TFA1 2.5 - Grandmaster of Fine Arts

Medical Tent, Amethyst Merchant Camp.

13:20, 19 Feb 2025

Mier looked at Sia with a soft smile. After feeding her porridge, the cute girl then peeled an orange for her.

"Grandma Mier, from now on Sia will take care of you."

Mier had lost track on how many times Sia had repeated the words, but she never got tired of hearing it.

For more than a decade Mier was the Chief Servant of Vadiz Family that ruled Tuscan Region for over 300 years. When Vadiz Family was about to leave Magwurt City, Count Vadiz and his wife directly asked her to come with them, but without hesitation Mier refused.

Not long after that Tuscan Region's condition fell to its lowest point. However, even though Mier living conditions were getting more difficult and full of uncertainty, she did not hesitate to pick up Sia who had lost her mother due to an illness.

The only regret that Mier had was that, she couldn't provide a decent life for Sia. However, that regret began to evaporate when a few days ago she woke up on a very comfortable and warm bed, in a brightly lit tent and there was a sweet girl waiting for her.

It took a while before Mier realized that the cute girl was Sia. It was reasonable because the child had a clean and radiant face, shiny straight black hair, and was wearing colorful clothes.

Only when she heard Sia call her name while sobbing and hugging her tightly, did Mier fully believe that the girl was Sia. Since then, Sia would cheerfully feed her, accompany her, massage her feet and hand, and tell her some news she heard when she went to the dining tent.

Mier ate a slice of orange that Sia gently handed her over before asking, "Sia, is it true that Amethyst Merchant is recruiting workers on a large scale?"

"Mhm." Sia nodded firmly before answering, "They open a Job Fair Tent and carry out selection before sending the candidates to a training program."

A glimmer of hope shined through Mier's eyes, while in her heart she promised to visit Job Fair Tent as soon as possible. Moreover, Sia also said that in a few days Amethyst Merchant would open a school that accepted students whether the students come from commoners or noble families.

'I have to make sure Sia gets an adequate education.'

Mier was hardened her resolve when a nurse suddenly approached her, together with a casual man. Mier did not recognize the man, but Sia looked at the man with wide eyes.

Sia recognized the man. He was the colleague of the man who some time ago gave her a piece of sweet and soft bread.

"Lieutenant Colonel Slane, this is Mrs. Mier, and Mrs. Mier, this is Lieutenant Colonel Slane from Amethyst Merchant."

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In an instant, a shock and wonder why a high-profile figure visited her filled Mier's mind. Then, she respectfully said, "Ser Slane, I deeply apologize for I can't get up to give you a salute."

Lt. Colonel Slane smiled before sitting next to the bed on the chair offered by Sia. "Ma'am, you don't need to. I'm not a noble."

After flabbergasting for a moment Mier said, “Thank you, for pardon this commoner rudeness.”

Lt. Colonel Slane smiled and waited until the nurse who introduced him left with Sia before saying, "I comes here to ask you a few questions. I hope Mrs. Mier doesn't mind answering them."

"Of course not, I will answer as best as I can."

Lt. Colonel Slane nodded in satisfaction before asking the first question. "I heard you refused Vadiz Family's invitation to move to Makai Royal City, may I know the reason?"

"I don't want to serve noble families who leaved their people."

"Did you ever have contact with them after Vadiz Family's departure, or at least know their condition?"

Mier nodded. "Six months after they left a servant from Vadiz Family came to see me, and once again delivered the invitation from Count Vadiz and Lady Rorie.

The servant also told me that Vadiz Family's first daughter married one of Duke Kalzar's son. So even though Vadiz Family lost their title, they still got a place in Makai Royal City, and the art gallery they opened was growing rapidly."

Lt. Colonel Slane pondered for a moment before saying, "Apart from being the Chief Servant for Vadiz Family, I heard you are also a professional appraiser, and very good at organizing parties for the nobles.

There is even a story that a member of Makai Royal Family who visited Castle Magwurt became fascinated by your insight in fine arts and offered you to become manager in his art gallery."

Mier took a deep breath before answering, "I understand one or two things on how to assess the artistic value of a work, but I don't have a professional Appraiser certificate. I also know how to organize a party, but it's not as great as people say.

As for the insight in fine art, I got it because when accompanying Lady Rorie to study at Makai Royal Academy, I often helped her with her assignments."

Mier described her abilities as simple and humble. However, Lt. Colonel Slane had already been told by Viscount Rattel that Mier's skill was at the level of Grandmaster.

From the meeting, Lt. Colonel Slane only wanted to know Mier's character and personality, as appraisers and art lovers usually had unique personalities that were a bit difficult to understand.

Fortunately, from his conversation with Mier, Lt. Colonel Slane could understand that Mier was just an ordinary woman in her old age, and it's unlikely that he would experience significant problems when working with her.

Lt. Colonel Slane then said, "Amethyst Merchant intends to bring in artworks, but does not have a reference that can be used to determine whether a work will be accepted or reviled by local art lovers. We also need advice on cultural assimilation so that there is no conflict between the local culture and the one we carry.

In short, we need your expertise and intend to offer you a position as an art consultant. Would you like to consider our offer?"

"I accept it," without further thought Mier answered.

"Are you sure you don't want to consider it first? I mean, you haven’t checked the draft for the work contract."

"At my age, there are not many jobs I can take on, and if I can work in a field that I love, then it is a blessing."

Lt. Colonel Slane nodded slowly before saying with great seriousness, "I'll make sure you don't regret your decision."

For Lt. Colonel Slane, fine art was an alien world, no matter whether it was on earth or Amstell Continent. The problem was that, the artistic taste of upper-class society could be used as an entry point for political or economic diplomacy. So he could not just ignore it. Luckily, now he had a good compass to guide him.

While smiling from ear to ear, Lt. Colonel Slane handed a draft of the work contract to Mier.

*****