The Princess Who Saw the Fall of Her Homeland Strives to Change Fate by Becoming the Cold Prince's Bride! - Chapter 28

“What is that? Even a child’s doodle would look better than that.”

“Well, this is the countryside. They probably can’t understand the high art of Ernstahl.”

Amalia and the other girls around her whispered as they laughed at Elze’s strange painting.

Elze started to feel down, thinking maybe it really was a bad idea—but then…

“Magnificent! This fresh imagination! Truly fantastic! As expected of Princess Maglier—this work breaks the mold in a way that deserves the highest praise!”

“…Huh?”

Elze was left speechless.

If she didn’t hear it wrong, didn’t Count Lux just praise her painting?

“This bold yet delicate use of color. I assume you used something different from normal paints. What exactly did you use?”

“Um, I used natural flowers and plants…”

“Fabulous! That kind of thinking is just what we need to break out of our rigid minds. It’s been ages since people first started using natural materials to make paints… Revisiting methods we take for granted may be how new art is born. The cycle of creation and destruction… I understand it well… Princess Elze’s noble ideals!”

Count Lux continued rambling excitedly all by himself.

Elze had no such noble ideals. She only used plants because she couldn’t get paint as a result of someone’s sabotage. But it seemed Count Lux really liked her idea.

“No progress without change! We must always imagine, always challenge—”

“C-Count Lux! We’re running out of time, so perhaps we should move on now…”

A lady-in-waiting, looking pale, rushed in to interrupt.

Seeing the desperation on her face gave Elze a sense of satisfaction.

(Hmph. That’s what you get for trying to play dirty.)

Pulled away by the lady-in-waiting, Count Lux cleared his throat with a little cough.

“Now then, let us move on to the overall evaluation.”

He looked around at the gathered bride candidates, smiling cheerfully.

“As expected from such carefully chosen princesses—these works are all very high quality, and I was truly impressed. The most wonderful one, though…”

His eyes turned to Gloria.

Gloria stood tall, as if it was only natural.

“Lady Gloria, daughter of Duke Liebner! Your beautiful and majestic piece represents Ernstahl itself! It ignites a fire of passion in our hearts. The brushwork is so detailed that one could mistake it for a work of a court painter! Truly amazing!”

(So in the end, he liked Gloria’s piece the most…)

Elze felt unsatisfied, but she could still accept Count Lux’s judgment.

She didn’t know how it was made or who painted it, but Gloria’s painting really was wonderful.

That was an undeniable fact.

“…Thank you very much, Count Lux. So then, the top prize for this selection goes to Lady Gloria of House Liebner —”

“Please wait, I haven’t finished speaking yet.”

“Huh?”

The room stirred at Count Lux’s interruption, stopping the woman who was trying to end the announcement.

Elze could only stare wide-eyed and watch.

“Indeed, Lady Gloria’s piece is wonderful. It honors tradition shaped by history and shows Ernstahl’s unshaken strength. However—”

He paused and then smiled slyly.

“Sometimes, it’s important to welcome a new wind—someone who brings bold change. Therefore, along with Lady Gloria, I also wish to award the top prize to Princess Elze of Maglier!”

“Wha—Whaaaaaaat!?”

Elze shouted stupidly when her name was suddenly called.

Count Lux confidently marched over to her.

“Princess Elze! Your fresh work set my heart on fire! I look forward to your future success in the next selections!”

“Th-thank you very much…”

“More importantly, you truly have artistic talent! When you fully pursue the path of art, please do call on me! I will rush to your side at once!”

“Uh, um, okay…”

As Elze stood confused, Count Lux grasped her hand in a firm handshake with a bright smile.

“Well then, I shall take my leave. May the future artists shine bright!”

Without anyone able to say a word, Count Lux left humming to himself.

Once everyone regained their senses, the room became noisy again.

“Congratulations, Princess Elze!”

“That painting really was amazing!”

Several of the bride candidates whom Elze had spoken to before offered kind words.

Some were even the same ones who had talked to her at the start of this selection process.

“Thank you, everyone. I’m really…!”

Mid-sentence, Elze suddenly felt a sharp stare, like something piercing her.

She turned quickly—and saw it.

(Yikes!)

It was Gloria, glaring at her like she was looking at the killer of her parents.

…Considering the sabotage Elze faced and the lady-in-waiting’s attitude, the whole selection was likely set up so that Gloria would win.

But Elze had acted cleverly, and that ruined Gloria’s chance at being the sole winner.

…Even if Gloria was angry about it, Elze honestly found it annoying.

(No matter how dirty the tricks you play, I’m not backing down.)

With that thought, Elze stared back at Gloria.

Gloria’s face twisted in irritation before she looked away with a sharp turn.

Elze took a quiet breath and then turned back to the other bride candidates with a smile.