189 - The Second Winter Spent in Grenore
In the end, I could not finish the embroidery while the attic was still warm enough to work in. Since any more would risk catching a cold, I decided to work on it in my room during the winter and moved the entire set of embroidery tools there. This time, the hiding spot is behind the bear stuffed toy. This giant plush, which even when sitting reaches up to Leonardo's chin, takes over the bed and gets in the way, but its massive body occasionally proves useful. If I had a bit more adventurous spirit and woodworking knowledge, I might have added a hidden safe to its belly area.
...But I could never bring scissors to a beautifully sewn stuffed toy, even for the sake of modifications.
Leonardo, being honestly straightforward, would likely look away and avoid catching sight of anything peeking out from behind the stuffed toy if I told him not to look until my birthday. Actually, if I told him I hid it on the bed, he might not even come inside the canopy. He is an endearingly honest man.
...Kalisa's room has a wood stove, you know.
It seems they do not want a ten-year-old using a wood stove alone. Unfortunately, this winter too, I have no choice but to be a full resident of the third floor.
When the season changed from autumn to winter, my daily life changed a little as well. The Basic Knowledge classes I could take at the Menhishumi Church ended, and I was able to learn the knowledge that commoners generally acquire. It seems there are more specialized courses you can take by paying tuition after this, but since I plan to live as a commoner, I do not need that level of knowledge, so there was no longer any need for me to continue attending the Menhishumi Church. If I were a noble child, English would become a required subject, and I would need to learn manners related to etiquette and social interaction, but that is not the role of the Menhishumi Church, which broadly opens its doors to the public. It falls within the domain of private tutors hired by each household. In our case, Hermine handles that.
...I have no plans to become a noble, but I do want to talk with Aurelia-san.
Aurelia can actually speak the language of this world too, but she only uses English when other people are around. When it is just the two of us, she uses this country's language so we can converse, but if Aurelia only speaks English, there is a chance I would not be able to talk with her properly even if my stay is permitted. In that case, even though I have no plans to become a noble, I needed to learn English so I could correspond with Aurelia without trouble and hold conversations even when other people are present.
...But whether it is because this is my second time including my past life, or because my teacher is good, I feel I have become slightly more familiar with English.
Perhaps it also has to do with a child's mind being more flexible. I feel like I am beginning to understand better than in my previous life. Though it may just be a feeling.
...I will keep working on my English a little more so I can talk with Aurelia-san, even if slowly.
With the Menhishumi Church visits, which I had been attending every other day, no longer happening, I asked Hermine to increase my English lessons in the freed-up time. I thought my connection with Mirshe might end once I stopped going to the Menhishumi Church, but the adults around me know I care about it, so I can still show my face at the Three Crows Tavern once a week. It is not entirely a misunderstanding, but lately there have been rumors in the city that the Three Crows Tavern is the fortress lord's favored establishment. To be precise, it is the fortress lord's sister's favored establishment. Because of that, I hear they have gained a few more customers.
Around the time the negotiation with the Sedovara Church, which Alf mediated, concluded and it was formally decided that I could stay at Aurelia's house, the embroidered portrait of Leonardo was finally completed. It took quite a while since I was also doing work received from the tailor and embroidering the cuffs of Leonardo's shirts for next year's Spring Flower Festival.
"...What a strangely unsettling finish."
That was Hermine's assessment after much agonizing when she looked at the completed picture.
"Unsettling... Does that mean it is no good?"
I thought it came out well myself, but perhaps Hermine sees something odd about it. Feeling a little anxious, I asked what was wrong.
"No, I think it is splendid. The preliminary sketch, the embroidery skill, and the overall finish are all splendid. However..."
The composition refuses to allow straightforward praise, Hermine said. It is certainly a finish with no room for complaint, but the subject and motif make it impossible to praise without reservation.
"...Young lady, let us first stretch the fabric onto a board. Hermine-sensei's perspective may change then."
Kalisa said it probably looks poor right now since it is merely embroidered fabric. Once stretched onto a canvas like a painting made with paints, the embroidered picture would stand out.
"But sending it to Lagarette would be easier as just fabric, would it not?"
"Transport may be easier, but since you are showing it to Jemian-sama, I think it would be better to present it properly."
"Then we would need a frame too..."
I had not thought that far ahead. This embroidery started as a bit of a mischievous impulse, but it is surprisingly costly. It is completely over budget. I wonder if I can manage it with the wages I earned from the tailor's work recently. I might need to consult with Alf once.
"It is important to present it properly as a painting, but are you truly going to show this to the lord of Lagarette?"
"Jemian-sama helped with the preliminary sketch, so he already knows what kind of picture it is."
I had consulted him saying I wanted to embroider a picture of Leonardo but lacked artistic skill, so could he introduce me to a painter who could draw a sketch. After exchanging letters a few times, this cloth with the sketch drawn on it was sent to me. There is no way Jemian has not seen the sketch.
"...Tina-san, do you have no doubts about this finished piece?"
"Huh? Well..."
I realized she was prompting me to reconsider, so I turned my gaze to the finished embroidery again. Kalisa had already begun stretching it onto a canvas, and with the cloth pulled taut, it had transformed into something that looked even more like a painting.
"I suppose he does look a little more seductive than usual, for my brother."
Perhaps it was the effect of mixing in pink thread. The overall finish is pink and alluring. I had thought painting shadows with pink was an effect only possible with CG, but it turned out surprisingly presentable.
"A little, is not the word for it. It is provocative."
You should not put something like this out into the world as a lady's embroidery, Hermine said. If it were merely a gift for Leonardo himself, it might be dismissed as a prank or poor taste, but showing it to others is another matter.
"And to plan to have the very person who is the model for the picture transport it, without telling him anything..."
"Leonardo-san travels every winter as a yearly tradition. If he could carry it along, I think that would be the best option...?"
"Is that no good?" I tilted my head and looked up at Hermine. This is not a prank on Leonardo, I thought as I put on the lady's smile Hermine had taught me, indicating it was the result of rational thinking. But she deducted points, saying a fake smile was unnecessary here.
"...In that case, would it be acceptable if I told Leonardo-san everything and then asked him to transport it as a favor?"
That would be fair, I proposed. Not a trick attack, but Leonardo would transport it knowing the contents.
Hermine seemed to think about this proposal for a while before agreeing. If he knew what he was carrying, there would be no problem. However, she warned me to write a thorough letter to Jemian. If Jemian, who loves paintings, saw it, he might think about displaying it in his gallery.
...What, that sounds interesting.
I could not help but nearly burst out laughing, imagining Leonardo retrieving the painting he had left at the gallery and coming face to face with a portrait of himself. Since the finish turned out better than expected, I tend to forget, but the original driving force behind making this painting was mischief. If Leonardo freezes in shock, there would be no greater joy for me as the creator.
Having promised Hermine that I would inform Leonardo of the contents, I asked him to transport it along with his winter journey while telling him openly what was inside. I explained that it was intended to be Leonardo's birthday present, and since Jemian had helped with the preliminary sketch, I was to show him the finished piece as thanks. I emphasized especially that it was "intended to be a birthday present," so Leonardo would not deliberately check the painting. For transport, I left the packing to Kalisa. She prepared a sturdy wooden box to ensure the picture would not get dirty or damaged, so unless he deliberately tried to look, Leonardo's eyes should not fall upon it.
Then, I wrote a letter to Jemian.
"Thanks to the preliminary sketch you kindly provided, a wonderful picture has been completed. As promised, I am sending you the finished piece. This painting will later become a gift for my brother, so please return it by the end of spring. As it is a very personal picture, I would appreciate it if you could view it at your home."
...Something like that, I think?
I believe I managed to incorporate all of Hermine's requirements. How Jemian, who will read this letter, decides to handle it is up to him. Whether he interprets "viewing at your home" to mean his main residence in the suburbs or the gallery he practically uses as a home will change things, but that is not my concern.
The embroidered painting titled "The War God Herkeles' Slumber" was securely placed inside the wooden box along with the letter. All that remains is to have it transported along with Leonardo's winter journey.
As a result of trying to sprint through winter in one go, it is short. Chapter 200 is approaching. I will try a little harder to finish the fifth arc by chapter 200.
I will fix typos and errors another day. I will take a break from the 22nd update. I have fixed any typos and errors I found.