NOVPUBIn this secluded space, a towering door frame stood firm, and the walls were adorned with various mysterious antiques and paintings, as if harboring a story that spanned across time and space.
Only Lanci and Sigrid were present, making this hundreds of square meters of space seem incredibly spacious.
Lanci observed the sleeping Sigrid.
Behind the main seat, glass bottles were arranged, from amber wine glasses to clear as water fine wine. They refracted the afternoon light, making her at the center seem incredibly dazzling.
"Hu."
Lanci moved to the easel, gently adjusted it, and sat not far from her, in a corner of the gallery, close to the window.
The painting tools might have been at Sigrid’s home all these years, they could also have been prepared by Gloria, who directly came under her.
"Meow."
The cat boss stood on the ground as usual, watching Lanci painting like it used to wait for him to make cards.
It rarely dared to get so close to Lanci.
In his hands, the brush would always turn into a heavy weapon.
Seeing Lanci painting so quietly, it made the cat boss somewhat unaccustomed.
Moreover, can he really paint?
Even after being with Lanci for so long, it had never seen him paint seriously.
Lanci gazed at the brush in his hand as if he was having a silent conversation with it.
"I didn’t think there would come a day when I have to use you for painting."
Lanci finally murmured softly.
"..."
The cat boss wanted to say something but held back.
"Alright, prepare to be embarrassed."
Lanci spoke to himself with a smile. As he composed and sketched, the respect and reverence in his eyes for the distant figure were undeniable.
Recalling the two months spent together with Sigrid, Lanci gave out several smiles.
He seldomly was serious, each stroke seemed to tell the story of their relationship.
Despite never having painted Sigrid before.
But even without lifting his head to look at her sleeping face, his brush already captured her features.
On this warm spring afternoon, Sigrid slept peacefully on the main seat.
Lanci picked up that nearly lost skill, with a comfortable smile on his face, he painstakingly depicted Sigrid.
She looked as magnificent as a queen, elegant and serene.
Lanci sat across, silently guarding her dream, reluctant to disturb this rare tranquility.
It seemed as if they returned to the time on the endless snowy plain, when one was unconscious, and the other was keeping watch, the time flow appeared particularly slow.
It was a lengthy journey with no way out, although they couldn’t predict the future, they never felt afraid.
The hands of the clock ticked.
The cat boss waiting on the side slowly blinked its eyes in surprise and opened its mouth.
By the time the slanting golden afternoon sun filtered through the window, casting ripples around the gallery, Lanci’s painting was nearly completed.
"Not bad."
Lanci smiled, finishing the last detailed stroke.
He held the brush aloft and admired the painting.
A painting done seriously was indeed different, it looked much better.
"Meow?!"
A suppressed scream broke the silence from the side, the cat boss glaring at Lanci.
The cat boss was not daring enough to wake Sigrid, but it still hadn’t imagined that Lanci could make such a painting!
Lanci finished his painting, put down the brush, and glanced at Sigrid, still asleep in the high-backed chair.
She seemed so peaceful in her sleep as if all her troubles and worries belonged to a distant past.
Lanci bent down, carefully picked up the cat boss, gently circled the canvas, walked past Sigrid, and gave her another glance.
The cat boss slightly rubbed against him in his arms.
"Alright, cat boss, it’s time to go."
Lanci stroked the cat boss as he led it out of Sigrid’s gallery.
... 𝖓𝔬𝖛𝔭𝔲𝖇.𝔠𝔬𝖒
As the minute hand nearly completed a round, there was a sound of bells once again ringing in Sigrid’s gallery.
Her eyelids quivered, in the afternoon of the spring season, she slowly opened her eyes.
It was as if she had a lengthy dream.
A comforting dream.
Lingering memories remained when she woke up.
"I slept for quite a while."
Sigrid looked at the clock, fully stretched, and felt extremely comfortable all over.
She got up and headed to the hallway.
Probably Gloria was about to arrive with the Herram Broadcasting Company’s crew.
Their purpose was to interview Sigrid and see her treasured art collection.
Opening the door, she saw Gloria, who directly reported to her, standing outside and a queue of people standing behind her.
"Mr. Bishop, the guests from the Herram Broadcasting Company are here."
Gloria courteously introduced to Sigrid.
The guest at the front didn’t require Gloria’s introduction, Sigrid was already aware. The current national-level host of the program "The Herram Evening Show" operated by Protoss, Leola Franklin, was the one who hosted Mr. Rocky McCarthy’s interview initially.
"Welcome, Ms. Leola."
Sigrid shook hands with Leola, and led the crew members in.
"Archbishop Sigrid, if possible, we would like you and Mr. Rocky McCarthy to participate in ’The Herram Evening Show’ together."
"Hehe, I’m afraid that will have to wait for a long time, after all, he is busier than I am."
The two chatted and toured the gallery.
Despite just waking up, Sigrid still showed her composure.
In this space full of art and culture, an exchange about beauty, history, and personal taste was about to begin.
Even Leola was shocked by the majesty and beauty of the gallery, capturing every detail of it.
Under Sigrid’s leadership, they began exploring the gallery, wandering between the collections and antiques, occasionally chatting. Sigrid, with a friendly and peaceful attitude, carefully explained and answered Leola’s questions.
"Why is there an easel over there? It looks like a painting that was just finished?"
As Leola walked through the main hall of the gallery, she noticed the easel by the window immediately.
"Guess who painted it?"
Sigrid couldn’t help but smile.
She had slept too soundly, just woken up by the doorbell, and hadn’t had time to look at this painting.
But from the beginning, she wanted everyone to see Rocky McCarthy’s paintings.
"Oh? Could it be…"
Leola’s curiosity was aroused, and she walked over with a mix of surprise and anticipation. The camera crew followed her footsteps.
When they faced the easel, they all froze and could not speak.
Leola, who has over ten years of experience as a host, was staring at the painting, unable to react.
After a while, they were invigorated, and all praised wholeheartedly.
"..."
Sigrid was a bit confused, not knowing why Leola reacted this way.
She looked at Gloria, who was following the program group. Gloria was obviously confused too, as if asking: Bishop, didn’t you see it yourself?
Then Sigrid swiftly moved to the side where she could clearly see the painting.
Until the painting came into view.
As if the whole world was lit up by colorful light.
Sigrid was completely stunned.
The woman depicted on the canvas was tall, with light-colored hair draped behind her and eyes shining like stars in the night sky, and like blooming violets in spring. Her inherent aura was like the only queen in this world.
Her domineering yet calm eyes were like a sword that could pierce her opponent’s heart quietly placed in the clear and transparent lake.
But.
There was an indescribable softness hidden in her eyes.
Even without asking, the people of Herram could guess that this painting was given by Rocky McCarthy to Sigrid.
Because this was Sigrid in Rocky’s eyes, and only in front of Rocky would Sigrid become like this.
She was born to be the center of attention, but her heart was only on you.
[Portrait·To Archbishop Sigrid]
[Type: Artwork]
[Grade: Epic]
[Rank: 1]
[Those who appreciate this painting will recover a small amount of spirit and physical strength, and their respect for the bishop in the portrait will increase, with a chance to permanently increase the physical attribute limit slightly, only once.]
...
At Herram South Station, the sun was setting, and the station was bustling and vibrant.
The dome towered, supporting the massive curtain wall structure. On the crystal screens visible at intervals along the route, a program by Herram Broadcasting Company was playing.
People were rushing about, some dragging suitcases, some checking their tickets, filled with the rush of schedules and expectations of the journey.
Lanci led three friends, stepping on the concourse and heading towards the platform.
Before they knew it, discussions started to rise in the concourse, and more and more people turned their heads to gaze at the screen, their faces full of surprise, causing a brief chaos in the concourse.
The screen’s glow cast alternating shadows in the surrounding space, attracting passing passengers’ gaze.
Their eyes were firmly attracted by the sudden appearance of a painting on the screen.
This painting seemed to touch everyone’s heartstrings, whether it’s a hurried passenger or a station staff, were moved by the person in the painting.
"Wow, isn’t this Miss Sigrid? Who painted it!"
Antanas was the first to notice the disturbance, he abandoned his suitcase, ran over and looked at the nearest crystal screen.
"Wait, didn’t the king just go to see Miss Sigrid…"
Sinola muttered, looking surprised.
"..."
Pranay also noticed something was wrong, staring at Lanci."
Lanci smiled lightly, not saying much.
He looked at the painting on the screen, but he wasn’t looking at the painting, but at the person in the corner of the picture.
"Wow, King, you’re so bold."
Antanas ran back shaking the Cat boss in his hand and exclaimed in surprise.
Now probably the entire Herram could see who painted this painting!
"Alright, alright, we should go, otherwise we’re going to miss the Magic Power Rail Train to Lilom City."
Lanci was pulling up his suitcase to go.
"Do you have any other works?"
Walking beside Lanci, Pranay asked curiously, her eyes even more focused on him.
"There’s another one I just dashed off, it can’t be compared to this one."
Lanci thought about the painting at home and shook his head with a smile.
Pranay seemed to instantly understand who was in that painting.
In Pranay’s impression, Talia had always been a cold and aloof Princess of the Demon Clan.
She didn’t know why, but in the king’s presence, she seemed to become a comedian.
Never mind, it would be impolite to think further. When she goes back with the king to see Talia, she would understand.
