The Alpha's Revenge

Chapter 25: Unheard Talent

On the platform, Clovis looked at Kira’s figure, which was very unique in his eyes. “Master Javier, who was that lady in red clothes on the stage?”

“This…” Alpha Javier’s brows slightly furrowed as he watched his youngest daughter climbing on the stage. He knew how useless and untalented Kira was. Although she looked extremely pleasing tonight, it doesn’t hide the fact that she was a waste.

So, Clovis asking about her made him feel reluctant. He wanted to highlight his eldest daughter, Valerie, to him. In hopes that he will be interested in her. But for the whole time that Valerie was on stage, he didn’t show any interest.

Now that he was asking about Kira, he didn’t want to answer him. But he knew better not to offend Wishborne Castle. In the end, he lightly sighed, “That’s my youngest daughter, Kira…”

“Oh?… How come I’ve never heard of her? I thought you only had one daughter…” As Clovis looked at Kira again, his tone became more persuasive. “She’s quite beautiful… And her hair is quite unique.”

Alpha Javier did not express his opinion as he knew why, in some castles, it was known that he only had one daughter. It’s because whenever he had to travel to another castle, he would always bring Valerie along and leave Kira in the castle.

Truth be told, he was very ashamed of her. A wolf-less daughter of an alpha, it’s bad for his reputation. As much as possible, he didn’t want to broadcast her existence to other castles.

It would give the other Alpha a chance to embarrass him and he can't allow that to happen.

But tonight’s an unexpected one. He didn’t think that Kira would attend the examination. Valerie told him in the morning that Kira wouldn’t be able to attend because she was sick.

The physician also justified Valerie’s words. But looking at Kira who was standing on the stage, she didn’t look like someone who was sick. She looked more healthy than she was before.

Alpha Javier intently looked at the girl’s figure, his eyes darkened as his mind was in deep thoughts.

On the stage, the competition is about to begin. There were seven long tables on the stage and there were brushes and ink placed on them. After they headed to their assigned places, the examiner placed the board in front with the theme for tonight’s examination…

The stage was very spacious as Kira sat in front of the table. For the theme, it was written on the board in bold letters.

‘JUSTICE IS IN THE HANDS OF THE PEOPLE'

Kira almost scoffed after reading the phrase. ‘Justice is in the hands of the people?… Who are they kidding? If that is the truth, how come many people, especially low-ranking people, always suffer injustice?’

As Kira looked coldly at the blank canvass in front, her thoughts drifted again to the past. The past where she suffered too much injustice… Just because she was powerless, she became a dispensable piece that if one becomes useless, one can easily throw away.

The other competitors had already started picking up their brushes as soon as they heard the starting signal. But it was different for Kira. She didn’t start immediately.

“Lady Valerie, is Kira having a hard time thinking about what to paint? Look, she’s the only one who hasn’t started yet?… Don’t tell me she didn't know how to hold a painting brush?” Leslie commented with mockery on her face.

Valerie also looked at the stage and couldn’t help but feel happy in secret. ‘This is the price for making me embarrassed a while ago… Who do you think you are?… Now, suffer the humiliation by yourself. You can’t blame anyone but yourself! Who told you to show up for this examination? If only you stayed in your room, you wouldn’t have to experience this,' she thought viciously.

But she didn’t let anyone have the gist of what she truly felt. Despite her euphoric feelings, she showed a sad and worried look on her face before saying, “Don’t say that Leslie… I’m sure she will definitely going to come up with something. This is the first time Kira has held a brush, so it’s understandable for her to have a little trouble with it.”

Just right after she spoke those words, Kira took her brush and started her work. Her brush movements were proper, as if she had received rigorous training and there seemed not to be anything wrong to pick at.

Her bright red cloak was making a vigorous fluttering sound as she sat properly with her forehead slightly bowed. As she made stroke after stroke on the paper, her brushstrokes were smooth, as if she paid it no mind.

The calm and confidence she had on stage, resembled a blooming flower that was just starting to blossom in a wild desert alone. She looked exceptionally beautiful, like she was a perfect painting itself.

“It looks like Lady Kira knew how to paint after all” Katelyn commented. Her eyes were looking at Valerie and Leslie with mockery. She heard their conversation a while ago but kept her voice down.

She still doesn’t have any idea whether Lady Kira could really paint or not, but she has trust in her. And she was indeed right, looking at how skillful she was on stage. It made Valerie’s words invalid.

Valerie smiled reluctantly but her hands were clenched tightly. Why does it seem that Kira was just waiting for her to voice her opinion? It made her look like a joke after she said that Kira didn’t receive any proper education in painting.

Although that was indeed the truth, looking at her on the stage, with her swiftness and control of the brush, she didn’t look like someone who didn’t have any knowledge at all.

Katelyn paid her no heed and focused on Kira again. She suddenly had this thought that maybe tonight’s examination wouldn’t be the same as the past. This infamous princess would bring an exemplary show that she can’t help but feel excited about.

Alpha Javier frowned after looking at Kira’s performance. Since when did she learn how to paint?… It doesn’t seem like she learned it a few days ago. Her technique was on par with Valerie’s, even better.

But it doesn’t make any sense. He knew everything that was happening inside the castle. Aside from staying in her room, she did not go out. And the only people who were with her all the time were Auntie Herma and Bariston. Both of them didn’t know any scholarly arts, so it was impossible for her to learn that from them.

And aside from that, her temperament completely changed. He had already observed it when she had woken up from her high fever. But he disregarded that and thought that it was just a passing matter. However, as he looked at her now, she had really changed. How could a person’s temperament be like the sky and earth turning upside down? Is this really her youngest daughter, Kira?

Bariston concealed the surprise in his heart. He didn’t know that his lady could paint so well. He had already seen some of her changes but he couldn’t help but feel surprised all over again. It’s like his lady has a lot of secrets about her that every time she does something, he would be caught off guard over and over again.

“This is truly strange,” a man in a green robe commented. “Isn’t it said that Lady Kira was an i***t who doesn’t know any scholarly arts? But why doesn’t she resemble that i***t they were talking about?”

Leslie was stunned after hearing the comment. She doesn’t like hearing any praise of Kira. But she knew better not to fall into a rage during this event. She tried her best to suppress that hatred and snorted, “She was only acting… Wait for the result of her painting. I’m sure it will be very inferior to sister Celina’s painting.”

Soon later, the drummer beat the drums, indicating that the time was already finished. Celina put her brush aside and smiled confidently. She was sure that her painting was the best among the other contenders.

On the other hand, Cinder also put her brush away. She turned around to look at Kira. She initially thought that Kira would make a joke of herself again, but from what she saw, she had changed.

Kira had already put her brush aside and looked calmly while waiting for the person in charge to collect their painting. Aside from the participants themselves, only the judges and the person who collected their paintings have seen their final product.

As Kira descended from the stage, she was immediately approached by Valerie, “Kira, I didn’t know that you could paint! I’m so proud of you!… By the way, what did you paint earlier? I’m curious.”

“You will know later” Kira smiled lightly and it was a smile with a deeper meaning that Valerie couldn’t feel but shudder.