Over a month after the ball, Vergil found something interesting hidden in the back of his brother's closet. Every day Ethan came home half dead, but after a short time resting in his room, would come out to eat dinner and finish any chores needing finishing. Then, he would do it all over again the next day, making sure to wake up bright and early to make breakfast for the family. This left Vergil wondering whether Ethan had something hidden away that kept him going.

He snuck into his brother’s room one morning, the moment he heard Ethan leave. He rifled through his room, attempting to put things back the way they were after he touched them. It was a difficult task because Ethan's room always looked like it’d been hit by a storm. But it'd be just like Ethan to realize someone was snooping around because his dirty shirt was moved 2cm to the right. Finally, he got to his closet, he thrust open the double doors at the same time. Vergil had a flair for the dramatics.

As soon as his eyes caught the object front and center in the closet, he slammed the doors closed. He opened them up slowly this time, wondering if in his excitement to find some secrets he hallucinated the image. Nope, it was still there.

"Why in the world is there a painting of a naked woman in Ethan's bedroom?" Bren's voice came from behind him. She side stepped him and pushed him aside for a better look at the painting. "Unless," she peeked up at him over her shoulder. "You're planting it to incriminate him for something."

"That's a dirty deed you would do, Bren," he crossed his arms.

She stood back up with a snarky grin, "You're not wrong."

"Did you put this in his closet?"

She laughed, "If I were able to find such a painting, I would have. As it were, I did not."

Vergil stared her down for a moment, scrutinizing whether or not he believed her. His sister was an expert at spinning stories and a talented writer, it helped with turning her into a horribly good liar. He wished she used that energy to publish one of her works, currently Vergil was her only viewership. The idea of putting herself out there terrified her, she'd be vulnerable if people were to figure out she wasn’t a boy. He attempted to encourage her by saying she wasn't that impressive to be so well-known, but alas her ego was unmatched.

He understood her fear. He was amazed that anyone for a second believed she was a boy. Ethan especially, he never questioned it.When Vergil looked at her he saw only her round feminine features. Her big hazel eyes, heart-shaped face framed by light brown hair, and rose colored chubby cheeks. She was a beautiful young woman. Someone was bound to notice that. Ever since her traumatic incicident when she was a little girl she'd protected herself the only way she knew how. It was easy for her since she'd always been a tomboy. Their father hated it and more than once left her in tears. Even after what happened to her, he only referred to her as his son in public to not stand out while everyone else called her a boy. May he rest in pieces.

"This is Ethan's, then," Vergil looked at the painting again. This time he actually gave it a good look. His heart did a familiar swish in his chest. The kind that he experienced whenever he looked at a particular piece of art that filled him with excitement. The only part of the woman's face in frame was her chin, where a little beauty mark resided. All the way down she was as bare as the day she was born, besides one little thing. On the foot that was stepping upon a platform was a glass slipper.

The glass was dazzling in vibrant colors. It was as if it were the most beautiful and exotic crystal that could only be found in the deep depths of an unknown cavern when lost, afraid, and searching for escape. Then upon coming into a passage filled with these brilliant glowing rocks, a magic would whisk you away to safety. The slipper reflected off the woman's light skin, it clothed her in a wondrous array of colors that seemed to dance across her flesh.

A hand parted his eyes from the painting. "It's just a painting, Vergil. She isn't going to come out and smooch you."

Vergil twisted Bren's arm and kept it still as she attempted to pull out of his grip until she shouted out, "Mercy, Mercy. I'm sorry."

Vergil dropped her arm with a hmph of triumph, "I don't care about the woman."

"Well, count me surprised." She quickly jumped back, clutching her arms close to her body, the moment he turned his eyes on her. "Kidding, kidding. I know you're a sucker for pwetty colors."

"But Ethan isn't."

"But he is into woman. I guess in ways we never knew before," Bren shook her head, her voice lit with a facade of disappointment.

With a roll of his eyes, he wacked his sister on the back of her head which she grabbed with an exclamation of curses. "The princess must have painted it." She was the only one whom Ethan would accept something like this from. Evidenced further by the human subject matter. Vergil recognized that beauty mark on Viviana, Princess Amalia's handmaiden.

He was grateful to Ethan for having whisked him away from that drunken mistake. Noble women were wonderful for big earnings, some nights he'd get away with a hefty sack of coins or jewels or have pure gold, diamond encrusted necklaces thrown over his head. A duke's daughter was a dangerous play though, especially one who worked as the right hand of the princess. The last thing he needed was a forced marriage or a target on his head.

Bren hummed, "So, the little princess has something in common with my eldest brother. Maybe mama's dream will come true."

Vergil snorted, "A common hobby doesn't equate to true love. I certainly have no interest in marrying her, nothing personal, that goes for all women."

"She sure is beautiful though, ain't she? You sure you didn't fall deeply in love with her that time you saw her? How could any man not? I'd marry her if she chose me, it seems impossible to turn down a whole princess."

"Yeah?" he snorted. "I think some issues might arise come the wedding night."

She clicked her tongue, "Idiot. I don't want her. I just have to make enough excuses long enough to take all I can from her then escape from the kingdom."

"You're the idiot." Bren hissed at him in response. "To answer your question," Vergil continued. "No, I did not fall in love with her beauty. I understand you are shallow, but don't paint every one the same as yourself. Outside beauty only holds so much weight. I don't know her and I'm sure she's a wonderful woman, but I have yet to meet anyone that has captured my heart. A spoiled princess is most certainly not to be the first. Regardless of," he looked over at the painting with a soft voice. "Her intriguing talents."

She was beautiful though. Red curls like fire billowing down her back and an even more burning look in her eyes. Vergil had thought he would melt from the intensity of her golden gaze like that of a dangerous lioness. At first there was that unmistakable look of attraction, but almost instanteously it turned into a piercing look of distaste. He'd had to bite his tongue to keep from laughing.

Later, she turned to look at vergil after he let slip a comment about Ethan in his green suit. A curious look on her face. Curious, yet pleased. He'd felt so pleasantly praised just from an expression that it'd embarrassed him enough to actually avert his gaze. There had been more to it than that, that he didn't want to dwell on. It made him feel bad and he promised himself to never do it again.

Sure, he was no stranger to women's complements and praises. Those were nice, but they were the kind that weighed him down, the kind that were said with a motivation. It felt good to be appreciated for the sake of being appreciated.

She had been quite the sight. He’d been particularly surprised by the toned muscles in her arms. When he'd brought it up to Ethan, as a mere curiosity, he’d gotten a strange look.

Ethan replied with, 'What are you talking about? She's as slender and fragile as a little doll. A lady pure of heart.' Vergil only responded with a cringe. There was no use arguing with a delusional man with an infatuation.

Vergil had thought they suited her. Perhaps his taste in women was just odd; he did tend to lean toward pushy women. He liked being sought after. Taken care of. Spoiled. That was why he'd managed to be caught by Viviana too. He did find he was more often taken advantage of than cared for. Probably an unfortunate byproduct of his current career path.

Thinking of Viviana. He considered the painting. While he'd rather pass on being friends with the princess, he had a difficult time not chasing after an acquaintance with a passionate artist. More than being loved himself, he was quite fond of people who loved beauty. Plus, it wouldn't hurt to be on friendly terms with his future sister-in-law. Lady Viviana might just be the woman to get him an audience with her master.