NOVPUBThe Demon Race’s expressions and stances varied—respectful, wary, contemplative.
Light cleverly spilled from the tall windows, as if by a miracle, focusing on the princess. At that moment, she was the chosen one.
Its ancient and yet grand realistic style did not much resemble the work of the contemporary young painters of the Demon World.
All the demons turned their gaze towards the Demon Race general, Mist Sir.
"It is said that Mist Sir has commissioned a legendary painter from thousands of years ago, a master of the Demon Race."
"This painting... it depicts the pinnacle of power in the Demon World; it is also a profound analysis of the psychology of the courtiers."
"By depicting the emotions of the princess and the courtiers, it highlights the intersection between individuals, the Demon World, and pivotal moments of an era... eventually turning into a painting that combines motion and stillness, inner and outer elements."
Many demons couldn’t help but discuss it among themselves.
"Do you normally appreciate art?"
Lord Raeming, listening to the voices around him, looked at Lanci beside him.
Although he had never discussed art with his close friend, he felt that McCarthy possessed an indescribable poet’s quality.
"I understand a bit."
Lanci answered.
"How do you evaluate this painting?"
Lord Raeming wanted to hear Lanci’s opinion.
"Quite good."
Lanci replied.
"..."
Hearing such a perfunctory response from Lanci, Lord Raeming was about to speak but felt the words stuck in his throat.
Lord Raeming’s own opinion of the painting was also nothing more than "quite good," unable to articulate any other evaluation.
His intuition always told him that his friend was not so simple, yet his friend’s casual attitude seemed to show a genuine lack of interest in art appreciation.
Before the demons could let their exclamations of amazement swell, another wave of pink light filled the Regency Hall.
[Portrait of a Bird in a Cage]
[Type: Artwork]
[Grade: Sacred (Damaged)]
[Tier: 1]
[Creatures that appreciate this painting may have a chance to feel a bit of pity for the princess and come to understand her sentiments.]
"Oh!"
Many demons, with eyes wide open, stared at another sacred-grade painting.
In the painting, there was no image of a young girl, only a scene of solitude.
Moonlight filtered through the tree branches, spilling onto the windowsill.
"Was this painted by True Night Sir personally?"
"It’s definitely True Night Sir’s style, no mistake there. I’ve seen quite a few of his works. Although the completion is not perfect, it truly is of a sacred grade."
"Worthy of being the most artistically accomplished Great Demon Clan among the Civil Officials, he managed to create a sacred grade painting in such a short time on his own."
Admiration followed upon admiration.
Perhaps the painting by Mist Sir, [Naikarisu Royal Palace Throne Room], was of higher quality, but True Night Sir triumphed in his thoughtfulness, portraying the scene the princess saw when looking out of her window.
"This painting... cleverly uses a first-person perspective to create a unique emotional resonance; the princess is not presented directly in the scene, yet her presence is omnipresent, hidden in each detail touched by the brushstrokes."
In the painting, the moonlight was not just part of a natural landscape, but rather a metaphor for emotion. Its coolness and distance mirrored the image of the person the princess yearned for, within reach yet unattainably far.
"True Night Sir, using contrasts of light and shadow and the guidance of perspective, tightly connects the viewer’s emotions with the princess’s inner world. To appreciate this painting is to experience a state of longing."
"Who exactly is the princess missing? And why can True Night Sir understand her feelings?"
The voices of the Demon Race elite rose and fell in discussion.
True Night Sir obviously perceived the princess’s mood with great sensitivity.
On the right side of the hall, Lord Raeming, looking at Lanci next to him and noticing his interest in the painting, asked:
"Do you like this painting?"
Although it might have been his wishful thinking, he still faintly felt that his friend understood something.
"..."
Lanci stroked his chin, a slight frown on his brow.
Lord Raeming could not discern Lanci’s thoughts at the moment, but his friend’s state resembled his own—as if, having viewed the painting, he wanted to express some sophisticated critique but could not find the right words to form the phrase.
"Speaking of which, Gareth, does True Night Sir really want to win?"
Lanci dropped his hand and leaned back in his chair, turning his head to ask.
"Mist Sir Orion might truly want to win, whereas True Night Sir Esmod is mainly concerned with the bigger picture. But True Night Sir also seems unwilling to let Mist Sir win, hence he refused Mist Sir’s request for help. In a fit of pique, Mist Sir spared no expense in finding a legendary craftsman from the Demon World to ghostwrite for him."
Lord Raeming shook his head, unable to understand the motives between those two members of the Great Demon Clan, nor why his friend asked such a question.
Especially since True Night Sir has always been an enigma, at least Lord Raeming had not seen the true form of this Civil Official in all these years.
Lanci fell into deep contemplation once more.
Lord Raeming, meanwhile, waited patiently for his friend’s profound opinion.
"Do you think it’s possible that True Night Sir might actually be a woman?"
Lanci, looking at True Night Sir Esmod with his thoroughly concealed appearance, muttered to Lord Raeming.
His keen Matchmaker’s instinct told him that if True Night Sir’s gender were reversed, everything would make sense.
"..."
Lord Raeming looked at Lanci, his brain stalling for a moment.
My friend, what exactly are you analyzing?
Now he really couldn’t tell whether McCarthy understood paintings at all.
As they chatted casually, the Regency Hall was filled with an ineffable harmony and enthusiasm. The voices of the Demon Race echoed beneath the high dome, each comment filled with pride.
A true master not only paints well but also paints quickly.
The paintings that were revealed earlier had been placed in the golden cabinet last.
Now, as the remaining paintings in the golden cabinet dwindled, it revealed those that had been completed and submitted early on.
The Demon Race appreciated both "Naikarisu Royal Palace Throne Hall" and "Caged Bird"; even after the Fallen Queen had moved them aside, their eyes lingered on the canvases.
"Whichever painting the princess chooses will make sense."
"She herself desired paintings from the best of the Great Demon Clan; receiving such works would meet her expectations."
The absence of a painting by the Ancestor for so long began to put them at ease.
Because even a master like True Night Sir Esmod had taken so long, Marquis Ulysses, the tenth Ancestor, had also been delayed in his journey.
Working under the pressure of even tighter time constraints, the likelihood of producing a high-quality painting had all but vanished.
Looking at Marquis Ulysses, the tenth Ancestor, he still appeared uninvolved and above the fray, smiling calmly, as if he had long since become indifferent to victory or defeat.
Such a person, lacking competitive spirit, would find it difficult to create a piece that surpassed the fully committed work of True Night Sir.
However.
At this moment, when the mood in the Regency Hall was at its most excited and fervid peak.
The light, as brilliant as a galaxy, seemed to suddenly descend upon the palace.
