My Husband Lives in a Painting - Chapter 52

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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My Husband Lives in a Painting 052
He straightened and moved to the seat beside me, settling in close.
Though I’d been waiting for just such a response, I found myself wanting to be difficult, so I shot back sharply.
“But there are darker grays in there, and lighter grays too. I think I’m the darker kind.”
……
Camille fell silent again, lost in thought. When the quiet had stretched long enough, he finally spoke.
“Well, from where I’m sitting, you’re afraid of a little mud on your toes.”
“……What do you mean?”
“It means you’re too harsh with yourself. You’ve lived such a pure white life that a single drop of ink feels like it’s tainted everything.”
……
But somehow his words felt unreal, not quite landing.
It was the next thing he said that pulled my head up, as if I were drawn by a magnet.
“And if you’re going to blame something, blame the ink. Why would you blame yourself?”
“……Are you saying I should resent you?”
“Of course.”
“How could I? You’d only be hurt.”
……What?”
Camille’s eyes went blank for a moment, blinking stupidly, before he suddenly burst into laughter.
Not knowing what mistake I’d made, I sat in silence as he wiped tears from his eyes and continued.
“Are you actually worried about a Demon right now? Ha ha ha!”
“No, I’m just—”
“That’s exactly why you’re festering inside, you fool.”
Ugh……
“Oh, and I figured it out.”
As if struck by sudden inspiration, Camille seized both my shoulders and turned me to face him.
“You. Actually, you’re neither dark gray nor light gray.”
His weighty tone made my shoulders stiffen without thinking.
“Then what am I?”
“What you are, you see, is……”
But instead of an answer,
Smack!
Soft lips stole a kiss from my cheek in an instant and vanished.
“Wh-wh-what are you doing?!”
I was so startled I pulled away from his embrace and jumped to my feet.
But in the very next moment, Camille thrust a Mirror in front of my face. In its reflection stood I, my cheeks flushed a deep crimson.
“See? You’re a very pretty pink.”
……Camille!
Embarrassment flooded to the crown of my head all at once, and I clenched my fists, fully intending to be angry with him.
But I couldn’t manage it in the end. He had already risen to his feet, following me, and was gently clasping both my hands before pulling me back into his embrace.
“So don’t worry about such things.”
……
“Just enjoy this moment. It’s all right.”
Camille smiled warmly, his voice soft as he added those words.
‘……Ah.’
A sudden thought crossed my mind.
No matter how contrived his tenderness, how could I ever push away a man who tries only to make me laugh?
So……run away, he says?
‘I couldn’t do that.’
Chapter 9. A Faithful Man
I slipped a flower pin into Annmarie’s neatly braided hair and smiled warmly.
“Beautiful. I knew it would suit you.”
Annmarie’s eyes widened in surprise at her unfamiliar reflection in the Mirror.
“Ma’am, that pin……”
“It’s my gift to you. Don’t refuse it—just accept.”
She stared at the plum-blossom-shaped pink pin without daring to touch it, glancing nervously at my face.
“But ma’am, am I really allowed to receive something so precious?”
“Of course.”
I smiled easily and reached for the Jewelry Box sitting on the vanity.
As I opened the lid with a flourish, dozens of hairpins and ornaments glimmered inside.
“I bought all of these for you. Wear them when you like, and if you ever need money, you can sell them.”
“I… how could I possibly…?”
“It’s all right.”
I stroked Annmarie’s hair gently as confusion flickered across her face.
“I mean it, truly.”
Whether it looked like hypocrisy or charity, I couldn’t help myself.
I don’t know how to care for those I’ve taken in. I don’t even know what I should do for those who will remain after I’m gone.
And so it ached—a dull, persistent ache—that all I could offer was this.
“…Madam?”
Sensing something amiss, Annmarie tugged hesitantly at my sleeve.
But before I could respond, Hope burst through the door without announcement, and our conversation ended there.
“Madam! We’ve arrived!”
“Sister!”
The moment Hope released the hand she was holding, Johen rushed forward and threw himself into Annmarie’s arms.
“How much longer do we have to do this? I’m bored.”
The reason both had appeared was simple.
Hope was looking after Johen and Annmarie to help them adjust well to life in the Mansion.
“Come on, hurry. You promised we’d do Painting together.”
“J-Johen, but first—”
“Now, now, you troublemaker! You greet the Madam first!”
Hope scooped Johen up lightly from where he nestled in Annmarie’s skirts and set him down before me.
Johen quickly bowed, a flash of realization crossing his features.
“Good afternoon, Madam.”
“You’ve come at just the right moment. Romaine should be baking Cookies in the Kitchen—why don’t you and Annmarie go join them?”
“Sister!”
“Yes, yes, I know—stop tugging at my clothes!”
I watched the two of them bicker affectionately as they disappeared down the hall, and found myself smiling softly.
Once their silhouettes had vanished entirely from sight, I turned to Hope, who remained at my side.
“It isn’t too taxing for you, is it? Minding the children must be exhausting.”
At my concerned question, Hope let out a bright laugh and waved a hand dismissively.
“Oh no, not at all! Back home, I looked after far more siblings at once.”
“Still, attending to Claude on top of everything else must wear you down. I’m sorry.”
“Not at all! It’s my job!”
She glanced around cautiously, then leaned in close, lowering her voice so only I could hear.
“…And this must remain a secret from the Lord, but lately the wages you’ve been giving me are much more generous.”
“Is that so?”
“Indeed! So please, make full use of me! Ha-ha!”
Hope laughed so hard her mouth seemed ready to split, striking her chest with open palms, but I forced down a bitter smile.
‘If she knew that pay was an advance on her welfare after I’m gone, she wouldn’t be laughing like that.’
“Oh, that’s right!”
Hope pulled a Document Bundle from where it had been tucked at her side.
“This is the material you requested. You asked me to look into the basic information of unmarried Youngling Nobles in the Capital, didn’t you?”
I shook myself from my thoughts and opened the envelope she handed me.
The thick stack of papers contained portraits and detailed profiles of unmarried Youngling Nobles from the Capital, arranged exactly as she’d said.
“Hmm…”
I turned through the documents one by one, pretending to examine them from the start.
But I was searching for only one thing.
‘Found it.’
Information about Densum Karangko.
‘Hope was worth hiring. She really did gather detailed information.’
But there was reason enough for me to have ordered her to bring back files on several Youngling Nobles, not just Densum.
‘If I’d asked specifically for information on only him, I’d have raised suspicion.’
The connection between Gail and Pagoda’s disappearance and myself had not yet surfaced, but since the Heretic Judge’s visit, I’d learned painfully that a long tail gets stepped on.
‘I need to be careful. Especially so that Hope and Claude don’t get caught in the crossfire.’
I examined Densum’s profile methodically.
Among the unnecessary information, one sentence seized my attention with particular force.
“Known to be a devout believer. Visits the Central Temple every week.”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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