“You’re getting fired isn’t my fault. It’s because what you did caused such damage to the gallery.”
Seraphie said one last time.
“Do you regret how things turned out?”
The staff didn’t respond. Seraphie didn’t wait for her answer either. Even if the staff did regret it, she had no right to express her true feelings. And those feelings should never reach Seraphie. Thus, the staff was fired and promptly expelled from the gallery.
Meanwhile, Aidal stayed behind due to sponsorship issues. However, Aidal wasn’t in a good state either. This forced sponsorship severely wounded his pride, but he had neither the right nor the power to refuse it.
Indira personally assisted with the sponsorship process. Seraphie quietly listened to the explanations without any trouble and filled out the sponsorship contract.
“Aren’t the terms too generous?” Indira asked while helping with the contract.
In truth, the terms weren’t particularly generous. Indira wasn’t pleased with Aidal due to the recent incident. Still, since Seraphie insisted on the sponsorship, he proposed terms that wouldn’t cause any issues. It was just an average sponsorship contract, which was more than Aidal deserved. The problem was that Seraphie accepted everything without much concern.
Surely, this person doesn’t see Aidal as a favorable partner either. Indira thought.
“If there are no results,” Seraphie said in a slightly weary voice. She felt like she might fall ill from exhaustion once she got home. “If there are no results, I’ll withdraw all sponsorship.”
“Results…?” Indira asked cautiously.
Aidal, who had been listening quietly beside her, swallowed dryly.
Seraphie’s condition was simple. But it was also very cruel.
“Your painting has to be sold here at the gallery. If not, all sponsorship will be cut off.”
“…”
“You’re so confident in your skills, so it’s not a difficult condition, right?”
“T-That’s…!” Aidal, who was about to retort, closed his mouth. His confidence was at an all-time low. Moreover, he was anxious because he didn’t know the exact period and amount Seraphie mentioned.
“Master.” At that moment, Marine, who had been waiting outside, called for Seraphie.
“Oh my.” For the first time, Seraphie smiled brightly. “It seems they’ve finally arrived.”
There was no need to ask who it was. The true owner of the sketch that Seraphie had been so eager to see had arrived at the gallery.
“Shall I prepare a separate place for them?” Indira asked.
“No.”
There was no need for that.
“Aidal,” Seraphie called him.
In the meantime, Indira reviewed the sponsorship contract. The final signature line on the last page still lacked Seraphie’s signature.
“The contract will be finalized next week through the gallery owner.”
So, she told him to relay everything else to Indira.
“Tell Indira all the conditions you want to include. I’ll support you in performing beyond your actual skills.”
“…”
“Don’t you trust me?”
Aidal hesitated and then answered honestly. “Frankly, if I were you, I wouldn’t sponsor myself either.”
Though it was a bit pitiful to see his spirit so dampened, Seraphie found it much easier to handle him this way. Now, it seemed they could finally have a proper conversation with a clear power dynamic.
“You may leave now.”
However, that didn’t mean Seraphie intended to kindly answer every single question.
“T-Then, when can I see you next…?”
“Who knows.”
When Aidal cautiously asked, Seraphie shrugged indifferently.
In the end, Aidal left without securing a promise for the next meeting. His slumped shoulders and dejected back were a stark contrast to the confident demeanor shown upon arrival.
“…But still.” Just as Aidal was about to leave, Seraphie stopped Aidal. “I think you’re a good artist.”
“…”
“Remember, I’m sponsoring you because I see potential.”
Aidal bowed slightly and left the gallery.
“Countess.” Indira, who was quietly organizing the contract, observed Seraphie closely. “You are truly a generous person.”
“You have no talent for jokes.” Seraphie snorted.
It was puzzling what part of Seraphie that Indira saw to give such a generous evaluation. If it was because of the praise given to Aidal earlier, then Indira was gravely mistaken. It’s for my own benefit.
Being human, Seraphie did feel that sponsoring Aidal was a waste, especially after seeing Aidal’s attempt to use violence. However, since the sponsorship had already been given, a corresponding result was necessary.
Sponsorship between a noble and an artist was a thorough transaction and investment. The artist had to create excellent works in return, and through this, the noble could have their taste and artistic sensibility recognized. So, Seraphie boosted Aidal’s fallen confidence at the last moment. I need to receive good paintings at least. This was also a way to firmly establish the noble’s honor and position.
But… Seraphie subtly lifted the corners of the mouth. It seemed that Indira viewed Seraphie’s actions quite favorably. Thanks to this, Seraphie became a magnanimous person who showed a bit of kindness to the gallery staff who deceived her and willingly sponsored the scammed artist out of pity.
This isn’t bad at all.
Far from bad, it was excellent. Seraphie hoped that her future plans and goals would unfold as smoothly as they had today. If that happened, she wouldn’t have anything more to wish for.
“Indira.”
“Yes.” Indira, who had been standing steadfastly by her side, responded.
“Bring that person in.”
Soon, the painter Seraphie had been so eager to meet, who had been waiting outside, appeared.
“E-Excuse me…” A timid voice cautiously entered the room.
Seraphie stared intently at the young woman who was nervously gauging her reaction. Her slightly hunched shoulders looked particularly narrow, and her orange hair, hastily tied up, had streaks of paint that hadn’t been washed off.
“I heard you called for me.” The cautious voice was unexpectedly low, making the nervous tremor all the more evident.
Seraphie gave a gentle smile. “What is your name?”
“…M-My name is Bia Provi!” Bia, who answered a beat late, was so embarrassed by her own response that she covered her face with both arms, not knowing what to do. “I’m sorry! T-This is my first time in such a situation…”
Bia’s face turned bright red as she stammered. Not just her face, but her ears and neck too, as if all the blood in her body had rushed to her head. It made her actions seem quite awkward, possibly due to an overload in her brain. But Seraphie found herself liking Bia.
Especially after how bad things were before. At least Bia was genuine, and her nervousness was proof that she wanted to make a good impression.
“Bia.”
“Yes!”
“You don’t have to be so nervous.”
“Yes…”
A much more relaxed response came back. Whether Seraphie’s brief reassurance had helped, Bia seemed more at ease than before.
“Do you remember what sketch you gave to this gallery?”
At Seraphie’s question, Bia nodded enthusiastically. Seraphie saw a resemblance to Marine, her maid, in Bia.
“Can you draw it again?”
The table was once again set with sketching tools, just like before.
“That, umm…”
“Feel free to call me by my name.”
“B-But you’re a Countess!” Bia, who was hesitantly holding a pencil, said. “You don’t have to be formal with me. Aren’t you someone of higher status than me?”
Only then did Seraphie realize that she had been using a formal language with Bia. “Oh, I was just expecting you.” Seraphie quickly changed her tone and made an excuse. “I wanted to meet you.”
“Me?”
“And I want to sponsor you…”
At the word ‘sponsor,’ Bia’s eyes widened. It was more of a surprise than joy.
“Before sponsoring, I want to check something briefly.”
“My drawing skills?”
“There were some circumstances.”
As Seraphie said that, Indira, who was next to her, gave an awkward cough.
“So, try to draw the picture you sent to this gallery, even if it’s just a rough sketch.”
Bia tilted her head. She looked at the pencil in her hand and the paper on her lap before starting to sketch. Once she started, her timid, nervous demeanor disappeared, and her focus was entirely on the paper. The hesitation in her movements was gone, and her eyes, which had been filled with uncertainty just moments, now shone with determined intensity.
Aidal, who had been drawing earlier, also showed some concentration, but Bia was different. It was an overwhelming presence that was hard to describe in words. And it wasn’t just Seraphie who felt it; Indira, who was watching from the side, felt it too.
A flush of color appeared on Indira’s pale skin. His lips curled in a slightly silly way, but it was clear he was filled with anticipation.
Seraphie felt proud. Indira’s recognition meant that her discerning eye was highly regarded.
“Phew…”
Bia, who had stopped working, took a light breath. The dignified aura she had exuded while drawing faded away, and she returned to her timid, meek self.
“That, I’m done.”
Her drawing was soon handed over to Seraphie. Bia placed a hand over a chest that was pounding with nerves.
Seraphie, who received the drawing, showed no reaction. She simply stared quietly at the sketch, which only heightened Bia’s fear.
While Bia valued her personal skills, she knew they didn’t align with the current trends. Although some nobles had shown interest in her work, they always ended up suggesting that she change her style. And when Bia refused, they withdrew their offers of sponsorship.
“The drawing is quite pretty, but…”
“It’s lacking sophistication.”
“It feels rather superficial.”
These were the kinds of evaluations that always tagged along with Bia’s works.
I guess it’ll be the same this time. Bia had already half-resigned herself to the outcome. Early hopes always gnawed away at her expectations. She was exhausted.
“Bia Provi.”
In the ears of the resigned Bia, a light of hope reached. Could it be? Was there a chance?
Bia’s expression, as she lifted a head, was subtly distorted. It was as if Bia anticipated Seraphie’s next words but was too afraid to easily believe them. Her eyes, on the verge of tears, looked so pitiful.
Seraphie felt compelled to offer sincere words. “I look forward to working with you from now on.”
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Love it, thank you for the releases