Chereads / THE SECRET OF ETERNAL LIFE / Chapter 16 - The Painting In The Drawer!

Chapter 16 - The Painting In The Drawer!

Clara Diana stuttered, hesitantly walking towards the chair in front of Mr. Gilbert's desk. Clara Diana didn't dare look at the charismatic man in front of her. He was a powerful person and had influence in Constantine's kingdom.

Clara Diana's mind wondering why a prominent figure in an oppressive society would pay attention to a slave and give her an equal seat in this luxurious workroom, it's incredible.

Clara Diana couldn't believe what this man meant. He must have a specific goal

Clara Diana raised her gaze carefully, glancing briefly at the man's blue eyes, trying to read the meaning behind his expression. Clara Diana felt helpless, she couldn't detect Mr. Gilbert's abilities. The man had a strong inner defense.

Oh, God! Clara Diana was surprised to realize something. Mr. Gilbert was measuring her abilities.

Luckily, Clara Diana didn't use her psychic powers to see this man's supernatural abilities. Otherwise, this old man would definitely know about Clara Diana's spiritual abilities. Besides, Clara Diana didn't need to do that. In this country, Clara Diana was just a prisoner, a despised galley slave.

Mrs. Melani took another chair, she sat to the left of Mr. Gilbert.

Mr. Gilbert motioned to Mrs. Melani.

Mrs. Melani understood what her master meant.

Clara Diana's thoughts felt uncomfortable. Her heart was beating fast.

Mrs. Melani stood next to Clara Diana.

"REMOVE YOUR HAIR COVER!" Mrs. Melani ordered.

"Hah...w-what...", Clara Diana stuttered, her eyes wide open.

"Do they want to see my hair?!"_ Clara Diana was nervous.

"Do you need my help?!" asked Mrs Melani.

"N-no. T-thank you ma'am!" Clara Diana answered in a low voice. Clara Diana slowly opened the long cloth wrapping her hair.

Mr. Gilbert impatient waiting for the head covering to be removed. Finally, the head covering was removed, revealing Clara Diana's long, dark brown hair.

(Last night, when the women in the cell fell asleep under the influence of hypnosis,

Clara Diana changed her silver hair color to dark brown)

Mr. Gilbert frowned, tapping the table with his thumb, dissatisfaction visible on his face.

"Is that information wrong? She's not princess Darlene. Their hair isn't the same...!"_

Mr. Gilbert felt disappointed.

"Lift your face and take off your face covering!" The man's commanding voice echoed in the room, full of authority and dominance. An order that cannot be refused.

Clara Diana looked up, surprised to hear Mr. Gilbert's order.

She untied the cloth covering her face which was tied behind her head, then he placed the black cloth on his lap. She was silent for a moment, hesitant to remove the second mask.

Mrs. Melani's face turned red. She found out that the kitchen slave was using linen cloth (women's underwear) as a face mask.

The mask opened, revealing Clara Diana's black face. Clara Diana sighed secretly, luckily this morning she had smeared her face with black mud to cover her smooth white skin.

Mr. Gilbert turned to Mrs. Melani.

"Take her to the back, tell her to clean her face".

"Hah!"_ Clara Diana was shocked, she couldn't escape.

"Come with me!" said the elegant woman. She opened her hand to signal Clara Diana to follow her.

Clara Diana went into the bathroom and cleaned her face with water taken with a wooden ladle. The mud mask on her face was smudged. Now Clara Diana can no longer avoid it, her beautiful face will be exposed.

When Clara Diana came out of the bathroom.

Mrs. Melani was very surprised. This woman subconsciously took two steps back, until her body leaned against the wall that separated the bathroom from Mr. Gilbert's work desk.

Mrs. Melani didn't think that the kitchen slave was so beautiful. Her facial skin is smooth and soft.

When Mr. Gilbert saw Clara Diana's face, the man was surprised, Clara Diana's face reminded him of someone, long ago... in the past...

Mr. Gilbert hid his surprise, then said in a low voice,

"Put your hair cover back on and your face mask!"

Mrs. Melani and Clara were both surprised. Mrs. Melani didn't understand why Mr. Gilbert did that. Master Gilbert didn't want the galley slave's beauty to be exposed. but to be honest, the beauty of this kitchen slave is dangerous, because it will cause jealousy and bad intentions.

The room was silent for a moment, Clara Diana no longer dared to sit in that chair. The girl stood with her face lowered, her hands clasped together.

Mr. Gilbert said to Mrs. Melani,

"Take her to the back garden, task her with cleaning the place!"

"Ready, my lord!" Mrs. Melani bowed respectfully then stood up, motioned with her hand, telling Clara Diana to follow her and left the study.

"WAIT!"

Mrs. Melani and Clara Diana stopped walking.

"Give her a change of clothes!"

"Ready, my lord!" Mrs. Melani nodded respectfully, then walked out of the work room.

**"**

After Mrs. Melani and Clara Diana left, Mr. Gilbert leaned against the back of his chair. A moment later he sat up straight, opened the drawer, looked at the painting in the drawer.

"Is it true that she is princess Darlene. But... her skin and hair are not the same!"_

Mr. Gilbert's mind was filled with questions and doubts. He compared the woman in the portrait to the female slave earlier.

"Did Madame Butterfly give you the wrong information? The slave only looks like Princess Darlene. However, their hair is a different color. The dark brown color is a sharp contrast to Princess Darlene's blonde hair. Hmm... I have to confirm the girl's identity!" With a heavy sigh, Mr. Gilbert put the painting back into the drawer and closed it.

Mr. Gilbert remembered Prince Lexius, because that man,the jealous youngest princess, ordered Mr. Gilbert to get rid of the female prison guard.

"Prince Lexius! Why is that man here? Is it true that Prince Lexius was the mastermind behind the elimination of Princess Darlene? If it was true that the girl was Darlene's daughter, why didn't Prince Lexius kill the girl? Isn't princess Darlene an obstacle for Prince Lexius to become king of Alexa? Hmmm. That man is cunning, does he have any hidden plans? "_

"If it's true that the girl is princess Darlene, then I have to be careful. The stakes are high, and any mistake on my part could endanger the girl's safety!"_

"If it's true that the girl is princess Darlene, then I have to be careful. The stakes are high, and any mistake on my part could endanger the girl's safety!"_