The Versatile Master Artist

Ole von Krueger, with sunken eyes and slightly high cheekbones, had deep black hair with a slight natural wave.

His handsome features bore a resemblance, about thirty percent from the looks, to the philosopher Wittgenstein, who was hailed as the perfect lover of European maidens.

Perhaps it was not entirely a coincidence.

The traditional families of the Austria-Hungary Empire were known for their penchant for intermarriage, almost every ancient surname carried familial connections.

Academically,

Wittgenstein may have been one of the most important philosophers of the twentieth century.

But in terms of impact on modern European history, Wittgenstein might not have been the most accomplished in his family. As one of the most prominent surnames in the Austria-Hungary Empire, his father was the largest steel magnate in Europe, and his mother came from a literary family and was an aunt of the economist Hayek.

Such a high-profile family,

Ole believed that if he spent half an hour sorting it out, he would certainly find a few Wittgenstein cousins on the family tree made of a massive cashmere tapestry in his family’s living room.

Just as—he was also a cousin to Elina, the last heiress of that ancient surname.

Indeed,

Ole was also from a family of the Old Nobility of the Austria-Hungary Empire.

But it was different from the Anna family.

Because after the collapse of the Habsburg Dynasty, unwilling to remove the ”von,” a sign of ancestral honor, his great-grandfather’s generation moved the entire family to Germany with their gold and silver possessions.

Like many Old Money families, they liked to take root in the financial industry, which values connections, as well as in the traditional heavy industry sector.

Members of the Krueger family mostly studied finance and held shares in several private banks in Europe with over a century of history.

Ole personally managed a private equity fund of approximately 180 million Euros and held dual citizenship in Spain and Germany, theoretically ranking as the 96th in line to the Spanish royal succession according to his bloodline relationship.

Since adolescence, Ole had been considered by outsiders as that kind of ”male adversary.”

Money and lineage,

these two weapons ensured Ole almost never experienced failure in love affairs.

Legally speaking, he was just an ordinary citizen in Germany, and such an obscure royal succession rank would hardly relate to inheriting the throne unless another Black Death arose.

But when it came to picking up girls.

The ”noble” lineage was even more effective than his handmade custom suits and his SLS vintage Mercedes sports car.

In Old Europe,

even in the twenty-first century today, there were still quite a few naive young girls willing to have a fling with such an unconventional prince like Ole. If they could marry into a wealthy family, turning from Cinderella to Snow White, it fit perfectly with the most fervent dreams in the hearts of young girls.

Now,

as Ole walked down the hallway adorned with Turkish tapestry carpet in the manor, accompanied by the estate manager.

He was introducing his cousin to a second-tier actress girlfriend known for her sensuality, whom he recently hooked up with at the Berlin Film Festival, in a flat tone.

”...Cousin Anna’s family has been famous for their love of art since the time of Joseph II. Her family is one of those in the nobility who were the most gentle in accepting the new government, refusing to go into exile overseas or join a restoration movement with the crown prince of the Habsburg family to form the Danube Federation Kingdom.”

”Probably because of this reason, the parliament made the Elena family a model of willing cooperation, returning almost all of their lands and manors. And with few heirs, several branches have passed into her hands. To this day, my Cousin Anna remains one of the largest landowners in the country, even owning ranches and soybean plantations under her name in Latin America.”

”A traitor then?”

The actress, wearing oversized sunglasses, almost clung to the charming and wealthy white knight as she walked.

She held a long, slender lady’s cigarette between her nail-polished fingers, blowing a smoke ring with charm, then casually remarked.

”What?” Ole didn’t quite catch it.

”You just said she was part of the nobility most gently accepting the new government, and the parliament made the Elena family a model of willing cooperation...”

The actress revealed a charming smile, thinking herself witty, ”The traitor among you.”

Ole looked awkward.

That statement wasn’t entirely wrong, but nowadays, money talks.

Anna might be one of the financially best-off young women among their circle.

Although her wealth wasn’t close, in volume, to the hundreds of billions held by many on the Forbes Rich List.

Her family’s wealth was passed down steadily, especially with quality assets.

The Old Money of Old Europe had always looked down on nouveau riches. When the wind was favorable, earning tens or hundreds of billions in a decade or two was mere luck; being able to pass it down through generations was a real skill.

Especially with the art market so hot now,

just the thousands of masterpieces in the Elena family atelier, selling gradually over a few years or partnering with a large-scale art fund on Wall Street, could generate cash flow far exceeding what many listed companies could offer.

Truth be told,

Ole really didn’t dare offend his beautiful, fairy-like cousin.

Especially speaking such words in her manor seemed quite tactless.

He silently cursed in his heart that the woman was adept at Twitter spats with other actresses but was completely clueless when it came to conversation; he really shouldn’t have brought her to attend his cousin’s birthday party.

Ole smiled, giving her swaying hips a light pat, while resolutely deciding to rid himself of this foolish woman once they returned.

He glanced with the corner of his eye at the butler in the tailcoat and the maid in the white apron in front of him, whether due to professionalism or truly not hearing the exchange, their faces remained unperturbed, which relieved him somewhat.

The butler led Ole to the door of the manor’s drawing room and gently knocked. Upon hearing the lady’s response from inside, he opened the door for him.

Inside the drawing room.

A woman in a dress sat serenely in an armchair by the hearth, with a desert-themed oil painting placed by the window, and a white book in her hands.

Beside her feet lay a large dog quietly sprawled.