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Chapter 11: Leo admires a painting (Second Half)
「『The Advisement of Klingbeil Duke and Duchess』I think, is most charming.」
「Eh…?」
Natalia uttered and widely raised her eyebrows.
Albert and Bianca did the same as well. While wondering why everyone was so startled, Leo thought to ask them 「What’s wrong?」 but instead decided to explain to Natalia his reasoning.
「The couple’s clothes, shoes, are simple. But, hill in the back, field, is very abundant.」
Of course, for a money grubber like Leo, he would factor the cost of the land in the background into the price.
「Abundant, harvest of wheat. The sheep, as well, very plump. Large, wide, land. Fantastic.」
With a plot of land that can grow this much wheat and raise sheep, it can certainly be sold for a high price. It can’t be compared to small gems and old books.
When he gets older, Leo also planned to invest in a field somewhere.
「B…But, how come? Dr. Vogler’s Studies is packed with so many rare books in comparison!」
The Princess asked with a bewildered expression. However, Leo shook his head lightly and answered in a dodgy manner.
「No, um. There’s a, small problem, with the Eland language, title.」
「Title?」
It doesn’t seem like Bianca or Natalia understands. Wondering what he should do while staying silent, finally, Albert decided to interject with a conflicted explanation.
「Well, Natalia, Bianca. This is…an Eland porn book.」
「What did you say?
「Porn book? What is that?」
Natalia was at a loss for words, while Bianca was completely puzzled.
Albert gave a vague dodgy explanation, saying 「Well, it’s geared towards men, something like an instructional book on how to make love.」 That’s a way to explain it, even Leo found it hard how to explain the contents of a book that has the title 「Abandoned wet housewife bondage night.」
Indeed, the culturally rich Eland Kingdom were also advanced in erotic novels as well.
「That can’t be…. Then, how did you know that, Leonora?」
「Uhm. I was taught, Eland language. Connect the words, and, try to put it together.」
It shouldn’t be a big deal, 「It’s not like I’m only proficient in obscene words! I just got the gist of it.」 is what her attitude seems to suggest.
Of course, that’s a lie. A high paying porn collection shop was looking for employees so Leo earnestly begged his childhood friend to teach him the words. Leo was only proficient in slang and lewd words.
「Connecting the words…with just that…」
「You just entered the academy, but already…?」
The Eland language is indeed included in the curriculum of the school, but it’s only been a few weeks since she entered. Nevertheless, she was able to understand the majority of the words, which shocked everyone.
「I see…Then, you were able to see through my intentions after all, no, on top of that, you could see the true meaning of these portraits as well, can’t you.」
After calming down, Natalia suddenly feels an uncontrollable rush of excitement wash over her.
「Beauty is finite, secluding one’s self in a library is also ostentatious – it’s avarice for knowledge, for a someone who would be a queen, these are all unnecessary things. To be the queen consort, what you must have is a heart that loves the country. Because we have such rich abundant land, is why we love it.」
「Natalia Onee-sama…」
Bianca leaked a voice of admiration for the wisdom of her cousin. She knew from the beginning that Natalia wasn’t educating herself just for the sake of being the Prince’s consort, but she did not know that Natalia valued the country this much.
「Feast your eyes. Upon this golden, abundant amount of wheat. The calm sheep nibbling away at the grass, the noble’s clothes hold no meaning. Their true wealth is the rich land that lies in the background –」
Natalia turned to the girl.
「I believe this is what Gebhardt’s true meaning in the title of 『Advisement』 was. The meaning etched deep into my heart.」
The model for this picture was my parents, is what Natalia shyly tries to convey, but Leo tilted his head to the side in confusion.
「Hmm….」
「What’s wrong, Leonora?」
「Ah, nothing.」
To Leo who was insisting nothing was wrong, Albert once again urged her.
「What’s up? If there’s something on your mind, please feel free to inform us.」
「…Well. It’s, a little weird, I thought.」
Leo timidly answered. It didn’t seem to bother anyone other than him, so he wasn’t confident.
「There’s, no people.」
「Eh?」
「People?」
To all the puzzled people, Leo nodded and proceeded to explain.
「Lots, of sheep. But, no sheep-tender. No sheepherder. Sheep is fluffy, it’s time to sheer. Very strange, the wheat as well. It’s already ripe, here and there, it’s time to cut, but no harvesters. It’s already noon. Strange.」
Albert immediately had his breath taken away.
Soon after, so did Natalia, showing a stunned expression.
「Abundant land, rich land. But, the couple is alone, why?」
The girl’s moist violet eyes seemed to pierce straight through the two people. That light is without a doubt, the light of truth.
「Advisement…Warning…So that’s how it is.」
As the Prince uttered with a pale face, Leo held a look that seemed to say 「So, do you finally understand?」
As the sister Princess continued to display a confused expression, Albert turned to her and started his explanation, at the same time Leo also started his internal explanation.
(Normally, for a field this large, there would be an equally large amount of gingerly workers. We were always the best at harvesting at the most optimal time.)
「In order to maintain such an abundant amount of land, a large amount of people is required. When I first saw this painting, I thought as much as well. Normally, before noon, you would always see many people out and about working at harvest time.」
(That’s right. But that wasn’t drawn, so to bill someone for a picture like this for the same price as the other two, yep.)
「So the true meaning of 『Advisement』 that Gebhardt wanted to denote is –」
(That, it’s a complete rip off!)
「We, our thinking that the nation is fully depicted in this painting, is the real satire.」
Huh? Leo thought.
Clearly, the reason why he didn’t draw any people was he was being stingy with his colors, but it looks like I was wrong.
「Warning…」
「Mm. As Natalia said, our Weiz Empire’s real treasure is the rich land we possess. However, the entity that brought that about – meaning the true assets, are the people living in the empire.」
Albert suddenly flashed a frown.
「However, we should have known that, but nevertheless it was oblivious to us.」
「Captivated by the abundant land, and not remember the people that built it –」
「That’s why, it is titled 『Advisement』」
Seeing their meek expression, Leo held a blank look.
(Somehow…It became very grand…)
Surely, 「You don’t mean to rip someone off with us.」 is something Leo figured he should not say to Natalia right now.
While still slightly shook, Natalia then suddenly turned to face Leo.
「I thank you, Leonora. We were so proud, we thought we had this meaning of this picture figured out, and even gave an explanation that was disconnected from the true meaning…We were drowning in Gebhardt’s warning against haughtiness. How shameful of us.」
「Er…? That’s not…」
It still seems that Leo totally hasn’t understood the portrait’s meaning at all.
Behind him, Albert says,
「For Gebhardt to issue a warning with this painting at this timing, there must be some significance to it. I wonder if there are signs of an uprising in the Klingbeil territory, I shall look into it.」
Albert said it as a simple guess, but the lingering suspicion has now solidified in their minds.
Natalia then suddenly gripped both of Leo’s hands.
「As expected of the truth-seeing Harkenberg eyes. Please forgive me, for trying to test you.」
Then, slowly, Natalia took a knee and pressed the girl’s hand that she hand in her grasp against her forehead. It was a pose to pledge one’s loyalty.
「Leonora von Harkenberg. I hereby recognize that you are the woman who can stand at the top of this country.」
For the consort head candidate to kneel, that made the people in the vicinity bustle with a low murmur.
「Eh…? Huh?」
「Nothing will change as of yet. It wouldn’t be too overwhelming at all yet. However, please remember, surely before long, there will be no one in the empire who doesn’t long for you.」
「What…」
Abandoning the dreadfully confused Leo, Natalia stood up.
「Albert-sama. Going back on the previous point, whether Gebhardt’s warning is true. I have yet to lend an ear to the complaints of my own people. I shall return and start an investigation under my name.」
「Mm. Rather than me interfering directly, it’d be smoother if I use you as an intermediary huh? Alright, I’ll ask my father to help as well. I’m counting on you.」
「Understood. Well then, good day.」
Rather than a conversation between a boy and girl, it seemed more like an exchange between a superior and their subordinate.
From the beginning, Natalia had been searching for a suitable and a capable person to stick Albert with, so at last, she let out a satisfied smile as she looked upon the girl, and then turned and left.
Then, after being thoroughly impressed by the violet eyes of the Harkenberg family, the Weizsäcker brother and sister made their round of greetings to their excited fellow students, and then,
「What…?」
Only Leo remained, with a slack-jawed expression on his face.
***
「Heeey! Oh, there you are, Oscar!」
A young boy with a petite stature shouted as he called out to Oscar. Once he heard, he slowly opened his eyes.
「Mm…Rolf huh.」
「What the, are you skipping again? If you don’t shape up soon, your grades are gonna suffer you know.」
Actually, fail already! Shouted the young man – Although Rolf knew that Oscar would always be able to maintain his grades with no problem, he still found it quite unfair. As his longtime friend, Rolf gave him a sideways glance. Oscar gave a single yawn.
「That’s impossible isn’t it. An easy class like that, even a monkey would know that there’s no need to go.」
「You…You better watch yourself walking around at night if it’s dark! I’ll find you!」
「It doesn’t work if the criminal tells me in advance.」
With a cool attitude, Oscar stretched his body as he laid there.
His stretch showed his flexibility, like that of a wild animal. Closing his eyes, he slightly cracked his neck.
Opening them again, his eyes shined like that of the summer night sky, a deep indigo blue. With a sharp expression and unruly black hair, those were his quirks. A fearless young man with a wild aura.
「I’m surprised you managed to fall asleep here.」
Upon Rolf’s surprised comment, Oscar simply shrugged.
「In this hallway? The floor’s a little rough, but it’s the most ideal place to take a nap. Not many people come through here and the light and temperature are both perfect. – Well, today wasn’t the case, however.」
He cracked his long fingers. Reflected in his indigo blue eyes were the cause of an earlier disturbance, three paintings.
「Hm? What, you already know about the 『portrait incident』 that happened today?!」
Rolf was once again surprised when he realized that Oscar was probably present when it took place.
It appears that the meeting between the Weizsäcker brother and sister, along with Natalia, and a certain freshman girl had already become widely known as the 『portrait incident』
「Rather than being present, four people suddenly intruded on someone’s personal napping area and started talking.」
「No, no, a place filled with statues and painting isn’t exactly a place meant for napping.」
As a lover of gossip, Rolf immediately rushed here to tell the story, but he felt jealous that Oscar was actually here when it happened.
「Aw man. I wanted to see it, how Leonora-chan dealt with that intolerable Natalia.」
「Rather than dealt with her, it’s more like she solved a problem.」
When he would retort his hasty friend, usually it was accompanied by an uninterested blunt voice. But today, a slight smile have curled unto his lips.
「…The meaning of 『Advisement』 is revealed huh.」
「Hm? What what? What did you say?」
To Rolf who didn’t fully catch that, he simply said 「Nevermind」
「Leonora von Harkenberg, it might be to start getting to know her.」
Upon hearing that statement, Rolf’s face stiffened.
「…If that’s the case, then do I finally have permission?」
「Mm. I’ve adopted a wait-and-see attitude until now, but indeed the influence of the Harkenberg family is very strong, and the imperial brother and sister have seemed to take quite an interest her as well. I think it’s about time we brought her back to the side of the people.」
「Oh yeah! There’s plenty of guys out there who wants to talk to the lovely Leonora-chan, but I won’t hand it over that easily!」
Rolf raised both his fists in the air in cheer.
「However, it’s gonna have to be pretty covert for our sudden plan. You seem unusually ready.」
「What, I’m interested in her too you know,」
He didn’t quite match Albert’s graceful looks, but he had a manly air to him. Rolf flashed a wide smile.
「As a member of the Bernstein company, we regularly dealt with Gebhardt’s work. However, until now, no one – especially not the nobles, have ever discovered the『Advisement』’s real meaning.」
If it’s her, Oscar murmured. Rolf then agreed.
「Right.」
「Well, in any case – Rolf, what happened with the task I gave you earlier.」
「Ah!」
Rolf’s trademark was his relaxed and funny attitude, but, his face suddenly changed into a serious expression, and spoke with a low voice.
「The baron’s daughter Amelia came running to me while crying today. Her cousin who she values like a sister has been employed as Bianca-sama’s lady attendant I heard. However, it seems like she was treated horribly. Today, someone pushes her while she was using her make-up kit.」
「A children’s quarrel, leave it.」
「No, but unfortunately some of the heavy make-up got spilled unto her cheek. It was especially unlucky as it was a dark color as well. Amelia’s cousin is a girl you know, she begged Bianca-sama in tears to help her – With her magic, it’d be a piece of cake, right? However, Bianca refused to let her use magic.」
Oscar slightly frowned.
「…Rejecting the use of magic for something harmless like that. Quite a noble they are.」
「Right, that is the problem. Amelia always had a bad habit of over-embellishing her stories, but even if we account for that in this story, denying her use of magic, that’s clearly an attack on us. – isn’t that right?」
「……」
His restless indigo blue eyes grew further narrower.
「If it was a normal cat-fight I would’ve just told you to leave it alone. But what you just said, was what you really wanted me to hear right.」
「…Indeed.」
With a low grunt,
Oscar stood up.
「Rolf, call Bianca.」
「No problem. However, Bianca-sama is always surrounded by her followers. Getting some time alone with her is gonna be difficult, don’t you think?」
「I don’t care. Even if she brings one or two people with her, it doesn’t matter.」
Turning to his friend, he raised an excited voice.
「I do wish to see, how the precious Bianca-sama handles our 『Tea Party.』」
With the ferocity of a wild beast, he smiled. Rolf simply replied 「Ooh, scary.」