The Wicked Wife's Dark History Keeps Coming Back To Haunt Her - Chapter 65
* * *
The academy gallery hall displayed the childrenâs artworks in a line.
Ian, who had been walking ahead with quick steps, stopped in front of a green canvas. Ash stood behind him, looking at the painting.
âSo, this is what he wanted to show meâŚâ
The painting depicted a man giving a child a piggyback ride on a path where warm green and yellow tones mingled.
Though only their backs were shown, Ash could tell it was a portrait of him and Ian.
[ (Special Award) A Memory I Left Behind / Ian Bayern ]
âI won an award in the drawing competition, and I really wanted to show it to you, Uncle.â
The original theme was the scenery of the academy, but what Ian had painted was a memory that Ash had tucked away in his heart.
ââŚYou drew well.â
Ianâs father had been so rigid and strict that he hadnât intended to leave any inheritance to his second son, born of his second wife. His mother, driven by ambition for the Bayern family, had instilled in him a sense of rivalry and hatred toward his older half-brother.
The only person who had given Ash the love he hadnât received from his parents was his half-brother, Joshua.
Joshua had been a good brother. Instead of hating Ash, who was belittled and used as a pawn by Joshuaâs stepmother, he had told the little boy that it wasnât his fault, that he was just a child being used by adults.
To Ash, Joshua had been like a parent.
And for some reason, on the day depicted in the painting, Ash had thought about passing on the experience Joshua had given him to Ian.
The warm and joyful feelings from that day surfaced anew, as vividly as in the picture.
ââŚBut wasnât the competition theme a landscape? This looks like the path at our home.â
âThatâs why I got a special award instead. If not, I wouldâve won the grand prize.â
Ian beamed with pride.
Indeed, this painting was one that deserved at least a special award. It had the power to pull the viewer back to their childhood at first glance.
âI really wanted to show this to you, Uncle.â
Perhaps Ian could have resented and blamed Ash.
But the fact that he had preserved only good memories was because Ash occupied a significant part of the experiences that had shaped Ianâs character.
âUncle, may I come home during the next vacation?â
ââŚYes.â
Ash answered in a suppressed voice.
Even though Ian was the child of the woman who had taken his brotherâs life, Ash had belatedly realized that to Ian, he was still an important family member.
âAsh, how can it be your fault that your mother hates me? Thatâs on her, not you. So thereâs no need for you to feel sorry.â
In Ianâs smile, Ash could see the face of Joshua, who had given him so much comfort.
âAlright, letâs meet at home during your vacation.â
Ash gave a faint smile as he watched Ianâs face light up in a bright smile.
* * *
It wasnât until they were on their way home that they learned Richard, who had fought with Ian, was the nephew of Count Azelotâs wife.
After the carriage stopped in front of the house, Nina, holding Ashâs hand as she got out, asked,
âSo, the reason they treated Ian that way wasâŚâ
âThere must have been some sort of deal with the Azelot family.â
Honestly, he hadnât expected a connection with Count Azelot at all.
If it had been the imperial familyâs genealogy, perhaps. But he didnât remember every detail of the Azelot familyâs lineage.
To be frank, when they had encountered the two in the faculty office, Ash hadnât even known they were the Marquis and Marchioness of Ulverni.
At Ashâs cynical voice, Nina frowned.
As greedy as they were for money, how could they use their own son for such a dirty scheme?
âThey couldâve lived comfortably without resorting to such measuresâŚâ
âThen wouldnât it be dangerous to leave Ian at the academy?â
Nina couldnât imagine that Count Azelot would directly target her nephew.
Before her return, she hadnât heard any issues related to Ian, so she didnât think that would happen now.
â…It must be because things have changed.â
What was the reason Count Azelot had approached her before, offering her a potion?
It was because Nina Bayern was the âmaster keyâ to the guardianship trial.
âAsh Bayern is not fit to be the guardian of his nephew.â
If her âopinionâ as his wife had been submitted to the court as such, everything would have gone as Count Azelot wanted.
He wouldnât have needed to sow discord between Ian and Ash since he had a winning card on his side.
âOr perhaps something like this had originally happened, but Ian didnât tell anyone.â
âEven if weâre far apart, as long as thereâs trust, thereâs no reason to doubt.â
That unwavering trust in Ash had been evident in Ianâs words.
