Saved By The Mad Duke
Chapter 180: The Artist

Chapter 180: The Artist

The royal banquet hall shimmered with luxury and flamboyance. Adorned with opulent tapestries and gleaming chandeliers, it stood as a majestic testament to the grandeur of the event meticulously orchestrated by Lady Felicity Tarran.

Every corner exuded an aura of elegance and sophistication, from the intricately carved marble pillars to the plush velvet draperies cascading down the walls. A soft glow emanated from countless candles nestled in gilded candelabras, casting a warm ambiance over the gathering.

Tables decorated with exquisite floral arrangements and glistening silverware awaited the esteemed guests, each setting meticulously arranged to perfection. The air was filled with the sweet melodies of performing musicians, their enchanting tunes weaving through the hall, uplifting spirits and setting the mood for the charitable affair.

Melania took a good look around the hall and couldn’t help but furrow her eyebrows. Such unnecessary opulence was clearly contradicting the noble cause of the event, and no matter how hard she tried to overlook the pretentiousness of the occasion, the princess’s heart still failed to let the matter go.

Her irritation also stemmed from the fact that she arrived at the hall completely alone, which immediately attracted a lot of unwanted attention from the curious, piercing glances of other nobles.

’I guess it is fortunate that the event is taking place in the royal palace. It would have been even more embarrassing if I had to go solo all the way to someone else’s manor. Here, at least, I can pretend that the Crown Prince is somewhere in the palace and will join me shortly without attracting pitiful or judgmental looks.’

"Your Highness!" Lady Tarran waved her hand, hidden inside a thin lace glove, and joyfully trotted towards Melania, her other hand wrapped around a tall glass of red wine. "I am so glad I was able to find you in the sea of all these people! So, what do you think about this gathering so far?"

The word "little" irked the princess like an annoying bug, but she quickly dismissed the negative emotions and faked a friendly smile.

"Everything looks very beautiful and dignified, Lady Felicity. You have done an amazing job."

"Thank you, Your Highness. Your approval means the world to me."

Placing her glass on the silver tray held by one of the passing servants, Felicity assessed the princess’s expression and asked again,

"Are you excited about the upcoming auction? It is about to begin!"

"Yes, as a matter of fact, I am."

"Oh? May I ask what item got you so interested, Your Highness?"

"Of course," Melania nodded, "I want to acquire an oil painting of the ocean."

Lady Tarran’s face beamed with a wide grin; the princess’s reply clearly made her feel excited.

"You have made a wonderful choice, Your Highness! But what shall I do now?" Suddenly, her lips pouted playfully as she whined, "I had my eyes on that painting too, but now that I know you want it, I’m afraid I won’t be able to outbid you!"

Melania failed to appreciate the lady’s childish act and only smiled awkwardly at her. Not impressed by the princess’s reaction, Felicity grabbed her from under the shoulder and started walking towards the auction hall, her voice almost singing as she continued,

"You know, Your Highness, since my family is directly involved in sponsoring these students, I have personally met everyone who is going to present today... I must confess, the student who painted that picture is quite a looker."

Melania widened her eyes at the young woman’s outrageous remark and whispered with a hint of warning in her voice,

"Lady Felicity, please! This is highly inappropriate!"

Lady Tarran giggled into her gloved hand and shook her shoulders, her face acquiring a rather mischievous look.

"Just saying! As you know, if you manage to outbid everyone, you get to meet the person and talk to them if you want to find out more about them or their art. So, do not discard this opportunity so quickly. Not many noblemen can boast such looks. It won’t hurt to simply have a glance, right? After all, you pay for it, don’t you?"

She then leaned closer to the princess and added,

"And if you decide to sponsor them separately, then you get to meet them more often. They cannot refuse. It’s all for money."

Melania was speechless. Felicity’s blunt words were shocking, and it made her wonder if the Averian twins were right and all the noble ladies had lovers of such sort. Simply imagining it was repulsive. Was that what people called charity? Paying struggling young talents to perform ’services’ they couldn’t find elsewhere and tossing them away once their needs were fulfilled?

She found the whole matter sickening and was now debating whether she wanted to continue with the auction at all.

Unfortunately, she did not have much time to change her mind as the guests were called inside the auction hall because the bidding was about to commence.

Two dozen nobles entered the smaller room, took their designated seats, and grabbed their assigned bidding paddles, prepared to look through the items that awaited their money. As a member of the higher nobility, Melania’s chair was at the front. Once Lady Tarran made sure the princess was all set, she winked at her and waved her bidding paddle while walking toward her own seat.

The auction opened with a very luxurious ball gown made by a young woman known in the art school for her impressive talent at sewing and embroidery. Her talents were indeed amazing, as the mere view of the dress she made provoked a whole war among the noble ladies who desired to have it in their possession.

More incredible items followed—sculptures and pottery, carpets and tapestries, swords and armor, and lastly, the marvelous paintings.

As the painting chosen by Melania was finally brought onto the stage, the princess was instantly mesmerized by its beauty. The artist’s innate talent was evident in every brushstroke and every choice of color; it was a masterpiece that immediately captured everyone’s attention in the depth of its beauty and skill.

Just as Felicity had predicted, Melania was impossible to outbid, and once the last persistent bidder finally gave up, the host announced that the painting was sold to the royal princess.

Following the rules, when the winner was announced, it was time to invite the one responsible for the creation of such a masterpiece. Gesturing to someone hidden behind the left curtain of the stage, the host offered the crowd a wide smile as if preparing them for what was to come next.

With rather timid steps, the artist finally made his awaited appearance, leaving every single person present in awe.