64

"Listen, because I've been seeing Randol often, I hear a lot of things, and I'm studying architecture separately."

"That's a good thing. But what about that?"

"The foundation of architecture is wood, but in the end, stone is the core. The more expensive the building, the more marble is used. There are many kinds of marble, and the price varies depending on whether it is impure or not. It is also very difficult to obtain."

Elena sat silently and listened to Khalif. Although she didn't express it, it was because the story he was talking about went in a rather profound direction.

"I heard the Grand Duke is trying to build Noblesse Street, right? Only aristocrats can enter."

"Yes."

"Then a famous architect will be mobilized and, of course, a high-end building will be built, right? Dolled up with marble. If they're building everything with this, not one or two, they'll need a lot of marble."

"…"

"What would happen if we bought the marble in advance? There is a limit to the amount of natural marble mining… And wouldn't it be possible to sell marble again at a high price?"

Khalif carefully commented on the information related to the development of Noblesse Street. He learned a lot through Elena, and as he interacted with the masters of the era who were introduced through L, his eyes reading the market grew as he expanded his view of the world.

Elena drew a soft smile around her lips.

"That's a good idea, Senior."

"Right? This is how we make money, right?"

"Yes, that's business."

Elena nodded. It meant positive.

'You're growing up well. With pleasure.'

Elena was pleased to see Khalif's growth. There were still many shortcomings, but if he continued to grow, he would grow into a great talent that combines art dealers, art brokers, and investors.

"I just got a feeling. It's really creepy."

"Again?"

"You've already bought the natural marble, haven't you?"

"…"

Elena shut her mouth tight. Khalif, who accepted the silence as affirmation, continued.

"Wow! I knew this would happen. Did you really buy it? When? You never said that to me."

"Shall we change the subject?"

"Wow, betrayal. You weren't going to tell me until the end if I hadn't asked you, were you? Isn't that right?"

Khalif's cheeks twitched. He couldn't imagine that she'd already taken steps to purchase natural marble, even though he'd said he didn't think so. Khalif felt that he was growing up and getting closer to Elena who was leading him, but Elena was already running ahead of him.

"I'm sorry I couldn't tell you. I didn't hide it on purpose. I just wanted you to focus on the role of art broker instead of turning your eyes to the business."

Elena honestly expressed her sincerity. In its original history, Khalif had gained a reputation as an art broker, so she hoped he would grow up without wasting his talent in business. Until now, it wasn't possible because Elena did well as she wished. The problem was that as his outlook on the market and his vision widened, he also opened his eyes to a merchant, which was unexpected to Elena.

"Okay, let's say you were considerate of me. Then just tell me this. When did you buy it?"

"When I bought land for the slums I bought it together."

Khalif went back to his memory and looked suspicious.

"Wait a minute. You mean… All these stories were written in the letter I gave to Emilio? You said I could look at the letter, but I didn't see?"

"Yes."

"…"

Khalif looked wide with shock. If he had joined Elena when she said she was going to buy land in the slums for a good cause and do charity work, he would have benefited greatly too.

"Ah… That's why people have to be double-hearted."

"That's why I'm so blessed."

"You're getting meaner, aren't you?"

Elena grinned. She always felt it, but she had fun teasing Khalif

"In that sense, I'd like to share some blessings."

"Really? Do you have a big one?"

Khalif opened his eyes and looked at Elena.

Elena smiled around her mouth and presented him with a copy of her personal statement.

He was one of the great masters of the time who sponsored L through May.

"Diaz?"

"He's the genius architect next to Randol."

"What?"

Khalif was suspicious of his ears and couldn't take his eyes off the personal statement. He was astonished by the genius of Randol, so he was surprised to hear that he was a genius architect comparable to Randol.

"If Randol's new construction method or architectural style is suitable for cathedrals, palaces, and salons, Diaz has an architectural style that is optimized for building a basilica."

"Do you mean… a multi-purpose giant building for commercial purposes?"

"You've been studying architecture, haven't you? Yes, that's right. It's like a theater, a meeting hall, or a crowded shopping center."

Elena nodded. In the original history, Diaz mainly built secular buildings. It was a famous anecdote that Leabrick, impressed by the majesty of the aristocratic mansion he had been commissioned to build, entrusted him with the construction of the main street of Noblesse Street.

'It was a magnificent and grandeur building. Comparable to the Imperial Palace'

Diaz's buildings were truly an innovation. Huge buildings were rare except for cathedrals, imperial palaces, and noble residences because of their long construction period and difficult construction methods.

But Diaz broke that prejudice. Along the main street of Noblesse Street, a long, rectangular, multi-purpose giant building was built from side to side. By using the palladio architecture style, which emphasized the windows and listed the columns in the form of arches, to preserve grandeur and majesty comparable to the imperial palace, but when she first went there, she was overwhelmed by its size and couldn't close her mouth.

Elena dared to bet. The success of Noblesse Street was only possible because of Diaz's colossal architecture, which combined the dignity and majesty that the nobles valued. Elena was going to bring Diaz, the architect of the century, to Leabrick before he took it from her.

"He's a genius equal to Randol… I want to meet him soon."

The expectation of envy in Khalif's eyes was young. Elena remembered that look. It was his eyes when he found an outstanding artist while working as an art broker.

"There's no doubt about talent. His private life is chaotic."

"It's written like that here, though. 'Some women's eccentricity is a little fancy.'"

"It was also the arrangement of women's relationships that I took care of Diaz."

Elena sighed briefly. It was like a fly in the ointment. The only person May had complained that she couldn't do was this very Diaz, who had sponsored and taken care of the masters of the era in the name of L.

If they are struggling to make a living, she could help them, and if their health was not good, she could call a doctor to treat them. However, it was not easy to intercede in the disturbances caused by meeting this woman and that woman. It was a good thing that May had interceded, soothing the woman who was suffering from jealousy and betrayal along the way, otherwise the knife would have been too messy for her.

"Ha, the women's issue is really vague. I have a strong feeling that this friend is too much to handle."

"So I should tie him up so that he can't do anything else."

"How? Do you have a good idea?"

"You remember asking my father to buy you a large purchase of land around the salon?"

Buying the land in the slums first and then disposing of it was only the beginning. Elena's plan was to develop the area around the salons into a cultural center that would tow the line of Noblesse Street. A cultural center for a new era that would surpass Noblesse Street. If the construction of the salon was a prelude to this, then the welcoming of Diaz was the full-scale beginning of an invisible war.

This was the best way to develop the area of salon into the center of the capital city at once, while deteriorating Noblesse Street.

"Are you sure… on the land?"

"Doesn't he need something to focus on so that the man won't look the other way? I'll make him build a basilica at the site so that the word 'woman' will be erased from his head with around 1-2 years of hardships."

"You're really evil."

Khalif, who had been sympathetic for Diaz for a moment, hurried away. No matter what he did, no matter how dirty his history with women was, he was filled with anticipation at the thought of meeting Diaz, an architect with the innate qualities of an art broker.

Elena left the library and oriented herself to Raphael's studio room in the west annex. It would take at least several months, and at most several years, to complete one of these historical masterpieces. Since he painted in oil, he would paint on top of the paint as soon as it dried naturally, so he had to wait a long time for the paint to dry.

Elena searched for the painting room to coincide with the drying cycle of his oil painting. Somehow she had been put off learning to paint by Raphael, but she didn't mind too much. She had started it in the hope that Raphael would wake up from his slump.

'It feels good.'

Although it was still a pretense, Elena hoped that Raphael would. The tremendous concentration and passion for painting that he showed when he painted Elena's portrait, even his ability to observe and not miss a single wrinkle around her eyes. She was able to catch a glimpse of the true image of Raphael, the master of the times that she had seen in her past life.

Elena arrived in the studio with excitement.

"I'm here, senior."

She felt a sense of incompatibility as she went inside while saying hello. Unlike usual, the uncomfortable sense of incompatibility next to Raphael, who was greeted with a tense face, pretended to know the identity of this uncomfortable feeling of discomfort.

"Welcome. I've been waiting for you."

"Senior Ren."

At the moment, Elena's expression was distorted, unable to overcome the unpleasant feelings. She thought that the last thing completely cleared Ren's doubts, but why did he appear again? In addition, the studio was the only place where Elena could relax.

"Why are you standing there? Oh! Are you glad to see me in a different place?"

"Why are you here, senior?"

Elena asked Ren in an irritating way in front of her grinning face.

"Why I'm here. Where can't I come?"

"…"

"Don't mind me. I'm interested in art because I'm a bit cultured, unlike how I look."

Ren stood up from his chair and hummed around the studio, carrying his hands behind his back. Such things bothered her a lot to look at.

"Since when has he been here?"

"It's been awhile. He leaned on the chair and sighed because he was tired, and now he's doing this."

Raphael's expression was dark, as if he had suffered without knowing what was going on while Elena was away. He was in the same space as the most rambunctious person in the academy, but he would be lying if he didn't care.

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(T/N: "fly in the ointment" a minor irritation that spoils the success or enjoyment of something.)