Chapter 183 - An Art Prodigy

Two buds blooming together

In a clear summer they flourish

They are yet to finish their winter

But they believe in the love they cherish

Ramuja sat on the bench, his face had a tint of blush as he tried to hide his shame. His master carefully c.a.r.e.s.sed him while adorning his face with the flowers from the garden. Ramuja trembled whenever Aster looked satisfied with his decoration and then started painting again.

They were in his master's room, Ramuja sat on the balcony while Aster sat on a chair. Aster mixed the color and started painting again. Ramuja was ordered to stay silent until Aster finished his painting.

"M—Milord, I don't think I'm the right person to be painted…" Ramuja said sheepishly. Aster frowned, his brush's movement stopped. He tilted his head so he could see the shy Ramuja.

"What are you talking about? You are the best portrait to help me practice my painting skill right now, so stay put!" Aster commanded. Ramuja straightened his back again, but whenever Milord Aster observed him with his deep gaze, it melted Ramuja right away.

He felt ashamed with his body, because paintings in Golden Camellia commonly featured young, handsome men with lean bodies, or beautiful soft women with fair skin. 

'Milord has the money to hire a real model for his painting, but why me?'

'Why would someone want to paint a bear?'

Ramuja was secretly insecure with his body. He had so many muscles, it was good if it was subtle, but all his muscles were showing. He was big and burly, and his skin was glistening brown skin. He got praised by many maids in the palace because of his handsomeness and great body, but he felt even more uncomfortable.

Because he was only popular with the maid and peasants that came to Lantern Palace, it wasn't important for him. The most important was this man who painted him. He wanted to be attractive to his master.

He knew that being a servant meant his physical appearance wasn't the priority. But whenever Milord got swarmed with many of those handsome and beautiful graceful nobles, he started to feel inadequate.

'If only I was the shining golden knight for Milord.'

Aster noticed that Ramuja was starting to feel down. He frowned even more, because it would affect the ambience of his painting. He sighed and put on the brush, he approached Ramuja and asked, "What's in your mind?"

"N—Nothing, Milord," Ramuja shook his head and started to pose again. He felt ridiculous.

Aster held his hand and asked again, "What's in your mind? Tell me."

Ramuja conceded. He was never used to this casual touch from his master. Because every time his master touched him, he would shiver and jolt slightly. Out of greediness, Ramuja c.a.r.e.s.sed his master's hand with his thumb subtly.

"M—Milord, this servant is just… a bit distracted."

"Distracted of what? Because you are the object of my painting?"

"Yes, I feel like you should be painting someone better looking … you will waste your canvas and paint on someone like me. Do you want me to call someone in the palace?"

Aster sighed, he shook his head and said, "Ramuja, the object of a painting is the one you d.e.s.i.r.e. There is no such thing as a bad object, just like the old saying, beauty is in the eyes of the beholder."

Aster showed a smile as gentle as the morning breeze, he said, "You are my epitome of art, so be proud of it," Aster returned to his chair and started mixing colors again. Ramuja was stupefied, maybe it was his own insecurity that made him question his master's sincerity over and over.

He still had so many doubts in his heart, but for this one. Ramuja tried to fix the adorned flowers in his head and then posed like his master ordered. Two hours had passed, Ramuja still did not feel tired, in fact, after daily rigorous training with Irion, he was almost numb to fatigue like this, especially when it involved Milord.

"Done." Aster looked satisfied, he stared at the painting and then smiled at Ramuja, "The painting has been finished, you can move now."

Ramuja was nervous, he wondered how his master would paint him. He had certain expectations, knowing how prodigious his master was, he must've been really good in art too.

Ramuja approached Aster to see the painting, and… he was slightly disappointed.

'The late Grand Duchess was a very skilful artist, but Milord is…'

It was not bad, but compared to the Grand Duchess' paintings, it was like a baby learning to paint. His head was really small compared to his body, it looked like his head was shrinking, and his t.h.i.g.h and leg was unproportioned, and Milord was really bad at mixing colors too.

Aster was quite boastful with his painting, "Be grateful that you are the first object of my painting. I might surpass my mother's skill soon."

"M—Milord is amazing! I've never seen myself looking this amazing before!" Ramuja clapped his hand in excitement.

'A—At least it was created by him, that's the most important thing, right?' Ramuja thought in his heart.

Aster was really happy and proud after his servant praised him like that. People always said that art was not his forte, at least compared to his mother. They said he resembled his father more in talent, but with this, it would prove them how capable he really was.

"Well, since you like it, I'll give it to you after the paint dried completely."

Ramuja gulped, it was lucky that they lived here in Lantern Palace; if they lived in the Stormhill mansion, Jean and Dirk would surely laugh at him.

Aster noticed Ramuja's worried expression, "What is it again? Are you scared that you will tear the painting? Don't worry, I'll paint again for you. I can also hang this painting in the main hall."

"N—No!" Ramuja reacted wildly. "I—I mean, I… um… I will take it to my room."

"Oh?" Aster raised his brows mischievously, "I didn't know that my servant is a narcissist. Gaum also did that, but he has seven of his paintings in his own room, and then lines of painting of him and his portrait in the corridor."

"I—I just want to appreciate your art myself, Milord."

Aster chuckled, "Fine then, you can take it."

Ramuja took a deep relieved breath, he needed to save some of his non-existent dignity first. If this horrible painting was showcased in the main hall, then everyone would see it. They might take it as a new kind of art if Milord stayed silent, but if Milord seriously boasted his painting in front of the people, then the one who would be embarrassed was Ramuja himself.

'A—At least, he only showed it to me—"

"Milord, I've prepared everything for your eighteenth birthday tomorrow," someone barged in Aster's room. Aster was used to do this because this man was his trusted subordinate, Irion.

"Good, all the invitations have been spread?"

"Yes, Milord."

Aster smiled and raised his hand to pat Irion's head, "Good dog."

Irion smiled joyfully. Aster then pointed at the painting near the balcony, "I painted Ramuja, don't you think I can surpass my mother's paintings?"

Irion observed the ugly painting of Ramuja in front of him. He was about to burst in laughter, but it would hurt his master, he coughed a few times and said, "It is really good, Milord! I believe it's better if you hang it in the main hall!"

"I know right, it would look really good!" Aster agreed.

Ramuja anxiously tried to persuade his master, "Milord, the object of the painting is me, can I have it only for myself?"

Aster laughed and gave the dried out painting to Ramuja, "Keep it well."

"Yes, Milord, thank you for your generosity."

Aster smiled, Ramuja and Irion finally left the room. When the door was closed, Aster returned to his grim expression and called one of his shadow guards, "How is the Crown prince? Did he return intact?"

"Pardon our incompetence, Milord. Yes, Crown Prince Charles is going closer to Dionde City main port."

"If he is way too close to Dionde City, then you shouldn't attack him anymore. Because It might spark some suspicion that the new Grand Duke and Crown Prince had some discord with each other," Aster instructed.

"What would you do when he returns, Milord."

"Then he might attend my birthday party tomorrow, we don't know what kind of plan is in his head, but I have a hunch that he definitely will not let me go easily. Try to distract him as much as possible."

"Understood, Milord," the shadow guard said and he disappeared.

Aster gritted his teeth, Because whenever he read the report of Charles, there was nothing but praises and achievements. It was a happy thing for Golden Camellia to have an amazing Crown Prince. But to Aster? It only gave him a crisis.

'At least I could relax a little by painting Ramuja, I'm glad he likes it. He should be impressed by how talented I am!'