﹡ ⊹ ⊰ Chapter 13 ⊱ ⊹ ﹡
Alpheo began to gain fame when I just started working with my grandfather. There were countless artists sponsored by Lombardy, but Alpheo was special. It was at the late age of thirty that he began to work in earnest.
Unlike other Lombardy artists, who are usually discovered at a young age and nurtured in Academy, Alpheo was originally a carpenter. He was a third-generation carpenter working in Lombardy succeeding after his grandfather and father.
So when my grandfather heard the story about Alpheo, he felt very sorry. It would have been nice if we could sponsor such talent earlier and created a suitable working environment for him.
But Alpheo didn't care about that.
Rather, he was very grateful to Lombardy for supporting him, even if it was late, and presented his first official artwork to the family.
The title of the artwork is 'World Tree'.
It was a gigantic-sized piece of wood that embodies the Lombardy symbol, the World Tree. It was a masterpiece of carving several trees separately and putting them together into one.
And with that work of art, Alpheo quickly became an artist renowned throughout the Empire.
"But how do I find him?"
It was midday, so most of the people were working inside the mansion. It should be a busy residential area for employees, but now, it's just deserted.
Should I go from house to house and find out if Alpheo's inside?
"What is that?"
"It looks amazing!"
Oh, and it turns out that I've forgotten about them.
The twins were running around like kids at the toy corner, marveling at the things they saw for the first time.
"Gillieu! Mairon! Don't go anywhere!" I shouted, but the two didn't even pretend to hear me.
"Wow! Here's water!"
"I guess you're scooping it up with this gourd!"
"Let's float it on the water too!"
Oh, that's dangerous!
Gillieu and Mairon were admiring the well seeing it for the first time and were even installing themselves on the edges saying that they would pump up water with a gourd.
They're both 11-years-old, so they're bigger than me. What's more, their build were almost similar to the height of a young adult.
It's quite dangerous to see them climbing up by the well.
"Hey! You guys, come down!"
Eventually, I grabbed the skirt of my dress and ran to them. But my legs were short, and the twins acted needlessly fast.
"Wow!"
Mairon's body leaned to fish out the gourd from the well, then staggered for a moment making him lean even more. It looked like Mairon will fall into the well any second now.
"NO!" I shouted out loud and reached out, but it was useless since I'm still far away.
But then.
"What are you kids doing?!"
A big hand suddenly grabbed Mairon's back at the last minute and pulled him up. Then, with the other hand, the guy also grabbed Gillieu's torso.
"It's dangerous to play at the well!" In a deep voice, the guy let out a scream in anger.
The twins, one on each side of the person, struggled to escape, but it was futile.
"Huff! Hey! Why are you two trying to get into the well!" I shouted at the two of them, gasping in heavy breaths and wiping off the sweat on the bottom of my chin.
I immediately turned to the person who saved the twins to say my thanks.
It was the moment when I saw the face of a young teenager who was frowning at the twins that I became tongue-tied.
"Huh? Huh!"
His face is so familiar. Red hair with a nose full of freckles and taller than others.
16-year-old Alpheo Jean was standing right in front of me.
"Huh?!"
Let's stay calm for now. I coughed to clear up the excitement I was feeling at the moment and said to the young Alpheo.
"Uhm, excuse me. Would you like to put those two down?"
Alpheo looked down at me briefly before putting the twins down on the ground.
"Who are you, kids? I've never seen your faces here before."
Yes, it's the first time we met. I replied with a bright smile.
"My name is Firentia, this is Gillieu, and this is Mairon." I properly introduced them, pointing at the two one by one.
But instead of saying his name, Alpheo frowned at the mention of our names that seemed familiar to him. Then, when he saw our refined clothes, his eyes trembled.
"What, no way."
It seemed to me that he just realized that the three of us were Lombardy's direct bloodlines.
I shouldn't put a sense of distance from the beginning. So, I deliberately said with a brighter smile.
"I'm sorry for making the fuss."
"I, I'm sorry, Young Miss! Sorry, Young Masters! I, I didn't know!"
"No, I'm not trying to get an apology......."
I tried to hold him up on apologizing further, but Alpheo took off the hat he was wearing and repeatedly bowed his head while saying sorry.
It doesn't seem like the people in my family treat their employees so harshly, so why? However, seeing his face turned red to his neck, it seemed to be Alpheo's personality.
Well, Alpheo Jean, who was just over thirty years old, was also an innocent and pure person.
"Wait. Aren't these twins in the wrong so why are you the one apologizing?"
"But......"
"By the way, what's your name?"
"I am Alpheo."
I was right.
"Hey, Alpheo. Pardon me, but can you get a bucket of water from the well?"
At my request, Alpheo was a little embarrassed but silently poured water on the bucket he got nearby.
"You two play with that water instead. Don't do anything dangerous."
Playing with a gourd in a water bucket. It might sound strange to others.
However, the eleven-year-old twins sat down in front of the wooden bucket, and just as I told them, they started frolicking in the water.
Now that these troublemakers had been dealt with, let's bring out my main purpose.
"You know that my father is Lord Gallahan, don't you?"
"Oh, yes."
"Since you knew, I have a request."
It was a very weird logical connection, but fortunately, Alpheo didn't seem to notice.
"I heard from someone that Alpheo is good at sculpting?"
"Well, that....... I only sell children's toys by carving them out of wood. I'm not good at—"
"Wow, you're already making money with your sculptures! You're an expert then!"
Praise makes the whale dance, too.
As he rubbed his greased hair sheepishly, I could see Alpheo's face, who was overly nervous before, was loosened a lot now.
"If you get your hands on a drawing, can you sculpt a person's face by looking at it? I have a log for you to use."
Alpheo hesitated a little when I gestured by hand the size of the log.
"A person's face is a little difficult, so..."
Does he still need to carve a bunch of artworks to be able to reach that level?
I got a little nervous thinking so.
"I have had my family's faces carved before."
Oh, that's good.
"But..."
What's the problem this time? I couldn't stand it and ask.
"Then does it take a long time to finish?"
If it is, then I can't reach the deadline. The time Clerivan gave us was only a week or so.
"But it's a holiday from my job. In about four days..."
He didn't even say that he would do it but I already feel relieved.
I was happy and held Alpheo's hand tightly with both hands. Soon, I put my grandmother's portrait drawn by my father quickly in his hand.
"I'll take care of your labor expenses!"
It was a young Alpheo Jean's artwork. Since he's not an adult, it would be difficult to convert his piece into money, but I thought it would take a portion of the sale price.
"No need, that's okay!"
"No! I commissioned it. Alpheo got to work on it through his efforts so you should get paid for it!"
I was persistent so Alpheo thought for a moment before nodding.
"It's a deal then! Don't hesitate to let me know if you need something."
"I'll do my best." Alpheo said with a firm voice.
I was relieved by his trustworthy appearance.
Now I don't have to worry about my assignment since I left it in the hands of Alpheo Jean.
"Oh, but I forgot one thing."
"What is it?"
"The log you're going to use. Alpheo has to take it from my residence. It's too heavy for me."
"Ah......."
I'm sorry, but the delivery was nonexclusive.
* * *
After leaving the sculpture to Alpheo, I had nothing to do for about two days.
All that was left was waiting, so I spent time watching my father writing a book or going out to play in the garden on a good day.
The twins came to play this morning, but I sent them back saying no.
The two were grimfaced at my strong rejection. But I have an unfortunate feeling that they will come back again tomorrow.
"Tia! Dad has finally finished the book!"
He had already written a few books before but strangely, my father cried out in happiness this time.
"Wow!"
So I cheered him on, raising my short arms in the air.
"Oh, our cute Tia." My father stroked my hair, smiling happily.
"Show me the book that Dad wrote!"
I was curious about the book that was completed by saving his time to sleep, immersing himself and drawing on it painstakingly.
"After all, you are like me who also like books. Okay, let's see what we got here." My dad said as he sat me on his lap before handing the book to me.
It was unique, being it thinner and larger than other common books.
In case the paper will get damaged, I carefully opened the cover.
"What?"
When I turned over the first page of the book, I saw my name written in my father's neat handwriting and the words are as follows.
[To my dear daughter, I'm always waiting for the day to watch Tia's coming of age in a dress I created.]
"This book was written to show our Tia that later on when you're old enough to be interested to dress up, we'll refer to this book and select whatever you want." Said my father, kissing my head.
"I'm not that particularly talented in making dresses, but I know what dress will become popular in the Lambrew Empire since fashion trends are seasonal."
I couldn't say anything.
Every time I flipped over the pages, I felt more sad and heartbroken.
As my father said, this book was made only for me.
Small letters were written just below the skillfully drawn different-styled dresses.
[Tia is smaller than her age now but if she becomes taller in the future, this will fit her well.]
[This attire seems to be able to make the colors of Tia's eyes stand out if I use the green color.]
"It's usually the mother who will take care of the debutante dress, but your dad will take care of it now! Don't worry, okay?"
Originally, I didn't have a debut.
It was because I was half commoner that no banquet and tea parties has ever invited me. Like an invisible person, it was the same as my existence in the family. In the past, I was more busy with improving the library rather than making my social debut.
I closed the book when I read to the end and held it in my arms.
Perhaps in my previous life, my father wrote this book for me. For the day when he will pick out my dress with his own hands.
"Do you like the book?"
"Yes, very much."
My father pulled me closer and hugged me tightly.
"I hope that the days will come slowly so Tia doesn't grow up quickly."
"Dad."
"Yes?"
"Should we choose my dress for later?"
"Then! Let's open this book and carefully select one, Tia."
This time, I hope my father can watch my coming of age. He will take my hand and we'll go to the banquet together.
Thinking so, I hugged my father.
Dagdak, dagdak.
I lifted my head when I heard the sound of horses trotting through the open window, approaching from a distance.
Getting out in my father's arms, I quickly ran toward the window.
A carriage with a flag of the Durac merchant guild was entering the gates.
Unlike the last time when it was only a single carriage arrived, this time there's another large wagon following the carriage.
Finally, it came!
I quickly put the book on the shelf and pulled my father's hand and exclaimed. "Dad! Let's go for a walk in the garden! Hurry!"
"Why the rush? You want to go there that badly?"
"Yes! So hurry up!"
My father continued to laugh even though he was reluctantly dragged by my hand.
But as I was going slowly like this, I felt like I would miss them, so I let go of my father's hand and cried out.
"I'm going to run! If you don't follow me quickly, you might not catch me!"
"T, Tia! Don't run, you'll fall!"
I smiled in victory as I saw my startled dad start running after me.
Now is the time to give my father a solid footing!
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January 09, 2021
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