Chapter 38
38. Like a Husband2022.01.09.
Arthur pulled up a chair and sat down right in front of Reina, so close that their knees nearly overlapped. Awkward and tense, Reina gazed at him. Arthur grasped the hand she had covering her face and drew it downward.
“…….”
Reina’s face, burdened with makeup that didn’t suit her, was fully exposed before him. Arthur silently stared at her face. Shame turned Reina’s cheeks bright red.
“…….”
Reina expected him to tease her with a short joke or burst into laughter at any moment. But Arthur remained silent, cupping her cheeks with both hands and lightly tracing his right thumb over her made-up eyelids.
“……Should I wipe it off?”
“Huh?”
“All of it?”
Arthur’s gaze dipped slightly downward before returning to her eyes, meeting them squarely.
“You don’t like it, do you?”
“…….”
Reina blinked. It should have been ridiculous. But Arthur didn’t smile even a little. Unfamiliar with his serious expression in this situation, Reina hesitated.
“……Doesn’t it look weird? My face…….”
Arthur’s lips curved into a faint, deflating smile, as if her words themselves were amusing rather than her face.
“Not really.”
Then he lightly rubbed his thumb over her eyelids.
“It does sparkle a bit more than usual.”
He lowered his hand, brushing his fingertip lightly against her lips.
“And a little redder than usual.”
Arthur smiled as he met her eyes, placing his hand on his knee.
“But you’re still pretty.”
“…….”
……Pretty? What’s pretty about it? Even knowing it was an obvious lie, her face heated up. In her flustered, ticklish state, Reina stared at him.
“……Sir Arthur, you’re surprisingly good at lip service.”
Arthur chuckled softly.
“Praising your looks doesn’t require any special lip service skills.”
He said it so casually that for a moment, she wondered if he really meant it. Stunned, Reina glanced back at the mirror.
“…….”
It was hideous. Feeling a bit wronged at the thought of being teased, she shot him a resentful look.
“……You’re a liar. Or you have no eye for beauty at all.”
Arthur let out a short laugh, then looked at her again with eyes full of amusement.
“Maybe.”
“…….”
Arthur picked up a clean white cloth from the vanity and dampened it with toner. Then he leaned in closer and began wiping her face.
“…….”
It felt awkward and embarrassing to receive such care from a man.
“……I can do it myself.”
Reina tried to subtly pull away.
“No.”
Arthur drew even closer, as if taking extra care.
“I’ll do it.”
“…….”
His other hand cradled the nape of her neck supportively. Arthur focused intently, moving the damp cloth over her face. His pale gray eyes quietly traced her features.
“…….”
He’s too close…… It’s more embarrassing than I thought. She wanted to close her eyes. But that would probably look like she was asking for a kiss. She couldn’t close them.
“…….”
This was the first time she’d shown her bare face to him. She hardly ever removed her makeup even before bed. Putting on a dress and makeup was like donning one more layer of her “Christina” mask. So revealing her completely unmade-up face to him felt strangely off. As Arthur wiped her face, he looked into her eyes and said.
“Close your eyes.”
“…….”
The position of his hands. The distance. It was too much like right before a kiss. Flustered and hesitant, Reina finally refused softly.
“……Can’t I do it myself? This is just…… embarrassing and awkward.”
“I don’t mind.”
Arthur smiled.
“Don’t you think we lack times like this?”
He sounded so much like a real husband. A kind, affectionate one. It made her feel strange. Reina tried to shake off her increasingly odd feelings and turned away as if pretending nonchalance, asking.
“……What kind of time is this?”
Time to get in the mood like we’re dating? Arthur answered.
“Time just for the two of us.”
「I want to be alone with you!\」
“…….”
One of her dark history moments with him flashed in her mind. Her face flushed hot. Reina dropped her gaze resentfully, her cheeks red.
“……You’re teasing me right now, aren’t you.”
Arthur laughed. Reina hesitated, then subtly changed the subject.
“What about the Crown Prince?”
“……Kyle? Why?”
Reina paused briefly before mumbling softly.
“I was wondering if…… I need to do my makeup again…… Will I see him today too?”
She tried not to show it, but her reluctance to see him was obvious. As he wiped away her makeup, Arthur lifted the corner of his mouth.
“You don’t need to.”
Only then did relief wash over Reina’s face. She let out a shallow sigh unconsciously. With an awkward smile of relief, she pressed her nape sheepishly. Then, belatedly checking his expression, she said softly.
“Yesterday…… the Crown Prince wasn’t upset, was he?”
Arthur refolded the cloth with a clean side and replied.
“It’s fine. Just worry about me.”
Reina couldn’t help but let out a small laugh. Was he joking that she didn’t need to stress over the Crown Prince? As Arthur applied the cloth again and continued wiping her face, he said.
“If you can’t handle alcohol, you shouldn’t have drunk so much. Is that why you collapsed at dawn on the day of the Triumphal Procession?”
“…….”
Embarrassed and unable to respond, Reina fidgeted with her fingertips. The young lady can drink well…… I’m not sure if it’s okay to admit I can’t. Reina made a subtle excuse.
“I usually drink fine…….”
Their eyes met. Ah, why is it so embarrassing? Reina averted her gaze again.
“I was just…… in a good mood…… so I got drunk faster than usual, I guess.”
Arthur chuckled softly.
“Yeah?”
It was a smile that eased the mood. With his lips curved gently, Arthur continued what he was doing and asked.
“Is there anything else I should know about you?”
He asked like a good husband again. * * * In front of the annex assigned to Rembrandt. The Crown Prince, having finished preparing to depart, stepped out before the Imperial Guard knights. Several carriages without family crests—to avoid exposing his identity—awaited him and the guards. Rembrandt and Francis saw him off modestly, shaking hands with him. Rembrandt asked with a smile.
“Have you finished preparing yourself mentally now?”
The Crown Prince smiled awkwardly, scratching the bridge of his nose.
“……I was only planning to stay one day from the start.”
Behind him, Guard Captain Sir Fairman stood silently, guarding his post without comment.
“What about Sir Arthur?”
“I already said goodbye. We’ll meet in the capital.”
The Crown Prince shrugged lightly, seeming in much better spirits after just one night. The day’s rest had clearly lightened his load. After Rembrandt, Francis also shook hands with him, followed by a brief hug.
“Travel safely.”
The Crown Prince patted Francis’s arm and smiled.
“Yeah. See you at the Imperial Palace.”
The Crown Prince asked Rembrandt.
“When are you coming back?”
Rembrandt smiled.
“Who knows. After the portrait’s done?”
The Crown Prince grimaced with a slightly displeased smile.
“Do you really have to do that? I heard the portrait schedule isn’t even progressing. From what I’ve heard, the marquis doesn’t seem in the mood to paint right now.”
That was true. Rembrandt laughed and replied.
“Still, it’s a request from His Majesty.”
“Shame. If we went together, we could’ve kept each other company and talked more.”
Rembrandt laughed without hiding his honest regret.
“Yeah.”
“Hmm.”
The Crown Prince glanced sideways at him.
“Want to come out to the outer walls with me at least? I’ll leave an empty carriage for you to ride back. We barely talked properly yesterday since it was so short.”
“Hm…… Is that okay?”
The Guard Captain nodded at Rembrandt and Kyle’s gazes. As long as Crown Prince Kyle didn’t try to escape again, he had no intention of interfering with his conversations with his cousins or half-brothers.
“I’ll say goodbye here.”
Francis indicated he’d stay at the mansion and bid the Crown Prince farewell first. He was tactfully stepping aside to let the two cousins talk freely. Aware of the consideration but fond of people, the Crown Prince felt regretful.
“Too bad. We’ll see each other again soon, right?”
“Of course. I’ll see you shortly. Take care.”
“Yeah. You too, Francis. Give my regards to Count Ford.”
“Yes. I’ll visit as soon as I arrive.”
“Good. I’ll be waiting.”
The Crown Prince finished his farewells and boarded the carriage. Rembrandt climbed into the same one. The Guard Captain took the seat beside the coachman in front of their carriage. The remaining guards boarded the other carriages one by one. It was to avoid drawing attention with a large group movement. They planned to ride to the garrison where the Crown Prince’s army awaited, then send the carriages back separately via attendants.
“Good thing there are so many carriages. He gave us five personal ones? The marquis household must be generous with guest comforts.”
Rembrandt smiled faintly as he sat across from the Crown Prince, who settled in with light admiration. It seemed the marquis had caught on to the Crown Prince’s presence. All the carriages had been suddenly prepared by the marquis with a “use them freely.” But Rembrandt said not a word of praise about the marquis to the Crown Prince. He simply planned to use them as the marquis had suggested. The Crown Prince clicked his tongue lightly in complaint.
“They should do this much for people out at war too.”
Rembrandt laughed. Tap, tap. He struck the carriage ceiling twice. The coachman cracked the whip, and the carriages set off. They soon left the mansion behind. * * * The carriages sped along the well-maintained road. The sound of hooves and wheels mingled with the lively street noise. Afternoon sunlight streamed through the windows as trees clad in autumn colors passed by.
“How’s Mother?”
The Crown Prince brought up Empress Maria first.
