My Husband Lives in a Painting - Chapter 9

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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 Picture 009
‘But who would I kill first—their lives are no trivial matter.’
When I pressed my throbbing temple, a sigh escaped on its own.
I wasn’t even certain the culprit was definitely among them, and if I’d pointed the finger at the wrong person, there would be no easy way to contain the fallout.
‘Still, I have to do something.’
With no path back available, all that remained was to move forward.
I examined the local newspaper that Romaine had obtained for me.
A headline immediately caught my eye on the front page.
[Charitable Relief Exhibition to Be Held in the Capital Next Month]
— Many young artists set to participate… changes in sponsorship methods as well?
An exhibition aimed at providing relief to the Slums and supporting the local community will be held in the Capital next month. This exhibition will also be sponsored by the Ortega Duchy and the Imperial Court, and all proceeds from artwork sales are planned to be donated in full. The event will feature participation from emerging artists… (continues).
“A charitable relief exhibition, then…”
Just then, Romaine, having cleared the table, wheeled in a trolley.
“Madam, I’ve brought some refreshments!”
“Ah, thank you.”
“You were reading the newspaper? Oh, I saw that article too. They say this will be an exhibition unlike anything before.”
“Is that so?”
“Everyone’s abuzz about it, actually. The head housekeeper already assigned several people to prepare for it.”
From Romaine’s words, I could gauge just how much attention the Ortega Duchy was investing in this exhibition.
‘Well, they’ve been involved in charitable work across the board from the start.’
Beyond the sponsorship exhibition, the Ortega Duchy operated the Agnus Orphanage, free kitchens, and charitable clinics in remote regions—a diverse portfolio of charitable endeavors.
Meanwhile, as I sipped the black tea Romaine had poured, a thought suddenly struck me, and I asked without preamble.
“By the way, did anything happen while I was gone?”
“Pardon?”
“The atmosphere in the manor felt off. Everyone looked at me like I was a ghost.”
“Oh my goodness, don’t even get me started!”
At that, Romaine launched into her grievance as though she’d been waiting for the opportunity.
“The moment you disappeared, I went to see Belladonna, and well—!”
Having heard from Romaine what had transpired with Belladonna, I quietly folded my arms.
‘If you don’t return within a week, vacate your room.’
It was so utterly like her that I wasn’t even surprised, truly.
What struck me more was that Romaine had stood up for me. Though she didn’t seem to notice my feelings on the matter, her nostrils still flaring indignantly.
“And then there’s Claude! He didn’t say a single word to defend me as I was being dragged away so unfairly!”
“…Ah, you mean Camille’s younger brother?”
“That’s right! The pair of them were absolutely terrible! Heartless!”
“But you hold on. You’re still young—you need the wages.”
“Ugh, I suppose. Money is the bane of my existence…”
The way she spoke, though not yet twenty, reminded me of a weathered working woman—it was almost amusing.
As I let a smile slip, my gaze suddenly drifted toward the window.
In the distance, a black-haired man was approaching the manor with a knight in tow.
‘Who is that? I’ve never seen him before.’
“Ah—that’s him right there!”
“That man?”
“Yes! That’s Claude!”
Camille’s brother was that man?
Unlike the flamboyant Camille, who bloomed like flowers in full blossom, he had the sharp features of a raven with golden eyes embedded in its skull.
My expectations shattered, curiosity kindled, and before I knew it, I couldn’t tear my eyes away.
Then Claude, sensing my gaze, looked up and our eyes met.
And then…
his expression twisted into a deep frown.
“Huh.”
“Did you see that! That insufferable—!”
Leaving behind Romaine, whose eyes blazed with indignation, I watched as Claude disappeared into the manor.
‘What’s with that disagreeable man?’
* * *

First impressions don’t always tell the truth.
But Claude was an exception. He was, without question, objectively an insufferable man.
“Oh.”
The next day, when I encountered him again in the corridor, I reflexively bowed my head.
“Good day. It’s a pleasure to meet you. I am—”
“Yes.”
Whoosh—
That was the entirety of his greeting.
“…….”
“H-he just—!!”
Watching Claude slip past us without so much as a glance, his knight trailing behind, Romaine’s face flushed crimson as she stamped her foot.
Well, it could happen once. I tried to brush it off. Perhaps he was simply busy?
But unfortunately, the next encounter proved no different.
“My name is Aube. If we’re to see each other regularly, surely we ought to exchange names—”
“I’m Claude. That’s all.”
For all my resolve to speak up clearly this time, he swept past me again without pause.
‘Is he mad?’
No matter how powerless and unconnected a widow I might be, such treatment was hardly civil.
Just as my irritation was beginning to boil over, his knight finally seemed to think better of it and stopped in his tracks.
“My sincerest apologies, madam. The lord is simply terribly shy…….”
Romaine seized the opening and spoke without hesitation.
“But surely that’s too much? You’ve tried to greet him several times now!”
“Yes, well, I do tell him constantly, but it’s not so simple—”
“What’s so difficult about exchanging names? Is his name over twenty characters long?”
“Romaine. That’s enough.”
I braced myself, half expecting sparks to fly at such pointed criticism, but his response caught me off guard.
“Hope. Are you coming or not? I’m leaving without you.”
Claude nodded absently and continued on ahead.
“Wait, don’t abandon me!”
“Say one more unnecessary thing and I’ll make you walk home alone.”
“Eek! Such frightening words!”
……This must be what it feels like to be struck by a passing carriage.
Watching Claude stride ahead with his flustered knight hurrying after him, I let out a hollow laugh.
“……Ha.”
We crossed paths several more times after that, but Claude remained consistently dismissive.
By this point, I could feel it clearly. This behavior was decidedly not normal.
And.
There was only one person I could ask about Claude—Camille alone.
“My younger brother?”
“Yes. It seems he was assigned the role of family head in place of you, who had passed away. Do you remember anything?”
“Hmm…….”
Camille, lounging in a flower bed like a rake munching on fish-shaped pastries, fell silent in thought.
As time stretched on without an answer, I narrowed my eyes and asked again.
“Do you know? You don’t, do you?”
Then came a quick reply.
“Nope. Don’t remember.”
‘I never expected much anyway.’
I realized it was nearly impossible to extract any useful information about the past from this man.
“Well, if he’s my younger brother, he must be handsome like me.”
“…….”
I’ll pretend I didn’t hear that last remark.
Based on what I’d learned so far, it seemed Claude was not Belladonna’s child.
Was that why their temperaments differed so sharply?
Camille possessed a measured, formal demeanor that seemed ingrained in him, whereas that man’s manner was brusque to say the least.
‘Come to think of it, even when Camille was alive, he never mentioned Claude—so they couldn’t have been close.’
The gap between legitimate and illegitimate children was, by nature, an unbridgeable chasm.
Just then, Camille propped himself up halfway among the scattered flowers and plucked a small blossom, bringing it to his nose.
“The blood of the Ortega Duchy doesn’t simply disappear. He’s surely tall and otherwise superior in every way.”
“Ah, yes.”
“Anyway, have you decided? Who you’ll test first?”
“Oh. No, not yet.”
Camille’s words jolted me back. The choice I’d momentarily forgotten was suddenly at my doorstep.
Camille smiled gently.
“You should decide soon. All clues have a shelf life, after all.”
“……I understand.”
Camille was right.
If my husband truly had been murdered by someone, I had to move quickly before anyone destroyed the evidence.
‘But this isn’t a situation where I can jump to conclusions…….’
“……Which is why I’m thinking.”
After a moment’s reflection, I pressed forward as if I’d been waiting for this opening.
“I want to see all three of them again before I decide.”
“All three? How?”
I held Camille’s gaze as his round eyes blinked, letting my words hang for a moment.
“That’s…….”
My plan was admittedly abstract, but I was certain of one thing: those three men who had turned away even from my husband’s funeral would soon have no choice but to face me directly.
“A grand stage is about to be set where they’ll have no choice but to walk in of their own accord.”

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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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