Chapter 2: Why is Talia Glowing?_3

The planner said he wouldn't dare implement those cards without having ten mothers.

"Master, is the woman in the portrait someone you're fond of?"

A slightly probing question disrupted Lanci's train of thought.

The maid waiting at one side noticed that Lanci was exceptionally gentle today, causing great anxiety among all the servants in the mansion.

But the maid had been observing him for a while.

She felt that he wasn't pretending.

Despite his sudden transformation in creating such a miraculous painting.

It finally led the maid to draw a shocking conclusion-

He might be in love!

"..."

Lanci looked up at the maid with a strange expression, not sure how to respond.

The woman in the painting...

Could potentially kill me.

However, he studied the painting and thought about it again.

Given the shock his painting had caused in this world, asking the butler to find her using the portrait might cause unnecessary trouble.

So, Lanci pushed away the easel.

He deftly prepared a new canvas, intending to paint a more ordinary portrait of Talia as a commoner.

However,

As soon as he began to paint on the new piece, a wave of dizziness hit him. He could barely see the canvas now.

The maid watched Lanci struggle, worried yet afraid to interrupt his work.

Yet after hesitating for a moment,

She felt perhaps today, the master really wouldn't vent his anger on others.

So, swallowing her fear, she said:

"Master, if you're feeling particularly bad, probably because you're running out of mana... When you paint, you seem to pour your whole heart and soul as well as your mana into it. I've heard stories about famous painters or Cardmakers throughout history who poured their lives into their art..."

"I won't paint any more."

Upon hearing this, Lanci immediately put his brush down.

This wasn't like staying up late to paint; one could simply power through it.

This time, he distinctly felt that something strange in his body was draining away as he painted!

"Take this painting to the butler for me. Once he has seen it, instruct him to follow my orders. Then, keep the painting safe and do not take it out of the house."

Lanci pointed to the painting he had just completed and said.

Once he relaxed, he felt extremely tired.

A wave of exhaustion crashed over him like a receding tide, making his head spin.

He realized that given this level of depletion, he probably wouldn't have the energy to paint a second portrait of Talia for the butler to recognize in the short term.

"Also, no matter what, wake me up before dinner."

Having finished giving his instructions, Lanci fell silent.

"Understood, understood!"

The maid delicately used a magic tool to speed up the drying process and preserve the painting.

On one hand, the painting was priceless; on the other, the master had already dozed off in his chair.

She was overjoyed by their master's shift in behavior today and became more curious about the level of work the master had achieved.

So, she secretly used an appraising spell, finally seeing the true nature of the painting-

[Portrait· Mysterious Princess]

[Type: Artwork]

[Grade: Epic]

[Level: 1]

[Anyone who appreciates this painting will regain a small amount of spirit and vitality, and their fondness for the princess in the portrait will increase, potentially increasing their spirit.]

...

When Lanci woke up again and opened his eyes to the familiar view outside the window, it was already afternoon.

The setting sun gradually sank in the west. The golden light tinged with red seeped into the clouds, causing ripples of light to spread through the window, creating an illusionary atmosphere in the room.

The butler must have carried him back to his room.

Because there was a new letter by his bed, with the Butler's neat handwriting on it- about the whereabouts of Talia.

Lanci shook his head. He felt groggy from this nap.

However, as he sat up and stretched.

He noticed a new painting in a conspicuous position in his room.

The painting alone made the room feel more artistic.

Sitting on the bed, Lanci furrowed his brows as he stared at Talia's portrait.

The maid and the butler must have misunderstood him.

I didn't tell you to frame this painting and hang it in my room.

I instructed you to hide it!

What if the woman in the portrait saw this painting of her so dedicatedly done? How awkward would that be?

"Never mind."

Lanci helplessly got out of bed.

Anyway, there was no chance for Talia to enter his room.

If he could safely whisk her out of this kingdom, he would consider it successful.