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. Some details were still just sketches. But somehow, Penny couldn’t look away.
Aside from the fact that Enzo Pierson was actually a talented realist painter, there was something 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 time 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 same person.
Even so, why did Penny feel this inexplicable sensation that she couldn’t quite put into words?
It felt like... something 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 same.
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 come 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 immediately, 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.
*****
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