CAN'T I HELP HER SOMETIME?

Silence came after that, of course, because there was no way for the portrait to speak back  to him, but Alexander seemed really desperate to know even though deep in his heart he seemed to know what the answer was.

Knock! Knock!

"Your Highness. It's Paul. "

His thoughts that were previously occupied by his wife that he missed now returned to the present when he heard the voice of his personal knight next to the closed door. He then closed the portrait with the curtain before sitting back in the chair.

"Come in." He is now back to his usual stern self.

Paul entered and bowed respectfully in greeting. As usual, every time he comes here, there must be important news to convey. He was the King's personal knight that the King chose hi by himself, but he was not assigned to the palace work at all. He moves based on direct orders from the King, no matter what he requests.

"Looks like you have some news for me. Is it about a secret passage?"