Chapter 53
–You have successfully discovered new talent.
–You have provided a painting that inspires the Imperial art world.
–The Imperial art world is developing.
–You have succeeded in creating a historical turning point.
–Calculating curse reduction based on achievement contribution.
–The Curse of Forgetting has been alleviated by 60%.
So things like this count as achievements too.
‘The world really is fascinating…’
The moment I let out a hollow laugh—
“You can’t change your expression!”
A stern shout came flying from our little artist.
“Yes, yes.”
And after that, our young painter continued—
“Now the side! I want to draw your side profile! Turn your body, rest your chin on your hand by the window! More to the side, more! Your expression—cooler! Look at the flowers! Just a little smile! Yes, hold it like that!”
She kept barking out orders without rest, until—
“Would you mind not satisfying your personal preferences anymore? I can see right through you.”
“Tsk.”
Only after my firm objection did she finally put her brush down.
Sarah’s painting wasn’t finished until well past midnight.
The completed portrait was temporarily displayed in the parlor.
When word spread that a little girl had painted it, people came down to take a look.
Most of them either admired it quietly or glanced at it in passing, but—
“It’s Mommy!”
Little Seraphina, fascinated by the painting itself, reached out her hand.
“Ah-ah, no-no. The paint’s not dry yet. You can’t touch it.”
I scooped Seraphina up and moved her away from the painting.
Marsha admired it aloud.
“It’s an excellent piece. So how old is our little painter, exactly?”
“Ten years old.”
“She certainly has talent. I couldn’t even hold a brush properly when I was ten.”
Of course, the talent was undeniable.
The painting depicted my side profile, gazing out at the garden through the window.
The way my hair fluttered naturally in the breeze, and how I appeared to admire the flowers outside—combined with the sunlight and the garden’s scenery—was beautifully portrayed.
But still—
“Isn’t this a bit… too idealized?”
‘I mean, I admit Laura could be considered attractive, but let’s not kid ourselves—she’s no goddess.’
The sunlight streaming down from above as if it were following my gaze, and even the statue of an angel subtly drawn in the corner like a prop—it all made my face burn with embarrassment.
“To our young artist, perhaps that’s how you truly looked. Like a savior or a goddess to the world.”
“Come on.”
“Milady, you don’t seem to realize how famous you’ve become across the Empire.”
I let out a dry laugh, but Marsha was entirely serious.
“In any case… this is going to be a problem.”
“What is?”
“Even if it were just a simple portrait of you, people would be desperate to buy it. But with how beautifully it’s been painted… I predict this will break the auction’s record.”
“Really, that much…?”
Among the attendees at the charity auction, all the prominent socialites had contributed items.
Since each item was offered in the name of personal honor, every one of them was expected to fetch a high bid.
But now she was saying that, out of all those prestigious items, this portrait painted by a child might become the highest-selling one?
“That can’t be right. His Highness is offering an item too.”
Ashael had even mentioned that he’d be submitting a royal treasure.
There’s no way my portrait could top that.
‘There’s absolutely no way…’
…Or so I thought.
“3 million marks! We have 3 million marks! Any higher offers? Oh—just as I say that, 3.1 million marks!”
Auction Day.
“3.5 million!”
“Oh! From the VIP section, a 3.5 million mark bid! Do I hear 3.6? 4 million! Now we’re at 4 million marks! This is intense—the numbers are rising by the hundreds of thousands!”
As my portrait kept breaking the record and climbing in price, my jaw nearly dropped.
‘Wait, how is this even happening?!’
Even after returning to Mortum, Princess Luigi kept her ears open to the affairs of her homeland.
It was because she was worried that hopelessly clueless-in-love Ashael wouldn’t be able to hold on to Laura.
Until now, she had dismissed everything as “their business,” but upon hearing that Laura had resolved the empire’s plague crisis and was now revered by the citizens, Luigi’s anxiety soared.
If Laura—whose value had now skyrocketed—decided to break off the engagement, Ashael wouldn’t be able to stop her.
「You must win that girl over. If she tells you to kneel, then kneel. If she tells you to beg, then beg! Do you understand me? If you let her slip away, I’ll fly straight to the Empire and kick your sorry ass myself.」
Ashael let out a dry laugh as he read Luigi’s letter.
Even though her handwriting retained its elegance, the pressure pressed into certain parts of the page made it feel as though he could hear her voice shouting through the ink.
“Don’t worry, Aunt. That won’t happen.”
Ashael was well aware that people’s perception of Laura was beginning to shift.
But he still believed he had the upper hand—after all, Laura was still his fiancée.
Until—
“The head of the Machertha Guild held a charity auction for Laura?”
A development that rubbed Ashael the wrong way had occurred.
Not only had this merchant supplied the banquet ingredients, but he had also secretly provided critical supplies during the plague crisis.
And recently, he had been seen lurking near Laura’s residence.
Anyone could tell—it was the behavior of a man with clear personal interest.
Feeling uneasy, Ashael sent a letter to Dindin.
「Your loyalty to the imperial family is well known. I have always appreciated your sincerity. However, this time, it seems your devotion may be excessive. I fear that the offerings you’ve made out of goodwill may be seen as overzealous. Thus, I will personally repay all that you have contributed for the empire’s sake. I ask that you refrain from further approaching Lady Leweiz.」
He thought that would be enough to get the message across…
But—
「I once heard that to win someone’s heart, you must first extend kindness. Someone I know said that love is an investment. And any loss from that investment is mine to bear, so please don’t worry.」
That was the reply.
Along with all the gifts Ashael had sent—returned unopened.
‘This bastard…’
He could dress it up in poetic nonsense like “investment” all he wanted…
‘But this is basically a declaration of war.’
Trying to buy Laura’s heart with money!
The fact that he had already confessed to Laura and was now awaiting her answer made Ashael even more anxious.
‘Is the reason she hasn’t responded yet… because she’s trying to find a reason to reject me?’
If Ashael were to list the wrongs he had done to Laura, there would be too many to count.
Most of them were things he said in retaliation when Laura lashed out first, but still—they had undoubtedly hurt her.
‘But that merchant—he hasn’t done anything wrong to her.’
Worse yet, he was young.
And wealthy.
In terms of qualifications, he wasn’t inferior to Ashael at all.
Feeling a bit unsettled, Ashael called his secretary and asked:
“How do the Imperial assets compare to those of the Machertha Guild Master?”
“Of course, Your Highness is far wealthier. If we include hidden assets, no one could surpass Your Highness in terms of wealth.”
Dindin may have controlled the Empire’s commerce and logistics, but he was nothing compared to the prince of an empire.
“I see. As I thought.”
Ashael, now confident as a well-fed lion, felt calm again.
‘Just a pup who doesn’t realize he’s barking at a tiger.’
Now reassured of his superiority, Dindin’s letter began to seem almost laughable.
“You may go.”
‘What was that guy thinking…?’
The secretary tilted his head in confusion, but left without protest.
There was no point arguing with someone in power.
At that moment, Ashael was actually in a good mood.
Until auction day.
“Four million marks! We have a bid for four million marks! Anyone for more? If there are no more offers, I’ll begin the three-count and—”
As soon as Laura’s portrait was brought out, Dindin’s eyes lit up, and he raised the price aggressively.
Ashael couldn’t take it any longer and shouted:
“Four-point-one million!”
“Yes! Four-point-one—… gasp! Your Highness?”
The auctioneer stared in shock at who had made the bid.
No one had expected the ever-composed Ashael to get swept up in a bidding war like this.
Of course, the most flustered person was the one sitting right beside him.
“What are you doing, Your Highness?”
“Be quiet.”
Ashael loosened two buttons on his collar.
It didn’t change anything except his mood, but at this point, the frustration was unbearable.
Dindin, seemingly enjoying the chaos, raised the bid again.
“Four-point-five million!”
“Four-point-six million.”
“Five-point-five million! What, is the Crown Prince only going to raise by a hundred thousand at a time? That’s pretty stingy.”
That provocation set Ashael’s heart on fire.
“Fine. Seven million!”
“S-Seven million marks! Do I hear another—”
“Ten million.”
Dindin’s voice exploded like a bomb, and silence fell over the hall.
Ashael clenched his fists.
Dindin looked at his twisted expression and grinned.
“Alright then. Let’s take this all the way.”
