"Eh?"

Talia's eyes widened at Lanci's unexpected response.

Her face quickly felt hot.

She had assumed Lanci would vehemently deny it, but she hadn't expected him to agree so suddenly.

Talia was a little flustered.

No, no, she couldn't be deceived by him.

Surely, he was about to say something infuriating in the next moment!

Talia's unsettled feelings made her more worried about Lanci noticing any flaws, so she slowed her steps, staying behind him as he led her, instead of walking side-by-side.

She absolutely couldn't let Lanci see her expression now.

Yet, after waiting a long time, Lanci remained silent.

This left Talia unsure of what to say to him.

She used the back of her left hand and her sleeve to cover her flushed cheeks, turning her gaze away and repeatedly pondering what Lanci had meant earlier.

The two of them ascended the stairs, with the Corridor of Rationality and the Prosperity Corridor gradually unfolding before them.

A head and a cat's head popped up at the entrance to the gallery downstairs in the distance.

With many places to hide in the gallery, Rosalinda and Cat Boss dared to get closer to Lanci and Talia.

"Wow, the things they said just now, wow, wow."

Rosalinda was at a loss for how to express her thoughts, marveling aloud.

"What's this bringing me here for, meow, is this still Ranta?"

Cat Boss lifted a paw to cover his ears, doubting his own feline existence.

...

Platinum Sen Palace Corridor of Rationality.

As the two strolled and discussed, Talia paused beneath a painting, and Lanci stopped too, joining her in gazing at the artwork.

In the painting, a beautiful young girl, wearing a flowing long gown, lay peacefully on a grand Ichrite-style four-poster bed.

Her eyebrows were lightly closed, she wore a gentle smile, her expression serene and graceful, like a sleeping angel, with silver hair spread out on the white pillow and satin sheets accentuating her porcelain-like skin.

Outside the window was a lush forest, with trees full of dense foliage, and dappled sunlight filtering through the window's lattice, casting flickering shadows on the girl.

"Lanci, thank you for helping me find my sister."

Talia raised her head to gaze at the sleeping beauty in the painting, transfixed for a long time.

Visitors came and went, but only they stood in front of the painting for so long.

Lanci didn't disturb Talia with words, simply accompanying her quietly.

No matter how many times she looked, Talia always found the sleeping beauty stunning.

But the emotions this time, upon seeing the painting, were entirely different from before.

Remembrance and sadness had transformed into peace and joy.

All thanks to Lanci.

No matter how many times, she always wanted to thank Lanci.

"When I look at this painting, it feels completely different."

Lanci had previously intensely analyzed this piece of art, sharing insights with Talia.

Now he only saw it as resembling a neighborhood girl.

"My sister is truly beautiful."

Talia reluctantly shifted her gaze away from the painting.

The two wandered through the gallery again, and compared to outside, the atmosphere here was far quieter.

Perhaps it was due to the environment, they had no desire to cause a stir.

Passing through the main exhibition hall and arriving at Parie Square on the left wing, they went by the towering fountain adorned with statues of the gods of will and love, completing their tour of half the Platinum Sen Palace.

"By the way, your painting 'Enigmatic Beauty' is still in the Platinum Sen Palace, don't you care at all?"

Leisurely strolling through the corridors of a side exhibition hall near the exit of the Platinum Sen Palace, Talia suddenly cast her gaze in the direction she remembered and asked.

This Epic-level artwork born during the Platinum Level Card Maker exam was originally meant to be taken back to the Hutton Kingdom by the mysterious examiner who drew it, but due to the subsequent outbreak of war in the South Continent, it remained stored at Countess Rosalinda's Asturias' Count's Mansion, and under her arrangement, it was placed into the more secure Platinum Sen Palace, offered for a limited-time exhibition.

Unexpectedly, it had nearly become a permanent part of the collection.

"Enigmatic Beauty is always with me."

Lanci lowered his head to look at Talia and answered her.

"..."

Talia's calm expression gradually turned uneasy, as she averted her gaze.

Lanci had started speaking strangely too.

At this rate, she wasn't sure if she could resist much longer.

While the two were chatting, the lively exhibition area around them caught their attention.

A crowd had gathered around the fixed exhibition area, listening to a guide's introduction.

When Lanci and Talia looked at the painting, they immediately recognized the work—

A deep and dark night sky enveloped the canvas, with a woman in a ragged cloak standing silently under the dim lights of the temple, appearing like a ray of moonlight in the darkness.

Her face was completely covered by a dove, its white wings spread at the center of the painting, creating a striking and stunning visual impact.

"As you closely observe, you can glimpse the woman's eyes through the gaps in the night dove's wings, a pair of golden eyes, crystal clear and dazzling like gold."

The Platinum Sen Palace guide explained to visitors.

"Her gaze pierces through the dove's cover, directly onto the viewer. You can't help but step closer, wanting to uncover the mystery and see the true face of this Enigmatic Beauty."

"When you are only a foot away from the painting, the golden eyes of the Enigmatic Beauty are fixed on your face."