Two Portraits
“Ah… Archduke Hellion…”
Archduchess Alensia’s son, Hellion, was making his way south from the Northern Archduchy to the capital.
The cold, barren Northern Archduchy lay much farther from the capital than the Southern Archduchy. Because of the distance, Hellion had no choice but to reach the Imperial Palace later than Illid.
“With the eyes of the entire empire fixed upon both myself and Hellion at this moment, I wish to proceed with the utmost caution.”
Illid continued in a serious tone.
“If I were to arrive early and enter the palace first, the nobles who thrive on gossip would have a field day. They’d whisper that I came early to curry favor with His Majesty, or that I stabbed my cousin in the back and slipped into the palace ahead of him. That sort of thing.”
Illid was right. While it remained uncertain which of the two archdukes would become crown prince, any hasty action was best avoided.
What a deeply thoughtful man he is.
I felt ashamed of myself for having interpreted his considerate behavior so superficially—as nothing more than discomfort at being alone with the Emperor.
“Still… I hope what you said earlier remains in effect.”
“What I said earlier…?”
“Your promise to show me around the Imperial Palace yourself.”
He looked at me with quiet expectation in his eyes. Once again, I felt my cheeks burn.
“Ah, yes…”
My reply was barely more than a whisper, yet he seemed thoroughly pleased.
“I came here because arriving in the capital made me think of His Highness the Crown Prince, but this has turned out to be an unexpected blessing. To think I would meet the Duchess here, of all places.”
Illid gazed at Primos’s tomb as he spoke.
“Though our time together was short, His Highness was a truly gentle soul. Perhaps because he had no siblings, he always treated me with great affection whenever we met.”
“……”
“And it seems he was equally warm toward you, Duchess. Otherwise you wouldn’t still come here alone after all this time.”
“He was a good man… His Highness truly was…”
My voice drifted into a murmur thick with memory.
“I still miss him. That kind voice of his.”
For a while, Illid and I stood in silence, simply gazing at Primos’s grave. Dandelion seeds that had bloomed around the tomb drifted on the breeze, scattering like tiny stars into the air.
“You’re not crying anymore.”
Illid glanced at me.
“It seems you no longer need comfort or handkerchiefs.”
“I have no tears left to shed.”
I tried to smile as if it were nothing, but the effort only made the expression look more bittersweet.
“Then I shall take my leave first. I will see you in three days.”
When I offered my farewell, Illid gave a small nod. Then he bent at the waist and gently pressed his lips to the back of my hand.
“Until we meet again within the palace, Duchess Wyntera.”
His eyes, still fixed on me, shimmered with that same captivating beauty that threatened to pull me under.
“Welcome back, Duchess!”
As soon as Eve stepped into the stable, Karina hurried over and took the reins. The moment our eyes met while I dismounted, her golden irises widened in surprise.
“Good heavens, why is your face so red, my lady?”
“Is my face…?”
“Honestly, staying only in the shade like that… really now…”
Karina examined my complexion and let out a deep sigh.
“Autumn sunlight is actually the most dangerous kind. Your ears and the back of your neck are completely flushed.”
She left Eve in her stall and led me behind the stable.
“There are many medicinal herbs growing around the imperial hunting grounds and the stables. Let me see… I’m sure there was some nearby…”
Karina bent low, rummaging through the grass until she plucked a small bunch of leaves and held them out to me.
“Found it! This herb is perfect for bringing down a fever. Just hold it under your nose for a moment.”
“Like this…?”
I pressed the herb beneath my nose like a mustache. A sharp, grassy scent tickled my nostrils at first, then a deep, refreshing aroma rose. When I breathed in deeply, a cool, mint-like fragrance spread through my entire body.
“Not bad at all.”
The effect was immediate. The burning heat in my cheeks cooled, and the sweat that had beaded on my forehead vanished in moments.
“I’ve never seen an herb with such a strong effect. Karina, how do you know about these things?”
“When I couldn’t afford medicine, I used to treat wounds with herbs. I even gathered them to sell at the market. That’s how I learned the properties of most common plants.”
Karina’s face lit up when I showed interest.
“This particular herb works like a fever reducer. It’s remarkably effective at lowering body heat. In midsummer, just holding it in your mouth can cool you down quite a bit.”
“I see.”
“It’s also excellent for people suffering from colds, and it draws heat out of burns. Among middle-aged ladies, it’s popular for hot flashes during menopause. And young ladies who are tormented by the fever of—”
“Cough—cough—”
A sudden sneeze sent the precious herb flying into the air.
“Duchess, are you all right? That plant shouldn’t cause sneezing!”
Karina clapped both hands over her mouth in alarm, never imagining that her own words—not the herb—were the true culprit.
The three days passed far more quickly than I had expected. The Imperial Palace buzzed with activity from dawn onward as it prepared to receive the two archdukes.
As the de facto mistress of the imperial household, I rose before sunrise to oversee preparations throughout the palace. Normally the duty of greeting imperial guests felt like an obligation, but this time was different. Though my body was tired and my nerves frayed, my heart fluttered with excitement.
“Molly, how do I look? Is it all right?”
I wore a pristine ivory dress and touched the hair the maids had so carefully arranged. Molly beamed at my reflection in the mirror and clapped her hands in delight.
“What is there even to say? Our young lady is the most beautiful of all! I wouldn’t be surprised if both archdukes fell in love with you at first sight!”
Molly, who became utterly hopeless whenever it came to me, poured out endless praise. I stood before the mirror, turning once in a slow circle as I thought of Illid.
I want to see him again—so soon.
The thought made my face flush without warning. Embarrassed at the possibility that the maids might notice, I quickly drank a glass of cold water and headed to the Emperor’s quarters to escort His Majesty.
“Ishtel, come here and look at this.”
As I entered the Emperor’s chamber, His Majesty greeted me warmly. Still only half-dressed, he took my hand and hurried me toward a thick velvet cloth.
“Look at this. Isn’t it magnificent?”
When he drew back the velvet with his wrinkled hand, two large framed portraits were revealed beneath.
“Are these not portraits of the archdukes?”
Two men gazed out from the canvases, directly at me. Illid and Hellion.
“Last night the retainers from both the Southern and Northern Duchies sent portraits of the boys. They’ve changed so much in three years that I hardly recognize them.”
“They are truly beautiful paintings, Your Majesty.”
My eyes lingered on Illid’s portrait. It was exactly as he had appeared a few days ago, smiling faintly in my direction. Those deep, ocean-like eyes and his gentle, refined features created an incredibly striking image.
Still, it doesn’t quite capture the real thing.
Next I turned to Hellion’s portrait beside it. Unlike Illid, who sat at a slight angle, Hellion stared straight forward.
Whoever painted this truly captured him perfectly.
His icy blue eyes contrasted beautifully with his vivid red hair, creating an almost mystical harmony. The arrogant yet confident expression and powerful stance made it feel as though I were truly standing before the real Hellion.
“These paintings are meant to be hung in the imperial portrait gallery. There is an empty space beside your own portrait, after all. I intend to place them there.”
His Majesty looked at me as he spoke.
“I am quite curious myself to see whose portrait will remain beside yours in the end.”
The grand welcome for the archdukes began with the sounding of a huge horn five times. The palace gates swung open, and knights stood at perfect attention to receive them. Illid and Hellion ascended the stairs leading to the throne under the escort of the knight order.
“There they are!”
Despite his frail condition, the Emperor rose from the throne himself and called out in a voice full of joy.
His gaze was fixed on the retainers and envoys marching in formation from the Southern and Northern Archduchies.
At the very front, standard-bearers held banners high against the sky—the blue flag symbolizing the South and the red flag representing the North.
Two men stood at the head of the procession. Illid wore the same teal cloak over one shoulder as on the day we first met, while Hellion was draped in a cloak of black wolf fur.
“Welcome, both of you. Illid, Hellion!”
Leaning on my arm, His Majesty approached his nephews.
“We greet Your Majesty, Emperor of the Tebron Empire.”
The two archdukes knelt and bowed before the Emperor. The retainers following them also offered deep bows.
“Rise, rise. You have traveled a long way.”
The Emperor took each nephew’s hand in turn, trying to help them stand. Yet his strength was not enough, and it ended up looking as though the archdukes were supporting him. Illid gently straightened the Emperor’s posture with a faint smile.
“It has been a long time, Your Grace Archduke Illid. And Your Grace Archduke Hellion.”
I gathered my skirts and curtsied deeply to both men. The noblewomen and maids behind me also showed proper respect to the imperial archdukes.
“Have you been well, Duchess Wyntera?”
“Yes, I have been well.”
Illid’s gentle gaze settled upon me. I returned a soft glance of my own.
“I trust Archduke Hellion has been well also?”
I turned my head slightly to look up at him. He answered with a brief nod.
“Let us go inside the palace. There is so much I wish to speak with you about.”
His Majesty took up his cane and led the way. Supporting him, I escorted the archdukes into the heart of the Imperial Palace.