Raising my Fiancè with Money - Chapter 46

The Art-Loving Group

TL: Jasmine

The nobles scanned Karhan not too far away. Contrary to what they knew, his vicious spirit was dampened. Perhaps because he was wearing bright clothes, they felt less pressure. After the check, the elderly came up first and pretended like they were just noticing him,

“Isn’t this the Young Duke of Evantheon?”

Karhan did not know who they were except that they were elder nobles, so he bowed his head slightly

“It seems like I’ve lived for a long time. I never thought I’d see the Young Duke in a place like this.”

An old man sarcastically said. It was an attitude that screamed he didn’t realise a person he considered farthest from the art world would visit the museum

Karhan’s reputation in aristocratic society was very bad. In particular, the elders looked down on Karhan No matter how much of a competent successor he was to the Dukedom, he was too stiff and cold.

Rather than being friendly, he only gave a scary look when they talked to him. Some weak old noble people fainted after receiving Karhan’s attention. Since then, they have treated Karhan as a villain.

Karhan could tell without asking that they hated him The number of people who still hated him were as

many as there were stars in the sky. His attitude seemed to be the problem.

Because he didn’t speak well, he was in a lot of trouble whenever someone talked to him. If he was carefully choosing an answer, everyone would run away in the meantime. It was difficult to know how to respond if they showed hostility even before he even started talking like now.

What would Lilia have done? After much consideration, Karhan smiled as he practiced with Lilia.

Then the elderly flinched noticeably. An awkward smile with only one corner of mouth raised made Karhan look like an arrogant person. He even looked like a perfect villain with a sheath on his waist. The nobles exchanged looks with each other.

‘What did he come to destroy the art museum?’

Not a chance. Here, art-loving members will protect it.

“I know what this is…….!”

The old nobles took a deep breath and fiercely stared, at Karhan. It looked as if they were looking at a mercenary who pushed out of the redevelopment area.

“We realise what you’re up to, how dare you……”

Their eyes burned even more as someone muttered. Karhan’s expression returned to its original state,

Isn’t this right?

He thought the success rate had gone up a lot these days….. He thought he had to practice more.

“So why did you come here?”

“…… I was invited.”

“No way!”

The elderly complained that it was ridiculous. Tession, who they didn’t notice, opened his mouth.

“We are invited guests by Count Bloden.”

When he mentioned Count Bloden, they murmured. Cliff Bloden was the director of the museum and the chairman of an art-loving group. An old nobleman, unable to believe the words, asked, pointing to an art,

“Do you know what that painting is?”

Of course, they asked with an attitude that he wouldn’t know. Karhan, who looked up and checked the picture, opened his mouth,

“That painting was painted 300 years ago, and the artist is unknown. The motif of the work is known as the kingdom that has already fallen, but historians…….”

Karhan explained what he heard from Cliff and what he knew without spilling any spit. The low voice continued endlessly, and the nobles who were listening with their arms folded slowly loosened their arms.

“……. That’s all I know.”

When Karhan’s words were finally over, the surroundings were quiet for a moment. The elderly were looking at him with their mouths open as if they couldn’t believe it.

“Did I make a mistake?”

At their reaction, Karhan carefully asked. However, the elderly only looked away as if embarrassed, Karhan’s explanation was so good that they thought they had heard a lecture.

They thought he was an ignorant swordsman, but Evantheon was so knowledgeable……? At that moment, when their lips twitched as if they couldn’t admit it,

“Karhan…..?”

At the familiar voice, Karhan turned his head. Lilia was standing there.

Lilia heard that the exhibition prepared by her father was opened. She remembered that in the early days, she was very busy, so she didn’t visit on purpose. It had been a while, so she decided to go now.

After leaving the mansion, Lilia arrived in front of the largest museum in the capital. Visitors to the museum ranged from aristocrats, commoners, children and the elderly. All of this was the result of Cliff Blodon’s efforts.

Ten years ago, large art galleries and theatres used to restrict commoners from entering. However, Cliff always emphasized that art is open to everyone

In order to carry out his will, he opened a large art gallery that commoners could enter where as before only the nobility could enter. However, they received a small entrance fee because there were many cases of abuse after opening for free.

Lilia paused as she tried to go inside. A woman was standing in the corner of the building entrance. The woman in old clothes rolled the coin with her palm

and only looked at the entrance of the museum. The admission fee seemed to be burdensome.

In terms of the value and number of works on display, the admission fee was very low. But it wasn’t like that for everyone. It could have been burdensome enough to be considered a luxury for someone. Lilia, who was agonizing over it, headed to the staff who helped her enter.

To put it simply, the employee nodded. And it was the moment when the woman turned around after much consideration.

“The 1000th guest is free of charge.”

The woman turned her head at the employee’s words. She looked around and quickly approached the staff.

“Am I… Am I the 1,000th one?”

“Yes, that’s right. Congratulations.”

The staff opened the door with a big smile. The woman entered after saying thank you several times with an excited face. Lilia, who was watching the scene, also took a slow step.

Entering the museum, Lilia looked around for her father. She couldn’t see him and thought he was very busy.

“There’s nothing we can do.”

She wondered if she should ask the staff to tell her father that she came. Lilia looked at the paintings meanwhile with Frances and Malek. It ranged from old masterpieces to foreign works. It was said that Cliff had been preparing for months and that it was amazing.

As she watched quietly, she remembered Karhan and remembered him carrying an art book on his side last

time.

“I should have sent an invitation.”

She wanted to make this suggestion but forgot. Lilia thought she’d send him an invitation as soon as she got home later.

After going around the first floor, she went up to the second floor. While watching the works, Frances covered his mouth with his palm. Frances, who was yawning, made an excuse when he made eye contact with Lilia.

“It’s not because I’m bored…….”

Frances, who was rolling his eyes, confessed,

“As expected, I don’t know much about art.”

“That’s believable.”

Compared to the first floor, the second floor consisted of profound works.

Starting with abstract paintings, they expressed history, politics, philosophy, and ideology, so it was as visible as it was studied.

(T/N: as mentioned earlier, those are esoteric works, the more you study about a specific field the more you will understand the works displayed in this floor)

Lilia, who was looking at the painting, suddenly felt sad. Obviously, it was a great painting, but most of them were foreign works or old ones. The recent works were similar overall but lacked eye-catching power.

– It would be nice if there was one amazing rookie painter who showed up in the art world. It’s rotten because it’s been stagnant now.

(T/N: stagnant and rotten are used for the art world, what he is trying to say is the art world has become too dull and

rotten because people wont go earn money more than working for the passion)

She could see why her father lamented. Lilia walked a little further inward. There were familiar elderly people huddled together. And in the meantime, she found a man standing tall.

“Karhan…..?”

Lilia called him without realizing it. Those who were there turned their heads and looked at Lilia.

“Oh, isn’t this the Bloden Young Lady?”

Flowers bloomed on the faces of the elderly who recognized Lilia’s face. Lilia realised who they were. They were members of the art-loving group.

“It’s been a while since the last dinner.”

“How is the Count doing?”

They rushed to say hello. Thanks to having a father who is the director of the museum, the old people thought of Lilia as cute as their granddaughter.

“I’m happy to see you after a long time, too.”

Lilia smiled brightly. With that angelic smile, the elderly laughed happily. While being greeted, Lilia looked up at Karhan with a subtle face.

When their eyes met, Karhan’s expression, which looked as if he was in a difficult situation, loosened. He looked like a puppy who was happy to see her after a long time. As his blunt face softened, the old nobles pursed their lips in surprise.

There was a moment of silence. It was an awkward and uncomfortable atmosphere. In the meantime, Lilia roughly grasped the situation. It seems that something happened between the elders and Karhan,

The old nobles looked at each other’s faces. They nodded their heads as if it was okay. They seemed to believe that Lilia would be on their side. A nobleman glanced at Karhan and opened his mouth,

“Hmm, it was said that the Young Duke was invited by Count Bloden to attend the exhibition, but honestly, it is hard to believe.”

……father? Lilia blinked slowly.

“So we were talking for a while to see if that was true, Because we have a duty to protect this place…….”

If someone from the outside were to hear that, it would feel like karhan was here to smash the museum. It’s not like he is in a place he can’t come

to…

Lilia looked up at Karhan, who was treated as a villain. He didn’t even think about getting angry because he was so gentle, and he just listened. Lilia approached Karhan closely. And crossed her arms with him affectionately.

The nobleman, who had been talking harshly, stopped talking. Everyone looked at Lila and Karhan alternately with bewildered eyes.

“Young Lady Bloden…..?”

“I’m listening, so keep talking.”

“No, what are you two…I didn’t know you both were close…?”

It sounded like, “No way.” What was this combination of Lilia, who has been like a cute granddaughter to them since her childhood, and Evantheon, the Young, Duke who did not have good conduct usually…

They had a face that clearly showed they couldn’t believe their eyes. Lilia even stamped the seal.

(T/N: It’s an idiom like confirming something unbelievable in a dramatic way)

“We are lovers.”

Boom, as if a thunderbolt had fallen on their heads, and the faces of the nobility were completely cracked. The old nobles looked at Lilia in disbelief as if they could not understand it.