Chapter 19

It was just before dinner when we were summoned for the second task which was much more ridiculous than the first.

"Please prepare a portrait of how you recall his highness. There is no need to try to attain some sort of extreme realism, just attempt to draw from your memory from the previous task" the same ginger haired man declared. Indeed we all stood before blank canvases with such an extravagant set of tools that a true artist would be full of envy at the sight.

But did anyone truly have any talent in drawing?

I glanced at the girls who looked around unsurely, finding that some of them were staring at me and waiting to see what I would do.

"How much points do we need to attain today?" Charlottes voice broke the silence.

The man looked startled, face burning a bright red as he met her eyes.

"My apologies Miss Willow. The point limit today is thirty. Anything below would mean disqualification".

"Thank you".

I felt myself frown.

I had 21 points from making a cup of tea. How badly of a drawing would be worth less than 9 points?

Should I attempt a stick man?

I thought back to the princes' blurred features. I didn't even bother trying to squint to see him. All I noticed were his eyes and dark hair. He was also pale too…

I couldn't even remember his clothes…

Stick man then? But would be insulting?

I outlined a stick man and then stared at it. I dabbed red for the eyes and gave a blob of hair. I recall his outfit being kind of red… should I paint his body red?

I heard a snicker behind me and saw Anastasia, barely able to contain herself.

"My two year old brother can draw better than you" she laughed and the other ladies glanced at my work and snorted.

I felt my cheeks blush.

"Yours couldn't possible be any better!" I retorted loudly earning a reprimanding glare from a guard which shut me up.

Anastasia simply grinned at this.

"Take a look".

I leaned back to see the canvas just black in colour…

"What the hell?"

"Least I didn't draw a stick man…"

I couldn't even argue back.

When I drew a terrible imitation of the throne and the chandeliers a few other girls laughed out loud. Crystal had even asked why there was a flying goat to which I hissed.

"That's a chandelier!"

I had lost a lot that evening and when I glanced at the painting Charlotte had done I realised something. I was probably the only person in this room that couldn't draw because everyone else drew with enough skill to threaten the legacy of Leonardo levinci, a famous and now deceased artist.

I couldn't help but admire him in the drawing. He was handsome, not terribly but still surprisingly attractive for a man with outstanding stats already. Rich, powerful and handsome… I applauded the paintings that somehow portrayed his entire essence perfectly.

Then I turned back to my stick man with a half grin.

I'm so going home after this!

"When you are finished with your works please turn them in. Unlike the first task in which we took into account your exhaustion, we plan to announce the results openly. So please be sure you have nothing to add when you do plan on handing it in".

I watched Anastasia hand in her canvas of black with such Grace, but as she did I saw an outlining of white. The face that matched the paintings in colour. It was intriguing and the ginger man thought so too.

I didn't catch what he said but I did see Anastasias face stiffen a bit before she headed to the seats where we could wait.

I turned back to my stick man with determination and handed it to the ginger man who looked startled at my eagerness. He looked at the photo and with an amount of self control that impressed me and said.

"Are you sure this is your final product?" He gulped as his lips wobbled, a smile betraying the neutral expression as he lifted a hand over his mouth.

"Yes. This was truly made to the best of my ability" I felt my cheeks flush as I caught his shoulders shaking.

"Very well" his voice was now a squeak as he could barely hold back, "take- Take a seat at the back".

I turned away gladly and rushed to Anastasia who, unlike the polite ginger, was crouched over laughing.

"You really tested that boy to his limits. The poor thing is still holding back" she wiped her tears.

"Well at least I'll be back home opening my store very soon and you'll still be here it seems" I grinned with triumph as I watched the man display our work. Mine looking hideous next to Anastasias.

Soon enough the other girls handed in their works, which I originally thought would take the attention off my "masterpiece" but all it did was make it stand out, mostly because of the black canvas right besides it.

"You could've picked any other colour…" I commented with disdain.

Anastasia simply held her head in pain.

"I thought black would be the ugliest, but it just catches so much attention…"

"Crystal, your painting is beautiful" I complimented as I looked at the soft water coloured painting. She used blue instead of black on his hair and his eyes were pink.

"Thank you! Yours is also-…" she stammered and I laughed.

"It's terrible" Charlotte interrupted, taking us by surprise as she stood over us, "if you think of this competition as some sort of joke then you have no right to call yourself a lady".

I flinched at her words.

I noticed the guards and the man with ginger hair take notice of the sudden commotion.

"Forgive me, Lady Willow. I simply have no experience with painting. My parents were my tutors and I had a rather humble upbringing" I explained with a soft smile, hoping she'd understand.

She didn't seem to look displeased with my answer and instead thought it over with understanding.

"Then my apologies. I still hope that is truly the best of your abilities currently and you do aim to fix such terrible skill" she lectured.

"Of course. I had never practiced with it much, but you're right. I should take a few lessons in it, considering… well that I guess" I gestured to my work sheepishly.

"I like your attitude" she nodded approvingly and then left.

Sarah, whom I hadn't noticed till now looked at me with such admiration I almost fell over.

"You handled her so well" she said in awe.

"You really did… that viper usually destroys everyone she picks a fight with" Anastasia added.

I didn't reply. Mostly because I didn't find the exchange too bothersome or challenging. I had met plenty of people far more difficult to handle. Then there were one I could never figure out. A certain dark haired fella coming to mind.

"His majesty the prince!" a servant announced as the doors opened and the prince stepped through. This time I saw him clearly. I felt my words get stuck in my throat.