He handed the drawing back to the vendor. "Aenwyn said it's not good-looking."
Who are you calling Aenwyn? Have some respect, you little brother.
She glared at him.
Indigo couldn't help but laugh out loud. He still liked seeing her so full of life. Yesterday, she made his heart ache.
As long as she didn't leave him, he was willing to give her the greatest freedom.
He thought this, eyes filled with gentleness. The cold and distant young man had fallen for someone for the first time, so deeply he couldn't control it, so deeply it made him anxious every day.
He couldn't hold too tightly, couldn't lift her too high, and couldn't let her drift too far. It was like holding a handful of sand, he had to get the grip just right.
He also wanted to hide her at home, keep her away from everyone, so no one could ever find her again.
But no, he couldn't.
Indigo, relying on his instincts, had found the right way to be with Aenwyn. If he really locked her away, she would definitely run off, never to be seen again.
The vendor was disappointed that another deal had slipped away.
He had already been cheated by Dareng earlier and lost a lot, and today he still hadn't made any money.
"How about I draw one for you?" Aenwyn said, her fingers itching to create.
Besides, if not for her, Indigo probably would have bought it. Doing business wasn't easy.
"You?"
"You can draw?"
"I draw better than this."
The vendor laughed in frustration. These days, even servants knew how to draw.
"Alright then, go ahead." Since it was for Indigo's sake, he didn't mind the paper and ink. He led Aenwyn to his stall.
The stall had all the supplies: brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones. Though she hadn't done much traditional painting, she knew the basics. Using a brush to paint people could be just as expressive as using charcoal or pencil.
Brush painting focused on five tones of ink. The paper didn't work like rice paper, but it would do.
She painted decisively, using dry brush strokes to show light and shade. The bold strokes looked random at first, like she was scribbling.
The vendor couldn't hold back and was about to scold her. If she didn't know how to draw, she shouldn't waste his paper.
But as more strokes were added, a beautiful woman began to take shape.
The woman was shown from the side. Her features weren't clear, but her bright, charming eyes and tempting lips stood out. Her graceful body made people want to protect her.
What was most amazing was the mix of beauty and an ethereal, fairy-like quality. The vendor couldn't describe it.
If he had asked, Aenwyn would've said it was a pure-desire style.
She would shamelessly call it realism.
She was clearly a gorgeous and charming beauty, yet her eyes were only focused on the painting. That focus made her look pure. Add a sweet little dimple, and it became that kind of pure-desire charm some men chased after.
It was a self-portrait, after all. It had to look a bit like her. She couldn't ruin her own reputation.
Aenwyn finally signed her initials in an unnoticed corner of the painting.
"All done."
Aenwyn wasn't very satisfied, but it was acceptable. The paper was no good, and the brush didn't feel right.
The vendor eagerly reached for it.
"No, this is mine," Indigo said firmly.
"Please, Sir Indigo," the vendor groaned.
"Indigo, don't fight him over it. I'll draw you another one when we get back?"
Besides, it only showed a side profile. The features didn't look much like her. It didn't matter if it got lost.
"Yes, yes, Sir Indigo."
"Hm?" Aenwyn smiled and shook his hand.
"…Alright." The handsome young man wasn't willing at first, but he gave in to her smile.
"Thank you, Sir Indigo, and thank you too, young lady."
The vendor carefully wrapped the painting. He had clearly misjudged her today. He didn't expect her to be so skilled, though he didn't know how she ended up as a servant in the Indigo household.
Sigh, this world was getting stranger and stranger.
Indigo looked at the painting in the vendor's hands and thought about sending someone to buy it later.
But some things, once missed, are meant to stay out of reach.
…
Ludovic stood in front of the painting of the beauty, silent for a long time.
"I'll take this painting," he said with a smile, eyes full of amazement and obsession.
"Master, what are you holding in your hand?" Servant Mo looked at the scroll in Ludovic's hand and asked.
"Something I bought on the street."
"Then allow me to put it away for you." He reached out, but Ludovic avoided him.
"No need, I'll handle it myself." Ludovic placed it into his pack personally.
Servant Mo thought it must be another painting from a renowned artist. At times like this, he knew better than to interfere.
"How is it today?" Ludovic asked.
Servant Mo knew he was asking about Young Master Zhou's condition.
"Much better," Servant Mo replied. "Do you want to visit him?"
Ludovic turned and headed to the room across the corridor. The attendant at the door opened it for him.
Inside, there was a strong scent of medicine. The man who usually acted bold and brash now lay pale and unconscious on the bed.
The attendant had just finished feeding medicine and stood up upon seeing Ludovic enter.
"No need to be formal." Ludovic noticed that Young Master Zhou looked much better today.
"Has he woken up?" Ludovic asked.
"He woke up once just now. Doctor Ri said his condition has stabilized."
Ludovic felt relieved after taking a look, then noticed that the handful of hair Zhou had been clutching was gone.
"Where's the hair?" He had been holding onto it so tightly before.
"I kept it safe." The attendant brought over a scented pouch. He couldn't just throw away something his master had held onto so tightly, so he found a pouch to put it in.
Ludovic took it and examined it. A simple white pouch with a long lock of hair inside.
"She's beautiful?"
The attendant, who served closely beside Young Master Zhou, was startled at first but quickly realized Ludovic was asking about the owner of the hair.
"Yes, I've never seen a woman like her."
"How does she compare to the most beautiful woman in the capital?" Servant Mo asked, intrigued. He had already heard rumors from others on the street.
"She's a calamity in beauty." The attendant sighed, meaning she was incomparable.
He was lucky to have survived, but his master got hurt, and everyone else would be punished when they returned.
Servant Mo felt regret. Why hadn't he gone to see for himself?
Ludovic rubbed the pouch in his hand. Could there truly be such a beautiful woman in this world? That portrait he bought must be of her.
Both the artistry and the person in the painting amazed him.
Ludovic thought of returning the pouch to the attendant.
"We leave tomorrow, prepare to return to the capital." He said.
She was so dreamlike, like a vision from sleep, but he believed only in reality.
He had no reason to stay here. Zhou's illness could not be delayed.
"Good, good. I've long wanted to leave this dreadful place." Servant Mo jumped up. He had already packed most of their things.
Young Master Zhou's attendant was also relieved. With the condition stable, traveling slowly would not be a problem.
"But aren't you going to visit Elder Yue's second son?" Servant Mo asked.
"When did I say I would visit him?"
"But didn't Elder Yue's wife ask you to?"
Ludovic shook his head and laughed. "She only used us as a stepping stone. She has her own plans."
Besides, bullying a young boy with power and influence goes against the conduct of a gentleman. He had no interest in getting involved in matters of the inner household.
"Then why did Young Master Zhou keep going over there?"
"He was curious, just wanted to see the person." Ludovic said.
Just wanted to see, and nearly died for it. He didn't even see the person in the end. Servant Mo complained to himself.
Indigo had no idea some people had come for him. Even if he knew, he wouldn't be afraid.
No, he was still afraid sometimes. Right now, he was extremely nervous.
"Aenwyn, why do you look so serious?" He looked at the small woman sitting across from him.
She had changed into another outfit again after returning. It was still servant attire, but he had made sure the inner lining was of fine material.
"Indigo, I'm sorry for leaving without saying goodbye." Aenwyn said.
He could not blame her. He had hidden her away so thoroughly before, it was understandable that she might have felt something was wrong. Even the household servants were not allowed to see her.
She had read the travel notes about the local customs and formed certain guesses that were not surprising.
"I'm not from this place. I come from a world where women are very free, and the nation is wealthy and strong. My family and friends are all there."
As Aenwyn spoke, her eyes filled with longing.
She hadn't been here long, but it felt like a lifetime.
She had roamed the world freely before, sometimes vanishing for over a year. For the first time in her life, she missed home so much.
"You have me."
Indigo walked over and gently held her. His slender fingers stroked her soft hair.
"Indigo, would you lock me away?"
She leaned on his chest and asked quietly.
Indigo held her shoulders and said, "As long as you don't think of leaving, I'll never lock you away." Look at that, how domineering — as long as you don't leave.
Aenwyn didn't like it, but in this situation, she had to go along for now.
"Even if you keep me, I may not love you."
Indigo smiled, elegant and calm.
"If you don't love me, who else would you love? Who would dare take you from me…"
"I'll kill him." His voice was light and calm, but the chill was terrifying.
Was she being caged? Actually, if the cage was wide enough and moved with her will, she didn't mind having a protective barrier.
She had drifted alone on the vast sea for years like a small boat, thinking that was how life would always be.
Then one day, she reached a strange new sea, and met a young orca who circled around her and said, from now on, she belonged under his protection.
Anyone who tried to steal her, he would destroy.