The Star in Your Eyes [END]

A new painting will be on display that day. With barely audible light steps, she followed the people who would display the painting in the special hall.

In the hall lined with paintings of members of the royal family from time to time. Starting from painting portraits of leaders to family paintings. The portrait of the present king is there, too. Either because of its very beautiful face or because it is located at the very end, the painting looks very attractive.

There is also a family portrait painting that is covered with a black cloth. It said the painting was like that. After tens of years have passed, no one remembers how the painting behind the black fabric was. Even he was sure that her parents did not know what kind of painting was behind the black cloth.

"Somehow, I had a feeling that you would be here."

He and the servants who had brought the painting earlier hurriedly turned around. They didn't know that the king appeared.

"Greetings to His Majesty King Balthasar, Nathanael Seneca."

King Nathanael gave the servants a curt nod and instructed them to continue their work. "Princess Glenice, what are you doing here? Her Majesty has been looking everywhere for you," he said.

Glenice grinned widely. "I want to see how our painting looks like. Aren't you curious, Father?"

"You know I don't like painting humans–or anything that looks like humans," said King Nathanael.

Glenice stared at her father with an intense gaze. A man that people said was very handsome: golden blond hair and green eyes like a jungle. Well, Glenice agreed that her father was handsome. But to her, the knight who had secretly confessed his love to her some time ago is more handsome than her father.

"You're only here to see the painting?" continued King Nathanael.

"Yes," answered Glenice. "I wonder how beautiful I am in that painting."

"It turns out there's a guy you like."

"H-how did you know?!"

"My eyes and ears are everywhere. Her Majesty has also told me about it."

"Ah! Even though I told Mother to keep it a secret from Father!"

Unexpectedly, King Nathanael smiled. It was rare for Glenice to see her father smile like that. Her mother must have fallen in love with this smile.

"It's natural for girls your age to like the opposite sex. But you still have to remember that any man you like must make it through my strict selection," said King Nathanael.

"I'm sure he's a good person. And most importantly, he is more handsome than Father!" said Glenice.

"You're still looking for a more handsome man than me."

"Because I'm tired of hearing people flatter your good looks."

King Nathanael patted Glenice on the shoulder. "Handsome is not enough, Princess Glenice. You will be crowned as the crown princess in a few days, so you need a companion who is strong and courageous. Face is not a problem. You are beautiful, I am handsome, and the late King Aeneas was even more than handsome. This beauty is passed down from generation to generation," he explained. "The late King Aeneas even went so far as to call it a curse."

"Huh? Did the late grandfather ever say that?" asked Glenice in disbelief. She hastily looked at the painted portrait of the late King Aeneas. Indeed, a god-like face. "Very weird. If I had a face like that, I would show it off everywhere. While I…"

King Nathanael stroked Glenice's head, then asked her to look at him. "Sometimes something in excess is not good. There used to be a time when the late King Aeneas… was in trouble because of the face he had. Gradually, something inside him disappeared. Luckily, there was the late Queen Selah, who later accepted him as he is," he said softly. His thumb rubbed Glenice's eyes. "In the future, there will be someone like that for you too."

"Really?" asked Glenice seriously.

King Nathanael nodded. "Tell me or Her Majesty immediately if you hear someone badmouthing your eyes again. We will take care of it."

"Am I a child who will complain to his parents when teased?" grunted Glenice.

Without Glenice realizing it, the new family's painting had already been hung. She immediately drew near and noticed her family portrait.

There is her father, the incomparably handsome. There was her mother, a noble with a unique personality. And there is Glenice, a dark-haired princess with a different eye color.

Gold and sapphire blue, just like the late King Aeneas.

"You are no less beautiful than your grandfather, Glenice. Be proud of what you have."

"Yes, Father!"