Chapter 121

The painting depicted a serene landscape, a canvas of rolling hills and undulating waves, with the vast river’s surface mirroring the silhouettes of distant towers amidst the misty ripples. It exuded a subtle elegance and a timeless charm.

In the bottom right corner, a red seal marked the creator’s pseudonym: Nana.

Lorna gazed at the name, her expression tightening just a notch.

It was a moniker her college professor had given her, but she preferred the one she had casually chosen for herself, Lorn.

However, with Fanny breathing down her neck, her artwork had no place in the studio. Friends had suggested a change of pseudonym might do the trick.

And so, today, she had painted another piece, ready to test the waters.

Setting the stamp aside, Lorna looked up to see Cordelia peering curiously at her work, prompting her to ask, “Hey Lia, do you want to learn watercolor painting?”

The thought sparked a gleam in Cordelia’s eyes as she nodded vehemently, “Yes, please!”

Lorna, hearing this, peeled the painting off the easel and laid it on a nearby table. She then spread out a fresh sheet of watercolor paper and handed Cordelia a paintbrush, saying, “Watercolor painting is all about balance ink for form, color for life. To capture a landscape, you’ve got to master brushwork, ink flow, composition, and color…

After a succinct introduction, Lorna demonstrated with a few strokes of her brush, and a distant mountain came to life on the paper.

Handing the brush over, she encouraged, “Give it a shot.”

Cordelia, who had learned calligraphy back at the orphanage, wasn’t versed in painting but had a knack for imitation. Her slender script had once been indistinguishable from the original, deceiving many.

She pondered for a moment before making a couple of marks on the paper.

Lorna was astounded, “You sure you’ve never done this before?”

just shook her

steady hand there! And this mountain… it’s the spitting image of mine!” Lorna’s eyes shone

always loved painting

the soul and was steeped

gleamed with joy.

“Take a look at these when you can,” she said, then

halfway when Lorna offhandedly asked, “Oh, did you need me

paused, then remembered, “Oh, it’s dinner

a moment of silent understanding before Lorna coughed

masterpiece in her hands,

it? I’ll get it framed and hang it in your room – consider it

sparkled with delight,

of the family already seated in the dining room. Sanderson was biting back a smile, and Everard raised

to call you two, I wanted to see how long it’d take for the bookworms to remember food. Huh, only forty minutes not bad!”

“I used to lose track of time when I painted as a girl. Your granny wouldn’t call me or wait miss mealtime, and I’d go hungry. At

starve my granddaughter. Lia, come here- the soup is fresh and warm,” Mathilda

two seats left at the round table. She sat between Everard and Mathilda.

pulled out her chair, a gesture of chivalry that hadn’t been present at their previous casual meals at Midnight Scent.

serving Cordelia her favorites, while Lorna took

Cordelia, who had been surprised to learn of her supposed preferences for chicken wings and eggplants, looked up blankly, “I…

their looks toward Everard filled with

not romance. Only someone like Everard could

perplexing state of affairs at the dinner table.

calmly cast downward. “Mrs. Delaney, I’m up for anything, as long as Lia likes it.”

a loss

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