Mr. Greuze watched silently until Alexandra's painting was complete, and he finally let out a sigh with a surprised smile, "Your Highness the Grand Duchess, you are truly the most talented student I have ever seen. You have portrayed Joanna with such vitality..."
Joanna was the maid currently posing at the front of the art studio.
As Greuze spoke, he caught a glimpse of the other students' work and shook his head with a sigh, "Kalalis, Marisa, perhaps you should take a look at the Grand Duchess Alexandra's painting.
"You have been studying with me for four or five years and in some ways... it seems you still haven't touched the essence of painting. I hope you can learn something from this piece."
The three noble girls beside him exchanged glances, their faces full of dissatisfaction. After all, the youngest among them was already 11 years old, and Kalalis was 14.
And yet their teacher was suggesting they learn from a Russian peasant girl of only seven years!
