Draw In Love

The hall was incredible as the rumor said. It was filled with gold and magnificent things whether local or imported. But the only thing that caught everyone's eye was a piece of artwork that was as big as the wall of the hall itself. It was the main attraction for the event that was held as my fiance's official debutante today.

"...."

'Isn't ready yet but he insisted on displaying it no matter what, saying it's good enough. What a foolish man. You didn't even know anything about art yet here you are as the greatest artist throughout the empire'

My eyes stared at my artwork in front of me. But should I call it mine? The person who claimed that they created that masterpiece is not me. The name below the artwork, which is currently being shown to the public in the main hall of the empress's palace, is not mine.

It was Lord 'Albert Alfonso'. My own fiance.

"Lord Albert, you did it again! You truly had hands of gold! This is yet another masterpiece you have created for our empire! "

Now my eyes glance at her majesty. She is the most beautiful woman in the empire and loves to collect artwork from various genius artists throughout the empire. Her Majesty Joenne De Asta Evangeline. Her beauty is no joke. I really did not exaggerate things at all. Just look at her. Her natural green eyelashes cover up her shiny amber eyes, and her naturally red cheeks look like they're going to burst at any time. Her lips also looked naturally red. Her appearance literally suits an angel who descends from heaven to this cruel world unwillingly. 

'Oh, If I could paint her only once...'

"Your Majesty, you flattered me too much. If not for my fiance here, I could never have created such a masterpiece. She is my sole supporter and the source of inspiration for all my work this whole time."

'What a joke'

Albert pulled me closer. His arm leans on my shoulder while his mouth shows a bright smile. If anyone ever sees us right now, it looks like we are the most lovely couple in the empire.

"Oh my. You are being loved too much, Beatrice. Good for you, my dear." Her Majesty smiles beautifully. "Since the relationship between you two looks good, when will the marriage take place, I wonder?" She asked with a teasing tone in her gentle voice. 

As my aunt, she treated me so well, like her own daughter. Although she already had Princess Vivienne.

"We didn't talk about it yet-"

"Oh, Beatrice. Don't you have a prior engagement at home? I would want to send you back, but I still had some work at the palace. Can you go back by yourself?"

'This guy...'

Obviously, Albert cut my words and tried to shove me away. He has always been a jerk like this, but for me, at least, he never tried to cheat with another woman. Whatever he did to me, it could never be worse than being cheated on.

It might be a foolish thought, but since this is an arranged marriage to strengthen the power of two households, if I ever had a say in this, I might be labeled as useless.

"Thank you for reminding me, Lord Albert. Then, I will take my leave."

Without much word, I turned away from Albert and my aunt. Communication has always been something I don't like to interfere with. It's not like I can't talk, but I choose not to.

Because nobody would even consider a word from someone like me to be important. 

*****

"Beatrice? You come home late."

My face turned to look in his direction. My father, the head of the Galahad Grand Duchy, Grand Duke Lloyd de Asta Galahad, is currently standing beside my carriage. Holding the hand that he reaches out to me as I'm going down the carriage, my mouth creates a little grin. 

"Today is the day Lord Albert presented his painting to the empress. I simply accompany him, father. Didn't I tell you already?"

Grand Duke Galahad nodded his head slightly. "Yes, indeed. You told me. It must be because I'm busy; I didn't remember much of what my dear daughter informed me. I'm a terrible father." 

He suddenly looked solemn. 

"Oh, father... I didn't blame you or anything. Lord Albert also just told me yesterday. I almost had no time to prepare for the occasion. It's quite a mess this morning." 

A little laugh came out of my mouth as I told the story to my father, but my father suddenly stood still, making our steps stop in the middle of our work towards the mansion. 

"..? Father?"

Looking at him in perplexity, I touched his arm slightly. "What's wrong?"

"My dear, Beatrice. Do you love Lord Albert?"

Hearing his question, I looked at his face directly. 

"Aren't I, his fiance, father? Isn't it only natural for me to have a feeling for him?"

It's not like I currently have a feeling for him, though. But it could come later, maybe after our marriage. I hope so.

"Be honest with me. If you don't like him, It is not too late to annul your engagement. " Father said it with a serious face, which made me speechless for a while.

"You don't like Lord Albert, father?" I asked him instead, but he shook his head with a gloomy face.

"I'm not talking about me; I'm talking about you. I want you to be happy, Beatrice. Honestly, I didn't think he was suitable to make you happy."

What is this? This is not like Father at all. His shoulders, which were always looking broad and strong, look very weak at the moment. My strong father is currently trembling while his eyes are looking directly at me. It was quite dramatic for someone as reliable as him.

"Oh, father. Are you worried about me? An arranged marriage is something every girl around my age has had to go through. It's a normal thing, right?"

"But, Beatrice..! " My father suddenly raised his voice, which made me startled. Looking at his face closely, his cheeks are slightly reddish. "Father, are you perhaps drunk?"

"Honey!"

When my eyes turn to look at the familiar gentle voice that comes out of nowhere, now even my mother is here. She looked at me before turning to her husband.

"Are you crazy?! You left me behind and now you even vent your anger toward our daughter??"

Looking at her restless action, my head reflexively tilted a bit. '? What exactly was she mad at?'

"What's wrong with him, Mother?" I finally asked after Father was being dragged by the servants to his chamber. My mother looked at me with a sorry expression.

"Your father met Lord Albert at the palace. Did you know about it?"

"Hm? What is this about, mother?"

Her question makes me ponder. Albert didn't say anything to me nor did I hear anything from 'shadow'.

"I think you have to talk about this matter regarding your marriage with Lord Albert again. It seems your father will oppose him from being your husband."

"..?"

It's not like I'm in love with Albert so if Father were to oppose it, I don't have any word regarding that matter. After all, Father should be the one who makes the decision.

"Is it fine?"

I thought this was an important engagement so I didn't say anything this whole time but who knows it's this easy to annul it?

"Oh dear, we are Galahad. We have money to make anything possible."

My mother smiled innocently her words didn't match her gentle face. Looking at her, the tip of my mouth slightly raises up.

Oh, believe me. I understand that very well, mother.

****

"I'm sorry but you can't get in, lady Galahad."

Albert's servant prevented me from getting into their master's bedroom. Currently, I'm at his mansion without prior notice. This was my first time doing this so I thought maybe he wasn't ready to meet me but seeing how his servant changed their behavior with sweat all over their body, there is something fishy here.

"If you want to keep your job, step aside."

My green eyes glared at him in annoyance. How dare a mere servant prevent me from seeing my fiance? I am a Galahad. With a single word from me, not only his job but even his family should be begging for mercy.

My feet stop right at the door. The sight of him clinging to a woman's naked body gets to my eyes. 

My breath immediately stopped as my heart almost didn't beat. 

What did I say? I would tolerate anything but not cheating. And here he is, cheating on me. I'm the one who gives him everything. whether is money or fame. So, how could he ever do this? 

"Didn't I say that you should behave well, Albert? Get up right this instant!"

Albert, who heard my yells, immediately got up from his immoral position in shock. Yeah. His face looked flushed. Maybe he's embarrassed by his actions.

But, oh sweety, you shouldn't be. 

" Our engagement lasts because I tolerate anything you have done to me. But not anymore. As of this moment, it is over. You should bear the consequence of breaking the limitation we both have. "

My feet both turn around from him. Quickly. I have to get away from here quickly. This sight of him made me want to puke. 

"Wait, Beatrice! "

My hand suddenly being grabbed from behind and in an instant my whole body was forced to turn to face him again. 

"...??! "

"Do you think you can get away from me just like that?! " Albert shouts right at my face. "Our engagement will never be broken! Your family needs Alfonso's land, isn't it? So, should you be breaking our promise this easily? I got the upper hand in this relationship, not you! you are just a fu*king pushover bi**h, remember?!." 

'Oh, at least please wear something to cover up the lower body of yours. I can see everything and it isn't even pleasant to look at. '

"I- it's small... " Beatrice's face turned blue as her hand quickly covered up her mouth in trembling. "Bluekk...! "

At that moment, Beatrice pukes right at the lower part of Albert's body. 

That was the day, Beatrice's engagement got broken off in a way that Albert couldn't talk to anyone even if it was to sue her for breaking off the engagement.