The Versatile Master Artist

Anna filled out the date and a long string of zeros on the personal checkbook with a pen, not lifting her head.

”Bringing your current girlfriend to a proposal, isn’t it unbearably open?”

She switched to speaking in French.

”It’s just for fun, Cousin... Anna, who isn’t like this? Around us, a puritanical rich young man is like a zero-calorie chocolate butter cake or a peace-loving extremist, a completely invalid proposition.”

Ole looked nonchalantly at his girlfriend of who knows what number this year.

”Unless he’s GAY, otherwise, who do you know that’s so pure not to have two lady lovers? I’m just always truthful, not hiding myself in front of you.”

”You have always called me ’Cousin’ since we were little, Cousin Ole.”

Anna smiled indifferently.

”What does that matter? We are only two months apart in age, and we’ve grown up closely together. Our direct blood relation isn’t closer than that between Princess Diana and Prince Charles...”

Ole grew more excited as he spoke.

He wanted to look into Miss Elina’s eyes and pour out his feelings.

But unfortunately, she kept her head down, calmly handling the information on the large check.

Ole had to turn his head to look at the sea of clouds and expansive flower fields outside the window.

The sun began to slowly set,

the European primrose fields extended from the asymmetrical classical-style manor gardens to the lake in the distance, the distant sunset dyeing the lake’s mist between blood and rouge, like a luxurious pink veil hovering in the air over the ancient manor.

Even though Ole had seen such a view countless times here, each time he felt it was beauty beyond human experience.

Just like every time Ole saw his cousin.

In their generation of young people, how many admired each other’s beauty.

From the moment they understood what beauty was, Anna undoubtedly became the goddess in their hearts.

”I want to marry Miss Elina!”

”No, Countess Ilana is mine!”

”To hell with it, none of you may fight...”

The boys in several circles fought over such matters when they were children, these brainless deeds that were idiotic beyond belief happened more than once as they grew up.

Because of the godmother.

Since childhood, Ole was one of the few males closest to Anna.

The thought of her possibly becoming ”Mrs. So-and-so,” kissing some damn person under the walnut trees.

His chest felt like it had been stuffed with smoldering coals.

Unless that title became Mrs. Krueger,

then instantly Ole felt refreshed and uplifted.

”...These idiots with brains not even one-third the size of their chests, in my mind, aren’t worth a single strand of your hair, Cousin Anna. I’ve really liked you since childhood. As long as you nod, I’ll kick them all aside immediately and become a devoted husband.”

With the words brewing in his heart for many years spilling out in an instant, Ole felt as light as a feather, his whole being relaxed.

He believed he and the other party were the perfect match made in heaven.

In terms of love and reason,

Cousin Anna had no reason to refuse.

Could any man penetrate Anna’s heart more than he could?

”Think about it, the union of the Krueger and Ilyena families, these two ancient and glorious surnames, would be such a grand celebration in our circle. Cousin Anna, your little mistakes before are not worth mentioning at all, the old royal families of the world would bless us.”

”You’re not only my cousin, but also my wife. The Ilyena family passes down one heir per generation, and you are the only heir of this generation. But the Krueger family has always prospered. I myself have seven siblings, and I’m healthy, smart, with excellent physical abilities according to the health checkups. We should have many children. If you insist, I wouldn’t even mind giving them the Ilyena surname.”

Ole was already absorbed in his fantasies, speaking absentmindedly.

”Our children would have blue eyes and noble Caesar-like black hair, they would be as beautiful as forest sprites like you. The boys will go into finance, the girls into the arts. With such noble blood and good upbringing, even if the Empire no longer exists, they are born rulers of this world. You know our family’s ability in finance, maybe we could establish an art fund like an empire of over a hundred billion euros.”

He withdrew his gaze from the window and turned his head, looking at Anna with emotion.

Ole was somewhat disappointed.

It seemed that his cousin was not moved by his impassioned speech.

Miss Elina simply completed the name information on the checkbook calmly, her slender lips gently reciting poetic words.

”I am not your slave, but your guest... A barren woman is like a dried-up river, a woman has the duty to bring barren trees to fruit, make wastelands flourish, just like the Nile River nourishing the land. My breasts are adept at nurturing love and life, my hips distinctly curvy and round. I am the Nile River. The Aestra Goddess instructed me through the oracle at the sacrifice, I’m skilled at breeding children, our offspring will rule all the lands from the Nile to the Mediterranean.”

Anna recited slowly the classic line spoken by Elizabeth Taylor in ”Cleopatra,” like the sound of a clear spring flowing.