<h4>Chapter 204 - The Duke Has Some Talent</h4>


    After trying to draw a person for the first time in my life, I give up when I realise that it''s hardly recognisable as a human being. Let alone as my Duke.


    The eyes are hard to draw. The first one, actually, is eptable. It''s the second that is asymmetric. No matter how much I try, I can''t make it simr to the first. Should I delete and redraw the first so that they''re at least simr, if not beautiful?


    The Duke''s hair is also a challenge. I want it to look soft, but I don''t know how to do it.


    All this time spent focusing on Alexander''s face can''t be deemed waster, though. Even if I don''t finish my drawing, thinking about his features for so long reminds me of how handsome a husband he is.


    I was lucky, right? I alwaysin of his tendency to keep secrets or take control, but it''s way worse how he uses his natural charms to tame me. His handsome grin is often enough to make me fall prey to his wicked intentions.


    Oh, now I can''t even draw anymore. I''m a little distracted, and my thoughts fly towards nighttime every time I rx a tiny bit.


    I pass the following two hours spying on my husband without him noticing.


    He''s sitting on the couch with some paper on his thigh. His knee is bent, his ankle on the other leg and his left arm on the armrest.


    His focus is all on the drawing. He didn''t want to paint, just sketch on paper with graphite.


    There even isn''t any need to nce at me from time to time to confirm proportions or anything. He seems to already know everything.


    I''m curious to see if he''ll draw Queen Theodora or me. I hope I''ll be able to discern the difference.


    I crook my mouth, looking at the mess I draw. It''s really difficult to paint people. No wonders portraits are among the most pricey on the market.


    ?I''m tired. I don''t want to paint anymore,? I pout. Just looking at it is depressing.


    ?Mh-hm,? he moans, not moving his attention away from his work.


    ?And how are you proceeding??


    ?Almost finished.?


    Impossible. My Duke said he''s never been taught! He can''t have done it in so little time. And he didn''t delete anything even once.


    I want to see it.


    ?Wait there a minute more,? he orders when I move a step in his direction. ?Don''t distract me now.?


    I return to my painting and sit on the chair with a pout until Pericle knocks to inform us that the Count''s carriages can be seen from the tower.


    ?They must be here in an hour or two.?


    ?Thank you, Pericle. We''ll get ready to greet him,? I nod. ?You can go.?


    I''m waiting for a drawing here. Please, don''t distract my husband.


    Oh, right. If I want to make some clear distinction between Queen Theodora and me, I should call Alexander husband more often. That would make him happy, wouldn''t it? Also, it will make him notice that the woman he dreams about is not me.


    ?I''m done,? he announces and gets up.


    I stand on tiptoe to peek at the drawing, and I see the most beautiful image I''veid my eyes on.


    What does this mean? It''s not about the woman in it. It''s how the lines flow together, making the image maic. It''s impossible to move one''s gaze away.


    ?Are you sure you''ve never drawn before?? I mutter while reaching out for the paper.


    My hair is loose on the back. I''m wearing only a nightgown with a ribbon, sitting on the bed with my hands on myp.


    It''s me. This woman is me, not the Queen.


    My lips are turned downwards in a strict expression, yet my eyes aren''t as firm as I wish them to be. They''re sweet, and my nose... Oh, has my nose always been like this? I''ve never paid attention to it.


    ?Do you like it?? Alexander whispers, uncertain about his talent.


    Is there any need to answer? It''s just perfect! I''d look at this instead of a mirror.


    ?I want another one,? I manage to mumble. Not one... I want many drawings of me.


    Am I bing self-centred? Or am I falling in love with Queen Theodora as well?


    Or is it just my Duke''s talent?


    ?But why did you draw me with an angry expression?? I inquire, tilting my head and trying to seem the least aggressive I can.


    ?Because you haven''t red at me in almost a week. I missed it.?


    ?So, you want to be scolded??


    ?No, it''s enough if you show me your delicious frown.?


    Is he flirting now? Oh, maybe he doesn''t know what effect his words have.


    I turn to Alexander to check his expression, and I find a self-assured grin and a happy light in his eyes.


    He knows. Perfectly.


    ?If you want me unhappy, you''ll have to anger me,? I point out.


    It''s not like I behave irrationally. There are motives behind my every emotion.


    ?Will you draw again for me?? I ask, stepping closer to him.


    He grins, happy that I like his trait. He reaches out for me and surrounds me with his tender arms.


    ?Of course. I can draw you clothed, naked, sleeping, awake, while eating, reading or solving a crisis...? my Duke says before pecking my hair.


    ?No. I don''t want to see Queen Theodora.?


    I can''t take her ce, but I can ept that he loved someone before me. Yet, I don''t need to see her in his artworks.


    The fact that she is me makes everything moreplicated. Is it normal to feel jealous of oneself like this?


    ?I''m not her.?


    ?I know that,? Alexander chuckles. ?You two are the same person but at different stages. I love both versions of you.?


    ?But which one more?? Not that it would make any difference. I understand. I won''t feel offended nor sad.


    Also, she''s dead. There''s no need to be jealous or worried. She can''t take my Duke away, not physically.


    She might live in his heart only. If that is the case, then I''m the one intruding and iming her ce for me. It would make me the third party.


    Oh, damn it.


    ?Thea, you two are the same person. I don''t need to choose one.?


    ?Yes, but...?


    ?What if you met me as a teenager??


    I haven''t yet, but I will soon, ording to the High Priestess. I will dream of that time as well.


    ?Who would you like more?? he asks.


    ?You, the present you.?


    It''s evident. My Duke is mine, while his past self is not.


    ?See?? He shrugs as if my answer exins anything. ?I don''t know how to convince you, but I will always love your present self more, Thea.?


    ?Why??


    ?Because I can touch you.?


    ?Ah, right...?


    ?Now, what do you want me to draw next? Sleeping wife or eating wife??


    I''m surprised he doesn''t want to draw me naked. I''m quite sure he has every detail imprinted in his mind.


    Even though he might use that as an excuse to get me out of my clothes. It wouldn''t be unexpected.


    ?You don''t have to draw only me. There are other things in this world, you know? Can you paint, by the way??


    ?I''ll try.?


    ?But first, train on something that won''t hurt my pride. Like sceneries or something. Don''t paint me as your first work, all right??


    Just in case his talent stops at drawing with carbon graphite. There''s no need to rece his first beautiful work with something colourful yet indistinguishable.


    ?All right, but I don''t know how to use colours and brushes.?


    ?I''ll exin everything to you. We can also askdy Lyana if she has any suggestions. She''s fairly good at painting.?


    Up to a few minutes ago, I was convinced thatdy Lyana was really good. But my Duke''s traits are so precise and just wonderful.


    It''s art.


    ?Another time, though. Now we have to deal with... I mean, greet the Count. We''ll continue this conversation after he''s gone.?


    I don''t want anyone to know that my Duke is a prodigy. I can use his paintings for the time being. I just need to figure out how to convince him to produce a lot of them.


    Ah, painting is more difficult than drawing. There still exists a possibility that my Duke isn''t good at it.


    Even though his eyes must be different from other people''s.


    Not just the woman in the picture, but also the surroundings are so vivid. It''s as if I can see the world from his point of view, like this. It''s simr to my dreams but stable and more real.


    ?I know what I''m going to do next!? he exims, all of a sudden. ?It''s a surprise, though.?


    ?You''ll need my help, husband,? I remind him.


    ?Oh, right. Well, I first want to draw it, and then I''ll show you.?


    ?As you wish.?


    Let''s hope it''s not too shameless. I don''t want pictures of my naked body.