Chapter 88
I had been looking up at the painting when I turned my gaze toward Estelle.
Art: 19 (+3)
Sensitivity: 63 (+3)
Stress: 43 (-5)
Estelle seemed lost in thought after hearing what Sial and I had said.
She rested her chin on her tiny, fern-like hands, furrowing her brows slightly as she concentrated on something.
It was then.
“Someone actually thinks my first painting is this good! I’m touched!”
“Kyaaah!”
A huge, fluffy something suddenly popped out from beside me, accompanied by an excited voice.
Startled, I leapt and clung to Claude beside me.
“W-what… is that? A person?”
I squinted carefully and turned my head.
There stood a short man with a massive afro and a beard.
“Oh my! Did I startle you? Sorry about that.”
He tapped his head with his fist, winked, and stuck out his tongue playfully.
Despite his aged appearance, his demeanor was mischievous.
Only then did I manage to calm my racing heart.
But that peace didn’t last long.
“Eek!”
I screamed again at the solid chest right in front of me.
At the same time, I realized who I had been clinging to.
Hurriedly, I released my arms and stepped away from Claude, apologizing for my sudden outburst.
“…S-sorry. I got startled.”
“It’s alright. You…”
“Reina, are you okay?”
Just as Claude was about to say something, Estelle approached and asked me.
Stress: 49 (+6)
“Huh? Y-yes.”
Distracted by the rise in Estelle’s stress level, I didn’t notice her at first.
With a worried expression, she held my hand and slid between Claude and me, taking her place.
‘What… is with that cute face?’
I knew it was silly in this situation, but seeing Estelle’s worried little frown made me feel glad I had been startled. I held her hand tightly.
While I was completely captivated by Estelle’s cuteness, Sial, who had been hesitating, stepped forward to greet the man.
“Hello, Professor Bob. Thank you for inviting us.”
“Oh! So it’s you! Sial! I’m glad you could come.”
Wait… that’s Professor Bob?
I widened my eyes. I hadn’t expected to meet the very person who organized this exhibition and was also Estelle’s academy professor.
At the same time, it suddenly made sense that he was the one teaching painting classes at the academy.
‘So all artists really are eccentric.’
His appearance aside, his behavior alone confirmed it—nothing about him was ordinary.
While I was admiring Bob, he greeted Claude warmly.
“Claude! It’s been a long time! I’m so glad to see you. I invited you, but I figured you were too busy to come.”
“It’s been a while, Professor.”
“Haha, just call me Bob. In the world of art, age and rank are useless, you see!”
He grasped Claude’s hand and shook it up and down.
Then, as if remembering something, he exclaimed and let go.
“Oh, now that I think about it, I wanted to introduce you to someone… Haha, seeing you together, I guess I don’t need to explain.”
Bob approached Sial, resting a hand on his shoulder, then led him over to Claude.
“Sial is one of my promising students. I hope you can encourage him to become my disciple.”
Bob winked at Claude.
At first glance, it seemed playful, but the unblinking intensity in his eye showed he was serious.
Sial, though unable to see Bob’s face directly, sensed the intensity and offered an awkward smile.
“By the way, did you come alone, both of you?”
“Oh, no!”
Sial shook his head quickly, breaking free from Bob’s grip.
Bob then looked around, tilting his head this way and that.
“I see… then, who’s your partner…”
His excited gaze landed on Estelle.
At that moment, Bob’s face registered surprise and displeasure—a stark contrast to how he had welcomed Sial.
Estelle bowed her head slightly.
Bob cleared his throat awkwardly.
“Ah, Miss Estelle. And the lady beside you… I don’t believe we’ve met?”
He shifted his weight, pointed at me with his finger, and gestured for an introduction.
“Hello, my name is Reina. I’m Estelle’s guardian.”
“Oh… is that so? Estelle is indeed a talented student. Though it seems she lacks artistic talent… what a pity.”
Bob gave Estelle a disapproving look, scanning her from head to toe.
‘What?! What does he mean by that about Estelle!’
Sure, our Estelle might not be the next prodigy, but she’s amazing in so many ways!
I glared at Bob, but didn’t dare voice my thoughts.
He was a professor. A Korean with Confucian principles—I couldn’t be so bold in front of an educator.
“Miss Reina, did you say you liked this painting?”
“Yes. I’m not knowledgeable about art, but this painting immediately caught my eye.”
“Hmm… you have an eye for art, unlike Estelle.”
Bob stroked his chin and murmured as if to himself, staring at me with surprise.
Then a quiet voice spoke from nearby.
“It’s fine. I don’t know much about art either.”
It was Claude’s voice from a distance, as Estelle stepped in between.
“What do you mean, Claude! You just never had time. If circumstances were different, you’d be a great painter too…!”
Bob shook his head vigorously, trying to refute Claude’s words.
At that moment, I realized everything.
The way he reacted when I said I liked the painting.
The difference in his demeanor toward Sial and Estelle.
Even the words he used with Claude.
‘This guy…’
Taken together, he was full of pride, bordering on narcissism, with a strong desire for recognition and authority.
It explained why he had looked displeased at Estelle, though it didn’t justify it.
Bob cleared his throat awkwardly, then continued.
“Anyway… since Miss Reina likes the painting, I’ll personally explain it. About this painting…”
Just then, someone called out loudly, cutting him off.
“Estelle! Sial!”
And I was startled.
A sky-blue shadow dashed across the room.
Crash!
It landed on Estelle with a loud thud.
I was too shocked to speak. The speed and force of the impact sent a small gust even indoors, making me freeze.
“Hey! Who—!”
Professor Bob shouted first, clearly furious at the reckless intruder at his exhibition.
He was about to scold the person, face red with anger, but his words were interrupted again.
“Really! I said no running!”
Bob’s frown deepened as his scolding was cut off twice. Embarrassed and frustrated, he clenched his fists.
However, when he saw who had interrupted, his frown instantly turned into a bright smile.
“Oh! It’s Miss Havoni and… Aris!”
Aris?
I snapped my mouth shut and turned quickly.
A man with black hair, resembling Claude, and a rugged appearance was panting heavily.
It was Aris, whom I had met once before.
