Ch#66
Chapter 66Laslo, unable to join them due to palace duties, handed over an entire checkbook signed by himself and stamped with the family head's seal, saying,
"I'm clueless about art too, so I'd just embarrass myself if I went. Teach Linia how to appreciate paintings or whatever. Spend as much as you want."
It might have sounded bold and cool to someone else, but not to Edel.
·The Count of House Criserus isn't so much generous as simply detached from money. A family head shouldn't be like that.
If it were just him living alone, no one would care how he spent it.
But he was responsible not only for his sister Linia but also for the livelihoods of numerous servants. No, even more than that, he had to become the Emperor's strength.
"............The special exhibition opens tomorrow. Normally, purchases start then, but with Dowager Marchioness Celestine's letter of introduction, we'll allow you to make pre-selections today. However, limited to five pieces—please understand..."
Thus, he needed to 'properly' utilize his hoarded wealth, and Edel resolved to help him with that wholeheartedly.
Edel snapped to attention at the gallery owner's words, as if he were granting a grand favor.
<Otis Gallery> held newcomer exhibitions twice a year, and thanks to the owner's keen eye, one artist always rose to fame from them.
Securing first pick on this exhibition's works was an enormous privilege.
"Thank you. I'll let you know once we've made our selections."
"Then, please take your time viewing."
The gallery owner left Edel and Linia alone in the quiet exhibition hall.
Looking around, Linia sighed and whispered,
"I have no idea what makes a good painting. They all look similar...... But I can tell those aren't bad. Wait, they hung stuff like that in our house calling it art?"
To Linia, the paintings here looked no different from the ones at home. Some were utterly incomprehensible.
However, after silently touring the gallery and pondering deeply, Edel placed ribbon pins next to five works.
.
"Those are the ones you want to buy?"
"Yes."
"......?"
Linia's eyes wavered. Among Edel's choices was one she'd just dismissed as poorly painted.
"The trend of glorifying conquest victories or depicting war heroes is fading, but considering Count Criserus is a knight, one such piece deserves to hang in the lobby."
"Ah, I get that."
"The landscape suits your room, Miss, and the two still lifes are for the drawing room and dining hall."
"Yeah, that makes sense too. But that one is kinda......"
The paintings Linia pointed to felt blurrier in form compared to the others. Dazzling light emanated, but it was like paint had been splattered haphazardly.
Yet Edel had lingered longest before that one.
"I've been interested in this artist for a while, but this style is new to me too. Still, it somehow captivates the heart."
It might be gambling with someone else's money. What looked beautiful to Edel could draw criticism from others.
But she couldn't easily move away from it.
'It would suit the Count of House Criserus's room perfectly. It feels just like him.'
Edel recalled the intense aura she felt every time she faced Laslo.
The painting she chose was a brilliant explosion of light, much like Laslo. Sunlight shattered and scattered across the world, the sea shimmered in emerald and ultramarine, and in the harbor, ships awaited departure toward the sun, bound for unknown realms.
Edel saw Laslo in that painting.
The power to harness surging energy, unstoppable momentum, hope one unwittingly embraces, and light...
'The nobles will soon start recognizing his true worth.'
Overlapping Laslo's silhouette onto the painting, Edel foresaw his rising status.
Yet strangely, her stomach felt empty. Like a lone blade of grass left in the shadows untouched by sunlight.
- 3 -
'Getting needlessly sentimental.'
Edel shook her head and called for the gallery owner. She needed to pay and head to the next gallery.
"Mother, isn't that...... Edel?"
William Canian, touring the gallery district with his mother, grabbed her arm and pointed somewhere.
Rudmila, annoyed that a promising painting had sold sooner than expected, frowned and followed his gaze—her eyes widening in shock.
"Right? My eyes aren't deceiving me?"
"Edel?"
William repeatedly questioned, unable to believe his eyes.
They'd thought Edel, handed over to Laslo as spoils of war, was gone for good—yet here she was, strolling the nobles' gallery district in broad daylight, looking perfectly fine. And with Linia Criserus at her side, no less.
"Yes. But for a maid, she seems rather......"
"Is the rumor true?"
"You mean she's living as a servant in that house?"
Rudmila caught her son's intent. To her, Edel appeared to hold some status.
'Well-dressed, good complexion....... Above all, laughing and chatting with that mercenary's sister.'
Linia and Edel seemed quite close, their gazes nearly equal as they conversed.
Edel was explaining things to Linia, who nodded eagerly and asked questions.
Rudmila pulled back slightly and quietly observed Edel.
"Looks like I need to tell your father."
"I think so too."
.
As soon as Edel vanished from sight, they boarded their carriage and reported the sighting to Count Canian.
The count, who had initially scowled at just hearing Edel's name, gradually grew serious upon hearing she seemed friendly with Linia and dressed well.
"And she was going in and out of galleries with Laslo's sister?"
"Yes. She seemed to be explaining something to the girl, but we were too far to hear."
"Hmph! Probably teaching the commoner wench how to appreciate art."
Count Canian nodded slowly, lost in thought.
To them, Edel was a discarded card. One they should never see again.
Yet here she was, walking under the bright sun unexpectedly.
'Does that mean she still has some use left?'
His eyes narrowed.
Edel had been raised solely for that 'use.' Discard if worthless, cling if valuable. That was only natural.
She'd been brought and raised for exactly that purpose.
If there was still value, he had to squeeze it out. After all the money invested in her!
They'd expected to recoup more than invested by marrying her to Duke Lancaster, but it had all gone bust.
So they'd written it off as a total loss—until now hearing it might not be.
"Rudmila."
"Yes, dear."
"How much did we pay that house when we took Edel and Rin?"
Rudmila furrowed her brow recalling the distant past, but hadn't forgotten the sum she'd regretted back then.
"100,000 ringtons for Edel, 80,000 for Rin."
After Rudmila, who had borne two sons, received a diagnosis that more children would be difficult, Count Canian had agonized before buying distant relatives' children.
The commoner relatives were already overwhelmed caring for their existing children, and the count needed daughters to continue the bloodline.
To Count Canian, the adoption was merely a transaction born of mutual need—nothing more, nothing less.
"I detest worthless goods that don't earn their keep. If I've spent money, it must yield more than that."
"Quite right. Especially the effort poured into Edel can't even be quantified in money."
"Exactly! Even birth parents couldn't have raised her with such care. So, William."
William looked up at his call.
He was the heir they cherished like the apple of their eye.
"Put a spy on Edel. Choose someone carefully so Laslo's mercenary guild doesn't catch on."
"Yes, Father."
Count Canian's eyes gleamed.
Not certain yet, but his instincts told him to watch Edel closely.
"Heading straight in?"
"Anything else to confirm?"
"No, not really......"
"See you tomorrow, then."
Lately, he'd been riding to and from the palace. After hearing from Edel that he should change carriages, he'd immediately sold his old one and ordered a new—delayed in arrival, so horse for now.
Laslo nodded curtly to the impassively greeting Imperial Guard and headed straight to the stables.
The guards he left behind gossiped among themselves.
"Why's he so eager to go home lately? Treasure hidden there?"
"Who knows. Maybe rushing to a lover."
His recent departures from the palace looked cheerful to anyone watching.
.
