Inside the large gold-framed picture was a naked baby angel and a woman wrapped in a long cloth. Most of the artworks displayed in the gallery followed this style—dark backgrounds, some nudity, and religious themes.
“Is there a piece you like?” Lunie had already marked one of the artworks in the booklet. “The style is quite splendid, isn’t it?”
“Indeed.”
The painting was undoubtedly beautiful. It was awe-inspiring. But since all the artworks had a similar style, it didn’t make Seraphie want to purchase any of them. They all seemed the same.
Should I just buy a random one? Honestly, since they all looked the same, it felt like picking any one of them would be fine.
…Sponsorship? A peculiar word caught Seraphie’s eye as Seraphie flipped through the booklet.
“Um, Lady Ma…” Seraphie hesitated while trying to call Lunie. “…Lunie.”
Lunie, whose name was called, smiled brightly. “What is it, Sera?”
“Is it possible for me to sponsor as well?”
“Is Countess planning to sponsor directly?” Just then, Eks, who was listening nearby, said it was a good idea. “High-end galleries like this often connect sponsorships for unknown artists or aspiring painters.”
Among the nobles, it was rare but not unheard of for some to financially support individual artists beyond just collecting their works.
“If a sponsored artist’s work receives good reviews, the reputation of the sponsoring noble also rises,” Lunie said, mentioning that there were even famous families known for this.
“…Really?” Seraphie’s lips curled up in surprise.
When Seraphie expressed her interest in sponsorship to the staff, she was led to a parlor.
“Here are the guidelines and documents related to sponsorship.”
The staff explained everything in detail to Seraphie. Lunie and Eks, who were listening alongside, nodded in agreement.
“While the sponsorship clauses are based on a standard model, they can be modified through mutual agreement between the sponsor and the sponsored artist.”
“How do I find an artist I want to sponsor?”
As soon as Seraphie asked, two large wooden crates were brought into the parlor. Inside the crates were papers rolled up and tied with strings, packed tightly.
Oh dear. Seraphie smiled wryly. To confirm her thoughts, the staff handed over three pairs of white gloves.
“These are sketches from unknown artists or aspiring ones.”
They explained that Seraphie could go through the sketches one by one, and then the gallery would connect her with the artist of any sketch that caught Seraphie’s interest.
I’m really taking on a lot of work. Seraphie let out a short, self-deprecating laugh.
Contrary to the rough appearance of the wooden crates, the sketches were in surprisingly good condition. Seraphie initially thought the gloves were for dust, but it seemed they were meant to protect the sketches.
“Would you two like to join me…?”
It was when Seraphie offered.
“No.”
“I’m not interested.”
They both declined simultaneously.
“I prefer earning my own money rather than doing this.”
“If an imperial family member sponsors recklessly and rumors spread, it could lead to a big problem.”
Each gave their reasons, and the two leisurely enjoyed the refreshments prepared by the staff. Meanwhile, Eks, exhausted from visiting the duchy early in the morning, sat by the window and dozed off. His mouth was on the verge of splitting open from yawning.
“…”
Because of someone like that, a rebellion would break out in the future. Seraphie barely managed to hold onto her increasingly dry heart as she examined the sketches.
Everyone draws well. Even if they were unknown or aspiring artists, they were good enough to be sponsored by a famous gallery that catered to nobles. This meant their skills had been somewhat verified. But still. They all feel similar…
At first, Seraphie thought it was because she didn’t know much about art or paintings. But now, she understood. They feel standardized. All the paintings she had seen so far used similar compositions, similar techniques, and similar expressions.
“Their skills are impressive.” Lunie, who had come closer without her noticing, admired the spread-out sketches.
“Indeed…” Seraphie agreed. But her murmured agreement lacked any genuine desire to sponsor them.
“What happens….” Seraphie murmured as she rolled up the sketches again. “What happens to these paintings if they don’t receive any sponsorship?”
“They’ll be burned or discarded.” Eks, who she thought was asleep, answered with eyes closed. “Or the artist might continue as an amateur. But that case was extremely rare, and most would give up painting and take on other jobs.”
Eks’s face, calmly stating the harsh reality, was serene. After all, it was something that had nothing to do with him. The same went for Seraphie. But hearing those words made her feel miserably downcast. The sketches crammed into the wooden crate seemed to reflect her own recent self.
If no one shows interest… She quickly shook her head. Ridiculous.
What was she doing? She had decided she didn’t want to be pitied, yet here she was, committing that very rudeness herself.
These people are different from me. She didn’t need to project her unintentional self-pity onto them. I need to change my thinking. It would be difficult, but if Seraphie wanted to live as a noble, it had to be done.
Seraphie focused on the sketches again. She opened and rolled them up again and again, thirty times, and then three more.
“…”
On the thirty-fourth sketch, her blue eyes moved slowly but with definite intensity.
“A, a paperweight…!”
Seraphie placed long, black paperweights on the paper that threatened to roll up again if let go.
The drawings she had seen so far had similar styles and atmospheres. So, while they were impressive in skill, they didn’t evoke much emotion. But this one was different. For the first time, a unique art style appeared. It was something Seraphie was familiar with.
“Did you find something you like?” Lunie asked.
Meanwhile, Eks had fallen into a deep sleep while waiting.
“I think so.” Seraphie smiled. “I really like it.”
* * *
The butler who greeted Seraphie upon returning to the mansion was taken aback.
“Weren’t you going to buy some paintings?”
The butler had instructed the servants to clean the walls where the paintings would be hung.
“Of course, I went.”
“But these are…”
The butler’s surprise was understandable. Instead of large, beautiful paintings to decorate the mansion, two old wooden crates had been delivered. And inside the crates were numerous items rolled up in shabby brown wrapping paper. One of them was in Seraphie’s hand.
“That will come separately later.”
At Seraphie’s words, the butler sighed in relief.
“I bought about five pieces.”
“I see.” The butler hurriedly pondered where to hang the paintings. They had previously discussed hanging one in the second-floor office hallway and another in the room where she stayed.
“Marine!” Seraphie called for her maid.
“Master! Welcome back!” Marine approached with quick steps and a bright smile.
Seraphie patted Marine’s head like a puppy. “Weren’t you with Tara?” Tara was the name of the maid who assisted Seraphie along with Marine.
“Tara is with the head maid. She’s helping to train the new maids.”
“Then could you go and bring Tara here? If she’s busy, you can come a bit later.”
“Yes!”
A moment later, Marine returned with Tara.
In the meantime, the servants carried the crate inside. Since it only contained papers, it wasn’t very heavy.
“Master, I heard you called for me.” Tara, with her light orange hair tied up, spoke in a tense voice.
“It’s nothing serious. Could you two take care of these paintings?” Seraphie pointed to the paintings in the crate.
“Pardon?”
“But these…”
Marine and Tara looked troubled.
The paintings that nobles collected were usually luxury items. Typically, high-ranking employees like the butler managed such things. Maids or servants could only touch the paintings when cleaning.
“It’s not a difficult task.” Reading their thoughts, Seraphie smiled and took one out, unwrapping it herself. “These are sketches drawn by unknown artists or aspiring painters.”
Marine and Tara tilted their heads in confusion. Seraphie then explained in simpler terms. “They’re not expensive paintings.”
“Oh…!”
“I see…”
Seeing the two maids finally relax, Seraphie decided to keep the price of these paintings a secret.
“Where should we hang them?”
“Hmm…” Seraphie pondered. Since these weren’t her favorite styles, she didn’t want to place them somewhere too visible. But she also didn’t want to hang them in a secluded hallway where no one would see them.
“On the stairs.”
After a brief moment of thought, she decided to put it on the middle of the stairs leading from the second floor to the first floor. Just a few months ago, that spot had been littered with shards of bottles that the former Count Vallidus had thrown after drinking. But now, it was decorated with a beautiful flower and a lovely vase on a decorative drawer. She thought it would be nice to hang the paintings above that.
“Find frames that fit and hang them there.”
“All of these?” Marine asked in a surprised voice.
“Change them out once or twice a week.” That way, it wouldn’t get boring, Seraphie said.
“Wow, that’s a great idea!”
“What color should the frames be?”
Fortunately, the maids seemed to like the idea.
“Then what about the one in Master’s hand?”
“Oh, this?” Seraphie glanced at the wrapped sketch still in her hand. “This is for a guest who’s coming soon,” she said, sounding more excited than usual, saying she would use it then.
“Is Sir Felicia coming?”
“Then we’ll hurry and prepare the refreshments!”
Marine and Tara said excitedly. The two of them had already stopped painting, adjusted their clothes, and straightened their aprons.
“…He won’t be coming.”
Seraphie couldn’t understand why Orkis suddenly appeared here. But amusingly, Marine and Tara looked very disappointed when they heard that Orkis wouldn’t be coming, their shoulders slumping. A chuckle escaped her.
“What are you two doing?” Seraphie asked with a smirk. “Do you like Sir Felicia more than me?”
“N-No, that’s not it!”
“You are our top priority, Master!”
Marine and Tara hurriedly Explained.
“But it seems like Master is in a good mood whenever you return from an outing with Sir Felicia…”
“That’s right. When Master had dinner together at the mansion, you two talked a lot.”
“He doesn’t talk much when he’s alone…”
“I heard that Sir Felicia doesn’t usually talk much with others…”
Clap! A loud clap interrupted the maids’ words.
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