Chapter 70

Episode 70

#70. The Art of the North (3)

“Boss, there sure are a lot of people here! Looks like everyone who’s anyone from High City is gathered.”

Theo, alongside employees of Arad Company, was moving a covered painting while glancing around in amazement.

“Not bad at all. The more spectators, the better.”

Arad, confident in his paintings, smiled with satisfaction as more people arrived to view them.

“Eighteen… nineteen… twenty?”

Meanwhile, Mary had been repeatedly counting the paintings brought from the inner castle.

“Boss, are there exactly twenty paintings?”

She finally asked Arad for confirmation.

“There are twenty, and that’s accurate.”

“Are you… really sure?”

“Really. Why do you ask?”

“It’s nothing…”

When Arad nodded, Ariana stepped back.

If you include the bizarre painting of Mary, there should clearly be twenty-three, but only twenty paintings were brought here.

There was only Ariana’s solo portrait and the previous figure painting of both Mary and Ariana.

‘Hmm, it’s probably right not to display those strange ones.’

Ariana, whose face resembled Mary’s, slightly pouted.

Mary’s silvery-gray eyes shimmered with both relief and melancholy.

-White hair and gray eyes indicate that the young lady’s soul and mana are affected this way. It means she’s exceptionally pure and noble.

Once again, Isabelle’s words from when she gave her the transformation necklace echoed in her mind.

‘A confession under Ariana’s name? Let’s put that on hold.’

Interpreting Mary’s unpopularity as meaning Ariana’s soul and mana were disliked by Arad, confessing now didn’t feel right.

‘Only the inner self, not appearance or background! I’ll win Arad’s heart as Mary!’

Winning Arad’s affection as Mary would be true love! This twisted misunderstanding gnawed at Ariana.

After setting up all the paintings covered with protective panels and arranging the audience neatly,

the maids serving Northern Duke slowly appeared around the hall.

“The ruler of the North and representative of the Lenslet Enthusiast Group, Northern Duchess Ariana Rune Lenslet, Her Highness, has arrived!”

Isabelle’s voice resonated through the expansive hall of the inner castle.

Clack clack clack

Soon after, Ariana, presented by Isabelle, made her entrance.

“…”

The real Ariana, transformed into Mary, momentarily focused on Isabelle’s projected illusion.

“Rune Lenslet.”

“Rune Lenslet.”

“Rune Lenslet.”

After the now-official chant of “Rune Lenslet,” Ariana opened her mouth.

“Lord Arad, have you finally completed the paintings?”

“That is correct, Your Highness. However, during the process, my ambition grew, and I ended up creating more portraits of Your Highness than expected. Please forgive me.”

In response to her words, Arad replied according to proper etiquette.

“I happily forgive you. And I look forward to seeing the results.”

Though Ariana had already seen Arad’s paintings, she concentrated hard to act as if she were seeing them for the first time.

“You won’t be disappointed.”

With an air of confidence, Arad ordered his employees to simultaneously uncover the protective panels over the paintings.

Wowww!

An earnest exclamation of admiration echoed throughout the hall.

Master Arad’s paintings were truly exceptional.

They exceeded everyone’s expectations, leaving an impact of shock and emotion.

That day, the initial unveiling of the twenty paintings in the hall of High City left a deep impression even on the art-ignorant northerners.

“Indeed, they’re magnificent. Though they’re just paintings… I can sense an indescribable power emanating from them. Now I understand why continental nobles spend tens or hundreds of gold coins on just a few paintings.”

Ariana was highly satisfied.

‘These are the paintings Arad worked tirelessly on for me!’

She felt incredibly happy and proud.

Unlike Mary’s painting (which she shoved to the back of her mind because even remembering it was unpleasant), Ariana’s portrait was truly stunning.

‘I want to show it off. I want more people to see the painting Arad created of me!’

Thus, Ariana made a significant decision.

“I wish to hang these paintings all around High City. I want as many commoners as possible to see my face.”

Ariana commanded that eighteen different versions of her portrait, featuring the face of the northern duchess, be hung throughout High City.

“The frames to protect the paintings, I can create them. These are magic-treated frames that will protect the paintings even in case of fire or severe impact.”

“Good. But relying solely on frames feels a bit insecure, Granny.”

“Yes, Miss. In situations like this, us witches must step in. We’ll add another layer of protection with a magical barrier.”

“What kind of barrier magic will you use?”

“We’ll make it so the paintings can be seen but not touched. If someone tries to touch without permission, their hands will pass through as if it’s a mirage.”

“Good. Let’s place the two paintings of myself and Mary in my bedroom and office, and exhibit the rest of the portraits in the Hall of Glory, banquet halls, the inner castle square, corridors, and… Arad Workshop.”

Those lucky enough to see the paintings that day genuinely thanked Ariana for her decision.

Because they could enjoy such splendid artwork anytime.

“So this is what our duchess looks like?”

“She’s beautiful.”

“So pretty… I can’t believe someone can be this beautiful.”

“The painting feels so lifelike!”

“This goes beyond just being well-painted.”

“Looking at it gives me a strange feeling every time.”

“I feel energized looking at the duchess’s portrait in armor.”

“When I see the one where she’s wearing a dress, I can almost smell flowers.”

And thus, a new landmark and hotspot of High City was born.

“Let’s meet in front of the smiling portrait of Her Highness?”

“No, let’s meet in front of the one where she’s wearing a fur coat.”

People began choosing spots near the portraits for their meetings.

And strangely enough, they preferred walking along streets adorned with the paintings.

Unconsciously, they spent more time on streets with the duchess’s portraits than other streets.

Even after seeing them dozens or hundreds of times, they acted as if drawn to them subconsciously.

“I think I’m falling in love with Her Highness.”

“…?”

“N-No! Not romantic love! More like how one loves their parents!”

“Aah… I feel the same way.”

“Phew~ I’m not the only one acting weird then.”

“I’d give my life for Her Highness.”

“Me too! To fight and die for such a beautiful, benevolent, and noble person would be glorious.”

“Lately, I’ve been reading the Lenslet Scriptures. There are also some of Her Highness’s sayings in there.”

“You can’t read though, right?”

“I learned to read by paying a hefty sum because I wanted to know even a little about Her Highness’s words.”

This unintended butterfly effect surprised even Arad.

The start of an interdimensional fandom culture.

And this butterfly effect wasn’t limited to just High City.

“Who would’ve thought I’d witness such miraculous works of art in the North?”

“This is groundbreaking. Such bold and impressive lines! Unbelievable. My heart feels like it’s going to explode!”

People who traveled across the North to reach High City from the southern lands.

“How can colors be rendered like this?! And the shading!”

“Beautiful… So this is our Northern Duchess…”

These were the reactions of nobles who paid large sums for Chimera Automail procedures and merchants from Bishop Company guiding them, upon seeing the paintings.

“These paintings could sell for astronomical prices.”

“The North is currently the most talked-about place on the continent. It’s where Arad Salt, Northern Celadon, and Mary’s Blessings are produced.”

“Even before, it was famous as a land half-barbaric and half-civilized, a breeding ground for generations of Sword Masters.”

“And we have the Magic Realm and the Great Northern Wall.”

“Especially rumors about the Northern Duchess are worth their weight in gold.”

“In this situation, selling these portraits would be…”

Merchants from Bishop Company couldn’t take their eyes off the portraits of Ariana hanging everywhere in High City.

“They’ve cast barriers on them.”

“Upon closer inspection, the frames used to store the paintings aren’t ordinary items either.”

They gazed at Ariana’s portraits with wistful eyes, as if spotting an oasis in the middle of a desert.

“Let’s try asking Her Highness.”

“Yeah, asking doesn’t cost anything.”

Eventually, the merchants summoned the courage to request an audience with Ariana.

“Greetings to the ruler of the North and representative of the Lenslet Enthusiast Group, Ariana Rune Lenslett, Her Highness.”

“Rune Lenslet!”

Thus, despite difficulties, the audience was successfully arranged.

“Why have you requested to see me?”

“Your Highness! Please sell us the portraits hanging all over High City.”

“I refuse.”

Ariana firmly rejected the merchants’ request.

“Your Highness! We’ll pay any amount!”

“It’s not just money, Your Highness! Think of the fame and prestige! Your beautiful face and esteemed name will be known across the continent!”

But these weren’t merchants who would easily back down.

“That’s right! Your Highness! If these portraits become known in the Empire, much of the prejudice against the North will disappear.”

They even roped in the accompanying imperial nobles to persuade Ariana.

“That’s correct. Many people in the Empire still view Northerners as culturally ignorant. But if these paintings become known, even fellow Imperials like me will look up to the North and Your Highness!”

“It’s not just the Empire. We can spread the name of the North and Your Highness’s renown across countless kingdoms on the continent. I’ll personally ensure that the capital of the Kingdom Alliance, Badenheim, becomes aware of Your Highness’s portrait.”

“…”

Their persuasion plunged Ariana into deep thought.

‘I can’t give away the paintings Arad created directly. But… it does seem like money could be made. And as they say, this could be an opportunity to change prejudices against the North.’

Money and fame. Both were desperately needed by the North and Ariana.

But selling these paintings didn’t sit well with her.

After all, these were works that Arad, unlike anyone else, had poured himself into creating for her.

‘Can these paintings be mass-produced like other things?’

It dawned on her that just like celadon, there was no rule saying paintings couldn’t be mass-produced in a factory.

Someone like Arad would surely find a way.

“I’ll consider it. You may leave.”

After dismissing the imperial nobles and Bishop merchants, she immediately transformed into Mary and headed to the workshop.

* * *

The wave that started in the North gained tenfold speed when it met Bishop Company.

The Northern Wave, or ‘Bakryu,’ spread beyond the Empire to the Kingdoms.

Every day, factories and academies expanded in High City.

Time flowed, marking two and a half years since Arad came to this world.

By mid-winter/early spring in April, according to Northern standards, when the harsh cold had slightly subsided.

In a lecture hall of the temporarily opened Lenslet Academy.

“So, doing it this way separates the light and shadow well. Pretty easy, right?”

I was giving a lecture to fifty people from the North who claimed to paint a bit.

“With oil paints, mix the number 33 pigment made by Arad Company with water and powder from a fire attribute magic stone… Ta-da! You can express a color similar to a real sunset.”

The North was culturally backward.

Until now, there hadn’t been anyone in the North who made painting their profession.

But not anymore. The Lenslet Academy is systematically cultivating trained artists.

And these are already the second batch of students.

“How about it, pretty easy, right?”

“…”

“…”

My lecture, reminiscent of Uncle Bap, left the faces of those seated in the lecture hall blank.