Raising my Fiancè with Money

Chapter 78: Star of the Day

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Vanessa’s shoulders shrank at the Count’s outburst. His rebuke did not end with that.

“Does Count Bloden believe our eyes to be ignorant?”

The next arrow went to Cliff. The Count’s face was full of malice. As he had talked about how good the painting of an unknown, insignificant artist was, he felt a sense of displeasure because he thought the Count had belittled his eyes.

“…….”

Vanessa’s face turned pale due to the unexpected situation. On top of that, Cliff was criticized with her, and he seemed very embarrassed. The many spectators whispered among themselves. Perhaps it was because of their shattered expectations, the gaze on Vanessa was not good.

“That’s right. We even paid for it, so should we be looking at a painting by an unqualified person?”

“It’s obvious you are holding this event anonymously to fool us.”

As people criticized one by one, Lilia bit her lip. It is considered a great painting only if it is the work of a famous artist. There seemed to be resentment because the artist that came out was different from their expectations.

Lilia quickly looked at Vanessa and Cliff. The shivering Vanessa remained tight-lipped, and Cliff seemed to be lost in thought about how to solve it. Just when Lilia thought she should step up, Karhan opened his mouth,

“Who gave you the qualifications to judge a painting?”

When a heavy, low-pitched sound rang in the large space, a momentary silence came. The people who were rambling shut their mouths without realizing it.

Lilia slowly raised her head. Her eyes met with Karhan’s for a moment, his eyelashes trembled and eyes shook briefly. 

Knowing this situation was overwhelming, Karhan was very nervous. However, when he made eye contact with Lilia, he seemed to have made up his mind completely.

Karhan, who gently bit his lips, took a step forward. He stopped in front of the painting and turned his back to face the visitors. Those who were once startled by his stout build looked at Karhan’s calmly sunken face and shut their mouth completely. Karhan continued, looking at the roses piled up under the painting,

“It was your choice that allowed this piece to receive the most roses.”

His words made the visitors flinch. They remembered the moment they put down the rose themselves.

“I think the painter is someone who draws paintings that captivate the heart, regardless of class or academic background.”

“No, what do you know…….”

The Count immediately retorted. Then Karhan looked at him. With only a glance, the Count was startled and shrank back. Soon he remembered everyone around him was on his side, so he quickly became confident.

“If I had known about the artist beforehand, I wouldn’t have put the flower.”

He crossed his arms and spoke arrogantly.

“Because the decision was made taking into account the teaching and schooling of this common person.”

The Count was saying that the painting was less valuable because the artist was not as well-grounded as he expected. It was a self-centered and arrogant judgement. Cliff, who had heard it, stepped in.

“You’re going too far.”

“I am the one who is disappointed, Count Bloden!”

The Count shouted without backing down, when someone in the crowd opened his mouth.

“You have yet to master adequate appraisals.”

The Count turned his head to the calm criticism. However, there were so many people that he couldn’t find who said it. The Count looked around, and the voice said again,

“It’s bad because it’s different from what you imagined. Your argument seems insincere.”

“Do you know how many painters I sponsor? Don’t be cowardly by hiding in the crowd and show your face!”

The Count, who had emphasized that his own eyes were the best, ran wild along the way. Then the man who scolded the Count took a step forward. The Count faced the man who had been buried in the crowd.

“!”

The Count’s eyes were as wide as a candle. Anyone who was even a little interested in art would know the man in front of him. He was an elder of the House Evantheon, who had a reputation for being well versed in art.

“In the morning, my close friend, a court painter, saw this painting and praised it for being great, so I purposely came to appreciate it.”

When a court painter was mentioned, people grew agitated. It is a painting recognized by the most famous artist in the empire. Visitors who wanted to stand side by side with the court painter quickly changed their stance.

“I thought that painting was good from the beginning.”

“Rather, isn’t it refreshing that the work is different from the artist’s image?”

When everyone started to talk in a way that the painting was good, the Count panicked.

“No, but……. This is not a proper painting…….”

The Count was flustered and tried to say something else. Then members of the art-loving group criticized him in unison.

“It sounds ridiculous. You think your eyes are the best?”

“Let’s hear how many people he so proudly sponsors.”

As the prominent old nobles pushed him, the Count shut his mouth. The support for him had already ended, and even those who were complaining turned their eyes. At a loss, he left in a hurry.

“Tsk. Did he put his eyes on his feet?”

An old nobleman clicked his tongue, saying it was bad luck. When the situation was roughly over, Vanessa sat down as if she had lost her strength. Lilia went straight to Vanessa.

“Vanessa, are you okay?”

“Yes, it’s because my body loosened up.”

Lilia consoled Vanessa, who had become pale.

“I’m sorry. I should have been more aggressive in interfering…….”

“No! Thanks to you, I was able to stand here.”

Vanessa shook her head.

“Everything happened because I liked Vanessa’s paintings. Let’s rest for a while.”

Lilia told Cliff to take Vanessa inside. Having finished her work, Lilia approached the art-loving group members.

“Thank you. Thanks to you all, it was resolved well.”

The old aristocrats waved their hands at Lilia’s acknowledgment.

“We didn’t do anything…….”

“I just didn’t want a good piece of art to be stigmatized.”

Lilia smiled softly. In fact, it wasn’t that she didn’t expect a situation like the one just before. However, even if she stepped up, she was bound to be ignored, as they would say she was too young to know anything. 

So, she invited the authoritative old aristocrats to the art show, and as expected, she was able to solve the situation thanks to the help of the old aristocrats. Lilia once again thanked them heartily.

“By the way, I am seeing the Lord again this time.”

“That’s right. I never knew his passion for art is so great.”

The eyes of the old nobles turned to Karhan. As their eyes filled with goodwill poured out, Karhan shifted his gaze awkwardly.

“Karhan, thank you.”

Lilia finally thanked him. She knew Karhan had to take out a lot of courage. She saw his trembling eyes.

“You were good at talking.”

“That’s actually….”

Karhan whispered so that only Lilia could hear him.

“These days, I am practicing eloquence with the professor.”

“……Eloquence?”

“Yes, if I am to succeed the title later, I will have to participate in the Cabinet meetings…….”

Lilia blinked silently. She became curious about what kind of things he is learning in class. Lilia and Karhan talked more about this and that with the old nobility. Then an old noble man spoke with a worried face.

“I heard about the rumor, Miss Bloden.”

“Oh, I’ve heard of it. I can’t believe he’s such a bastard.…!”

One of the old nobles, who usually had a high boiling point, made a fuss. Lilia quickly realized why they were doing this. They heard the rumors about Richard.

After the banquet, Lilia heard about Richard whenever she went out. The rumour was getting bigger and bigger, and Richard became a piece of junk in the world. And Lilia won people’s sympathy as a poor victim.

“Lord Evantheon is reliable, so it suits him well.”

“Yeah, break up your engagement with him and get engaged. We’ll go celebrate too.”

The old nobles looked at Lilia and Karhan with pleased faces. Perhaps Karhan had scored the old aristocrats to his side today.

Lilia glanced at Karhan. He looked very perplexed. Even Lilia, who reads facial expressions well, could not guess what Karhan was thinking at this point.

‘You don’t want to be engaged to me?’

Thinking so far, Lilia shook her head hastily. They weren’t even really engaged, but she had a strange idea for a moment. Karhan and herself were just……. Lilia paused her thoughts. She didn’t know how to define this relationship.

‘Let’s stop thinking about it.’

To shake off her thoughts, Lilia looked around lightly. There were still quite a few visitors who had not left, but everyone only watched the direction in which Vanessa disappeared. They seemed to want to talk to Vanessa.

“Lord Evantheon.”

At that time, the elder of House Evantheon, who had been silent, called Karhan. Karhan looked at him nervously.

“If you don’t mind, I’d like to talk to you for a moment.”

Karhan glanced at Lilia. Lilia waved her hand to tell him to go. Shortly after the two had left, Vanessa, who had gone to rest, returned. Then, all those who pretended to appreciate the work and did not leave the exhibition hall gathered.

“Miss Vanessa! I’d like to ask you to draw a painting.”

“As soon as I saw the painting, I felt it was fate!”

“Uh-huh! I’d like to make a painting order.”

Everyone was asking Vanessa to paint a picture. Members of the art-loving group were also very active. Panicked, Vanessa looked at Lilia. Lilia opened her mouth to a face seeking advice.

“Do whatever you want.”

Although she signed a contract, she would not interfere with anything else as long as Vanessa would hand over one of her works every half a year. Vanessa, who will be a rising artist, will also need the extra income. And it must be the torch for people not to monopolize Vanessa.

Vanessa also wouldn’t want to trade with her alone. To paint for a long time, it was better to work with several people and raise her value. After hearing Lilia’s answer, Vanessa nodded as if she had made up her mind. She declared to everyone,

“I’ll only be working through my sponsor Lilia Bloden.”

What…?