Chapter 14
A few days have passed since the project to build my father’s solid foundation was successfully completed.
Coroi plant always grows well except in winter, but these days, right after the rainy season, the stems are the strongest period, so my father suddenly became busy.
Since he went out early in the morning and came back late at night, I had more time to be alone.
My father was very worried about me saying he couldn’t be with me, but on the contrary, I was very happy because I had freedom of action.
Even on a day like today, I can do what I have to do without having to explain it out loud to my father.
I was waiting for Alpheo on the stairs of the main building, which was quiet because no one was going around.
"Alpheo! Here it is!"
Alpheo, looking around at my voice, found me and ran over there.
"Miss!"
Alpheo’s hand, approaching with a happy smile, held an object wrapped in cloth.
"That’s it!"
The size of the sculpture done by Alpheo was actually quite large than I thought.
It was the volume that did not decrease from the log that was first given as material.
It would mean that the sculpting went smoothly without any discarded parts.
I haven’t seen the finished version yet, but I’ve already tried to see laughter coming out.
"Can I see it?"
“Yes, of course!”
In my words, Alpheo put the pieces down in a suitable place and carefully peeled the fabric off.
Whether they used what was at home, or rough cloth as this fabric fell through from the sculpture, and the wooden statue appeared.
"Wow...."
I couldn’t take my eyes off the statue for a while.
The material was only a common wood.
The common wood now reborn as a work of art in Alpheo’s hands.
I did a good job entrusting it to this future genius artist!
When I said nothing and looked at the wooden pole, Alpheo couldn’t.
“Are you sure you don’t like it?”
"Yeah? No! I don’t like it! The pieces are so pretty I forgot to talk for a second. Thanks, Alpheo!"
When I spoke while holding Alpheo’s right hand with both hands, a smile appeared on his face full of freckles.
"Thank you for giving me a chance, Miss. I really wanted to tell you this."
"Thank you to me? Is there anything I should be thankful for?"
If Alpheo hadn’t taken care of the sculpture, I wouldn’t be able to give a gift like this to my grandfather.
But Alpheo shook his head at my words.
“It’s difficult for me to get these good quality logs. It was an invaluable experience to sculpt with good materials.”
Alpheo’s hand, with calluses, stroked the statue.
It was as if it was reminiscent of the process of work that was fun, and there was a soft smile spreading around my mouth.
“And you trusted me.”
Alpheo’s gaze and my gaze met.
"Do you know what this statue looks like?"
At my question, Alpheo flinched as if he had caught a secret, but nodded softly.
"My father saw me doing sculpture in the room. At first, I was very upset. I knew who this woman was, and did I dare make a sculpture?"
Ah, Alpheo’s father would have known my grandmother.
“Although you understood that it was a young lady who told you to make a wooden statue.”
The cloth that Alpheo had taken off was again covered over the statue and carefully wrapped.
It was a touch that seemed to treat a treasure.
"Right. This statue is of a deceased grandmother. And I’m going to give this wooden statue Alpheo made to my grandfather as a gift.”
Alpheo’s fingertips, who had just been tying up the ends of the cloth, trembled.
"Also ...."
Alpheo nodded a couple of times and said to me again.
"Thank you, Miss. For believing that I can make it."
And I could see that Alpheo’s eyes were changing somewhere.
His eyes were shining with guns as if he had a strong goal.
"I used to help my dad and do carpentry sometimes, but now I’m really old enough to start working a job. I have a lot of trouble these days."
Alpheo, scratching his head, laughed darkly.
"Neither father nor mother should put down their hobbies like pieces and learn work in earnest.........."
"So you made the decision?"
I asked carefully.
Originally, Alpheo lived as a carpenter for more than ten years as it is and later gained recognition as a sculptor.
What if I said, ’I’ve done enough sculpting now, so it’s better to focus on my life.’
I was scared.
But my worries disappeared with Alpheo’s refreshing smile.
"I enjoy sculpting. I will be a carpenter who succeeds my father, but I will continue sculpting on a day off like this one. So I can really become a sculptor anytime soon."
Ah. He must have been like this during his fifteen years.
It wouldn’t have been so easy.
While working hard as a carpenter, he does not take a break on holidays and also holds a sculpting knife.
It was impossible without really loving sculpture.
For such a long time in silence, waiting for the day when his work will shine.
This tall man in front of me now, between a boy and a young man, blooms splendidly at the end of that hard time.
It is not until the emperor is given the last name ’Jean’, which means beauty, to becomes Alpheo Jean.
"You know, Alpheo."
"Yes, Miss."
"Aren’t you sure you want to sculpt only on holidays?"
"Yes?"
"It’s possible every day, right?"
Because you may not be able to study while working as a carpenter.
He couldn’t understand what I was saying, so I laughed at Alpheo, who had a big question mark above his head, saying nothing.
* * *
At the time of sunset every day.
Grandpa took a walk in the garden by himself.
And the place where I spend the longest time on the way was the tiny evergreen forest.
The first emperor gave a few evergreen trees a long time ago, but why did he care so much about that place, which is nothing special except that it started?
During the last few years of my grandfather’s living right next door, I heard why.
It was because of my grandmother.
The grandmother, who hated the deadly falling leaves, said that she always enjoyed taking a walk with grandfather on the path through this evergreen forest.
And now, the grandfather who is left alone is repeating the routine by himself.
Even the day before his death, my grandfather walked among the evergreen trees.1
I stood in front of the office and waited in time for my grandfather to return home from the walk.
I didn’t wait a long time before I saw my grandfather over there.
"Grandfather!"
Deliberately, in a loud voice, I ran, calling for grandfather.
"Oops, why is this girl run?."
"I’ve been waiting because I have something for my grandfather!"
"Do you have anything for me?"
I grabbed my grandfather’s hand and pulled it into the office.
My grandfather seemed surprised, but whether he was trying to match my rhythm, I opened the door of the office as I led.
"What the hell is it?"
Grandfather couldn’t finish talking and stopped.
A well-wiped statue was placed on a tabletop, which was best seen when the door of the office was opened.
It was something I asked Alpheo to do.
"Natalia?"
The grandfather blankly called the grandmother’s name.
It was a bust made of uncolored wood, but it looked like it was really warm in the dark sunset that colored the sky.
"It’s my gift to my grandfather!"
"Florentia, did you prepare that statue?"
Grandpa looked at me once and hurried closer to the wooden table.
"This really....... looks like Natalia’s youthful appearance."
Grandpa’s words weren’t an exaggeration.
Alpheo’s sculpting skills were already enormous, so he perfectly reproduced the paintings his father drew.
"My dad painted a picture of grandmother, so I asked a friend of mine to make it into a statue!"
"It’s a painting by Gallahan.........."
Grandpa carefully reached out and swept the sculpted grandmother’s eyes.
It felt like he would be trembling at any moment, but a bitter smile caught my grandfather’s lips with the cold touch that touched my fingertips.
But for a while, the face that looked back at me was the same as usual.
"But is this my gift?"
"Yes! Do you like it?"
"I like it, but......."
Grandpa laughed a little bitterly.
"What a gift is without a price?"
You know about Clerivan’s homework.
Well, I expected to some extent.
If it were Clerivan’s personality, he would have reported the progress of the class without delay.
Thanks to thinking in advance, I said without panic.
"Did that statue make Grandpa happy?"
"Happiness. Happiness. I have many happy memories of Natalie at that time, so every time I see that statue, this grandfather will be happy."
"Then it’s okay! When my grandfather is happy, I am happy too!"
It is never a lie.
After getting sick, grandfather was very upset because he couldn’t see the grandmother’s portrait properly. After all, he couldn’t see well.
That was why I moved my grandmother’s figure to sculpture.
Even if his eyes can’t see later because of old age, my grandfather will still be able to draw the image of a grandmother through his fingertips.
"Mr. Clelivan’s homework can be done better later!"
This is also true.
Even if not this time, you can always stand out in Clerivan’s class.
Besides, if you could earn points directly from grandfather, that was the first.
Because the purpose of the succession class itself was a continuous evaluation to select the next Lord.
"Florentia."
Grandpa stared at me as if he was trying to read inside me.
But it’s not me that will barely crumble.
I looked at my grandfather with a more pure face.
"But you can’t just get such a good gift. If you have anything you want, tell me, Florentia."
"What do you want? Um."
Then it is.
Because of my grandfather’s personality, he is not the one to receive a gift from his younger granddaughter for no cost.
However, it is the choice to ask for money for the homework right now.
Besides the price of selling the statue, there is one more thing I want.
"Then, Grandpa."
I pretended to think for a moment and then spoke.
"I have a friend who made that statue. His name is Alpheo. But..."
Every time I said a word or a word about Alpheo, my grandfather’s mouth slicked.
And in the end.
"Hahaha! Such a talent lived inside this Lombardi wall!"
Grandpa, who laughed out loud, looked really good.
After all, the wall of collecting critical talent is no different at this time or at that time.
I stood leisurely and enjoyed my grandfather’s laugh-like music.
Because the better Grandpa’s mood, the greater the amount of money he will give to me.
I am a wonderful granddaughter who made a statue of my grandmother and gave it to my grandfather, and I am one more wonderful granddaughter who gave a genius who sculpted such a perfect wooden figure without proper education in my grandfather’s hands.
There is no way my grandfather will return such a wonderful empty-handed.
And I said that I would not refuse money from adults.
* * *
The day of the class, when you can see the result of the assignment, is back.
Arriving early in the classroom, I stepped through the door and looked at the children’s faces one by one.
The twins looked at me and stood with the usual fat expressions until they ran away, and Belsach looked very tense without knowing.
What was surprising was Larane.
His face was full of expectant blush with a small pocket of coins.
"Hi, it’s Larane."
"It’s Florentia. You have a pretty brooch on your clothes today."
Larane said, pointing to the green brooch on my clothes.
"Yes, I like it too. Thank you."
While we were saying hello, Clerivan came in and class began.
"Now, shall we take a look at the result of the assignment?"
Belsach did not carry out the task as he said.
It’s because they make the words and actions consistent in such a useless place.
And, as expected, the twins said they sold the barrels as firewood to the servants.
Many times they declared that they were really in need of firewood and never touted them.
And Larane.
"You said you made it with charcoal and sold it in the smithy of the mansion?"
"Yes. So, I had to give some money to the servants who helped me with the work. So I have this much left."
There were 15 coppers (a fairy tale) in the pocket that Larane put out.
Originally, it was a business that only maintained the main battle when considering that the price of a single log was about 20 copper, but it was surprising that Larane, who was timid in every business, moved so aggressively.
She nodded to see if it was the same with Clerivan and praised Larane.
"Finally, Florentia."
"Yes, teacher."
"How much did you make by selling logs?"
I shrugged once.
"No way, have you not done the assignment?"
At Clerivan’s words, Belsach, who had been squashed in the corner of the sofa, was seen jumping up.
"No. I worked hard, sir."
"So where is the money?"
"Here you are."
"Yes? Where ...."
I said, pointing to the brooch on my chest as if I was looking forward to it.
"I made a statue out of logs and gave it to my grandfather, and I got this brooch instead. It’s an emerald!"
It’s also very thick and expensive! This time, Clerivan face was also bright.
I leaned against the back of the chair while enjoying the winner’s slack for a moment.
Of course, I am not the only one who has good things.
Grandfather gave Alpheo, who made the statue, 10 silver for his expenses, and at the same time gave him a family scholarship and an opportunity to study under a famous sculptor.
As I enjoyed the scenery of the classroom, gazing at me blankly, repressing the desire to twist one leg, smiling triumphantly, Belsach was struggling with his nose widening.
I deliberately lifted one corner of my mouth so that only Belsach was visible.
As a half-blood, he said I was lesser and lesser than my cousins.
He laughed at me saying that I couldn’t live as noble because I couldn’t even learn properly and that I had to move my body and work as a commoner.
In the end, he mocked me that I have to live and die like my poor mother.
So, keep feeling in the future, what kind of thing will be pushed out by that half.
How it feels to be robbed of things you thought were yours.1
It’s just the beginning.
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