The Painter and the Prince Who Cannot Be Painted novel · Chapter 18 of 24

Chapter 18: The River

"The Consort has taken to her bed," Captain Jang said. "Her physicians give her three days, not nineteen."

He stood in the gateway with the lantern held low, and did not come any farther in.

"The King wants the portrait on tonight's boat. It goes to her bedside by morning."

"It's still wet, Captain," Do-yun said.

"Then carry it carefully."

He lifted the lantern toward the easel, across the yard.

The light fell on the silk, on the loose black hair and the open indigo robe, and on the face.

Jang looked at it for a long time.

Do-yun stood very still beside the easel.

Behind the laundry screen in the corner, in the shadow, he could feel Gyeol not breathing.

"Who is this?" Jang said.

"The Prince, Captain. As his mother would know him."

"It has his scar."

"Yes."

"It has nothing of his father."

"No."

Jang's heavy beard moved.

"A round chin," he said softly. "And a small, crooked nose. A man who laughs a lot."

"Yes."

"I never saw him laugh until the autumn." Jang lowered the lantern. "It's a good picture, Painter. Sign it."

Do-yun's hand had stopped shaking some time ago.

He took the finest brush from his box, dipped it, and wrote his name in the corner of the silk in small black characters.

Ryu Do-yun.

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