If not for Zoren, Penny wouldn’t have insisted on looking at the family portrait. It would have intrigued her for sure, and she might have found herself sneaking back into the old study to get a better look. But since Zoren offered, she accepted his invitation to check out his father’s works.
Initially, she had only planned to look around once, a quick glance. But alas, she couldn’t help feeling drawn to that unfinished work on the easel. One of the painting’s eyes, lips, and part of her cheek were incomplete. So details were still just sketches. But sohow, Penny couldn’t look away.
Aside from the fact that Enzo Pierson was actually a talented realist painter, there was sothing about the piece that made her stare longer than she intended.
’Is it the eye?’she wondered, narrowing her eyes as she walked closer to the unfinished work. ’Or is it because my late father-in-law was such a great painter that this piece feels so... embellished?’
Out of pure curiosity, Penny pulled out the family picture she had hidden behind the book. Zoren hadn’t given her ti to put it away when he dragged her into the workshop. Penny turned slightly so Zoren couldn’t see what she was doing, checking the woman in the family photo before glancing back at the painting.
’They do look alike, though,’ she thought to herself, unable to deny it. The woman in the family picture and the one in the painting were clearly the sa person.
Even so, why did Penny feel this inexplicable sensation that she couldn’t quite put into words?
It felt like... sothing was off.
The feeling was faint but hard to shake.
Once again, Penny gazed at the painting, rubbing her chin in thought. ’What is it?’she wondered. ’Why do I feel... uncomfortable the longer I look at her?’
"Young Master."
Penny’s thoughts trailed off as Butler Lee’s voice interrupted. She turned to the entrance, and Zoren did the sa.
Butler Lee glanced at the workshop before facing Zoren with a smile. "Your guests have arrived at the castle, Young Master."
"Guests?"
"It’s Miss Nina and Sir Finn Davis."
"Oh," Penny recalled, now reminded that she had invited Nina to the castle to give her a tour.
"They arrived earlier," Zoren said, only for Butler Lee to point out that it was already nine in the morning. "We’ll co down in a bit. Penny is still looking at my father’s works."
"No, it’s okay!" Penny quickly flashed them a smile, finding the nearest table to place the book she had been holding. She slipped the family picture between its pages before skipping toward the door. Once she reached them, her smile brightened. "We’re coming down now."
"Are you sure you don’t want to look more?" Zoren asked. Penny shook her head.
"I’ve seen enough," she said, hooking her arm around his. "Let’s just go. I’m also getting hungry."
"Alright then."
With that, Zoren and Penny started walking away while Butler Lee stood to the side. He let them go first, but instead of following imdiately, he stared at the workshop. Reaching for the doorknob, he pulled it shut, casting one last glance at the unfinished painting.
A shallow breath escaped his lips before he closed the door, the creaking sound echoing softly in the room.
*****
"Nina!"
"Penny!"
As soon as Penny reached Nina, the two excitedly held hands, nearly jumping with joy as though it were their first reunion after a long ti. anwhile, Finn greeted Zoren, who returned the gesture with a nod.
"Nina, have you looked around?" Penny asked, making Nina grin.
"I just took a look while waiting for you — it’s gorgeous."
"You should stay here tonight. It’s even more majestic at night!" Penny suggested, taking Nina’s hand. "Co with , I’ll show you around a bit."
As though Zoren and Finn didn’t exist, the two won left their n behind, not even asking them to join.
"And... I’m left alone again," Finn huffed quietly, resting a hand on his hip. His expression, however, was full of admiration and affection as he watched his fiancée’s happy face. "If she weren’t her sister, I’d be very worried. I never thought I’d stop worrying about n, but I guess won are actually what I should be worried about."
Zoren stayed silent, narrowing his eyes as he watched Nina. He understood the bond between sisters, but that didn’t excuse Nina from potentially becoming a rival in his eyes.
"It’s a good thing I expected this much," Finn remarked, turning to Zoren. "Mr. Pierson, can I have a minute with you?"
Zoren arched a brow at Finn, who flashed him a friendly smile.
"It’s been a crazy and hectic schedule for both of us, so I haven’t had the chance to catch up," Finn said. "Will you grant the honor of sparing a few minutes of your ti?"
"Sure," Zoren replied calmly. "Follow ."
Finn’s smile widened as he nodded, allowing Zoren to walk ahead of him before following. To his surprise, Zoren led him to the kitchen.
"Uh... Mr. Pierson?" Finn called, stopping near the kitchen counter as Zoren checked the drawers. "Why are we here?"
Just as those words left his mouth, sothing flew toward him. Thanks to Finn’s quick reflexes, he caught it before it hit his head. A furrow appeared on his forehead as he looked down.
"This is..." He trailed off, lifting his eyes to where Zoren stood.
Zoren, wearing an apron, said, "You can say whatever it is while I prepare my wife’s breakfast."
"But there was already breakfast on the table," Finn pointed out. "Didn’t you notice it, Mr. Pierson?"
"There is, but I still want to prepare my wife’s breakfast. She can eat everything else after that." Zoren paused, narrowing his eyes with a hint of disgust on his face. "You... don’t do that?"
"..."
Zoren shook his head in disappointnt. "No wonder your fiancée keeps stealing my wife. You don’t shower her with enough love."
"Hah... haha... Mr. Pierson, are you bragging?" Finn blurted out with a laugh. "With all due respect, it’s actually Penelope who’s taking my fiancée everywhere."
"But not in my eyes. Very well, if you don’t want to prepare sothing for your fiancée, then you don’t deserve the apron. Poor Nina."
Finn maintained his usual foxy smile, but a vein began to protrude from his forehead. In the end, he wore the apron just to prove to Zoren that he could cook too — even better than him.
Unexpectedly, the "talk" Finn had requested turned into a cooking contest. It seed that this breakfast would determine not just who was the better cook, but also the partner.
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