The Wicked Wife's Dark History Keeps Coming Back To Haunt Her - Chapter 135

When Rebecca frowned in disgust, Marquis Dunklin spoke proudly.

“These are rough gems selected from my own orphanage. Their talent, at least, is exceptional.”

Maybe if they were nobles.

How great could the talent of these common wretches possibly be?

In the end, weren’t they just creatures with foolish, dull-witted blood running in their veins?

But Rebecca’s indifferent attitude changed in an instant at the Marquis’s next words.

“All the paintings displayed here were done by these children.”

“…These children?”

Rebecca’s emerald eyes lit up with unexpected interest.

She’d assumed the paintings were by famous artists, but they were the works of these young boys.

‘…Come to think of it, wasn’t there an article about that woman saving an orphan in the capital?’

Rebecca recalled the article from the Barrington Monthly and gave a sardonic smile.

“Who painted that one?”

She pointed to the largest, most eye-catching painting hanging behind the Marquis’s seat.

The most splendid, the most noticeable painting.

In response to Rebecca’s question, Marquis Dunklin pointed to a boy of about sixteen.

“Haha, that boy. His name is Emil. Interestingly, he paints with his left hand. So his style is rather unique.”

“Left hand?”

“Yes, left-handed artists are rare, especially among painters.”

“Hmmm…”

Rebecca narrowed her eyes, gazing intently at Emil.

Left-handed, huh…

“Then he wouldn’t need his right hand, would he?”

Rebecca smiled, her lips stretching cruelly.

Nina Bayern.

That woman was being talked about for rescuing abused orphans and opening a legal consultation center to help the needy.

…But what if Rebecca became the sponsor of a poor, orphaned boy painter who struggles to paint with only one hand?

“Marquis, you’ve caught on to what I said, haven’t you?”

Momentarily taken aback by the unexpected cruelty, Marquis Dunklin replied in an interested tone.

“Yes, that’s an excellent idea.”

A one-armed painter…

The scent of money was overwhelming.

“…P-Please, s-save me. I don’t want this…”

Ignoring Emil’s tearful pleas, Rebecca asked.

“There won’t be any trouble, will there?”

No running away, or exposing them, etc.

“No, you don’t need to worry.”

Since this is a secret matter, from the start only those incapable of resistance or escape had been selected.

“P-Please, just spare me! I don’t want to be hurt!”

“Don’t worry. It’ll all be over soon.”

“……!”

And then, a terrible scream echoed through the secluded villa deep in the forest.

***

‘The Angels of Delphinium.’

The ‘exhibition’ of boys from the Delphinium Foundation’s orphanage was held at the Braumhill County.

This was because the Delphinium Foundation owned the gallery located in the busiest part of Braumhill’s city center.

Marquis Dunklin used the fund pooled by members to buy buildings across the empire and establish orphanages.

It had only been ten years since it was established, but with support from the imperial family and nobility, its roots had spread throughout the empire.

“…I hadn’t planned to buy a single painting, but hearing they’re by young boys gives me pause.”

In front of the Delphinium Gallery—

Nina stood on the bustling street, reading the pamphlet as crowds passed by.

She had assumed it was just another exhibition by new artists, but these were boys.

If even a single painting by these children—still living on dreams—remained unsold, it would feel bittersweet and sad.

“Even if you pay for it, the boy who painted it probably won’t see any of the money.”

A sardonic smile played on Ash’s lips.

In a proper business, except for a certain fee, the artist should receive their due payment.

Yet the lives of countless artists sponsored by the Delphinium Foundation remained impoverished.

Given the exhibition’s wealthy clientele and their extravagant spending, this was odd.

Even more so because most of the Delphinium Foundation’s money was being spent on acquiring buildings and land.

Officially, it was called ‘asset management’, but who knew what it really was.

Whether it was asset management for the sake of sponsorship, or outright embezzlement.

“But how did you know there was something fishy behind Marquis Dunklin?”