Did he sense the panic inside me?
The Grand Duke glanced at me before returning his gaze to the papers with a deadpan expression.
“You seem to be wondering how I knew that.”
Oh my God, this is scary!
To be precise, it wasn't an accident... right? It was just a nice little request for help, after all
“Princess, what is the reason for this silence?”
As I tried to calm the confusion in my mind, I made a small but firm response.
“No, why are you interrogating me so fiercely?”
“Am I talking about things that are not true?”
“Not quite, but...”
Somehow, he seemed unusually nervous. Could it be just my imagination?
From what I saw of Liam, the Grand Duke did not seem like the type to work day and night.
Is it possible that this man is in a bad mood due to lack of sleep?
I shook off the ominous feeling that was creeping up on me and bit my lip.
“Huh.”
If it weren't for the Grand Duke suddenly laughing, my stomach would have shrunk with tension. His soft laugh made me relax a little
“You never came to me yourself, Princess. Every time, I had to send someone to fetch you. What a precious body you truly are.”
“A precious body? This is a sick joke...”
Who would treat a precious body this way? Well, it was convenient, but still.
I thought it was just a passing remark, so I smiled and waved my hand, only to find myself in front of his eyes, so I immediately closed my mouth.
Wait, is he not joking?
I realized something new. The Grand Duke was the type of person who could not distinguish between joking and serious statements.
"It seemed like you were trying to buy time. Well, I have an idea what's going on."
“Did you ask just to know?”
“I was wondering your reaction.”
“...You're cruel.”
I had a lot to say, but I swallowed it.
With a sharper voice now, the Grand Duke pushed the papers aside completely and looked directly at me
“You seem to be enjoying this more than I expected.”
“Well...it's fun.”
Originally, I was only reading picture books, and never expected to actually create them. But after going through it myself, I found it very interesting
It was interesting to watch my requests being reworked by highly skilled individuals.
Above all, I was deeply moved by the passion of the artists.
Unlike me, where I was just doing the tasks assigned to me, it was really touching to see others approaching their work with enthusiasm and self-motivation.
"permission."
Hmm, let's say it with confidence.
“Please help me...”
I smiled modestly and clasped my hands together.
What's the point of holding on to my pride? It doesn't feed me.
There was no harm in showing favor to those who paid artists such high salaries, right?
In fact, I could tell he wasn't completely uninterested in this work either.
“If I help you, what will you do for me in return, princess?”
“Oh…”
Now I was speechless. Even if I wanted to offer something, I have nothing to offer, as I live on the charity of the Grand Duke.
While I was thinking about it, I looked at him nervously.
“What should I do for you?”
“Let's leave it now.”
"Sorry?"
“The princess is useful, so I'll be sure to keep one option for her. What do you think?”
His answer surprised me, so I reluctantly nodded.
“Yes, that works.”
For now, this was the only way forward.
Damn it, what's the harm in doing something for him? This guy is such a ruthless boss!
I bowed my head, hiding my frustration, unaware that the Grand Duke already felt it.
* * *
Thus, the day of reckoning came.
The common theme I chose was “Golden Axe, Silver Axe.”
It was a folk tale, easy to adapt, and with a simple plot, making it an ideal challenge for assessing skill.
“Ha.”
Bonita stood in front of the operator to check the results, and she hurried over, confused
"Ah! Miss April, are you nervous? Are you worried that Ashley will make a mistake?"
“Not quite...”
I had confidence in Ashley's directing ability because I had seen her before
But… if the other artists’ results were bad, I was afraid that the Grand Duke would be angry for wasting time.
If the Grand Duke gets angry, I will probably get caught in the crossfire!
“I'm so nervous!”
Maybe everyone thought I was enjoying a carefree life, but I knew very well that I was a hostage at any moment, and I was only temporarily saved because of the dam project.
"Haha, don't worry! I've been keeping a close eye on Ashley, and I know she's doing her best at this!"
"how do you know?"
“I was secretly spying on her while I made her delicious hot chocolate every night!”
“Why…?”
“Because I need to find out the best rumors first!”
Bonita was no ordinary maid
Her boldness surprised me, but I quickly regained my composure and opened the heavy workshop door.
Inside the spacious hall, a large table was set up, with the Grand Duke's seat at the end of it and another seat directly below it, facing a round table.
There were two identical books lying on the table.
The only difference was the color of the bands surrounding the books, so it was impossible to tell which book belonged to which person.
As I walked to my seat, Liam's voice rang out.
“Your Highness, the Grand Duke, will begin now!”
The artists, nervous and expectant, all stared at the door.
The Grand Duke finally entered, his cold face so stern that it seemed as if no needle could separate him from the atmosphere.
The two unknown books were placed in front of him.
He picked one up without hesitation and read it for a moment before passing it to me.
I also read the contents of the book and then handed it to the three artists who joined the jury.
It took a long time for everyone to finish reading the books, but no one moved from their place.
Finally, Lord Browne spoke, representing the three artists.
“We preferred the book with the red ribbon.”
I was pretty sure of this, but since the artists' identities were kept secret, they had no idea whose work they were looking at.
“I also think red tape is much better.”
My words were followed by the Grand Duke's first comment after a long silence.
“I also think a book with a red stripe is more fit for purpose.”
The Grand Duke continued speaking, his face still devoid of any expression.
“The Blue Ribbon Book only has bright graphics, but lacks motivation to keep the reader going. It is nothing more than a picture book that demonstrates skills.”
His assessment was exactly the same as what I felt.
“But the Red Classification Book was different.”
It was just a black and white drawing, but the key details were highlighted with simple colouring, bringing it to life.
Although the content was similar, it seemed much more diverse, thanks to the different points of view used.
Considering that he wasn't very familiar with comics, his analysis was surprisingly accurate and convincing, and I nodded in awe of his insight.
“Most important of all, a red-rated book clearly has the reader in mind. I would choose this book.”
As the Grand Duke concluded his remarks, the general atmosphere changed.
Rumors began to spread, but the Grand Duke did not care.
“Who created the Red Classification Book?”
The only person who knew the outcome, the head maid, stepped forward and bowed.
“That was Ashley Vance.”
“Impressive.”
His frank and bold praise made Ashley blush hard
The other trainees, including Barrymore, looked disappointed but couldn't say a word, no doubt remembering their decision to accept the results.
But the Grand Duke's response did not stop there.
“Is Miss Vance receiving care?”
“Yes, it's embarrassing that I don't have any sponsors and pay for art lessons out of my own pocket.”
“That's unfortunate. Then I will be your first sponsor.”
"…Sorry?"
She stared at the Grand Duke with wide eyes.
Ashley was equally stunned, her face froze for a moment before she gritted her teeth at his next words
“Talent should always be given the opportunity it deserves.”
“Ah, ah…!”
Ashley fell to her knees, her face convulsed with emotion as she tried to hold back her tears
“Thank you, Grand Duke Blair. Thank you!”
It was the moment she had only dreamed of.