In the Atelier (1)
In the Atelier (1)
For several days, Emiline barely left her atelier.
Her private atelier, set apart behind the Main Castle, was spacious and grand, befitting the prestige of the Grand Ducal family.
It was closer to a small art museum than a typical noble's atelier, and one wall featured a massive window reaching up to the ceiling, through which the cold Northern sunlight poured in softly.
Canvases of various sizes stood against every wall, and the space was filled with a mixture of completed paintings and unfinished works.
It was a space where the scent of paint, the fibrous smell of dry canvas, and the cold chill of the wind coming through the window blended in a strange harmony.
A space imbued with a light silence and gentleness.
However, over the past few days, that atelier had taken on a slightly different atmosphere.
A busyness, as if flitting through the air, continued.
"This goes here..."
Emiline personally dragged a large ladder around, changing the positions of canvases hung high on the walls, and organized the piles of sketches stacked on the floor one by one.
The maids stepped forward to help, but she shook her head.
"It's okay."
Saying so, she moved here and there herself, holding brushes and cloths.
The reason was simple.
It was the first time she was inviting someone to her atelier.
She wanted to personally welcome her first guest, for whom she had sent an invitation and scheduled a time, with her own hands.
Of course.
"Ugh, were there... were there this many...?"
It was also to hide the canvases filled with apricot hues(?).
The Grand Princess's atelier was one of the most private spaces in the Main Castle.
It was a place where even family members did not enter carelessly, and most nobles never even had the chance to glimpse inside.
Therefore, this space was strictly Emiline's own world, and that was all the more reason she had to organize it perfectly.
"This... I shouldn't leave this here."
Emiline held several canvases shimmering with apricot hues, pondered for a moment, and then turned red in the face.
Emiline hurriedly looked around.
After confirming no one was there, she quickly shoved those paintings behind other canvases.
Then, she stood a large canvas in front of them to create a temporary wall.
"These... later..."
She muttered awkwardly to herself and continued organizing.
However, there were a few more works subtly mixed with apricot tones, and each time, Emiline would let out a small scream, "Kkyak—!" and hide them in a flurry.
In the end, a small space was created in one corner of the atelier where canvases were stacked several layers deep.
To the point where she had to bring an even larger canvas to set up the temporary wall again.
"Phew... this should be enough, right?"
Several days passed like that.
And finally, the day of the invitation arrived.
Emiline's room was busy from the morning.
Maids entered with armfuls of dresses and ornaments, and on the dressing table, combs, perfumes, ribbons, and decorations were neatly lined up.
Sitting before the mirror, Emiline was already changing into her third dress.
"Isn't this... a bit too flashy?"
"Not at all, Grand Princess-nim. You look very beautiful."
"Umm... no. It feels too stiff."
The changing of clothes continued again.
She tilted her head once more, examining herself in the mirror. A pale pastel-colored dress fell softly along her body line, with a small ribbon tied at the waist. However, she pouted her lips as if she wasn't satisfied.
"Hmm... this doesn't feel right either."
In the end, she changed again.
By now, it was the tenth dress.
Watching this scene quietly, the Head Maid wore a subtle smile.
"Your atmosphere seems a bit different today."
Emiline snapped her head up.
"Me?"
"Yes."
The Head Maid slowly spoke as she put down the comb.
"Usually, you don't agonize this long when choosing a dress. Rather, you used to find it bothersome and asked me to choose for you."
Emiline momentarily fell silent.
"...Is that so?"
"Yes."
To the eyes of the Head Maid, who had watched Emiline since she was a child, everything was already visible.
A tension slightly different from usual, and something like excitement hidden within it.
"It is also the first time you have invited a guest to your atelier, isn't it?"
The Head Maid said, as if casually tossing the remark.
Emiline's hand stopped for a moment.
"...Was it?"
As Emiline tilted her head as if she didn't know, the Head Maid smiled warmly again.
"It is."
The Head Maid looked at her with a gratified face.
The child who was once a young princess was growing into a lady. Waiting for someone with bated breath, choosing clothes with all her heart for someone, tidying up the atelier, and looking at her groomed self in the mirror—it was a deeply moving sight for the Head Maid as well.
"Might I... ask who this person is?"
The tips of Emiline's ears turned slightly red.
"...It's Count Iden."
"Ah, as I thought."
"As you thought?"
"Ho-ho."
After a laugh, the Head Maid didn't ask further.
Instead, she smiled quietly and arranged the final decorations.
In the end, Emiline chose a neat dress of a bright color.
It was an exquisite balance, neither too flashy nor too plain. Her pure white hair was softly tied, and a small flower ornament was pinned in.
After checking herself one last time in the mirror, she took a small breath.
"...Do I look okay?"
"You are very beautiful."
The Head Maid said with a voice full of conviction.
Emiline fiddled with her hands once more for no reason.
And then.
She headed toward the atelier at the back of the Main Castle.
The moment she opened the door and entered, the wide space greeted her quietly.
Thanks to the days of organizing, the atelier had become much neater, and the light coming through the window was landing softly on the canvases.
Emiline stood in the center of the room and looked around once more.
The hidden paintings were well-concealed, and the arrangement of the works was to her liking.
Now, only one thing remained.
She looked toward the door.
A moment later.
The door opened, and the man of the North, Iden Summonfield, entered.
**
There was a sound of someone carefully knocking on the atelier door.
Emiline's shoulders flinched.
"C-Come in!"
The answer burst out a bit too quickly.
The door opened, and Iden revealed himself. He was dressed neatly as usual, but since it wasn't an official occasion today, his attire was slightly more comfortable.
Still, like a rising Count of the North, his clean atmosphere remained, and his body line, tempered by long battlefields, was naturally revealed.
"Thank you for inviting me."
Iden spoke first.
After glancing around the atelier, he soon turned his gaze to Emiline.
"I felt a bit awkward coming empty-handed... so I prepared a small gift."
He held out the bouquet he was carrying.
Emiline's gaze shifted to the flowers.
It was a Poinsettia, its red petals shining brilliantly.
It was a flower hard to see in the Northern winter unless it was a specific time, characterized by a color as vivid as a flame. The red leaves were layered in several folds, making it look almost like a small crown.
Emiline stared at it blankly for a moment.
"...."
Iden asked with a slightly flustered face.
"Do you... perhaps dislike it?"
It was at that moment.
The door of imagination swung wide open in Emiline's mind.
Very easily, very wide, very boldly.
The first bouquet of flowers she had ever received.
Beautiful red flowers.
A handsome man personally handing them to her.
Suddenly, the background changed.
A cathedral where dazzling sunlight poured in.
Iden was standing there in a suit, and Emiline was wearing a pure white wedding dress.
ㅡEmiline.
Iden said in a serious voice as he slipped a ring onto Emiline's finger.
ㅡI will make you happy for the rest of your life.
Emiline, wearing a magnificent bridal gown, looked down at the ring on her finger with tears welling in her eyes.
ㅡYes!
The bells rang.
Jjak-jjak-jjak-jjak—
The gathered guests clapped.
The scene changed again.
It was a honeymoon home just for the two of them.
Emiline, wearing an apron, was placing carefully prepared food on a dining table bathed in warm sunlight.
It was something she had wanted to try.
Preparing a meal for her husband herself.
ㅡHoney, the meal is ready!
The title of address had changed before she knew it.
Iden sat in a chair and laughed.
ㅡIt looks delicious today too.
And the scene changed again.
This time, it was a bed.
Emiline's face became redder than the Poinsettia.
ㅡO-Oh my...
A scene of sharing love.
A situation where faces were hot and flushed, looking at each other while skin-to-skin.
Bodies heating up, sharing breaths, exchanging saliva, and deep, thick cries of passion escaping.
ㅡKkyak.
After that, in the next scene, Emiline was holding a baby.
ㅡI think they look like you, honey.
ㅡI think they look like you?
In an instant, Emiline had accomplished everything from marriage to childbirth.
The fresh maiden, who had never been in love, drew out a future of her own accord just from a bouquet of flowers, while Iden still stood there holding the bouquet out.
And Emiline was still staring blankly at the flowers.
"Grand Princess-nim?"
Iden called out cautiously.
"A-Ah, no..."
Emiline's face turned bright red, as if competing with the Poinsettia.
"Do you perhaps dislike Poinsettias?"
Iden asked with a slightly troubled face.
Only then did Emiline return to reality.
"N-No, I don't!"
The answer burst out loudly, echoing like a ghost through the wide atelier.
"A-Ah, no... it's not that I dislike them... it's just... uh... it's the first time I've received them... A-Ah, no."
Her words got tangled.
Emiline hurriedly took the bouquet as if snatching it.
"It's a really beautiful flower! Thank you!"
And then she bowed her head.
Iden tilted his head for a moment at her clumsy reaction, but he didn't ask further.
"The atelier is truly spacious."
He said, looking around.
"Ah... yes!"
Emiline quickly gathered her wits, erasing the future she had imagined at will.
She guided Iden further into the atelier.
The atelier was truly the size of a decent library. Various canvases were stood against every wall, and a large work table was placed in the center.
On the table, rare paints were lined up, some of which were difficult to obtain even in the North.
"This is paint made from minerals found only in the Southern deserts."
Emiline held up a small bottle.
"The color changes slightly when it catches the light."
Iden nodded.
"Interesting."
She showed him another tool.
"This is a brush made in an ancient way. The bristles are very soft, so..."
The conversation flowed naturally.
Talking about paintings, explaining paints, and sharing their impressions, the two slowly walked through various parts of the atelier.
Iden looked at the paintings more seriously than expected, and Emiline grew increasingly excited by his reaction.
"This is an early sketch of a painting I hung in an exhibition."
"Ah, this is..."
"This side is an experimental work..."
The conversation continued so much that they didn't even notice the passage of time.
Iden walked around the atelier, checking to see if any resonance of Black Magic was lingering here.
Emiline Wintel.
After all, she had been the target of the first terror attack.
Then, Emiline suddenly stopped.
"...Oh."
Her eyes grew wide and round.
"What is the matter?"
Iden asked.
Emiline's face suddenly turned red.
"I... the tea..."
"Tea?"
"I invited a guest and... I haven't even served a cup of tea!"
She covered her face with both hands.
To commit such a blunder as not serving a cup of tea to a precious guest.
"Please wait just a moment! I'll prepare it right away!"
Before she even finished speaking, Emiline rushed to one side of the atelier.
There was a space equipped with a small tea table and simple tea tools.
"It'll only be a moment!"
Her voice could be heard from afar.
It was a split second where he couldn't even say it was fine, and only Iden remained in the center of the atelier.
Iden stood still for a moment.
Then he slowly looked around.
The atelier was quiet.
Sunlight was falling softly between the canvases, paints, and tools.
He slowly moved his steps and looked around.
Passing one painting, then another, examining them.
Suddenly, he stopped in front of a canvas stood in a corner of the atelier.
Several fairly large canvases were stood on the floor.
A magnificent landscape painting filled with blueness and greenery that didn't seem to be from the North.
Iden began to approach the painting, which looked as if it captured the scenery around the Rivan Count Territory in the Central region, which he had left three years ago.