Chapter 14
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I possessed the body of a villainess locked away in a desolate tower.
Chapter 14
Lunch hour stretched far longer than I had initially anticipated.
As Ashley crossed the corridor, she wiped away tears that still clung to her cheeks.
The damp handkerchief, soaked through, felt remarkably soft—a testament to April Salt's warm and gentle nature.
'No one has ever said such things to me before.'
Ashley gazed down at her hands, stained and mottled with color. Had there ever been a single day when paint didn't cling to these fingers?
For eighteen years, she had apprenticed under Robid, and somewhere along the way, she had grown far more accustomed to contempt than to recognition.
The young apprentices who arrived each year possessed superior talent without exception, and as though bound by some unspoken pact, they mocked every piece she created.
There were moments when she wondered if she should abandon her dream of becoming a painter altogether.
'Yet I could not give up.'
The moment a blank canvas appeared before her eyes, such doubts would vanish entirely, and her smoldering passion would ignite anew in an endless cycle.
Though presumptuous, her decision to accompany the Blaire Grand Duke Territory had been born from a hollow hope—that perhaps a noble's eye might fall upon her and offer patronage.
"I was captivated by your remarkable 'directorial talent,' Miss Ashley."
April Salt's words had pierced through her like thorns.
The realization struck her that it was she herself, more than anyone else, who had failed to believe in Ashley Barnes.
"Sob... sniff..."
Her tears subsiding, she tucked the handkerchief carefully into her bosom and walked into the Atelier prepared for the apprentice painters.
And as expected, she encountered the one person she least wished to meet at the entrance.
"What did you talk about?"
A man approached with an expression of eager anticipation, as though he had been waiting all along, and fixed Ashley with a peculiar look.
"...Berymore."
Ashley averted her gaze from his eyes, staring instead at the floor.
Berymore possessed the most exceptional skill among the apprentice painters, and since his Academy days, the epithet "genius" had followed him like a shadow.
Though he remained an apprentice due to his youth, he inhabited an entirely different world from Ashley, who had languished as a perpetual apprentice for eighteen years.
"I asked what you talked about."
Berymore's quiet voice carried a subtle malice beneath its surface.
In truth, he could not fathom why Robid continued to keep someone like Ashley—such a failure—as his student.
He believed that Ashley's very existence, so clearly inferior, tarnished the honor of a great painter like Robid, and he had taken the lead in tormenting her for quite some time.
Perhaps because of this, Ashley shrank whenever she stood before Berymore, yet she managed to open her mouth.
"She asked me to take charge of the direction."
"Ah, is that so? I thought..."
Snort.
A blatant laugh followed, and his next words rang out loudly enough for all to hear.
"I was worried that kind-hearted young lady might actually patronize you."
"..."
Ashley squeezed her eyes shut.
For every artist, the most crucial element was the presence of a patron to support them.
The greater the power and wealth of the noble patron, the smoother a painter's path became; conversely, when patronage ceased, one was cast aside without ever seeing the light of day.
In fact, every apprentice painter gathered here was desperately eager to secure the patronage of the formidable Blaire Grand Duke.
However, I'd heard that Ashley had been summoned separately by the young lady connected to Blaire Grand Duke, so I understood to some degree why this obstruction was coming her way.
As Ashley remained silent for a long while, Berymore let out a contemptuous laugh.
"Anyway... direction, you say? Congratulations. It seems perfectly suited to you."
"U-uh. Thanks."
Unwilling to exchange another word with Berymore, who was openly belittling her, Ashley forced a smile and brushed past him.
And toward her retreating back, his mockery struck like a blade until the very end.
"Hang in there, Ashley! If you endure for twenty or thirty years, maybe you'll manage to hold an exhibition someday. Even if it's just in some backwater village marketplace."
Puhahahaha!
Raucous laughter erupted among the apprentices who had been quietly observing the situation.
'No.'
But as Ashley turned and walked away, her eyes had grown resolute.
'You don't know it, but I'm going to do what I do best from now on.'
Her stride as she moved forward was steady, unlike her usual self.
* * *
My days became busier than ever before.
Before I knew it, I was actively participating in comic book production, and my time in meetings had grown longer than my time confined to my chamber.
Hiding my weary expression and focusing my gaze, I slowly surveyed my surroundings.
The three master painters and Ashley, along with every apprentice painter summoned to the Grand Duke's Residence, were gathered in one place.
"The reason I've called you all here today is to select an apprentice representative."
At my words, Ashley's head dropped toward the floor. She seemed burdened, having been forewarned that I would push for her nomination.
Yet the more I met with her, the more I couldn't help but give her positive evaluations for her meticulous and delicate approach.
I exhaled a deep breath and raised my voice again.
"I would like to recommend Ashley as the person to lead the overall adaptation and direction alongside Brown, Robid, and Cedric."
Before my words had even finished, discontented murmurs erupted among the apprentice painters.
"My lady, I object."
Finally, a man with a sour expression stood up with his hand raised.
With all eyes focused on him, I recalled that he was a painter named Berymore and nodded.
"Yes, please speak."
He immediately pointed his finger at Ashley, who stood there awkwardly, and opened his mouth.
"It seems there's been some misunderstanding... Ashley is still an amateur who hasn't even completed a proper painting. For her to lead a group superior to herself? That's simply impossible."
It was nothing short of a public humiliation.
Of course, the three master painters acquiesced to most of my requests out of deference to Blaire Grand Duke standing behind me, but when it came to matters of skill, they had no grounds for rebuttal—only managing to clear their throats repeatedly in discomfort.
And Ashley... her clenched fists trembled pitifully.
The murmuring grew louder.
As the whispers among the painters began to swell.
I clapped my hands together sharply, drawing the scattered attention back to focus.
"Now that I think about it, there's merit to that argument."
Judging by the atmosphere, if I pressed forward aggressively, Ashley would clearly offer no cooperation whatsoever. In fact, she would only face further contempt.
Then I had no choice but to create an opportunity for her to prove her abilities herself.
Berymore's expression brightened at my words, as if he understood my intent.
"Then perhaps changing the representative would be best after all...?"
"Yes, I'd like to reflect your opinion. But before that..."
I swept my gaze across the assembled group before fixing it directly on Ashley.
"Let's hear the Grand Duke's evaluation of which is superior—a comic drawn by Ashley alone, or one drawn by all of you working together. Then we'll determine the Apprentice Painters Guild representative based on those results."
"M-my lady!"
Ashley, who had maintained silence until now, cried out in a sharp voice.
But even that was silenced by Berymore's interjection.
"Excellent! I actually think that's far more equitable."
For him, this was a golden opportunity.
A rare chance to present his work directly before the Grand Duke's eyes without passing through the three renowned painters.
I glanced at Berymore, whose demeanor was more confident than anyone else's, and announced solemnly for all to hear.
"However, once the results are determined, you must accept them gracefully. Should any further objections arise, you will need to leave the Grand Duchy."
A heavy silence fell, thick as death.
Yet that silence was as good as unanimous agreement from everyone except the bewildered Ashley.
Brought to you by Valir Scans! To support our team and enjoy the latest releases, please read directly on our official site: valirscans.org