I Married a Sick Husband Vol. 3 Chapter 79
“Follow me for a moment.”
Fabian heard this from his brother as soon as he returned to the banquet hall.
Fabian silently followed Theodore out of the banquet hall again.
“I got to see you sooner than I expected.”
He was the first to say hello when the two of them were left alone.
Fabian answered with a very faint smile, almost invisible.
“Has it been less than a month?”
“Yes, I didn’t hear any news, so I thought you hadn’t graduated yet.”
“Well, no news is good news, and graduation isn’t that big of a deal.”
“It’s not that big of a deal. I’ve had a hard time abroad for a few years.”
However, contrary to his worried words, Theodore’s voice did not seem very gentle.
“Congratulations on your graduation.”
“… thank you.”
“What do you plan to do from now on? I heard earlier that you were planning to go on a trip.”
“I was going to tell you anyway.”
Fabian’s smile grew deeper.
“I intend to work as a court painter.”
“……Painter?”
Fabian graduated from the University of Fine Arts.
“That’s unexpected.”
“How come?”
“If I were you.”
Theodore answered honestly.
“I thought I’d do something more artistic.”
‘A court painter is also a painter.”
Fabian shrugged his shoulders, looking like he didn’t quite understand Theodore’s words.
“It’s a sufficiently artistic job.”
“… Of course it is.”
Theodore answered in a still grim voice.
“It’s rare for the royal family to do something like that.”
Although it was rare for royal family members to major in art, it was not non-existent.
After graduation, they pursued the artistic activities they wanted to pursue with enormous support from the imperial family.
Court painters were usually required to produce works according to the imperial family’s demands rather than works they wanted to create.
In other words, it was difficult to see it as a position where freedom as an artist was completely guaranteed.
‘… What kind of plan is this?’
Because of this, Theodore had no idea why he made such a choice.
“If only I could dare to capture the image of my brother on canvas with the insignificant dexterity I have learned.”
“….”
“That would also be an honor.”
“… I’m glad if you think so.”
However, contrary to what he said, he did not look completely happy.
“Are you planning on going to work right away?”
“Yes.”
“I see. I’ll tell them to prepare a room for you.”
Theodore quickly changed the topic.
“More than that, how did you obtain the ‘noble birth’? It’s probably not a gem that can be obtained ‘in a hurry.’”
“I used some of my friends’ connections.”
Fabian answered as if it wasn’t difficult.
“I happened to know that my classmate’s father owned the diamond.”
“…..”
“I got my hands on it with a fortune and a plea that I would never sell it.”
“Why?”
Theodore asked with a look of complete incomprehension.
“Shouldn’t you put that kind of effort into someone who will later become your wife?”
“…..”
“It’s too much for the sake of your sister-in-law’s birthday.”
“… is that so?”
“Yes.”
Theodore nodded his head gravely.
“To the point where it could easily cause misunderstandings.”
“… a misunderstanding?”
Theodore was silent for a moment, then opened his mouth again.
“Busybodies often talk about baseless things.”
“…..”
“If you are planning to stay in the imperial palace, be careful about everything you say and do. This is not the free college you were in. It is Valtejain’s imperial palace.”
“I’ll keep that in mind, brother.”
“… That’s all I have to say.”
Theodore hurriedly concluded the conversation.
“It’s okay to go now. Enjoy the banquet.”
“Thank you, brother.”
It was when Fabian left a brief greeting and was about to pass by Theodore.
“By the way.”
Fabian stopped just before passing Theodore.
“I was surprised too.”
Fabian turned to Theodore and said.
“I didn’t know that you would give that precious jewel as a birthday present to Her Majesty the Empress.”
“Is that strange?”
“No. But it is not common in arranged marriages.”
Fabian looked at Theodore and said thoughtfully.
“I think you love her a lot.”
“… I love her.”
Only then did Theodore turn to Fabian and say.
“She is my empress.”
Those words sound like a declaration, a boast, or rather… it felt like a warning.
“If you don’t understand me, you better get married quickly.”
“Thank you for your words, but I have no intention of getting married yet.”
“Why? You are now at an age where you can get married.”
“I want to marry someone I like, but it’s not possible.”
Those words felt somewhat ambiguous, and Theodore narrowed his eyebrows without realizing it.
“Then I’ll take my leave.”
But before he could say anything more, Fabian had already disappeared.
It was a time when Theodore, who was left alone, still narrowed his eyes and looked at the spot from where Fabian had disappeared.
“Your Majesty.”
An unexpected voice came from behind.
“What did you talk about with Prince Fabian?”
When he turned his head, it was Meredith.
Theodore’s eyes first fell on the beautiful ‘Noble Birth’ hanging around her neck.
It was a jewel that caught his attention and could not be ignored.
“… It wasn’t a big deal.”
Theodore now raised his gaze to Meredith’s face and spoke.
“I was just asking how he was doing.”
“Is he really here to attend my birthday party?”
“I think the purpose is to settle down here.”
“In Valtejain? What is he doing?”
“He says he wants to work as a court painter.”
Meredith was also surprised by his unexpected answer.
“That’s a very surprising answer.”
“I was quite surprised, too.”
“So did you allow it?”
“There is no reason to refuse.”
“… That’s right.”
Meredith asked with a rather serious look on her face.
“What is the plan? Suddenly he’s a court painter.”
“Well. Who knows what he is thinking inside?”
Theodore shrugged his shoulders and answered.
“Looking at the fact that the Empress Dowager gave permission, it seems like there are no schemes behind at all.”
“I think we’ll have to keep an eye on him and be careful for the time being.”
“It’s always been that way. It’s surprising.”
“That’s true.”
Shaking her head without much thought, Meredith spoke as if she had almost forgotten.
“Ah, more than that… thank you for the gift, Your Majesty.”
“Do you like it?”
“As I said before, yes. There’s no one who wouldn’t like this.”
“Empress, it’s just the two of us here.”
“Yes?”
“Tell me honestly.”
Theodore suddenly came closer to Meredith and whispered.
“What I gave as a gift and what Fabian gave you.”
“…..”
“Which of the two do you like more?”
“A moment ago… didn’t I give you an answer?”
“Is that answer sincere?”
Theodore asked back in a disbelieving voice.
“Was there really nothing you liked more?”
“….”
To be honest, she liked Fabian’s a little more.
However, it was not a matter of the size of the jewel that Fabian was proud of.
As per Meredith’s taste, she originally liked simple necklaces with only one main jewel.
“I liked the one your Majesty gave me better.”
But she could never tell the truth.
‘If you do that, he might get really upset.’
Besides, the two of us were alone now.
There was no reason for Prince Fabian to hurt Theodore’s feelings when he had no reason to hear it.
“Really?’
“Yes. Really.”
“Ah, thank goodness.”
After hearing Meredith’s answer, Theodore finally looked relieved and smiled brightly.
“Actually, I was a little worried earlier.”
“What do you mean?”
“I was worried that maybe you might like Fabian’s gift better.”
Theodore’s smile deepened.
“I’m glad it wasn’t so. I prepared a gift you like.”
“…..”
Looking at Theodore smiling brightly like the sun, Meredith unconsciously lost her mind and looked at him with a blank expression.
She thought about it for a long time, but his smile was so beautiful.
It really looked like a painting.
‘… Now that I think about it, I think I liked His Majesty’s gift more.’
It was a taste she always thought was solid, but for the first time, she felt like she wasn’t sure.
‘If you look at the details, I felt better when I received a gift from His Majesty.’
So, in the end, it wasn’t a lie.
After thinking about that, Meredith felt at ease and spoke once more, in a confident voice.
“The gift your Majesty gave me was better.”
As she said those words, for no reason she felt better.
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