“So, isn’t it not a big sin to ask him to polish the shoes?”

Octar sought sympathy from the surrounding painters. The painters who were watching us also nodded in agreement.

“Anyway, soon, when Mr. Pielo comes and sees the painting, what will he say? Since the floor is slippery, I just told him to clean it quickly.”

But there was one person. It wasn’t Lucky.

Lucky, biting his lips, let grape-like tears drop.

I approached Lucky and whispered softly.

“They messed up your painting, huh?”

At my words, he widened his eyes.

Even if I hadn’t seen it myself, I could easily infer it.

The size of the canvas was much higher than Lucky’s height. However, the location where the oil was spilled was hard to believe as a mistake unless Lucky intentionally knocked over the oil drum.

‘Unless someone intentionally spills it, such marks won’t be left.’

“The first person to honestly tell the truth will receive ten pounds of violet dye from the Marquis de Launay.”

Violet dye.

It was a rare and high-quality dye that painters found difficult to obtain.

As there were not many materials that could produce violet, painters ground shells from purple clams found in some areas of the southern coast to make it. Since the supply was scarce, it was called the dream dye for painters.

But later, it became an inexpensive dye available through Violette.

Therefore, I made a big proposal to them, who still didn’t know that fact.

“Miss… please don’t do this because of me.”

“It’s not because of you; it’s because of me. For a noble-born painter to act as he pleases is an insult to the Marquis de Launay.”

I firmly held the hem of my sleeve and gently urged Lucky, who didn’t know what to do, and then turned to the painters again.

“I heard that it’s not easy to get this dye even in the palace. Will anyone not take the dye that can be taken with just an honest word?”

At that moment, someone raised their hand.

“I’ll speak.”

All eyes, including mine, focused on that painter.

“I’ll tell the truth. If you don’t speak the truth, you should be prepared for the corresponding punishment.”

“Yes, yes!”

The short-haired painter took a step forward.

“Tell us.”

“Hey, what are you trying to say!”

Octar glared fiercely at his colleague. I scolded Octar for making a loud noise without manners.

“If you’re a noble, don’t rashly interfere in conversations.”

And as Octar’s mouth closed, I looked at the painter who was going to testify, gesturing that he could speak.
“Octar poured paint-mixed oil on Lucky’s painting. And he insisted that he deliberately tripped Lucky, causing the oil drum to spill on the canvas.”

Fortunately, the short-haired painter didn’t speak ambiguously or try to deceive me. I was grateful that he spoke from Lucky’s perspective, not Octar’s.

“So, it was true. I’ll send you the dye as promised.”

“Thank you, Your Grace!”

The young painter hastily bowed, showing his gratitude.

“That’s a lie. You can’t blame me for ruining the painting based on one person’s testimony. We have our own rules in our palace art room, even if it’s not in Octar’s position.”

He didn’t look confident in denying it outright.

“Then you should also have the opportunity to get the dye.”

“I don’t need it!”

Of course, if he doesn’t need it.

“Well, you’re a palace painter. Do you need anything? Moreover, unlike other painters, you’re a noble.”

Octar stared at me with a puzzled expression, wondering what I was talking about.

“Y-yes.”

“Then I won’t ask you for responsibility for the painting as you wish.”

“Huh? Really?”

His complexion immediately brightened.

“Well… since the painting is not under my jurisdiction.”

“As expected… You were a person who clearly distinguished between public and private matters!”

I smiled brightly and picked up Lucky’s handkerchief lying on the floor.

“Don’t you need to distinguish between public and private matters? Then, you should be responsible for the handkerchief privately.”

“I’ll compensate for the handkerchief as much as you want.”

“Just compensation is enough. Just restore this handkerchief to its original state.”

It was an absurd statement.

Judging by the unique smell, it seemed to be terpene mixed into oil paint. Even if they washed it here without proper detergent, it would be impossible to restore it to its original state.

Octar would probably know that. Hence, he looked so bewildered.

“This is a handkerchief that my father made for me during his year-long stay in Dongje, saying it had a unique fabric. It’s a meaningful item that cannot be exchanged for any amount. So, please take good care of it. Marquis Octar, the palace painter.”

Lucky’s face turned paler than Octar’s.

His expression asked why I went this far. To me, it was a matter of course. Lucky is a painter from our family. Even if he delivered Cacian’s letter to Serdis, the fact that he is my person does not change.

“Or there is another way. If the handkerchief cannot be restored to its original state, then when Pielo comes, we’ll talk about what you did.”

Octar tightly sealed his lips.

“In the end, that’s what you wanted.”

I shrugged.

“If you won’t tell Pielo directly, I can tell my mother what happened today. But then you know that things will escalate, right?”

“The mistake was Lucky’s fault for entering without the proper procedure!”

“The person who seized the opportunity to give a chance is at fault?”

There was no reason to fall for a parachute.

“If you felt so unfairly treated, you should have told Prince Hwang directly. Why did you bring in an inexperienced young painter without any skills?”

“How can I accuse Prince Hwang directly!”

It was a voice filled with deep injustice. But since he harassed Lucky, that sense of injustice was not persuasive.

“Don’t say things you can’t say in front and behind.”

“Your Grace doesn’t understand our feelings. Do you know how much we had to sacrifice to come in here? Do you know with what kind of heart all the painters in the empire dream of becoming a palace painter? But Prince Hwang brought in Lucky without any procedure, and how much we…”

Looking at Octar pushing his emotions, I raised the stained Lucky’s painting.
“The words you just spoke are also disrespectful to Prince Hwang.”

“I didn’t intend that…”

“As a painter who must prove through paintings, please just look at the painting. If Lucky is less diligent than others and less skilled than palace painters, he can be expelled at any time.”

I glanced at Lucky.

Lucky quickly lowered his gaze.

It seemed like he thought I noticed the deal with Serdis.

“Well, I already knew that.”

However, I didn’t think Lucky earned his place here just because he delivered my letter.

“You can tell by looking at this painting. If you’re unsure whether Lucky should be expelled or not, why not ask Pielo, the leader here?”

That’s why I could speak confidently.

Octar was about to retort but closed his mouth. His gaze was directed not at me but at someone behind me.

And that’s when it happened.

“There’s no need for that.”

A deep, resonant voice that echoed through the cave.

I turned around, and there stood a man with a well-groomed white beard.

“No need. I’ve been watching all along.”

Pielo was there.