Shadow Queen

Chapter 44

As she reached the sofa in the middle of the living room, Elena greeted him with a smile.

“Welcome.”

Elena’s smile made him feel a little comfortable. Khalif introduced himself in a relaxed manner.

“It’s an honor to meet you. I’m Khalif, Your Highness.”

“I’ve heard a lot about you. You’re a senior who’s about to graduate this year.”

“Sorry? Yes, but I’m not sure if I’m going to graduate properly… because I’m so into this job that I’m not sure if I’m going to be able to study.”

When Elena brought up a topic that could be shared as an academic institute and naturally led the conversation, Khalif’s expression improved.

“Where there’s a will, there’s a way. A diploma is just a piece of paper.”

“I’m encouraged to hear that from your Highness, not from anyone else.”

Elena went to the point when Khalif seemed to have found some leeway.

“Shall I look at the pictures?”

“Yes.”

As Elena sat on the couch, Khalif stood next to an easel covered in cloth. He put his fist to his mouth, coughed briefly, and removed the cloth.

“The title of this painting is ‘Portrait of a Young Woman.’”

Elena leaned against the sofa and took a sip of Anne’s tea, looking at the painting.

‘Women’s virtue, quietness.’

A black-haired woman was sitting among the bushes, raising one hand and covering her chest with a cloth. The gaze was slightly shifted from the front and did not face the viewer directly. In the face of a woman’s sensual beauty, and not looking straight, Elena grasped the significance of the work.

“This painting is the work of painter Giorgio, reflecting the contemporary state of love in the secular world……”

“That’s enough explanation.”

“What?”

“I’ll buy it.”

When Elena spoke as if she was throwing it without context, Khalif blinked.

“You mean you’re buying this piece now?”

“Yes.”

Khalif was more puzzled than the joy of selling the work. This is because he never dreamed that works would be sold this way. But it’s still too early to be surprised.

“Then the next piece is…”

“No, let’s change the order.”

“What?”

“It’s frustrating to look at each point. Please display all the paintings you brought from there to here.”

“E-everything?”

Elena nodded leisurely, drinking tea.

“Anne, May, don’t stand still and go help.”

“Yes, miss.”

Khalif used his maids and workers to bring out all the paintings. Works that cannot be displayed due to a lack of easels made workers and women hold it themselves.

“Now it’s worth seeing.”

“Now, I will introduce and explain the works in turn…”

“No, thanks.”

Elena cut him off.

“External subjects or composition are interfering with the appreciation. I want to see and appreciate these paintings.”

“Oh, yes.”

When Khalif was speechless, Elena sat on the sofa and looked at the paintings. She even tasted cookies and tea in the middle and enjoyed the paintings.

“All the paintings are good.”

“Thank you. These are specially selected paintings.”

Elena’s reaction brightened Khalif’s face. And his bright face turned into a shock at the next words of Elena.

“I’ll buy everything.”

“What? Oh, all nine?”

“Yes.”

Elena took the last cup of tea and put it down. Even though he succeeded in selling all of his brought works, Khalif seemed half-heartedly wondering as if it didn’t feel real.

“T-that’s a wise choice.”

“It’s all thanks to Khalif’s eye for great paintings.”

Khalif felt good when Princess Veronica, not anyone else, painted him in gold. Also, he was happy to have succeeded in the deal, which was his first step in art.

“No, it’s not what I did. As a token of appreciation, I would like to give you a partial discount on the total payment amount…”

“No, don’t do that.”

“What?”

“Well, I don’t bargain over art. It’s an insult to art.”

‘… Crazy cool.’

Khalif was in pure admiration. Every word she uttered made her more dazzling and blinding. He’d seen a lot of simple pretty aristocrats, but Princess Veronica was the first woman to feel cool enough to transcend all of them.

“I’ll pay you part of the payment now and charge you for the rest of the loan.”

“I-I see.”

“I’ll make a contract for the transfer right away, no delay.”

Elena decided how to pay for the purchase of the work at once, and wrote a transfer contract and issued a loan certificate. It was not until she signed the document with a blank face that Khalif realized it.

“Thank you, Your Highness Princess.”

Khalif bowed down to hide his smile that kept rising with joy.

“What’s there to thank me for? I’m just paying a reasonable price for a work that’s worth it. Please continue to introduce good works.”

“Of course. I’ll bring you some masterpieces you’ll like.”

Khalif, who handed over the painting, said goodbye politely and left the dormitory with the workers. After completing the first deal successfully, Khalif, who was getting on the carriage in a relaxed mood, turned his head and looked up at Elena’s exclusive dormitory.

“As expected, a princess is a princess. She’s a different class from a regular aristocrat.”

The more awkward the aristocrats, the more they pretend to know. Khalif, from a family of fallen aristocrats, had seen many such uncongenial aristocrats since childhood.

But Elena was different. What’s shocking so far is that she hadn’t asked for the purchase amount until the moment she signed the contract. Of course, the transfer contract and the loan certificate were specified, but she didn’t pay much attention.

“I don’t think it’s a myth to say that you can buy an empire by attracting the wealth of the Grand Duke.”

A smile caught on the mumbling Khalif’s mouth. Princess Veronica was the first customer, and she would be the main customer. The fact that she had a lot of wealth meant that the more he continued to deal in the future, the greater the gain he would get.

Khalif wondered how to show off his successful first deal to Lucia.

“Oh, what should I say to Lucia? She would be surprised to hear this too.”

At that time, standing by the bedroom window on the second floor, Elena was looking down at Khalif pulling the wagon away.

“Now I hit my first shot.”

She put a lot of effort into finding someone to help him out of Leabrick’s eyes. The talented people who had obtained it slowly moved to their proper roles. Although there were still some parts that were not satisfactory, today’s art trade was the first success.

“Anne, are you outside?”

At Elena’s call, Anne, who was cleaning up after sending the guests, came up.

“Did you find it, miss?”

“Did you pack the paintings well?”

“I packed three layers so that you wouldn’t be shocked.”

Anne answered confidently, as if she was paying special attention.

“Good work. Just hang ‘Portrait of a Young Woman’ downstairs and send the rest to the Great House.”

“Yes, miss.”

“This is a letter to Leabrick. Send it.”

Anne picked up the letter and turned around and went down to the first floor. Elena, who was left alone, turned her eyes out of the window again. There was a panoramic view of the academy that was so peaceful.

“How would Leabrick react if I collected art?”

It’s obvious without looking at. She’d dare to laugh at her with that look of hers. Ever since she first met Leabrick, she’d been playing a vain and selfish role of a young lady.

“I hope you like it.”

Elena smiled meaningfully. Originally, once the child was obedient, she would be prettier and joyful. Although she didn’t know, she may be satisfied with having a hobby that is suitable for the status of a princess with a little aristocratic appearance. It’s not going to do the least bit of crap and ruin her reputation.

“There will be more loan certificates for the Grand Duke to be named.”

It was Elena who used a loan certificate to make a debt, but it was up to Leabrick to pay the debt.

***

Elena disguised herself as Lucia after a long time. It was to visit Raphael’s studio, which she had never been able to find.

“Ha… Why is it that I painted that?”

She still wanted to hide in a mousetrap when she thought about what happened that day. It was embarrassing to paint a poor picture, but she shed tears in front of Raphael, so what more could happen. But she couldn’t stop going back and forth. She was embarrassed, but she didn’t know how to deal with Raphael.

“Hello?”

Opening the door, Elena entered the studio. Raphael, who was sitting with a canvas hanging on the easel, looked up and looked at her.

“…”

Silence fell in a few seconds. Elena, who had the past in mind, felt more awkward than nothing.

“Have you been painting? I interrupted you.”

“No, it’s nice to see you after a long time, Miss Lucia.”

At first glance, he was as calm as usual, but today, Raphael’s voice was filled with deep joy.

“Me too, sir. I’m sorry I left like that.”

“I was very worried.”

Elena bowed her head, forgetting that she was ashamed. She felt so sorry that her actions caused Raphael to worry about anything else.

“It’s helping in my own way… Huh? Oh! Why did you hang that up there!”

Elena was embarrassed to see her painting hanging on the wall. Apart from the meaning, if you look at the painting itself, it’s like rubbish, and her face was burning.

“Because I can see it the best.”

“I-I’ll get off right away. It’s definitely not a painting to show anyone.”

It was time for Elena, who was embarrassed, to lower the picture. Raphael reached out his hand unknowingly and grabbed Elena’s wrist.

“Just let it go.”

“S-senior?”

“When I look at that painting, I feel like every painting I’ve ever painted is a fake. I can’t take it off my eyes.”

Raphael was as serious as ever. Elena was speechless at the sight. His earnest heart, which was so desperate, felt so sincere.