"It's overwhelming...."
It was a work depicting a scene of war. The blood-stained sky and the countless corpses of soldiers lying on the ground showed the tragedy of war, but the eyes of a man like the god of war standing above were filled with the will to end all the tragedy. The vitality of the long howling horse with the front feet high, the will to win and the sense of great responsibility on the faces of the men leading the soldiers, the various expressions on the faces of the soldiers who trusted him and follows him and the gnashing of teeth of the people who wanted to help them even with their farming tools. . . . . when I see something like this, I'm speechless. but then someone spoke for me.
"The attitude of appreciating a work of art is really. . . . unconventional."
"Uh?"
Unexpectedly, Killian was approaching.
"This is... What brings you here?"
"What's so weird that I came to appreciate the art in my house?"
"Ah… That's also true."
"Well, the Riegelhoff's aren't really interesting into art, so it's kind of a surprise to you that a place like this exists."
He's so mean.
'There's nothing like this in your house, right?' It's not like he teasing me.
If she wasn't in a position where she had to save her life from Killian, she would have snapped at him for being conceited. In other words, she is not in a position to do that right now.
"You're right. They even changed this artwork once a month, right? it's really a great collection."
Even though she gave him a surprised look, Killian's expression didn't improve much.
"How do you feel about appreciating the work?"
Instead, Killian looked up at the large piece together and asked.
"I feel overwhelmed. there are so many emotions from so many people in this piece, and it's hard to believe that it could have been imagined by one artist."
I gained a little more courage as Killian nodded his head with a frown.
"War is a tragedy, but I see the protagonist of the painting, which shows a noble will to end this tragedy. Everyone looking up to him and following him, and he. . . . . doesn't seem to be pleased with the compliments of others. I don't think he'll be happy even if he wins. Because war isn't something you can be happy about even if you win."
"War is a tragedy no matter how you wrap it up. The hero who led the war to victory is the one who knows it best."
I nodded at his words. Killian glanced at me and belatedly added one more word.
"It is a painting to commemorate my grandfather's victory in the war against the Yanok Kingdom. The model of man who leads the soldiers is my grandfather."
"Ah. . . . . .!"
"I didn't expect it, but I guess you didn't know it at all."
"Yes. I didn't know."
Killian's brows frowned even more at the fresh acknowled.
"I've never heard of you enjoying art, so why are you here?"
"As you get older, your tastes change. I wasn't that interested in it before, but it's been growing on me since before we got married. but there's a place like this in the Duke's estate. Can i just let it go?"
I shrugged it off and got up. Then i moved on to the next piece.
"So, do you have a favorite author?"
killian unexpectedly asked me what I liked. it seemed like a great opportunity to get close to him, but unfortunately, I don't know any authors in this world. Even if you were the original author, you wouldn't have set the artists name, so how would I know that?
"It's embarrassing, but as I said earlier, I just started getting interested in it, so I don't know of any writers."
". . . . . . .Not at all?"
"Yes."
He sighed low and turned his attention back to the artwork. He shakes his head in disbelief. You really know how to put people at ease. I thought to myself, "Let's just finish the painting" rather than bother him for nothing, and then I focused on my appreciation again. Then I forgot that Killian was next to me.
"Oops!"
Because of that, I made a sound without realizing it in front of a picture that seemed to have painted a scene in a myth. It was because the shepherd boy in the painting, who looked about fifteen years old, looked exactly like Killian. Killian was also embarrassed when he sneaked up on me, perhaps curious about my reaction.
"When I was young, I had no choice but to be a model at the request of my father close painter!"
Killian made an excuse, but when I found something to make fun of, I turned my head as if I hadn't heard him and put on a serious face.
"hmph. . . . ."
"What is it?"
"It's nothing."
"I asked what it was."
"It's no big deal. just. . . . ."
"Just. . . . . .?"
"I'm still wondering if it's still that big."
Then i moved on to the next picture. The shepherd boy was dressed in a gauzy robe, revealing almost all of his naked body, and of course, his little 'precious one' was drawn as well. Turning back to the painting, Killian blushed and protested.
"The body of the picture is not me as a model!"
"Ah. I see."
"Isn't it obvious? there is no way a nobles son would be naked in front of a painter!"
"Hmmmm..... I guess so."
I could feel Killian's teeth clenching together as he continued in a disbelieving tone of voice. To be honest, i wanted to burst out my laughing in front of him, but I bit my lip and held it together. That might have made him even more angry.
"What the hell, you're a hard person to discuss art."
Killian criticized me, then turned around and walked away. I laughed alone as I saw him go out. Actually, it's not so bad when you're trying to save your life, but it's a little too stark to live without a joke like this.
"But it must be much bigger than that now, right?"
I glanced at the shepherd boy's barn and burst into laughter again.
* * *
It had already been more than two months since I was possessed by Edith. Whether a person's adaptability is amazing or because i has Edith's memory, I've adapted much better to this world than I thought. The stares seemed to fade away as I stayed calm, and my days became more peaceful.
'I wish I could live like this.'
I would often lean against the contest and railing to look at the garden spread out downstairs. Of course, it was necessary to check in advance whether Lizzy's tea time was held on the balcony of the great hall. I also visited the garden outside the mansion. As spring came, it felt so good to feel the energy of life rising just by walking in the garden. The smell of grass everywhere and the small flowers blooming slowly seemed to soothe my tired soul. However, the most enjoyable part for walking is the trail near the training grounds in the morning. I took a walk down that road by myself again today. I could tell someone was using the training ground just by the sound of the blades clashing. I was taking a walk pretending I didn't know anything, but after making sure that no one was around, I ran and hid myself among the garden trees that the gardener had cut with his artistic spirit.
'This is why I take a walk in the garden.'
Squatting down on the floor of the less leafy side of the garden tree, I began to peek the training ground through the gap.
'My husband looked healthy as well today.'
Spying on Killian, who takes off his clothes and training, was my hobby that I had just started. I was across this road by accident, and it was the first time I saw him without his clothes on, I thought my nose was going to bleeding.
'I can't believe I'm the only one watching this gracious scene. . . . I'm felt sorry for the them
No matter how many times I see it, it's always a thrill! always fresh! handsome is the best! I really want to wave a glow stick. I didn't know a man with a huge chest, and full of muscles was this cool. That's why he's so cool. Look at those muscles that are clearly split. With a bumpy and furious back, Apollonian dimples as wide as arrows. . . . . the last time i saw was the shepherd boy in Sistine Hall, he must have gotten a lot grown up than that.
"Ha.. he may be an asshole, but he's really handsome. after all, my taste Killian rather Cliff."
Cliff, who's training on the other side, taking off his clothes to, it's more finely angled than Killian's. I'm sure some people like that kind of body, but I like rounded and firm muscles like Killian. I appreciated his burning muscles following his vigorous movements for a while until my squatting legs began to tingle, and I realized it was time to go back.
'I enjoyed looking around today, too.'
I was about to get up to leave after saying goodbye in my heart, but Killian looked up somewhere, smiled, and waved slightly.
"Uh. . . . . .?"
My heart was about to fall out. Even though I was looking at him from a distance, I could see his eyes narrowing and the corner of his mouth curled up in a cool smile. And that his smiling face is so beautiful. . . . .it wasn't until he turned around again that I saw where he was looking.
'Oh, it's Lizzy.'
In the direction he was looking earlier, Lizzy was waving at them.
'Yeah, well, there's no one else beside Lizzy who will make Killian smiling like that.'
After realizing that, I sat there blankly for a while.
My head knew that i had to get up now and go back to the mansion, but I couldn't do anything because I kept thinking of Killian smiling.