The Versatile Master Artist

Any painter fortunate enough to draw for the Little Prince will gain enormous benefits, whether it’s fame or financial income.

”If it were an ordinary piece of work, I wouldn’t trouble Uncle Osborne with a call... I believe, as long as you’re willing, there’s still a way, right?”

Anna sincerely requested.

Faced with the request from Lady Detective Cat for submissions, she thought long and hard.

Painting knife paintings are too niche.

There are hardly any good opportunities within the industry on short notice.

Of course,

she could still find some low-end contracts.

But those few hundred-dollar jobs seemed not worth taking for her.

Especially considering this would be Detective Cat’s first serious illustration,

the starting point for the painter is crucial. It’s like an actor’s first role, whether it’s a minor part in a web drama or the lead role in Cameron’s A-level commercial film; the future career path would be entirely different.

The African female artist was initially an online illustrator,

coming from a poor background, needing a higher platform.

”The Little Prince”—faced with the painting knife art request from Detective Cat, this was the most suitable option Anna could think of.

The style of children’s fairy tales perfectly fits the qualities of painting knife art,

magnificent and diverse, with rich colors, and the paint is thick, dreamy, and layered.

If Lady Detective Cat is indeed adept at painting knife art, Anna can’t think of any scene more fitting than this.

”It seems that painter is really important to you.”

Osborne sighed, ”First, tell me who the painter is. If they’re not too bad, I’ll think of something—”

”It’s Detective Cat.”

There was a few seconds of silence on the other end of the phone.

”That Detective Cat?”

”That Detective Cat.” Anna nodded.

”Fuck, you actually became Detective Cat’s agent. Anna, this damned Detective Cat has already caused you enough trouble.”

Osborne’s voice turned angry on the phone, ”Do you even know what you’re doing? Even if you really like this shitty online artist. Being her agent does no good for either you or her.”

”So... I’m not her agent.”

Anna stated calmly.

”Then what the hell are you up to?”

Osborne’s voice revealed a bewildering absurdity at Anna’s choice.

”She’s a very good artist, that’s all. And I trust Uncle Osborne, regarding recommending Detective Cat, that you will keep it a secret for me, right?”

Anna’s tone remained calm.

”Aunt had left your number with me, and if there was anything I’d ask Uncle Osborne for, it would be this.”

”Are you threatening me, Miss Anna Ilina?”

Osborne’s voice became colder.

”No, this is a formal request. I need Uncle Osborne to do this favor, and I’m personally very grateful.”

Anna’s tone was especially earnest.

Osborne indeed owed a favor to the Ilyena family elders, but he was not a subordinate of the Ilyena family, and now is the Vice President of a billion-dollar publishing group in the European Region.

Favors like these only diminish with use.

You spend your favor on this, and it’s hard to ask the next time.

Some people naturally think others always owe them, commanding them with peace of mind, which in the end might turn benefactors into enemies.

Anna does not lack emotional intelligence.

Why did Uncle Osborne propose to help Anna settle Sir Brown and Artist Van Doorn only when she called?

Was it because Osborne just learned about Anna’s situation?

Of course not.

He was waiting for Anna to ask him for help.

”I can help you with this, but remember, you asked me to do it.”

Helping you, I no longer owe the Ilyena family anything.

Anna didn’t agree immediately because she preferred to use this precious favor on this matter.

”Alright, since you’re so stubborn... I can only say, I’ll think of something.” Osborne sighed.

”By the way, regarding this submission, let’s say in advance, Detective Cat believes she is more adept at painting knife art.” Anna said softly.

”What? Painting... knife art? Shit, what kind of scam is this. Nonsense, are you sure you are really sober now? You haven’t taken drugs, have you? I want to talk to your butler.”

”I’m an adult now, Uncle Osborne, and I’m sure about what I’m saying. If you’re unsure of how serious I am now, I can tell you, I’m right now in the Royal Prayer Hall of Melk Abbey.”

Another moment of silence.

”Can I give you a piece of advice, Anna?”

Osborne knows how solemn decisions made by the Ilyena family members in the Royal Prayer Hall are.

”Go ahead.”

”If you’re in the monastery now, I suggest you have Dean Melk do an exorcism for you, instead of making this call to me. Anna, you seem possessed...”

Beep...

The other side hung up the phone.

Expressionless, Anna put the phone back in her pocket.

She looked up at Athena overhead once more, then left the Royal Prayer Hall.

She did not return the same way.

Anna maneuvered the wheelchair through the door on the inner side of the Royal Prayer Hall, heading deeper into the monastery.

The accessibility facilities here were done quite well.

After a few turns, she finally reached a quiet courtyard alone.

This is the monastery cemetery, where the ancestors of the Ilyena family lay in eternal rest.

A light rain was falling from the sky, and there was a unique melancholic atmosphere in the cemetery.

She picked up a flower prepared for mourners from the flower bed on one side and placed it in front of her aunt’s grave.

Then,

Anna turned the wheelchair again, navigating towards the depths of the cemetery based on her vague memory.

The wheelchair rolled over damp fallen leaves and the slight waterlogged road surface, finally stopping in front of a tombstone. She pulled out a tissue from her pocket to wipe the dust off the tombstone.

A name she had seen countless times in the family tree appeared before her eyes.

[Kara von Ilana]

[The courage to pursue beauty is my motivation to fight against life — Malerin Coral]

[1849.5.3 — 1882.3.1]

”Grandma Kara, I’ve found the person I want to pursue.”

Anna softly asked the inscription on the tombstone, ”If it were you, you would make the same decision as I did, right?”

In the history recorded in the Ilyena family genealogy, the story of Grandma Kalazu moved and impressed Anna the most.

Grandma Kara’s mother was a noblewoman from Greece.

She had half Greek blood and rare golden-red long hair.

The elders in the family liked to call her by the Greek Goddess name Coral as a nickname and called her Carol.

As a noble girl born in the long 19th century,

Grandma Kara’s normal life trajectory should’ve been like other noble ladies, tight-lacing her waist, with high chest, attending various high society salons, tea parties, and balls every day.

The Ilyena family has always been known for producing beautiful girls in Old Austria, and its financial situation was good, unlike some fallen European nobles who had to sell their daughters to crude American rubber plantation owners or oil tycoons to maintain the family’s dignity.

Theoretically speaking,

as long as Grandma Kara worked hard on the promising paths of seducing men and flaunting her charms, it wasn’t impossible to even catch a prince from the Habsburg Royal Family as a wealthy husband.

However, at the time when she should have shone in social dances, she went to France to study at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts de Paris.

Girls going to university was a rare occurrence in that era.

Initially, the elders of the Ilyena family accepted it.

Anyway, the family had a rich artistic atmosphere, and for a girl to study art was a means to be gilded for future marriage markets.

But soon, Kara wrote from Paris declaring her intention to become a professional painter.

This was extremely unconventional.