CATBP~35

Chapter 35

Gasp.

I pressed my lips tightly together.

…In the excitement of being understood, I had accidentally voiced thoughts that should’ve stayed inside.

A chill of panic rushed down my back.

At least it was a relief that the slip of the tongue wasn’t anything particularly problematic.

Phew.

“What does chwae-ae mean? Judging from the way you said it, it seems to be referring to a person.”

“Yes, that’s right. Chwae-ae means the person you like the most.”

“…The person you like the most?”

“Yes.”

My chwae-ae is none other than the adorable Fay.

I almost blurted out that Fay was my chwae-ae but stopped myself.

‘Come to think of it, I’ve never seen Fay eat dessert here before.’

Not wanting to arouse suspicion, I chose silence.

‘Huh?’

…The fork in the duke’s hand bent.

No—veins popped on the back of his hand, and even now the fork was curling further.

I had often seen him blush and scold me whenever I made mistakes.

But I could swear—his displeasure then was nothing compared to what I was seeing now.

My lips felt parched.

At which point exactly did I anger him? Did I really make such a mistake? What did I do wrong?

With every second that passed, it felt like ten minutes were being shaved off my lifespan.

“…The person you like the most, huh.”

He set the twisted fork down as though nothing happened.

“You don’t have any memories, do you?”

…Ah, so that’s what it was!

Now that he mentioned it, it did sound suspicious.

But pretending I’d simply forgotten, I widened my mouth in an “ah!” as though something had come to me.

“Actually, some fragments came back recently. But they were just about desserts. I thought if I came here directly, maybe I’d remember something more.”

I spoke quickly to cover myself while sneaking glances at him.

His expression was still poor.

“Do you at least remember who your chwae-ae is?”

Yes, it’s Fay.

“No, not quite…”

I lowered my head as if dejected.

That should make me look like “tragic amnesiac heroine #1,” shouldn’t it?

But when I raised my head again, despite my Oscar-worthy performance, the duke’s rigid face did not soften.

“You.”

“Yes!”

“If you do regain your memories, let me make this clear beforehand—no affairs.”

“…Affairs?”

Why did the conversation suddenly leap there?

“Yes. Even if you remember who this so-called chwae-ae is, I would prefer you not meet them before we’re divorced.”

The duke stabbed his cake with his fork.

“For Fay’s emotional well-being, if nothing else.”

Good heavens.

I opened my eyes as wide as chestnuts.

The fact that he was speaking out of concern for Fay’s emotions was astonishing.

“…Lucas, you’ve grown.”

“I was always grown.”

“No, I don’t mean your height.”

Just a month ago, this was the same man who didn’t even know why allergies were dangerous, and who simply said “then don’t” whenever Fay refused to join for meals.

“And now you’re already a wonderful guardian who even considers Fay’s emotional well-being.”

Overcome with emotion, I clapped my hands.

Everyone, I raised this man.

“…Don’t overreact. I’d rather you stop answering altogether.”

“Oh, you mean about the affair?”

“Yes.”

Too young for an affair anyway…

Not that it mattered, since I had absolutely no intention of ending up with my chwae-ae.

Before meeting little Fay, my chwae-ae had only existed inside paper—how could I harbor such feelings otherwise?

‘Besides, my imagined husband was always someone gentle and tender, while my chwae-ae’s personality is more like the duke’s…’

Ahem.

Well, Fay is still just a cute little marshmallow for now.

As I was about to speak under the duke’s relentless gaze, something that had been bothering me popped into my mind, and I lifted my teacup.

“Mmm.”

After a sip, I made my demand boldly.

“If you keep calling me ‘Helen.’”

The duke, as though it were nothing difficult, complied immediately.

“Helen.”

“If you just call me by name now but go back to saying ‘you’ or ‘the lady’ later, I’ll pretend to forget today’s promise.”

The other time when he’d promised but then called me “you” till the end, I had gritted my teeth inside.

I glared at him, determined not to back down.

“I promise.”

“Good! Then I’ll make a promise too!”

I gave him a bright smile.

He didn’t realize he’d just been completely swindled!

The thought of tricking him brought a rush of guilty thrill.

The desserts were soon gone.

Usually, when the three of us shared them, he seemed indifferent, but today the duke ate more enthusiastically than expected.

“These desserts—don’t you think Fay would like them too? How about we order some more to take with us?”

With so many customers, ordering new ones and waiting would take some time.

‘Perfect. I’ll tell him to line up like a proper gentleman while I sneak out through the back door.’

Luckily, there was a back door.

“If it’s that, I already ordered some. We can take them when we leave.”

“What? When did you?”

“Didn’t I step aside for a moment?”

…Now that I thought about it, while I was passionately eating, he had indeed gone over to a staff member.

I had dismissed it when he came right back, but it turned out he’d been placing an order!

‘Absolutely no help at all!’

I trudged after the duke like a cow being led to slaughter.

…I couldn’t afford to stray far from the Angora Tavern.

I needed to stay nearby to sneak back there later.

Where could I stall him?

Just then, a tattered flyer flapping precariously on the wall caught my eye.

It had finely drawn black-and-white sketches of people and flowers, with the words: Anything drawn upon request. At the bottom was the address of a studio.

The moment I saw it, I realized—

That flyer was a message from heaven.

‘No wonder it stood out so much!’

Scheduling and consultation would take quite a while.

“Lucas! Don’t you think our family should at least have one portrait together?”

“I’d rather invite the most famous painter in the Empire of Kailuma.”

“Of course, a skilled and acclaimed artist is nice, but I want something more meaningful and special. And look, that flyer just caught my eye.”

I looked up at him imploringly.

“What do you think?”

Ace would spend ten days—or even a month—painting pictures, only to sell them off for cheap, scraping together just enough to fill his stomach and buy paint.

When he first picked up a brush, he had dreamed of becoming a famous artist, invited to the Imperial Court. But ten years later, he was still just a dreamer.

An insignificant, nameless painter whom no one would notice if he disappeared. That was Ace’s place in the world.

Would he even still be holding a brush ten years from now?

How would he even manage tomorrow’s meal?

Worry trailed him like breath itself—until just one day ago, no, even ten minutes ago.

“You saw the flyer—do you paint family portraits as well?”

“Yes! Of course I do!”

He was moved to the point of trembling—after so long, real clients! And just by their clothes and bearing, he could tell they were different from common folk.

Ace assumed they were wealthy commoners newly arrived in the capital. After all, why would nobles ever come to his shabby little studio?

He straightened his shoulders, so tense he’d likely wake with a stiff neck tomorrow.

But so what?

This commission alone would keep him from starving for at least a month—maybe longer.

And if he managed to please them, he might even gain introductions to other wealthy patrons.

‘Such fortune is mine at last!’

The dying ember of hope flared back to life. Ace clenched his fist tightly.

“I shouldn’t keep you standing out here! Please, let’s step inside and continue our discussion.”

“My apologies.”

Ace rubbed his hands together and beamed.

“I’ll match your wishes however you like—time, place, and style.”

Helen, watching Ace walk ahead with Lucas, clutched her stomach.

“L-Lucas…”

With a faint groan, she tugged on his sleeve, asking him to lean close.

“Would it be alright if you handled the consultation alone? I think I overexerted myself earlier.”

She whispered softly, as if seeking his understanding.

“I’m sorry! I’ll leave it to you!”

Before he could even answer, she dashed out of the studio as though she had urgent business.

She clattered down the stairs and out the building, then looked up at the third-floor studio they had just left.

‘Even if my image takes a fall—if I can buy a gift for my chwae-ae, isn’t that a worthy fall?’

Probably.

Blending into the crowd, Helen hurried straight toward the Angora Tavern.

The Angora Tavern wasn’t just any pub—it was the hideout of the information guild Guladin.

And in Secret Nights, the guild leader, Michael, after receiving a favor from the male lead, later became the crown prince’s trusted ally when he came seeking help.

‘I know exactly how capable Michael is.’

If anyone could get her an auction ticket quickly, it was him.

In fact, even if it weren’t for the ticket, she had been planning to meet him soon anyway.