Violet still didn’t fully grasp the situation and stared blankly at the banquet hall. Cairn, witnessing the momentary crack in her poker face, covered his forehead with his palm and sighed.
“His Highness is bragging about it.
“…What?”
“He even said that it’s his favorite among everything he received this year.”
“……”
Violet’s expression quickly stiffened, and Cairn pursed his lips.
Since Roen had presented Violet’s painting as a gift, the ownership of that painting now belonged to the Crown Prince. Of course, Violet had not willed this painting to be given as a gift, but there was nothing she could do about it now.
Facing the nobles gathered around it in the banquet hall, eagerly discussing the painting that was publicly receiving acclaim, Violet couldn’t decide how to react. She discreetly took a step back.
“Where are you going?”
“Home.”
“What? You’re just leaving it there?”
“I’m tired today, so I think I’ll rest now. Whether you stay and enjoy or leave, it’s up to you.”
The nobles who had wanted to get the attention of the imperial family shifted uncomfortably.
Some of them were thinking of urging the artists they themselves were sponsoring to match the crown prince’s apparent tastes, while others admired the painting purely for its artistic merit. On the other hand, there were a number of them undermining the piece, branding it as a diabolical creation.
Violet had no desire to get involved in this situation.
However…
“Oh, Ducal Lady, you’ve come at just the right time.”
“……”
“I received the gift you sent. It’s such an exceptional painting that I wasn’t able to bear to keep it all to myself. I plan to exhibit it in the palace if possible.”
“I’m… glad you appreciate it.”
She got caught.
Violet forced a smile. Cairn, who thought he could sense her anger behind that smile, took a step back. He was mentally sending notes of sympathy towards Roen.
“Compared to the Empire’s progress, the art world is still somewhat conservative. This is such an amazing painting that it shatters the conventional norms. It even makes me feel like my aesthetic standards have been shattered… Roen did hint at it before, but we can look forward to an exhibition of your works later, yes?”
“…I am only grateful for Your Highness’s generous praise.”
Naturally, everyone’s attention turned towards Violet.
They say the eyes are the windows to the soul, and in this case, few looked at her with genuine goodwill.
Violet inwardly cursed the situation Rajaden had orchestrated. Rajaden only responded with a thin, faint smile.
“Indeed, that woman… There’s something about her.”
“Even if a demon painted it, it’s an incredible piece.”
“But that unique expression, couldn’t we learn something from it?”
“I’m not sure.”
“Her attire and everything, Ducal Lady Everett is quite unconventional in many ways.”
They exchanged hushed comments amongst themselves. Violet fortified her expression with a perfunctory smile.
“…I heard that she died and was revived, but after all that, did she actually sign a contract with the devil?”
“Wow, my friend. You’re saying some dangerous things.”
Having good hearing could sometimes be a curse. Violet said goodbye to Rajaden with a polite nod and pretended not to hear the rest of those people’s whispers as she walked away.
Her destination was Roen. Similarly besieged by curious onlookers and bombarded with questions, Roen was taken aback when Violet suddenly approached.
“Could you spare me a moment?”
“Huh?”
“Just a moment.”
“Uhhh, Violet?”
Violet’s actions were swift. She led the baffled Roen away from the crowd and to a secluded area.
“If you have something to say, say it now.”
“Huh?”
“Speak up.”
“…I’m sorry?”
“Anything else?”
“Well, um, but this is too sudden…”
The confrontation between the fuming younger sister and the flustered older brother ensued.
Roen bowed his head first. He quickly ran through his thoughts to figure out what had gone wrong, and soon, he clenched his jaw tightly.
Being aware of what his close friend had done in the banquet hall, Roen promptly realized the issue at hand.
Recognition and comprehension were similar realms, but they weren’t mutually exclusive.
“Gosh…”
Cairn, who had followed his brother and sister unnoticed, clicked his tongue.
“But Violet, this is a golden opportunity. I’m sure Rajaden had good intentions…”
“Good intentions?”
“Well, um…”
Roen’s excuses came to a halt. Violet’s expression was stern.
In essence, Roen wasn’t entirely at fault in this situation. He deserved criticism for handing over the painting without permission.
However, blaming him for the painting’s subsequent introduction and the ensuing critique felt somewhat ambiguous. He might have been the source of the problem, but…
Caught in this dilemma, Violet was in a similar predicament. She couldn’t openly express her anger in front of the crown prince, so even though she had taken Roen aside, her emotions couldn’t subside easily.
Her visible anger made Cairn choose to quietly observe the situation.
Carefully, Roen broke the silence.
“But, Violet…”
“……”
“Why are you trying to hide your art?”
At Roen’s question, Violet’s eyebrows twitched.
