"Hm? Someone who wants to meet me?"
"Yes, Elder Ace"
"Should we meet her?" Ace questioned Maeve.
"Well, we don't really have anything good to do anyways and it shows that person's sincerity by how she is coming here every day without fail, I think we should meet him" Maeve replied.
Ace nodded and ordered, "Let her come here, we shall meet whoever she is"
The disciple left after a bow and after a while, a peculiar person appeared.
She was a girl, a female Cyclopes to be more exact. The girl had rather refined features, with well-defined curves and all. She had purple-colored hair, fair skin, and a delicate figure. Her big purple-colored eye didn't look weird at all, on the contrary, it gave her an additional charm.
"E-Elder Ace, M-Madam Maeve, it's niv- umm, it's nice to meet you" The girl greeted with a bow, with her first sentence, it was as clear as a day that she wasn't someone who was confident on her confidence.
"It's nice to meet you, miss. Can we owe the pleasure to know your name?" Maeve questioned with a teasing smile. Her question seems to have worked as the poor girl practically jolted in panic, "S-Sorry for my rudeness! I didn't mean to act disrespectfully! I hope you can forgive me!"
"But I still don't your name"
"O-Oh right! M-My name is Arte Resevalia, I am 24 years old, I love to eat mango, but I am not a picky eater either! Als-"
"Alright, Alright, Miss Arte, She was just teasing you a little, you can calm down" Arte continued to be influenced by Maeve and acted more timid and panicked, in the end, Ace stepped in and spoke with a smile. From the first impression, he knew the girl wasn't acting and actually had a timid personality. At the very least, he was sure that she didn't have any bad intentions.
"Y-Yes, Elder Ace…" Arte muttered as she glanced at Ace before quickly moving her gaze away with a small blush on her face.
"Do you want some water to calm yourself down?" Maeve questioned.
"It's alright, thank you, Madam Maeve"
"So, we heard that you wanted to meet us and have been waiting for quite a while, is there something we help you with?"
"Umm… Elder Ace, Madam Maeve, I-I am an artist, I love to draw and I travel all around the world, painting and selling my work to earn a living, but nowadays, the value of art is degrading and only a few people want to buy art with their hard-earned money.
This is a major problem for us artists, though I can settle somewhere down and earn money through other means, I don't want to leave this profession and change it to something else and for that, I have been thinking of different ways to promote my work.
When I first entered the Espade City, I heard about Elder Ace, Madam Maeve, and your daughter, Madam Gracie, and have come to request you all a favor" Arte replied, even she herself might not know where her previous timidness vanished when it came to art.
"Hm? Then how can we help you, Miss Arte?" Maeve questioned, a little glimmer of interest passing through her eyes.
"Everybody in this Espade city knows about the otherworldly looks the Vorste family possesses, I would like you three to act as a model for my next painting. As for the compensation, though I am not really rich, I have collected around 5 gold coins throughout my journey, I am willing to give this all to you. Of course, I know 5 gold coins are nothing to someone like Elder Ace, but I don't have anything else to give.
But of course, the painting will be yours to keep, I am sure you will not regret it!" Arte proposed.
"Then what you are saying is, that you want us to be a model for your next painting? If I am not wrong, then we have to sit in the same position for a few hours so that you could draw us, and you want us to compensate us with mere 5 gold coins and a painting?"
"Madam Maeve, as I said before, I know that 5 gold coins are nothing for you, but I am sure that you would love the painting I will make. I can guarantee you that it would worth your precious time"
"And what if it doesn't?" Maeve questioned with narrowed eyes. Even under Maeve's expression, Arte didn't flinch and replied, "Madam Maeve.
I know how valuable your's, Elder Ace's, and Madam Gracie's time is. If you don't like the painting I had drawn and feel that it was a waste of your time,
Then you can do whatever you want with my life"
Maeve raised her eyebrow and questioned, "So you are betting your life?"
"As insignificant as it may be, I am betting my life on it. If I am not able to impress Madam Maeve with my painting, you can do with me as you see fit" Arte replied with eyes (Or maybe eye?) full of conviction.
Suddenly, Maeve's narrowed eyes lightened as she smiled, "Alright, Miss Arte, we give you a chance, return tomorrow, at the same time. We will be prepared."
Arte's eye brightened with joy as she replied, "Thank you! Madam Maeve, Elder Ace, Thank you very much! I will now take my leave so I can prepare for tomorrow"
Before Arte opened the door, Maeve called out, "Miss Arte."
Arte turned around and Maeve continued, "Remember, mine and hubby's opinion doesn't matter, try to impress little Gracie. I hope you can do your best tomorrow."
"I won't disappoint you!" Arte replied with a bright smile before she left the house.