A lot of things.
Have changed.
'Dylan, he loves me.'
Charlize thought.
'My feeling is… not wrong.'
But rather than joy. A strange feeling prevailed.
She doubted if it was love from the beginning, and if it was love, she thought she would use it thoroughly.
But after hearing Dylan's confession right before her eyes, she didn't know what to do…
"…"
Charlize blinked her eyes.
The bathtub is warm.
There's nothing that calms a person's mind like a winter bath.
She looked down at herself under the transparent water. The ivory-colored skin somehow turns red with warmth.
There was a time when even this body that humans naturally had was 'Kiera', a piece of iron.
[I will listen to your answer slowly, Master.]
Her ears flinched at the voice brushing past her memory.
Afraid that Charlize would refuse to confess, Dylan added only those words.
Should she call in the Emperor, who had stepped down politely?
'But one thing is certain.'
No matter what the situation is.
Charlize was going to destroy the empire.
She doesn't lose her revenge.
Someone had to pay for the sin.
She felt a little relieved when she finished taking a bath. Of course, she was confused with all kinds of thoughts, but she was usually overly excited.
It was all Charlize's responsibility to suppress that this was not the time.
"What is this?"
"His Majesty sent it."
When she returned to the Lilac Room, Mary, the maid, greeted Charlize.
"…"
Something long covered with a red cloth.
Charlize reached out and carefully removed the cloth.
Inside it, there was a canvas of a beautiful woman who was ecstatic.
"Oh, my God… It's so beautiful."
Mary admired it.
Standing absentmindedly, Charlize agreed silently.
It was a beautiful picture.
A gorgeous ash blonde that seems to be on the border between gold and silver. It is stretched out as if it were real.
Although it was just a stagnant painting that could not be felt by the touch, she could feel the delicate brushstrokes as if they were alive. Soft face skin. Moist lips.
The dreamy and subtly sparkling navy eyes are as if they contain the universe.
The neatly collected hands, and a white dress that feels harmless.
Even the subtle smile on the lips can bring any praise from the world. It was perfect.
"It's the grandmaster."
The maid next to her whispered.
'Is this me in Dylan's eyes?'
It was realistic as if she were reflected in the mirror, but just looking at it showed the painter's terrible affection.
It looked like a finished work in the picture.
She felt strange.
The signature at the bottom left of the canvas was familiar.
D&L
[D&L signature was the only characteristic of a famous artist…]
[Painted paintings that achieved the highest auction price in history…]
[All turned out to be Prince Dylan. Showing genius talent in many ways, which is beyond human common sense…]
Charlize stretched out her hand.
Touch.
She can feel the canvas of the flat painting.
Hundreds of years ago, scholars discussed and said. Dylan realized all the extremes of genius that humans can exert.
It wasn't just a painting. The delicate architectural drawings of the Vatican, which were built in reality, and innovative ideas that would change the common sense of the industry.
The achievements that Dylan turned out to have done were endless.
"There was a royal painter like this in the Empire?"
"It's amazing work."
The maids are basically of noble birth.
With advanced education, they had a deep harmony in art.
All those maids were mesmerized.
'A transcendent genius, praised to have broken all the rules in the picture.'
Of course, she didn't think it was Dylan.
But Charlize recognized it.
'Though it was already known.'
He was a real genius.
And she realized that 'love', which is read in pictures, is also sincere.
Love, yes, that's right. There was even undeniable evidence ahead of her.
"Tell His Majesty thank you."
"Where do you want to hang the picture, grandmaster?"
"On the piano? Or what about between these mirrors?"
"On the piano, please."
There was no sense of reality in answering. The composition of that painting was familiar to Charles.
When she was 'Kiera', it was displayed in the Imperial Castle and she saw it every day.
It's the 'Smile of the 7th Concubine', which renewed the highest price of the continent in the history of painting. But the model of the work was now Charlize Ronan.
***
Dylan just decided to be honest.
Of course, he was still afraid.
First, the intuition that he felt when she was asked a question at a drinking party.
'If she realizes that I love her, Master will leave me.'
He doesn't know why he feels that way.
Now, because of the fear of the unknown future, he vowed not to miss the present.
In the end, he decided not to think about it.
He didn't want to be so obsessed.
Besides, Dylan was a little impatient.
'Including Kahu.'
Many men were rationally attracted to Charlize. Now it's painful to just watch.
Charlize was popular.
It was judged that it would be more lossful to miss the timing.
Only Dylan wanted to have Charlize's heart.
The thoughts in his head. In fact, there were a lot.
Things that come to his mind even if he doesn't want to.
'If I show my possessiveness.'
It would have destroyed Charlize's surroundings and created a situation where he could only look at herself.
However,
Charlize was too strong to do so. Absolute strength that no one can force.
If Charlize hadn't been strong, Dylan thought he had no idea what he would have done. Because.
'Because, as a tyrant, she only taught me how to possess.'
If you want, take it by force. If there is an owner, take it away. There is no need to respect property.
All the words Charlize said first.
'But in the end one way or another.'
Unless it was sincere, it would all be see through.
Because it's Charlize and nobody else.
He thought he had to deliver it as it is.
It was a courtesy piano class.
Dylan entered the lilac room with a calm face.
The maids around Charlize bowed their heads in unison.
"I greet your Majesty."
"You're here, Your Majesty."
Charlize greeted him warmly.
"Yes, Master."
Dylan paid attention to the letters Charlize had been opening up until just before.
The colors of the envelopes were all pink.
'A letter of marriage.'
When a noble young master asks for marriage, he only uses a pink envelope.
The letters piled up on the table, so they were all marriage proposals.
Even if he glanced at it from a distance, he could see some contents.
「I thought an angel came down from heaven…」
「The whole world ran.」
「Love at first sight…」
「All I can think of is the grandmaster.」
「I've been loving you for a long time.」
Dylan's lips stiffened a little.
Since the maids still didn't know Dylan's feelings, they remained calm.
Charlize, who just raised her head, looked at Dylan with a slightly strange look.
"We will retreat, Your Majesty."
"Wait a minute."
After Dylan called up the maids, he strode toward Charlize.
Dylan asked Charlize for permission first.
"Master, are you uncomfortable with public courtship?"
"…No."
Charlize answered slowly.
Interesting, with a little loose smile.
Dylan smiled briefly and bowed. And he said as if the maids would listen.
"Isn't there a way for the noble young master to court the lady whom the emperor was courting?"
"Call the nobleman's messengers and tell them. I am courting the grandmaster."
However, the words of the emperor that followed were true.
The maids awoke in surprise and breathed urgently.
Some hurriedly picked up the proposal so that the emperor would not see it, and some looking at Charlize and Dylan alternately with their cheeks red.
Dylan lowered his gaze when he made eye contact with Charlize.
"Everything will be done according to Master's will."
Of course, Charlize was rather relieved by the emperor's openly exposed jealousy.
How frustrated was she that she couldn't read Dylan?
But strangely, his mouth was watering.
The maids suppressed their surprise and withdrew, and Charlize was soon left alone with Dylan.
He looks at her without saying a word.
He broke the silence.
"…I won't burden you. It won't be that different from usual, Master."
Is he trying to reassure her?
Charlize smiled as if not to worry.
"I'm fine, Your Majesty."
It's just. It's a little bit unfamiliar.
She just looked at him because he felt so distinctly like a man.
Dylan soon stood in front of the piano with smooth steps. At the silent inducement, Charlize slowly approached Dylan.
'What is this feeling?'
She thought once she knew Dylan's mind, the tension would go down. Was she mistaken?
When Dylan sat next to Charlize in the chair, her whole body was nervous.
Her senses get sensitive. It was not hot weather, but she seemed to breathe a little fast.
She gulped down. She only hoped that the sound would not be heard by Dylan playing the piano.
"Master."
"Yes."
"May I call you Charlize sometimes?"
"Do whatever you want…"
Dylan's voice was low.
Her cheeks suddenly trembled because of a series of surprises.
The emperor made eye contact and closed his eyes. It was an impulsive gaze that heated up somewhere inside.
"Would you like to try it now?"
After seeing Dylan's demonstration, Charlize followed slowly.
As if dancing, Charlize's two hands played on the piano.
It was a classic with a calm melody. Luxurious, elegant, and sensual at the same time. It was a gentle hand gesture, as if describing Charlize herself.
"You're very good."
The courting Dylan felt strangely different.
She feels like her neck is getting hot.
After all the songs were played, Charlize's hand was withdrawn. The scale of the piano was shiny.
"It's amazing growth, Master."
"It's all… thanks to Your Majesty."
The piano class was held in silence.
As Dylan said, he didn't put much pressure on her. But maybe it's because Charlize is conscious of him. She felt like her hands were sweating because she was too nervous.
She played a few songs like that.
As Charlize looked down on her palm, Dylan rang the bell. The servant informed.
"Your Majesty, this is the purene fruit you told me to prepare in advance."
'…Purene?'
Charlize looked up at the familiar word.
The painting hanging on the piano awakened Charlize's sense of reality.
This is not a dream.
Dylan really confessed his love.
Said the servant.
"We chose only the highest quality products sent from the Kingdom of Bren."
"Yeah,"
Dylan looked at Charlize.
"Master, let's have a bite."
Charlize sat at the table without refusing.
Because purene was a fruit that Charlize liked as a child.
'But I never found it when I was growing up.'
How did he find out her taste?
Even Kahu personally visited Ronan's Grand Duchy and returned without any effect.
Since it's Dylan, even if she's convinced…
"Charlize."
Charlize's thoughts were interrupted.
Dylan, who was sitting across from her, picked up a purene.
"It tastes sweet."
The moment she realized it, Dylan's hand touched Charlize's lips.
Dylan didn't really care, so Charlize's mouth naturally opened.
His finger, which smeared with sweet fruit juice, rubbed her lips.