The Versatile Master Artist

In the drawing room,

Ole and his companion sat beneath the tree-shaped crystal chandelier, with the wall on the left recessed inward, revealing a peach-tan five-tier bookshelf and its top filled with magnificently gold-embossed hardcover ancient books.

An old-fashioned Austrian-style mansion would include books as part of its architectural décor, similar to how the famous New Hofburg Imperial Palace contains over 2.4 million various ancient books and parchment scrolls.

”My goodness, there must be millions of pages here. I can’t figure it out, do people really read these books?”

Before entering the room, her unfinished lady’s cigarette, along with her lighter, was politely yet firmly confiscated by the butler.

The sexy woman who had come from Hollywood to develop in Europe was slightly displeased.

However, her attention was quickly drawn to the upper shelf, where the 1875 edition of the Encyclopedia Britannica with its deep blue leather cover was placed.

She half-amazed, half-baffled, casually asked, ”It’s just for show, isn’t it?”

”It’s merely decoration, been there for a century. I imagine unless one day I have some particular interest in certain entries within the Victorian Era’s World’s Industrial Exhibition, I’d hardly find a reason to browse through them.”

Anna was indifferent to the woman’s blunt tone, making a slight joke.

”I suppose that’s it. When I was a guest at someone’s house in Beverly Hills, that bitch’s large bookshelf was almost never touched; it was just there to pretend to be an intellectual lady in front of journalists.”

The woman spontaneously mentioned another star, equally famous for her sex appeal, who had once snatched the lead actress role from her in an A-level major production, nodding and showing a ’figures’ expression.

”Uh... don’t take offense, I’m not talking about you, no other meaning.”

The woman realized her remarks were somewhat impolite.

She turned to smile at Anna, ”Miss Elina, your skin maintenance really makes me envious.”

”Self-centered Americans.”

Ole discreetly mouthed ’this is an American’ to his cousin, displaying an expression as if questioning why one would expect Uncle Sam to understand what courtesy is, subtly shrugging.

His gaze also briefly swept over the four-meter high bookshelf.

Ole knew his cousin was a person with intense literary temperament, maintaining a disciplined reading habit from a young age.

This vintage bookshelf is very tall, more beautiful than practical.

To access the books on the upper two shelves requires a special ladder, and Cousin Anna’s mobility is limited, rendering it almost purely decorative.

However, the bottom shelf filled with books often changes with each of his visits to the estate.

Clearly, they have been closely read.

On the central table of the bookshelf, Ole noticed Graham Greene’s Core of Destiny and a slightly dog-eared and yellowed copy of The Little Prince.

These two books seemed to have been just read by the estate owner yesterday or this morning and hadn’t been put back in place.

This copy of The Little Prince is indeed a familiar face,

Ole raised his eyebrows slightly.

Since childhood, the books on the shelves have rotated several times, yet he could almost always spot this fairy tale book in the central position on the bookshelf,

He remembered when entering the room,

Anna was holding a new white hardcover book with the same title ”The Little Prince.”

It seems,

his cousin remains inexplicably attached to this fairy tale story, just as she was in her childhood.

Ole promptly intervened as her companion was about to boast about her Hollywood past and gossip tales with Anna, cutting to the chase.

”Happy birthday, Cousin Anna. It’s a pity my father is currently in Philadelphia discussing an important bank acquisition deal and can’t attend your 22nd birthday party.”

”He sends his regards to our beautiful lady Countess, wishes you good health.”

Ole bypassed handing the gift to the butler for inventory and instead directly handed it to Anna, ”Take a look, my dad specially chose this birthday gift for you.”

”Ole, when will I take you to my place? I’ve recently raised a golden retriever named Rachel, she’s a gentle beauty.”

Ole simultaneously greeted the large dog nearby, reaching out attempting to touch its ear.

August glanced with a look all too human,

using his hind leg to scratch his chin, shifted slightly, accurately avoiding the scoundrel’s hand.

”Cousin, your Augustus remains as cool as before, just like you, incredibly aloof.”

Ole shook his head helplessly.

People always say pets resemble their owners.

In outsiders’ eyes, this large hunting dog appears incredibly aloof and regal.

Since childhood, whenever Ole tried seizing the chance to touch it, he nearly got bitten twice.

Anna ignored the tease and accepted the gift.

Having turned 20 not long ago, she graduated from university as an outstanding student with full credits.

Until recently when Sir Brown, the leader of the magazine Oil Painting, suspended her, she worked for about a year.

Today is her 22nd birthday.

The grand tea party at the estate is a social event held to celebrate Anna’s birthday.

She drew a ten-inch small canvas oil painting from the small oil painting tube Ole handed over.

It was a portrait of a dignified young girl, exposing her shoulders and wearing royal attire, beside it was a similarly rolled-up document.