Volume 3 - CH 93

After talking with Darnell, Alme immediately visited the painting studio. A short walk from his house, there was a one-story building in the back of the street.

She rang the doorbell on the front door.

A woman with black rimmed glasses greeted Alme. Her dark blue hair was unkempt and tied back in a low bun.

“…Hello. Master Vestel is out of the studio now…is there something I can help you with?”

She spoke in a low voice with a downcast look on her face. It was a modest impression, or rather, it’s a bad way to put it, but her voice sounds a bit morose.

If Ena and Jayla have “yang” attributes, this woman definitely has a “yin” vibe.

“I apologize for the sudden visit. I was referred to this studio by Mr. Beatos, a book restorer, and I thought I would consult with a painter about a commission… but it looks like it would be better to come back another time.”

The owner of this painting studio, with whom she refers to as ‘Master Vestel’ is a male painter who has been collaborating with Darnell for many years.

The woman with the glasses muttered quickly.

“Oh, no…he was just in the neighborhood on a quick errand and he should be right back. Would you like to wait inside ……?”

“Wouldn’t that inconvenience you?”

“It’s okay ……, rather, I’m sorry for the inconvenience …… I’m the one who has to deal with the customers …….”

The woman hunched her back and apologized. She is taller and thinner than Alme and her apron was stained with paint.

Inviting Alme inside, she introduced herself.

“My name is Tania…I am studying under Master Vestel.”

“My name is Alme Titty. Nice to meet you.”

While exchanging greetings, Tania guided her to the back of the studio.

In the painting studio, several apprentices are studying under the instruction of Mr. Vestel.

Alme looked around the corridor of the studio. There were many paintings displayed amongst the tools placed in a clutter.

It was like an exhibition hall for paintings, and she felt somewhat excited. Letting this feeling take over, she spoke to Tania in a light tone.

“Miss Tania, you also paint, right? Is your painting displayed here?”

“There is one…in case you were wondering.”

“Oh, which one?”

“Please don’t look for mine…I’m not good at all…really, not at all, not at all.”

With her face downcast even more, Tania quickened her steps.

(Huh…? Did I say something I shouldn’t have…?)

Seeing Tania’s reaction, Alme instantly broke out in a cold sweat. It seems she’s had made a faux pas.

The place she was guided to was the workroom. Several large desks are set up in a large open space.

Around the desk, painting materials, buckets with paint brushes stuck in them, easels, wooden frames, and canvases line the floor. It is a lively scene typical of an atelier.

Like Tania, the young people studying under Vestel are painting.

Alme was ushered into the reception area at the end of the room and took a seat.

“… I’ll serve you tea. Please wait.”

“Thank you for your hospitality.”

Tania drooped her shoulder once more and slunk out of the room.

So while waiting, Alme turned her attention to the studio casually, and then she heard it. The whispers of the other apprentices.

“Tania’s a real receptionist now.”

“Isn’t that girl better at making tea than she is at painting?’

“It would be better if I had someone to do the chores, so it would be easier for her to do them. I can leave all the cleaning up to her.”

The apprentices were giggling…Now Alme knew why Tania was hunching over meekly.

(Miss Tania, you said yourself that you are not good at painting, but…there is some kind of hierarchy among painters. It’s a tough world…)

Alme didn’t know for sure, but she guessed there is a ranking system in the workplace depending on the level of skill. It’s a common story in any occupation.

There is no way that Alme, an outsider, can talk about it, so she pretended as if she didn’t hear anything.

Soon after, Tania returned with a cup of tea.

After putting down the tea, she brought out some files from a nearby shelf. She spread it out on the table and recommended it to Alme.

“…to pass the time. This is a collection of works by the artists enrolled in the studio…This is Master Vestel’s and this is our work…”

When Alme received several thick files and opened them one by one, she was delighted to see a number of wonderful paintings.

Paintings of people in heavy pigment, realistic fruit paintings that look just like the real thing, and paintings of animals detailed down to the last strand of fur.

As she flipped through the portfolio, Alme was impressed.

“Wow, it’s amazing! The artists are so good! I’m sorry that I can only give the impression from an amateur point of view, but… everyone is quite talented.”

“Everyone is good at it, isn’t it… Well, the teacher is a natural.”

“Huh? Miss Tania’s portfolio is…”

Each file is marked with the artist’s name. She suddenly realized that she couldn’t find Tania’s. – and then she saw that there was one file left on the shelf.

Noticing Alme’s gaze, Tania sighed and brought it to her.

“…this is mine.”

“May I see it?”

“Go ahead…”

She received the file and flipped it open. Immediately afterwards, Alme couldn’t help but shout.

“Wow! This is…!”

Tania’s paintings were very different from those of others.

People, food, and animals are drawn in cute, doodle style. The colors are vivid and the painting really pops.

Among the portfolios that are full of detailed and realistic drawings, only her file stands out.

However, contrary to the bright painting, Tania had a dark face.

“…… sorry …… for the terrible inconvenience ……”

“No, no, no! It’s wonderful! This round creature is so cute.”

“Um, it’s a cat, in case you were wondering….Is it cute?”

“Yes, very nice! Can you do chicks or something with this kind of design?”

“Uh, yes…”

Taking out paper and pen from the side, Tania smoothly drew a chick. It’s a plump, round chick.

It was just like a picture of Shirotaka-chan ice cream. Alme clapped her hands and was delighted.

“Cute! The perfect little chick! This is the best! This is exactly the type of design I was looking for, but is Miss Tania available for a commission?”

“What? Me!”

Alme’s excited voice and the voice of the surprised Tania resounded in the workroom.

When she turned her eyes, the other apprentices were looking at Alme with dubious faces.

Lowering her voice a little, Alme spoke about the content of the request.

“I own an ice cream shop – an ice dessert shop, and I wanted to ask you to do some illustrations for my new shop.”

“What? You mean all these…?”

“The shop signboard, the picture attached to the menu, and the creation of the shop’s mascot and logo—oh, by the way, the mascot should be a round white bird like this, as much as you can.”

“My drawing! Such a doodle-like chick! At least make it a little more detailed and realistic–“

“Oh, no! I like this cute style! Because I like yuru-chara.”

“Yuru-chara…?”

“It’s a mascot character. I think it will be more popular if it has a cute design. Miss Tania’s drawing would be the best for us to work with.”

“I can accept the commission…but, no, is my drawing really okay!?”

Before Alme knew it, Tania had looked up and was listening to the story. Her cheeks were red as if she was embarrassed. Finally, Alme was able to look her squarely in the face.

Her rounded back straightened and her messy hair was swept to the side. Tania’s appearance was that of an elegant and beautiful older sister.

Unexpectedly, she had become acquainted with a good painter. Alme clapped her hands together heartily in delight.

A man approached Alme and Tania. He is one of the apprentices who was secretly talking and laughing earlier.

A young painter held out a piece of paper to Alme. The paper had a very realistic drawing of a chick on it.

“Customer, if you’re asking for a commission, please ask me, not Tania. There are other people here who are good at drawing. You don’t have to choose an artist out of pity.”

The man looked down at Tania with a smug expression on his face.

She didn’t know the circumstances in the studio, but Alme chose Tania’s drawing based purely on its design and was exactly what she was looking for.

“Well, this picture of the chick is also very nice…I’m sorry, but I still want to ask Miss Tania. Her round chick is lovely.”

“Hey… are you serious? This doodle!? It’s not even worth paying the commission.”

When the man insisted, Tania hunched over again…Alme was getting somewhat angry at the man.

Alme had found a good painter, but she didn’t want Tania’s spirits to be dampened. If she didn’t take the commission, Alme would be in trouble trying to find a similar artist.

Besides, even listening from the side, he is clearly being rude to Tania.

Contrary to Tania, who turned her head down, Alme raised her head. She looked up at the man at the side of the table and gave her opinion.

“This may be presumptuous coming from an amateur, but her drawings are of great value, at least to me.”

“Ah, well, if you’re not familiar with art, you might not be able to tell if it’s good or bad. Out of respect for you, I’d like to say that when you look at her paintings objectively, they’re of low artistic value. I don’t think I would pay for this….”

“I’m not looking for a work of art, I’m just looking for a painting that fulfills my wishes.”

When Alme retorted quickly, the man looked blatantly miffed.

–Just then

A clapping sound was heard at the entrance to the studio. A man came in while clapping his hands.

With glasses and a mustache, he is a slim, dandy gentleman.

Tania whispered “Master Vestel”. He seems to be the owner of this atelier, the painter, Mr. Vestel.

Vestel admonished his apprentice in a reluctant, calm voice.

“I’m sorry I overheard your exchange. –Now, now, boys, painting a picture according to the customer’s request is also a part of an artist’s skills. And if the client is satisfied with the painting, then the painting is of great value. In this context, Tania’s chubby chick is probably more valuable than a realistic chick.”

After being admonished by his master, the male apprentice left the table in silence with an unsatisfied look on his face. He seemed to be going off somewhere to sulk.

Toward his back, Vestel said in a loud voice.

“Oh, you, please bring me some tea too.”

“… Teacher, it’s Tania’s job to make tea. Why me?”

“Tania received a commission, didn’t she? I thought the rule of the studio was that chores were done by whoever was available”

“…”

The young man entered the studio kitchen with a bitter look on his face.

Vestel quickly took a seat in the reception area in an easygoing manner.

Surrounding Tania, who had a blank expression, the meeting began.