I’m Supposed to Be the Neglected Princess in the Future, but Something Seems Strange... - 3 - Temptation of the Art Gallery – 2

The art gallery was a quiet place with a spacious layout and more than a dozen famous paintings on display.

The busy amusement areas were gathered near the front of the ship, so perhaps that’s why this aLea was so calm and peaceful.

As Rose stepped into the art gallery, where she saw paintings she had only known from books, her heart began to race.

(How lovely. This must be “Spring Sea” by Sebastian McCurson. Maybe it’s all ocean-themed because we’re on a ship.)

The contrast between the deep blue sea on the large canvas and the golden light that represented spring sunlight filtering through trees was absolutely beautiful.

(I wish I had brought some money…)

Entrance to the gallery was free, but the pamphlet with all the paintings cost money, and since Rose had none with her, she couldn’t buy it.

Mira might have some money, but asking her maid to buy something for her felt too selfish. Mira had already bought her a dress and even worked hard to tidy up Rose’s face, which didn’t shine no matter how much it was polished.

With a small sigh of resignation, Rose told herself she would at least burn these images into her memory and looked even more closely at the paintings.

She didn’t notice that the gentlemen in the gallery were glancing at her now and then.

(This blue is amazing. Is it that famous lapis lazuli blue? It’s so beautiful.)

If only Rose’s eyes weren’t that odd tanzanite color, like twilight, and were instead the blue of lapis lazuli—that would have been much nicer.

As she stared deeply at the painting, she suddenly heard a soft cough behind her and froze in surprise.

When she turned around in a panic, she saw a tall man with a slightly hunched back standing there.

“Oh, I’m sorry! I was in the way, wasn’t I?”

She had been standing right in front of the painting, so she must have blocked the man’s view.

Rose quickly stepped back. But the man, who looked to be in his mid-twenties, didn’t look at the painting at all. Instead, he was looking down at Rose.

Did she have something on her face? Feeling uneasy, Rose touched her cheek.

The man smiled kindly and spoke.

“Do you like art, my lady?”

It was the first time someone had called her “my lady.” Nervously, she nodded.

“Y-yes. I think it’s very beautiful…”

“I see. That blue is called lapis lazuli blue. It’s an extremely expensive pigment.”

So it really was lapis lazuli blue. She had read about it in books, but seeing it in person for the first time made her exclaim, “Wow!”

Maybe because Rose showed such interest, the man seemed pleased and continued speaking.

“This painting, Ultramarine, is set on Hilka Island, south of the Evere Inland Sea. There’s a myth that the daughter of the goddess of fertility—called the One-Winged Goddess—lived on that island.”

Oh, she knew that one. In the myth, the One-Winged Goddess, daughter of the gods of life and fertility who lived in the Evere Inland Sea, couldn’t fly with only one wing. She lived on a hill, always longing for the sky. Then one day, a god of spring with three wings came down from the sky and gave her one of his wings. Together, they flew into the heavens.

That myth was also famous as a romantic story. Mira had a version of it adapted into a novel, which Rose had read. Back then, Rose hadn’t remembered her future memories yet, and she had simply dreamed of having a love like that someday. But in reality, she was probably headed toward being a neglected queen, which wasn’t something to laugh about.

“What do you think? I’d love to tell you more about the myth from Hilka Island, if you have some time…”

“…Huh?”

Still lost in thoughts of the One-Winged Goddess and staring dreamily at Ultramarine, Rose blinked in surprise at the sudden invitation.

When she looked up, the hunched man was smiling widely.

“My room is just nearby. Would you like to have tea with me and talk more?”

(Um…)

The story of the One-Winged Goddess was lovely, but it wasn’t something you could talk about for hours. Still, the man seemed kind and only meant well, so it felt rude to just refuse. Maybe just for a little while would be okay.

“I—”

“There you are. I’ve been looking for you.”

Just as Rose was about to say yes, a new voice cut between them.

She looked up, thinking it was someone the man knew. But instead, a young man around twenty years old appeared and casually wrapped an arm around Rose’s shoulder.

(Huh? …What?)

He was tall, with shoulder-length red hair and black-rimmed glasses. His deep red eyes were like pomegranate seeds. He had such a perfectly beautiful face that Rose could only stare in shock.

Then, in front of her, the young man turned to the hunched gentleman and said:

“Sorry. Looks like my companion was bothering you.”

(Companion?)

Wait—who was he talking about?

Rose didn’t understand, but the hunched man seemed to. With a dry smile, he mumbled something like, “No, not at all,” and quickly left, as if fleeing.

(Huh? But he invited me for tea. Why did he leave?)

If Rose remembered correctly, he had invited her for tea. Yet now he was gone. Well, it wasn’t like she really wanted to go. She had only considered it because she didn’t want to refuse rudely.

As she tilted her head in confusion, she suddenly noticed that the young man still had his arm around her shoulder and was now looking down at her.

“Um…”

His pomegranate-colored eyes looked familiar somehow, but she couldn’t remember him at all. Who was he?

While she tried to figure that out, the young man sighed as if amazed.

“You know, you really shouldn’t go along with such obvious pickup lines. That was way too careless of you.”

“Pick-up…?”

She looked puzzled. Seeing her confused face, the young man narrowed his eyes with amusement. He leaned closer and whispered in her ear.

“He was trying to take you to his room and do improper things. You know that, right?”

“Improper things?!”

Rose jumped. That tea invitation had that kind of meaning?!

The young man’s eyes went wide at her reaction, then he burst out laughing.

“You really are something! How sheltered are you? Even little kids today would know that line. I was right to step in when I did.”

So, this young man had noticed she was in danger and came to help her? How kind.

Feeling touched, Rose bowed deeply.

“Thank you very much for your kindness. I’m truly grateful.”

“Uh, well…”

“Thanks to you, I didn’t end up in a terrible situation. I really want to repay you, but I don’t have anything with me… Not even a gem I could sell…”

As she said this, the young man, who had been laughing moments ago, suddenly froze and let out a big sigh.

“Ahh… yeah. Got it. You’re really just a sheltered girl. Listen, don’t say stuff like that. People will take advantage of you. And… don’t look at me with such innocent eyes. I won’t be able to ask you out now.”

“Huh?”

Rose tilted her head.

The young man dramatically took her hand and said:

“Well then, my sheltered lady. Would you like to have tea with me in the lounge? It’s just the right time—cake is being served now.”

Rose blinked in surprise.