[TKOSINM] 240 – Woman In The Painting

Irene hesitated and replied.

Irene, Irene Kristen.

[Irene Kristen, this is the first time I have ever heard of this name. Where is Rivena? I was waiting for her.]

I don’t know who Rivena is, but my aunt…The Viscountess of Friedan entrusted you to me.

[Viscountess Friedan...? I don’t know who that is, and I only follow the order of my contractor, Rivena. Find Rivena. I will be sleeping until then.]

Hold on!

At the one-sided remark, Irene shouted, but the voice had already disappeared. Irene felt a sense of emptiness as she looked down at the painting.

“...”

Before long, she stiffened. It was because there was a portrait of a woman painted on it.

This colouring method was popular a long time ago.

Irene observed the painting carefully. A method of painting in which pigments were applied, pressed, and then mixed with a layer of light colour on top.

-A picture painted from at least thirty years ago.

It wasn’t easy to know the exact year, but the estimated time when the painting was drawn was detectable. The picture was stained, and its colour faded with time as if it had gone through several hands, but the overall shape was still recognisable.

Is she a teenage girl?

The person in the painting was wearing a dress that went out of trend decades ago. Her golden hair was loosened, down to her waist. It was hard to distinguish the person’s visage in detail due to the severe damage. Yet, Irene somehow felt that the woman in this picture was not wholly unfamiliar.

It felt like she had seen her somewhere. Especially her blonde hair.

It’s like that of the current emperor’s hair.

The colour of blonde in the high-purity painting was apparent even though the portrait was damaged.

Green eyes...

And above all, green eyes, though it must be her own illusion...

It feels similar to mine...

She felt that the girl had the same eyes colour as her olive-coloured ones.

What is this painting, why is its existence kept confidential...And why did my father want this painting…?

Curious, Irene took the picture and turned to the butler.

“Sir butler, do you know a person named Rivena?”

Irene recalled the name she heard a while ago and asked the butler. Presumably, the woman in this painting seemed to be Rivena.

But the butler shook his head.

“I know nothing at all. Oh, but maybe you can find clues in Mistress’s diary.”

“My aunt’s diary?”

“Yes, the Mistress wrote a diary every night. Originally, it should not be seen by anyone, but I am sure the Mistress will allow it to be seen by the Grand Duchess.”

“My aunt’s diary...Then please do that. Thank you.”

Irene nodded. Perhaps her diary would tell the story of this portrait with a woman named Rivena. And also...

“It might even be about me.”

Determined to figure out the answer, Irene left the basement with the butler. The butler, who first relocated the portrait of his Mistress, began to rummage through the drawers under the Viscountess’s bed. Before long, he held out a diary to Irene.

“This is it.”

On the surface, it was just an ordinary diary with nothing special.

“Thank you for entrusting it to me. I will cherish it.”

Irene, looking down at the diary quietly, took it carefully and left her aunt’s room, heading to their bedroom. Upon entering, Noel was already there, waiting for her. He turned toward her direction at the sound of the door shutting.

“I’m back, Noel.”

“Did you finish your business?”

“Yes. My aunt gave me this.”

Irene took out the picture and showed it to Noel. When Noel took a close look at the painting, Irene added.

“The moment I touched the painting, I heard a voice like last time. I came to know a person named Rivena...I think the woman in this painting is Rivena.”

“I see…” Noel said, muffled.

Seeing Noel could not take his eyes off the painting, Irene questioned him curiously.

“Is there something so fascinating about the picture?”

“It’s not like that, but....”

Blurred at the end of his speech, Noel suddenly lifted the picture and hung it up next to Irene’s face. When Irene looked at him, dumbfounded, Noel continued.

“I think the woman in the picture and Irene look alike.”

“Pardon? That can’t be true. There’s no way I look like such a pretty person.”

Irene had a hard time accepting his words.

Although the woman’s image has been seriously damaged and her facial features were barely visible, she seemed like a pretty and lovely person regardless. In fact, if one took the time to admire her appearance, they were likely to be mesmerised by her outstanding beauty.

But he said she resembled such a person. It was a bit implausible for her. At Irene’s words, Noel frowned slightly. His tone became firmer.

“In my eyes, Irene is much prettier and more beautiful than the woman in the painting.”

//smooth like butter~