Page 25 of Gilded Crown

Aurelius and Jari had ignored him and gone downstairs because again, the Prince said they couldn’t accuse him or pretend to be bothered. Feeding Zylem any attention wasn’t a good idea because it would only increase his appetite for it, andJari supposed that was another reason why Aurelius often acted like nothing happened.

Aurelius spoke after several seconds while the horses walked. “We can have courtiers come to watch the proceedings. As long as they're quiet and not too distracting, I’m sure Mr. Hugo won’t mind. It’d be entertainment, and after a sitting, they can speak to him. Some might want commissions of their own later. While that’s happening, I can be present, Zylem won’t attack me in a room full of people, and whenever Eurig leaves, you’ll slip out after a minute as if you need the privy. Zylem’s been showing interest in some dumb cousin to a lord, so maybe he’ll be in there too, and he'll distract Zylem.”

“But what if everyone else starts leaving too?”

“We’ll play it by ear. A portrait isn’t done in one day, and we’ll have several chances at this. I’ll be all right with others around for a short time, and this is important. Also, he won’t catch me by surprise. You’ll follow on your own so you don’t attract attention, spy, and if it seems too dangerous at any point, you need to retreat. If he gets suspicious, he might not bring it out again.”

“All right.”

The painter, Mr. Hugo, was doing well for himself since he had a large stone house in the city, and a servant answered the door. She grew flustered since Princes don’t stop by people’s homes for the most part. Aurelius flashed her a smile, although it was a rather stiff one, and her whole face turned pink.

Once they were in the sitting room, she hurried upstairs to tell the painter. The windows were open for air and light, and a good deal of the wall space was taken up by art. A particularly large painting showed a nude man with butterfly wings as he suggestively posed on his side with a scrap of cloth that covered absolutely nothing important.

“That’s what I need in the morning,” said Jari. “An eyeful of random dick.”

Others showed city life with people bustling to and fro. Jari recognized some as Morning Glory, and while he was no art expert and could barely manage stick figures, the detail was astounding. Aurelius seemed more interested in one of a house on a grassy hill with woods in the distance and a paddock where two horses grazed. The one next to it showed a house set back from the ocean. Tiny shells littered the sand, and in the distance, two figures walked.

“He is quite skilled.” Aurelius lingered in front of the beach one. “He’s only been here in Morning Glory for a few years, and someone else did our portraits before, but if we’d known him back when I was little, I think Father would have hired him.”

“I guess you like those two,” said Jari.

“Sometimes, simple is the most alluring.”

Jari wasn’t sure what to make of that comment. He honestly couldn’t see Aurelius enjoying the beach in real life. Courtly clothes wouldn’t do well, sand might end up in untold places, and the salt and wind would muss his hair. “Have you ever seen the ocean? I haven’t.”

“No.”

Aurelius wandered along the wall and lingered in front of a painting of a muscular man on his hands and knees. A collar circled his neck, and someone out of view was holding the lead.

It figured he’d like that. He probably wanted to put Jari on a lead and make him follow.

Footsteps pounded the stairs, and it turned out the nude, winged man was Mr. Hugo himself. Dear Elira, how did he look anyone in the eye after they’d seen that self-portrait? He greeted the pair and told the servant to take Aurelius’s cloak.

“It’s warm, and you don’t make Princes carry their own cloaks.”

“Right away, Mr. Hugo.”

“It’s a pleasure to meet you.” Aurelius undid his cloak clasp and slid it off to hand to the servant. “I’ve seen a couple of your works and heard nothing but good things.”

Mr. Hugo’s teal and green butterfly wings fluttered with excitement. Money was surely coming his way if the Crown Prince was standing in his house and complimenting his talent. The pleasantries were kept up as Mr. Hugo led them upstairs. The servant went to make refreshments.

The man’s studio had floor-to-ceiling windows on one side, work tables covered in supplies, and three easels set up. Canvases leaned against the walls, some paintings were hung up, and it all looked like a mess to Jari. So many brushes, paint pots, rags, bowls, cups, and trays for mixing littered the tables, he imagined the man must spend more time searching for things than actually working.

He must have had some sort of system for it in his head. Mr. Hugo hastily cleared some books from a round table closer to the wall and apologized.

“My Father is interested in having his portrait done.” Aurelius sat in a chair. “It’s been a while, and the man who did most of our work is getting up there in years. I think traveling would be hard for him now, and art from someone of your caliber would be an excellent addition. He wanted me to speak to you in person.”

Mr. Hugo practically glowed as if Elira herself had praised him, and his wings kept twitching. “Will all of the family be getting single portraits? Or maybe a big one with the entire family at once?”

Aurelius hesitated as he shifted in his chair, and Jari stood by the wall a few paces away. “The King requires his single portrait first. The rest can be decided later.”

The servant brought tea, and Aurelius told Jari he could sit and relax since Mr. Hugo likely wasn’t about to stab him with a paintbrush. Mr. Hugo brought out a few paintings he’d done and explained he could do one from the waist or chest up. The subject could be seated or they could stand and even pose, but sometimes, that grew tiring.

“I think Father would prefer to stand. He’ll wear his crown, and you can do the whole of him.”

Mr. Hugo leaned his works against the wall and finally sat. Did his wings ever stay still? They kept fidgeting even though they were folded against his back. “Am I going to be taking artistic liberties?”

“Mm?” Aurelius raised an eyebrow. “Father’s older, but he’s not ugly.”

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