is red.”  

“Sahel is a bit more humid than Belfort. It’s just the heat.” 

Sabrina replied with a light laugh, fanning herself with her hand.  

Her skin, flushed with a warm glow since earlier, felt hot to the touch.  

In response, Chase readily offered,  

“Then I’ll bring you something cool to drink.”  

At his words, Sabrina jumped up, waving her hands in protest.  

“No! I should be the one bringing something to you, Your Majesty. What are you saying?”  

But Chase firmly shook his head.  

“It’s fine. Does it matter who takes care of whom? Besides, it’s a gentleman’s duty to look after his partner.”  

He gestured to the chair beside him.  

“Sit and rest, Sabrina.”  

Ignoring her protests, Chase left, leaving Sabrina to collapse into the chair.  

‘Why is he being so sweet today?’  

The issue wasn’t Sahel’s weather—it was Chase.  

Today, Chase’s behavior was markedly different from usual. Almost embarrassingly so.  

Though he was always considerate of his partner, it was typically within the bounds of manners. As Emperor, his priority was fostering relationships with others, occasionally checking on Sabrina’s well-being as a secondary concern.  

But today…  

‘I feel like I’m his top priority.’  

Sabrina could clearly sense it. Chase’s every glance and gesture seemed entirely focused on her.  

Dancing with her to the music, exchanging silly jokes and laughing together—  

It was as if those moments were the sole purpose of his presence here. He was relaxed and kind to an unusual degree.  

Though he occasionally conversed with others, he would return to her side within minutes.  

And then he would lean in close, whispering softly by her ear.  

“I find talking to you the most fun, after all.”

Recalling the faint scent of him lingering nearby, Sabrina’s face flushed even redder.  

‘Get a grip. Pull yourself together!’  

Sabrina scolded herself, stomping her feet lightly under her skirt.  

Normally, even if Chase acted oddly, she would be the first to regain composure and steady the situation.  

After all, she was well aware of Chase’s overly kind tendencies.  

The problem was the earlier incident.  

The sense of relief she felt when held in his arms, the unfamiliar closeness—  

Like an overripe fruit in the summer heat, her softened heart had been completely shaken by a single compliment.  

From that moment on, every word or gesture from Chase seemed to strike a nerve, leaving her overly sensitive.  

‘This won’t do. I need to stay focused.’  

Sabrina patted her cheeks lightly.  

‘If I let my guard down and make a mistake, then what?’  

Looking down at the delicate fabric of her dress, Sabrina nodded resolutely.  

“This won’t do. I can’t let this continue.”  

***

“Good morning, Your Majesty.”  

“Ah, good morning.”  

Chase tilted his head slightly at Sabrina’s greeting. His expression seemed to say, ‘Something’s different.’

Sabrina suppressed a smile.  

‘Yes, this is it.’  

She smiled with satisfaction.  

Yesterday had taught her an important lesson: deviating from her usual behavior only led to trouble.  

‘Stick to what I know. Be myself.’  

She decided to return to her mindset from her early days as the youngest aide, when work was her sole focus.  

Her hair was pulled back tightly, almost painfully so. She wore no makeup, leaving her face bare and simple. Her outfit, though neat, was plain and unremarkable.  

Returning to that state after so long seemed to calm her previously restless heart.  

“…Cute.”  

From behind her, Chase muttered something under his breath.  

“Pardon?” 

“Hm? Oh, nothing.” 

Chase smiled vaguely, shaking his head.  

‘It’s probably nothing important.’  

Sabrina tilted her head slightly before diving into the main topic.  

“The artworks we’re viewing today—are they all owned by the state?”  

“As far as I know, yes. Art doesn’t seem to be as popular in Sahel as it is in Belfort. There aren’t many prominent collectors here.”  

Today, Sabrina and Chase planned to visit a hidden underground gallery within the royal palace.  

The King, having heard of Chase’s interest in art, had generously offered to showcase his collection.  

Sabrina glanced around curiously.  

“Then the painting we’re looking for must be here, unless something unusual happened.”  

“Exactly.”  

The two were searching for a specific painting—the one engraved on the back of a pendant.  

It was unlikely that Heider, known for his cunning and secrecy, would have chosen the image without reason.  

At that moment, a slender young man with a mustache hurried toward them.  

[My apologies for keeping you waiting! I was preparing a few additional pieces…]  

Sabrina smiled warmly and replied,  

[Not at all. We didn’t wait long. Thank you for your help today.]  

The art expert led them confidently, walking ahead.  

[This artist was captivated by the vivid colors of the setting sun…]  

The King’s collection was objectively impressive. Each piece was stunning, worthy of admiration.  

If they had come purely for leisure, it would have been an immensely satisfying experience.  

But today, Chase and Sabrina had a different purpose.  

‘It doesn’t seem to be here, does it?’  

‘Not sure.’  

The two exchanged subtle glances, their expressions troubled.  

An hour had passed since they began exploring the gallery, and just as Chase and Sabrina were beginning to lower their expectations, the man standing in front of a door leading to a new room cleared his throat and began speaking.  

[The next piece you’ll see is by Sahel’s most beloved artist, Kruel Guillotine. The title of the work is 『Delusion』, and it has become even more famous due to its intriguing backstory.]  

They say humans possess a sixth sense.  

Intuition.  

A subtle perception that defies explanation through the five senses yet undeniably exists.  

The moment the guide began explaining the painting, a tingling sensation coursed through Chase and Sabrina’s skin.  

This is it.  

They felt a powerful certainty that the painting they’d been searching for all along lay beyond this door.  

They hadn’t even seen the painting yet, nor had it been described in detail, but the feeling was unmistakable.  

“…”  

Exchanging meaningful glances, Chase and Sabrina gave each other a small nod.  

Creak.  

The guide slowly pushed open the heavy door, revealing a dimly lit room.  

On stark white walls hung rows of paintings.  

But the two of them had eyes only for one particular painting.  

“This is the piece.”

The art expert announced.  

He stopped in front of the painting titled 『Delusion』 and led them directly to its center, beginning his detailed explanation.  

[At first glance, this painting seems to depict a passionate dance between lovers on a beautiful beach. But upon closer inspection…]  

His finger pointed to a specific part of the painting.  

[The woman’s face is smeared black, twisted like a mummy. It appears as though she’s screaming.]  

He gestured toward the top part of the painting, continuing his explanation.  

[The beautiful sunset reflected on the sea, with its unique brushstrokes, almost looks like dripping blood.]  

[It does seem that way.]  

[The true brilliance of this painting lies in how it evokes completely different emotions depending on the viewer’s distance. From afar, it looks beautiful and romantic, but the closer you get, the more intense and brutal the feelings it stirs. That’s why I love this piece so much.]  

The guide, his voice brimming with excitement, began elaborating on the various techniques used in the painting and its significance in art history.  

Sabrina observed the painting carefully, first from afar and then up close.  

‘Wow, it really is like that. I thought it was a beautiful and delicate painting, but up close… it feels rather eerie.’  

After folding her arms and gazing at the painting for a long while, Sabrina asked the guide a question.  

[You mentioned earlier that this painting became more famous because of its backstory. Could you tell us what happened?]  

[Ah, of course.]  

Clearing his throat, the man began his tale.  

[Guillotine was a painter infamous for his unattractive appearance. He was a hunchback of small stature and had a severe complex about his looks. He spent his life in seclusion deep in the forest.]  

Sabrina quickly translated the man’s words for Chase.  

[However, his painting style was as beautiful as an angel’s. As you can see, each brushstroke is delicate, and his use of colors creates a fantastical impression.]  

[I can see that.]  

[Then one day, Guillotine encountered a fateful love. A woman, captivated by his paintings, sought him out to learn from him.]  

Seeing Chase and Sabrina engrossed in the story, the man smiled contentedly and continued.  

[Her name was Bethany. She was a beauty with golden hair as radiant as the woman in the painting. Guillotine fell for her at first sight and accepted her as his apprentice.]  

Sabrina tilted her head and asked,  

[Did Bethany feel the same about him?]  

[Not at first. But after persistent and passionate courtship, Bethany accepted Guillotine’s proposal. They became husband and wife and were said to have a happy marriage. After marrying Bethany, Guillotine seemed to brighten considerably, hosting exhibitions and occasionally appearing in public.]  

The man lowered his voice slightly as he continued.  

[However, it seems that many men began admiring Bethany’s beauty. That was the beginning of their misfortune.]  

As Sabrina translated the guide’s words, her brow furrowed. She had a bad feeling about where this story was heading.  

‘I don’t like where this is going.’  

And sure enough, the story unfolded exactly as she feared.