TDWO Chapter 13

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‘Royal Academy Art Exhibition?’

 

Anri, who was checking the newspaper, suddenly sat up straight.

The Royal Academy was hosting a special exhibition.

If she had missed the advertisement in the corner of the newspaper, she would have regretted it for a long time.

Usually, the Royal Academy held regular exhibitions every May, but sometimes they hosted unexpected special exhibitions.

 

‘Wait, the date is…’

 

Perhaps because she hadn’t checked the newspaper for a few days, the opening day was today.

 

“Ah!”

 

Anri jumped up as if propelled by a spring, causing the newspaper she had dropped to flutter in the air.

Hastily returning to her room, she selected a dress suitable for an elegant and glamorous event like an exhibition.

 

‘What should I wear? What should I wear?’

 

She should have prepared in advance!

No one knew, but Anri had a deep interest in art.

Although her drawing skills were mediocre, she had extensive knowledge of art history and famous painters.

…because she had to memorize them for exams for six whole years.

Anri originally majored in art history in her original world.

Anri originally majored in art history at one of the world’s top universities and spent a remarkable six years at the same graduate school.

She particularly loved Western paintings and painters, especially the renowned ones like Van Gogh and Renoir.

She dreamed of becoming a competent art auctioneer.

But, as you can see, she was born into the world of books without fulfilling her dream.

Unable to help it, Anri meticulously searched through the newspaper to find out how much real-world history this world was borrowing.

That way, she could utilize her knowledge of art history.

In simpler terms, it was about knowing which painter became famous and which painting would later sell for the highest price. You know, that kind of stuff?

In other words, it was akin to knowing in advance which land’s value would skyrocket or what the lottery winning numbers would be.

However, even with such knowledge, she couldn’t make a fortune because she didn’t have the money to buy future masterpieces in advance.

So Anri had to be content with attending exhibitions to see famous paintings with her own eyes.

 

‘If only I had more money… sigh.’

 

Dressed in full regalia, from bonnet to dress, gloves to reticule (a small handbag), Anri looked around the exhibition hall.

Other nobles passing by glanced at her, some knowingly, some not.

Anri was already accustomed to such looks. Pink hair and pink eyes were uncommon.

It was also because a lady like Anri was alone.

In this world, unmarried ladies were not supposed to travel alone.

Being alone with a man without a chaperone was also conventionally prohibited, although it wasn’t illegal; however, not following it would attract unfavorable attention.

 

‘But who cares.’

 

Besides, she had no one to accompany her anyway, and Anri preferred being alone.

She could freely enjoy the paintings without anyone bothering her.

Still, in spaces where many people knew who she was, Anri tried to adhere to social norms.

However, this was the capital, where people from various classes gathered.

Anri didn’t have to worry about her actions damaging the Wentworth family’s reputation.

Moreover, it was the social season, so there were even more people in the capital.

 

‘There are so many paintings!’

 

Anri, unable to hide her happiness, eagerly scanned the multitude of paintings with eager eyes, wondering where to start admiring them.

When Anri discovered a painting she had studied in her original world, she couldn’t help but feel delighted and amazed.

 

‘Huh?’

 

As Anri wandered around the exhibition hall, she exclaimed in surprise.

There was a familiar painting hanging there. If it was a painting she was familiar with, it would likely become so famous that future generations would study it, especially since all the paintings here were being displayed for the first time.

 

‘How nice would it be if someone gave me some money?’

 

If she could build an art gallery, her descendants would earn a lot of money from admission fees. She could even go to France and meet Van Gogh and Renoir!

With a wistful heart, she could only lick her lips as she looked at the painting.

Suddenly, a sweet yet cold bass voice, which she had been hearing frequently lately, struck her from behind.

 

“Do you like this painting?”

“…….”

 

Anri turned around. As the wide brim of her bonnet passed, a man came into view.

 

“Huh? Father…?”

 

How many days have it been?

Maybe it had been a while, or maybe it was just the unexpectedness of the encounter, but her first thought was that he was surprisingly handsome.

The man was dressed even more formally and elaborately than usual.

Even his forehead, which is usually hidden, was carefully groomed.

Overall, his attire consisted of dark colors, enhancing his characteristic chilly atmosphere.

However, the man’s brow furrowed slightly, as if displeased.

He leaned slightly toward Anri and whispered, looking somewhat awkward.

 

“I’m not even a child’s father, so…”

“Then tell me your name…….”

 

Startled by his sudden closeness, Anri had to lean back a little.

 

“Do you want me to be your father?”

 

The man stared at Anri with cold eyes.

Their eyes met at close range. Anri, stepping back while holding her hands, and the man, casually standing with his hands behind his back, exchanged looks.

 

“…….”

 

For a while, they silently stared at each other.

As time passed, an odd tension filled the air.

 

“Hmm!”

 

Anri cleared her throat unnecessarily and turned her attention back to the painting, adjusting her posture.

At that point, the man also straightened up. His tall shadow even cast a shade over the painting hanging on the wall, darkening one of Anri’s shoulders.

 

“It’s Perseus and Andromeda.”

 

Anri glanced back at the man over her shoulder.

How did he recognize the painting so quickly, just by seeing a naked woman and a handsome man in armor?

 

“It seems you like paintings.”

“It’s my mother who does.”

 

There was a hint of a sigh in the man’s voice, which puzzled Anri.

 

“Did you come with your mother?”

 

Anri looked around, but there was no one nearby who seemed to accompany the man.

 

“I’m alone.”

 

Edwin replied plainly.

He has a lot to do today, but it just had to be the opening day of the special exhibition at the Royal Academy Art Museum. 

Usually, his mother would attend every exhibition opening and generously provide support, but she had caught a cold a few days ago and was bedridden.

So she insisted that he had to go, and she kept pushing him to buy a few paintings to hang in the mansion.

Arriving at the Royal Academy Museum with such an annoying feeling, Edwin never expected to encounter Anri Wentworth.

For a while, he stared intently at Anri’s back as if to confirm the unexpected presence of the woman.

He followed her movements with his steps, and eventually he found himself initiating a conversation.

Anri, thinking to herself, focused on the painting like the man did.

She never imagined she would run into him in a place like this.

Thanks to the man, she had ridden the Roses and Hounds carriage, but she hesitated to express her gratitude.

 

“Is it a painting you like?”

 

Anri felt the man slightly tilt his head as he asked, his voice directed toward her, who was only facing forward.

 

“It’s just a familiar painting.”

“A familiar painting?”

 

She couldn’t bring herself to say it was a painting she had memorized in detail for exams in her previous life.
Instead, Anri circumvented the topic.

Instead of showing off her rote learning, Anri chose another way to explain.

 

“As you might know, Mr. Kristan’s father, it’s a famous story about Perseus and Andromeda.”

“…….”

 

Edwin tore his gaze away from the woman’s profile and looked at the well-painted oil painting.

It was a scene from a myth.

In it, a naked woman was chained to a rock, the waves crashing around her.

Her name was Andromeda.

She was a princess, the only daughter of the King of Ethiopia.

She would soon become the wife of Perseus, the hero who would rescue her.

Andromeda was sacrificed to the sea monsters because her mother boasted of her beauty, angering the gods.

In the midst of the tumultuous sea, Andromeda awaited the moment she would be devoured.

Just then, Perseus, returning from slaying Medusa, discovers Andromeda and falls in love with her at first sight.

Perseus approached Andromeda without hesitation to rescue her.

His figure in the painting was sturdy and gallant.

 

“Seems like this painting is trending these days.”

 

There were many paintings of Andromeda in the exhibition hall.

However, Anri lingered particularly long in front of this painting.

Was there something special about this painting?

Anri’s next words caught him off guard.

 

“Right? Why are there so many paintings of women being rescued?”

“…….”

 

Anri’s tone didn’t carry any particular meaning, but there was something profound about it.

Even as she gently scratched her cheek while gazing at the painting, her spirit felt different from that of those women in the artwork, like Andromeda.

Andromeda was a particularly popular figure in this era.

A woman who was sacrificed, rescued by a man, and then married to him, eventually bearing six children.

Anri found the submissive and confined lives of women typical of this era suffocating.

Even if she wanted to live well on her own, it wasn’t easy due to institutional and national issues.

And even if she were to marry, it would have to be under suitable conditions and with a suitable family. Could there be love in such a marriage?

What if he’s weird? What if he cheated?

And it’s not like she had a lot of money to live well on her own or was going to inherit a house.

 

“Still, I envy Andromeda.”

“……?”

 

Anri’s words, uttered unintentionally, raised a question mark in the man’s mind.

Though his face was not visible, she could feel the shift in the atmosphere.

Then, in a calm but somewhat interested tone, he asked, as if genuinely wanting to know.

 

“……Why?”

“…….”

 

Anri thought for a moment.

It wasn’t a matter of whether she should share her inner thoughts with the man.

She just needed some time to organize her thoughts enough to voice them out loud.

 

“Well, because there’s someone who rescues her. Whether it’s Perseus or anyone else.”

 

In her past life as well, there was no one for Anri to rely on or anyone worth relying on.

Despite living independently and boldly, there were moments when she wished for a fairy godmother like the one in Cinderella.

If she were Cinderella, she would have asked the fairy for a house and enough money to live comfortably for the rest of her life, not just a dress for the ball.

She could meet the prince later.

It seemed wasteful to use magic just to meet a man.

 

‘Come to think of it, I still haven’t fully paid off my student loans.’

 

She didn’t want to live in debt, but she had lost the opportunity to repay it.

 

“Well, it’s okay.”

“Can’t I be that person?”

“What?”

 

Before Anri could finish her sentence with a fresh breath, the man interrupted her.

When she turned around in surprise, he looked as indifferent and cold as ever.

Yet, within his eyes, there was a calm reflection of a stormy, pitch-black sea.

The atmosphere had noticeably cooled down a moment ago.

Now that she thought about it, she realized how strange it was for an unmarried lady under thirty to spend several minutes alone with a man.

It was obvious that others would consider her quite improper.

Suddenly, he took a step closer with a slightly more persistent and serious gaze.