Oil On Canvas

Dojin looked at the studio, now devoid of traces of Water Play.Luca Orsini took the painting, using the appraisal as an excuse. The canvas pieces were carefully wrapped with soft cloths to avoid damage, and the tattered wooden frames, with traces of the painting still visible, were packed into crates. Dojin led the process.Luca didn’t even mind Dojin’s casual cleaning up afterward. Of course, no one could stay calm if they had Water Play in their hands.“Phew.”In the quiet restoration room, Dojin briefly replayed the events that had just transpired. He opened his phone and stopped the recording that had been running in the background, then rewound it to play from the beginning.The voices of himself and Luca Orsini, talking about promises before coming to the studio, were clearly recorded.“This time, we’ll have a contract.”Dojin’s eyes moved to a piece of paper placed on the desk.* * *“One more thing, then.”“Please write up a contract. I just realized Orsini can be quite petty about excuses.”He knew he could be rejected. Signora had also refused to make a contract, saying it was a secret, but that had led to this mess. This time, Dojin wasn’t willing to back down.“Alright.”Luca responded coolly.“Would a simple version be acceptable? I’m not really interested in involving lawyers in this.”“Oh, that’s fine.”In response, the man, who seemed to know the studio inside and out, found paper and a pen from a place Dojin hadn’t even noticed. He must have visited this studio before, and he seemed very familiar with the house.“I’ll write it like a confidentiality agreement.”Dojin nodded. Even though it was informal, Luca was quite meticulous. He handed Dojin the draft he had written.The key points were to keep the existence of the painting a secret, with the duration lasting until its authenticity was confirmed. In exchange, Dojin would be compensated with a professional position at Cà D’oro, and if the painting turned out to be real, he would promise to restore it alone.As Dojin slowly read through the contract, he frowned.He had never discussed any of this.At the end, in elegant handwriting, there was something that had never been discussed: if the story about the painting was leaked…“Does this mean I’ll be fired from Cà D’oro?”“To keep the secret, there needs to be a penalty. A binding contract is better.”It was a reasonable clause, but of course, Dojin didn’t like it.Was this even a valid contract? He had no intention of spilling any secrets, but the thought of possibly losing his job due to a slip-up was a different matter. After briefly thinking, Dojin decided to move past that issue.“Orsini. So, if the painting is real, are we going to proceed with this contract?”“It would be better to rewrite the contract based on this.”“Please add that part in.”“Is there anything else, Dojin?”“Well, if the painting is real, and you’re not able to… control the situation, what happens if there’s an issue with ownership? Now that it’s out of this house, who owns it?”“It’s my late grandmother’s. But think about it, Dojin. If my grandmother knew about this situation, would she have left the painting in this condition?”That was true. It was hard to believe anyone had knowingly allowed the painting to be in such a state.The condition of the painting was evidence that no one had known about its existence.“The will should be made public soon. Until then, we’ll have to wait and see, but as you said, Dojin, once it’s known that this painting exists, it will make things much more complicated than this contract. I don’t think I’ll let you restore it then.”Luca Orsini lightly spun the pen in his fingers and then tapped the desk with the edge of his fist, like a hammer striking at an auction.“So, if Dojin keeps the secret well, I’ll need to create a situation where the painting can become mine for the time being. That way, Dojin will handle the restoration.”He wasn’t naive enough not to understand what was going on. The moment Luca Orsini discovered him here, they were effectively on the same boat, whether he liked it or not.Unable to row alone on this shared vessel, Dojin carefully reread the entire contract. He picked up a pen, added one clause, signed his name with the date, and handed it back.“Trust is important, after all.”Luca showed little reaction to Dojin’s remark. He merely raised one eyebrow briefly, elegantly, before signing as well. They each prepared an identical copy of the contract and took one for themselves.“As promised, I’ll have the painting appraised immediately. The quicker we get results, the better for both of us.”“How long will it take?”“About two weeks. If we’re lucky, one week.”That wasn’t too long for a thorough appraisal. Dojin pulled out another sheet of paper and wrote down his phone number and email address.“Contact me as soon as the appraisal is done. Send the original documents separately and email me the copies.”“You’re more meticulous than I expected. I’ll do that.”“Have you ever seen a careless restorer?”“I haven’t, but you seemed like you might be.”It didn’t sound like a compliment. Dojin was well aware he looked younger than his age and could come across as a bit clumsy outside of work. He deliberately stiffened his expression.“What about this place?”“You can take a break from working here for now. No one’s commissioning anything at the moment. Things might change after the will is executed, but for now, I’d appreciate it if you avoided coming here. You wouldn’t want to repeat this whole ordeal every time someone catches you.”It was a fair point. Dojin nodded, and Luca held out a large hand as if in response.“To keep things clean, could you hand over the key and anything else you received from your grandmother?”“I can’t give it to you right now.”It wasn’t that Dojin didn’t understand the request, but it seemed wiser to proceed cautiously—double-checking every step.“I won’t keep it forever. After the will is disclosed, I’ll figure out the situation and return it to someone.”“That someone should be me, if we want to keep this secret.”“It doesn’t necessarily have to be you. I’ll keep the secret about the painting, but if word gets out that I’ve been here, I need something to explain myself.”“Fair enough. Is there anything else I need to know about this place, Dojin?”“My grandmother gave me a phone number. I think it might be hers, but I’m not sure. I tried calling it a few times, but no one answered. Here’s the number.”Dojin shared the number. Luca took it, tapping his finger on the desk thoughtfully before shrugging his shoulders.“If, by any chance, someone finds out you worked here, just tell the truth—leave out the part about the painting and, of course, the wall-breaking incident. Just say the wall was always like that.”Dojin froze at the mention of the wall.“…What? What wall?”How could Luca possibly know about that? Auctioneers typically knew a lot about art, but this felt almost supernatural. Dojin struggled to mask his expression.“The wall, I… Wait, how did you know?”“The ladder was a hint, but honestly, you just told me.”“What?”“You just confessed. Said you broke it.”Luca leaned on his chin and grinned, a mischievous smile that didn’t match his otherwise seductive face. It was a grin that screamed he was thoroughly enjoying how everything was going his way.To Dojin, it was the kind of smile that made him want to tear it off Luca’s face.“Your grandmother wouldn’t have left this much dust lying around. Saying it was always like that doesn’t really make sense. Don’t feel too guilty about breaking it. The thing was shoddily made. It’s a wonder it lasted as long as it did.”Was he trying to make Dojin feel guilty or not? Luca’s pointed tone about restorers was annoying, but Dojin swallowed his frustration. Losing his temper wouldn’t accomplish anything.“Don’t you think it’s strange for two walls with similar paintings to exist?”“Trust me. People will be far more fascinated by the gold frame around that mural. And this was Marisa’s studio, wasn’t it? They’ll just chalk it up to her eccentricity.”With that, Luca stood up. Dojin’s eyes followed him as he tucked the contract into the inside pocket of his coat and tapped the crated artwork lightly.“I think we’ve said everything that needs saying. I’d love to stick around and chat with you, Dojin, but honestly, I’m more eager to get the appraisal done.”“Take care.”“Dojin, if there’s something you want to take from here, grab one thing before someone comes snooping around. They probably won’t notice anyway.”Luca’s tone made it sound like he was offering a bonus, which stiffened Dojin’s expression.“Sorry, but I’m not that kind of person.”“I figured you’d say that.”Was he teasing again? Watching Luca’s back as he spoke, Dojin’s face twisted slightly.Now was the time.Though he hadn’t discussed it with Luca, Dojin couldn’t predict what kind of chaos might unfold once the will was executed, who would come barging into the studio, or how things would spiral if he got entangled.It seemed better to make the studio appear abandoned. People already seemed to believe that.He decided to display a few valuable-looking paintings downstairs and cover the studio’s reproductions with cloth, giving the impression that the space hadn’t been used in years.Dojin set up a ladder, carefully removed some of the better paintings, and hung them downstairs. He turned off the security system and covered the remaining items. He packed the newer restoration tools into a bag, hiding anything he couldn’t carry under a large, dust-covered cloth in the corner.By the time he spread the dust-streaked cloth over the reproductions and frescoes, the studio looked like a long-forgotten attic.“Not bad.”Creating the appearance of an aged space wasn’t too difficult for a restorer used to handling dust-covered artwork. After pushing the desk to the corner, Dojin took one last look around.“Whew.”A helpless sigh escaped him. Even though he’d done everything he could, an inexplicable unease lingered.Luca Orsini had a sly edge. His strange kindness, coupled with a habit of subtly revealing his shrewdness when it suited him, didn’t sit well with Dojin.That cunning made Dojin feel like a discardable pawn, leaving a sour taste. Yet whether that mistrust justified his actions was another question entirely.“What am I even doing?”The canvas fragments.That was the problem.Dojin switched to fresh gloves and took out the two largest pieces of the torn canvas from his pocket. After they had fallen to the floor, he had picked them up and, quite literally, pocketed them.As long as Dojin held onto these fragments, even if Luca tried to piece together the painting from memory, there would be conspicuous gaps.“If it’s real, I can just keep restoring it. If not, I can throw it away.”Though he tried to justify himself, he still felt uneasy. Wrapping the fragments in cloth, he placed them in a thin file and stashed it away.“Insurance, just insurance.”Everyone needs a little insurance, he told himself, finishing his cleanup. He didn’t know if he’d ever return, but for now, he had enjoyed the rare fortune of restoring artwork in the very studio Marisa had worked in. That wasn’t bad at all.His visit downstairs was tinged with lingering regret. Dojin touched a few items, including a kaleidoscope he’d particularly liked.Clunk.Again, clunk.Dojin clearly heard the sound of the door rattling. There was a faint metallic scrape, like a key being forced into a misaligned lock.“That’s not Luca Orsini.”Luca had never entered in such a manner. Dojin moved to a nearby window and peered outside.“Who is that?”It was a man. Though he couldn’t see clearly, the man had dark blond hair and was yanking at the door as if he meant to tear it off.Every time the door made a noise, Dojin’s heart sank. If the man managed to get inside, Dojin froze in place, staring at him as if rooted to the spot.“Ah.”For a moment, it felt like the man had seen him. Panicking, Dojin ducked down as quickly as he could. His heart raced. He wasn’t sure if the man had really spotted him.Whether or not he had, Dojin couldn’t stay here any longer.He moved downstairs as quietly as possible, muffling his footsteps. The rattling sound at the door continued, but it was still shut. Dojin made his way toward the garden on the ground floor. He had only been there once before, to fetch a ladder from a storage shed.“The wall’s low.”Back then, he’d wondered if the wall was so low that security might be a concern. Now, as he stacked toolboxes near the shed and climbed onto them, the reason for the low wall became clear.The wall didn’t need to be high.Beyond it was the canal.‘I’m screwed.’At the edge of the opposite side of the wall Dojin had climbed, he saw a short wooden dock connecting to the house.‘If there’s a dock, there must be a door.’But it seemed unused for a long time, as no door was visible from the garden. Even if there was one, there wasn’t enough time to look for it.‘Should I just jump?’The canals near residential areas weren’t supposed to be deep enough to drown in, or so he’d heard. Some parts were so narrow that two motorboats could barely pass each other. Thankfully, the canal next to Marisa Orsini’s house was one of those.The problem was the various restoration tools and the canvas fragments in Dojin’s bag.‘If they get wet…’Restoration tools could be replaced, but if the canvas got soaked, it would be a nightmare. He didn’t even want to imagine the scenario of that“Water Play” being ruined under his responsibility.‘What do I do?’He noticed a boat docked just below the wall, across the canal.Could he jump down and make it to the boat? It was covered, which might offer some protection, and it seemed possible.The odds weren’t entirely against him.Dojin glanced back. A faint white light was filtering into the dark house, and he thought he heard the creak of a door opening. There was no more time.Hoisting his bag above his head, Dojin bit his lip, took a short breath, and jumped off the wall.“Argh!”The sensation of floating in midair lasted only a moment before his feet hit the smooth surface of the boat’s cover. Relief was short-lived as his ankle twisted sharply to the side.As his body wobbled, terror gripped him—the thought of ruining a masterpiece was horrifying.With reflexes he didn’t know he had, Dojin threw his bag onto dry land and managed to regain his balance.“Ow.”A sharp ache radiated from his ankle, but it wasn’t too bad. Luckily, no passersby were around—he would’ve looked like a thief on the run.Grabbing his bag, Dojin quickly left the area.On his way home, he scanned the flyers posted in alleys around the large square. Venice had an old-town feel, and its habit of announcing deaths with paper flyers was part of that charm.[Eleonora Orsini]There it was—Signora’s obituary. According to Luca, she had barely passed away half a day ago, but being a prominent figure, news traveled fast.The face in the photo had a slightly sullen look, just like the face that had appeared in the torn canvas.Signora was really gone.For some reason, Dojin couldn’t quite believe it. She had been the one urging him to hurry with the restoration not long ago. She’d looked a bit tired but nothing more.‘What on earth is going on?’As he mulled over this, his phone vibrated in his bag. It was a call from Gemma.― Dojin, are you okay? Why haven’t you been answering?“Oh, uh, yeah. I’m fine.”― I was worried since you said you weren’t feeling well. Sorry I couldn’t reply in the morning, but you hadn’t responded at all, and I thought maybe you’d collapsed.“I was just sleeping.”He’d been so overwhelmed all day that he hadn’t checked his phone once since sending a message that morning about missing work.Dojin skimmed through his phone. Angelo and Gemma had both called several times, and Gemma had sent messages. Messages had also come from friends he’d studied with in Florence, mostly about Signora’s death.― Did you hear the news, Dojin?“Huh?”― About Signora…“Yeah. I just saw her obituary posted on the street.”― Right. So, about the funeral tomorrow—we all think we should go together. Angelo asked me to let you know. It’s all so sudden, everyone’s kind of in shock. Can you make it tomorrow?“Oh, yeah. That’s fine.”― I’ll send you the time and location in a message. Don’t push yourself too hard.After checking the details Gemma sent, Dojin returned home.That night, he had a disturbing dream. He couldn’t recall it clearly, but it felt like someone was chasing him.* * *The funeral wasn’t at a large cathedral like those in other Italian cities, as Dojin had assumed. He was mistaken. The address Gemma sent led to another island, a bit away from Venice but accessible by waterbus.At the stop, Gemma was waiting for him, wearing black sunglasses.“Dojin, have you ever been to San Michele Island?”“No, I’ve never even heard of it.”“It’s an island people only visit for funerals. It’s a cemetery—I’ve been there less than five times myself.”It was the off-season for tourists, and the timing was odd, so there weren’t many passengers on the water bus. Among them, only Dojin and Gemma were dressed in black. Anyone attending Signora’s funeral likely took a water taxi or had their own boat, as one might expect.The sky was overcast, and the sea breeze blowing through the open windows was sharp. Gemma let out a deep sigh.“We only ever heard she wasn’t in good health. Who would’ve guessed it was this bad?”“Right. Do you think a lot of people will be there?”“Of course. The whole Orsini family will gather. And not just the Orsinis—people from all over Europe will come. Even if they wanted a quiet funeral, the word would’ve spread. The fact that even we were invited says everything…”Gemma was unusually talkative, likely because she was nervous. Without replying, Dojin rubbed the Orsini family signet ring on his middle finger with his thumb.He wore it with the signet side turned inward against his palm, so others would just see it as a thick gold ring.‘I don’t know if I’ll get the chance.’Before heading to the funeral, Dojin had taken the ring from the safe. If possible, he wanted to personally return it to the late Signora. Though he was uneasy about keeping it loose in his pocket, so he wore it on his finger instead.San Michele Island wasn’t far. When they got off at the stop, it was just the two of them.“The church is over there.”Gemma didn’t need to explain. A long procession of people in dark, elegant clothing was heading in one direction, forming a line in front of the church. Gemma and Dojin whispered a few words to each other as they waited for their turn.Familiar faces appeared here and there. At first, Dojin assumed they were colleagues from the Cà d’Oro restoration team but later realized they were well-known artists or prominent art dealers.“The Biennale might as well start today.”Gemma’s comment carried a mix of awe and sarcasm, and she wasn’t wrong. Most of those gathered here would return to Venice for the Biennale in a few months.Dojin had never attended a funeral in Italy before, but he could tell that greeting the family at the church entrance was customary.At the entrance, the Orsini family, unmistakably an upper-class group, was receiving condolences. Among them was a familiar face.‘That man’s presence is too overpowering.’Luca Orsini, wearing a sleek black suit and his usual composed expression.Despite the large number of family members, all of whom were tall, Luca stood out the most with his imposing stature. He accepted handshakes and words of sympathy with perfect composure, exuding flawless decorum.Even so, he didn’t quite look like someone who had just lost a family member.‘As long as he doesn’t smile, it’s fine.’Then again, Water Play might already be in his hands.But that wasn’t Dojin’s concern.Or so he told himself, yet his eyes couldn’t leave the Orsini family.If Water Play were discovered—or if it somehow became public—the fallout among the Orsinis could be catastrophic. Luca’s demeanor alone hinted that this wasn’t a harmonious, ordinary family.Dojin observed them carefully. As the line shortened, those hidden behind the towering Luca Orsini came into view. Among them, one person in particular caught his attention.“Dojin, isn’t that film director right in front of us?”“Gemma.”“Huh?”“Who’s that next to Luca Orsini?”“Who?”“The blond guy, next to the church.”Though other Orsini family members had unusually light hair for Italians, the younger man beside Luca had slightly darker blond hair—the same shade as the man who had tried to enter Marisa’s house yesterday.Most people might not notice the difference, but Dojin, whose job involved matching colors perfectly during restorations, was certain.“Oh, that’s Claudio Orsini.”“Claudio?”“Yeah. He and his father are in charge of the Marisa Foundation. Didn’t I mention before? Claudio’s father and Marisa are half-siblings.”Dojin didn’t know how much of Marisa’s artwork Signora had held a stake in, but if Claudio was with the foundation, he must have been in a hurry, too.‘The foundation might not have much influence after all.’Judging by the estate and even the forged pieces, Signora seemed to hold most of the ownership.‘And they caused that commotion at Marisa’s house, as if they didn’t even have a proper key.’As these thoughts crossed his mind, the church entrance drew closer.The Orsini family was large, and it wasn’t clear whom they should approach first. Thankfully, Gemma took the lead, offering her hand to the nearest person—Luca.“I’m Gemma from the Cà d’Oro restoration team. My condolences.”“Thank you, Gemma. It means a lot that you’re here.”Caught off guard, Dojin also extended his hand. Luca’s large, gloved hand gripped his firmly.The Orsini family’s gazes briefly fell on Dojin.It was only natural—he was likely the only East Asian person there. It was surprising he hadn’t noticed this sooner. The attention made him falter momentarily.“Dojin.”Luca’s soft acknowledgment brought him back to his senses.“Oh, I… I work with her. My condolences.”“Thank you. Your presence is greatly appreciated.”And that was it. The attention shifted away, leaving only the Orsini family’s elegant nods toward Dojin.Just as he exhaled in relief and prepared to enter the church, an unexpected voice stopped him.“You work in restoration?”Turning around, he saw the speaker was the blond man—Claudio Orsini.Dojin wasn’t the only one taken aback. Nearby mourners and Orsini family members also looked at Claudio in confusion, their expressions questioning his intentions.“Sorry?”“Which field are you in?”“Uh… sorry?”“There are many fields in restoration, aren’t there? There’s Eastern painting, sculpture restoration…”Was this really something he was curious about right now?Dojin wasn’t sure if he should answer. Perhaps it was better to just say something and end this awkward exchange quickly.He was about to say, “Oil painting,” when Luca interrupted.“This doesn’t seem like the appropriate place for that kind of question, Claudio.”It wasn’t a tone that suited a funeral.“I was just curious, that’s all. Is there really an appropriate place for questions?” Claudio replied lightly.Though he didn’t seem much older than Luca—if anything, he might look older at a glance—his expression was oddly childlike.If anything, his demeanor betrayed an air of immaturity, as if he believed everything was within his control.“Luca isn’t wrong. There are many mourners to greet, so save your personal curiosities for later,” said a middle-aged man with a stern countenance. He had a robust build, and Claudio’s features were faintly visible in his face. Likely his father. At his words, Claudio’s face twisted in visible annoyance.“Let’s go inside, Dojin.”“Ah, yes.”Had it not been for Luca, Dojin wouldn’t have known how to conclude the situation. Bowing his head lightly, he stepped into the cathedral, where Gemma was waiting with wide eyes.“What’s up with Claudio?”“That’s what I’d like to know.”“Who started it, him or Luca?”“They just seemed… not to get along.”Gemma looked at him as if asking if there was more, but Dojin had nothing else to add. Lowering her voice, Gemma quickened her steps.“Luca Orsini and that side of the family especially don’t get along. I told you before, didn’t I? The Marisa Foundation messed things up with a sketchy sale, and Luca Orsini got into serious trouble over it.”“Sketchy?”“Someone consigned a piece to a gallery planning to sell it later, but the gallery’s appraisal deemed it a forgery, and it caused a huge uproar.”“There are forgeries everywhere. The buyer could’ve swapped it in the meantime.”“True, but it still looks bad.”Forgeries were everywhere. Famous paintings circulating the world were essentially massive currencies. The art forgery market was as vast as the illegal trade of drugs or weapons.“But for the Orsinis…”For a family with such a prestigious name in the art world, being associated with forgeries was beyond damaging.“I heard Signora managed to smooth things over somehow, but even so… they both deny responsibility. Luca Orsini claims he didn’t know, and the other side says the foundation isn’t at fault.”So it was just family infighting, but to Dojin, they were all the same.“For people who already have more money than they know what to do with…” Dojin clicked his tongue, catching Gemma’s arm as she breezed past the empty seats at the back. At this pace, she’d end up right in the front row.“Where are you going? Aren’t we sitting?”“We need to see Signora.”“See her?”Gemma looked at Dojin like he was the strange one.Now that he noticed, the line stretching from outside the cathedral led all the way inside to the open casket. People approached it serenely, murmuring a few words before moving on. There wasn’t really an opportunity to duck out of line.“Maybe I can leave the ring inside,” Dojin thought.As their turn approached, Dojin clenched his fist tightly. Up close, Signora didn’t look as uncanny as he had imagined.“She looks… peaceful,” Gemma murmured softly. True to her words, Signora looked at ease. Her wrinkled hands, resting on her chest, were bare of any rings.When Dojin reached the casket, it seemed like the perfect chance to return the signet ring. But he couldn’t bring himself to do it. The moment felt too brief, and there were too many eyes on him.A young, unknown Asian man—just for that reason alone, Dojin stood out too much in this space. Among the overwhelmingly older European mourners, Dojin felt the weight of their unspoken, questioning stares: What’s this peculiar creature doing here?“I can’t give it back now.”This was the only chance he’d have, but it was an unavoidable conclusion.* * *The funeral mass was brief.Once the ceremony ended, four men from the Orsini family—each taking a corner—lifted the flower-adorned casket. Luca Orsini was among them. His eyes were unusually red, and for some reason, that image lingered in Dojin’s mind.The burial didn’t take long, either. Once the earth covered the casket, people began to disperse. Dojin leaned toward Gemma and lowered his voice.“Is there something else after this?”“The Orsinis are here. That’s the reason people are here to pay their respects.”As Gemma said, most of the people on the island were lingering around the Green Eyes family.Dojin could sense that he needed to figure out who to approach and how in order to gain something for himself. Though, in the end, it didn’t really matter to him.“So, we’re leaving, right?”“Yeah. When’s the water bus coming?”There wasn’t much reason to expect regular trips from a water bus to such a remote island, far from any tourist spot.“Apparently in forty minutes.”“What? Forty minutes? What are we supposed to do while we wait? Damn it. I’ll go see if I can find anyone I know and ask if they can give us a ride. Wait here, Dojin.”Gemma huffed as she left, and after a while, still hadn’t returned, likely searching for a boat. It was awkward, but Dojin had plenty of time to spare.“Some weird people, huh?”At least the cemetery gravestones were interesting enough to pass the time. While Dojin mused on the fleeting nature of life, a surprising person approached him.“You said something about a boat?”Claudio Orsini.He wasn’t the kind of person who would normally have the time to approach Dojin like this. Given that he was an Orsini, there must have been plenty of people trying to get his attention, so why was he here? Dojin instinctively took a small step back, but then froze.“Hello. I just wanted to… offer my condolences.”With his pale blonde hair and green eyes, Claudio could be considered handsome. He was a bit older than Dojin, taller as well, and his demeanor was polished in a way that left little to be desired. However, there was something about him that lacked an overwhelming presence.He had the air of someone who had been steeped in parties—an impression of a rich young heir, yet different from Luca Orsini. There was something about him that was oddly insincere, as if he had learned to behave carefully, yet his expression gave off a subtly vicious vibe.“Ugh, Orsini people…”For that reason alone, Dojin didn’t want to get close. Though, of course, it wasn’t like he had a choice.“So, what’s your area of expertise?” Claudio asked.“Huh? What do you mean…?”“What I asked earlier. Don’t tell me you forgot?”Dojin was taken aback by Claudio’s irritated expression, especially since he hadn’t even introduced himself. Of course, Dojin hadn’t forgotten. He replied, albeit with a slightly annoyed expression.“It’s oil painting restoration.”“Really? People like you tend to take jobs away from others in this field.”Claudio tilted his chin up slightly and muttered this with a light tone.What the hell is he talking about?That’s when Dojin realized why he didn’t like Claudio. People who acted so refined on the surface often had this kind of attitude.Dojin wasn’t ignorant of the implications of his words.“Does he think that just because he speaks elegantly, it’s not nonsense?”Dojin stiffened his expression in response. Claudio, however, smiled subtly in return.“No need to get all serious. I’m actually glad when skilled people get the jobs they deserve. You must have great skills, so I’m sure you’ll be working in our restoration studio.”Even in his so-called compliment, there was an unmistakable air of superiority.It was infuriating that, despite the obvious condescension, Claudio expected Dojin to smile and accept it as praise. Dojin forced a slight grin. He tried his best, but it was hard to call it a smile.“I guess you’ve already met Luca?”“He’s working at Cà D’oro.”“Ah, I think Luca called you something earlier. What was it again?”It was clear Claudio wanted Dojin to reveal his name, but he wasn’t willing to oblige. If he had it his way, he’d be addressed only by his surname for the rest of his life.Pretending not to hear or understand, Dojin rolled his eyes, but Claudio quickly changed the subject.“It’s not because we’re cousins, but Luca’s actually a pretty decent guy, right?”“That’s what people say.”There wasn’t much Dojin could say about Luca Orsini. Somehow, despite the indifferent attitude he had shown, Claudio seemed rather pleased.“He’s quite practical. Very realistic, and his love for art isn’t as strong as it could be. That’s why people say he’s unusual for someone from our family, but in today’s world, what’s wrong with that? Some people think auctions are just a game for the refined, but Luca…”“I’m a bit preoccupied right now.”Dojin cut him off. He agreed with everything about Luca Orsini being a strange person, a sentiment he could repeat a thousand times. However, his conversation with Claudio, who seemed to know how to subtly discriminate and speak with airs of superiority, wasn’t particularly interesting.“Sorry, but may I ask your name…?”“You haven’t been here long, have you? Though, I suppose I haven’t been here much either.”Claudio’s previously confident expression suddenly shifted. While Dojin had expected some annoyance, he didn’t expect Claudio to wear such a long face, as if he couldn’t believe someone didn’t know his name. It was as if he thought anyone who had been here for any length of time should already know who he was.“I work for the Marisa Orsini Foundation. Claudio Orsini.”Claudio particularly emphasized his surname, then gave a belated smile, almost in a sly manner.“If you want to be more familiar, you can just call me that.”“Dojin.”It wasn’t Dojin who spoke. A tall figure appeared next to him, blocking his view. It was the all-too-familiar voice of Luca Orsini, the only person in Venice who could properly pronounce Dojin’s name.“Gemma was looking for you. It seems urgent.”“Where is she?”“Hmm, it’s a bit complicated to explain, but I’ll take you there.”While it was a relief to be able to leave the annoying Claudio behind, Luca’s offer seemed a bit out of the blue.It would be convenient for Dojin to find Gemma quickly, but that didn’t mean his fleeting thought of “why would he bother…” toward Luca Orsini had disappeared.“You’re probably busy, but if you could just tell me where she is…”Dojin gave a forced smile, which Claudio quickly interrupted.“If you tell me where she is, I’ll take you. I’ve got some things to discuss with this oriental restorer.”“Claudio. The signor Piacza is looking for you. I think it’s about the early sketches for Marisa’s sale.”“Signor Piacza? Where? Well, if that’s the case…”As soon as Claudio heard about the sale, a color that didn’t match the somber funeral scene spread across his face.He seems to be more focused on practical matters than anyone else.It was ironic, considering he was the one acting like a merchant at his grandmother’s funeral.Moreover, even though he hadn’t told anyone his name, hearing someone refer to him as the “oriental restorer” right in front of him wasn’t particularly pleasant.Luca lazily raised his finger and pointed in the direction of where Gemma supposedly was. Without any formal farewell, Claudio rushed off. That left only Luca in front of Dojin.“Mr. Orsini, is Signor Piacza really over there?”It made sense that Luca had pointed to the opposite side of the church, inside the cemetery, where no mourners were present. If there were any ghosts around, it might make sense, but Dojin highly doubted there was a living person where Luca had indicated.“I don’t see even a single ant over there.”“If you just buy expensive paintings, my cousin doesn’t care whether Signor Piacza is a ghost or a living person.”It was clear that Dojin and Claudio weren’t exactly on friendly terms.The situation was tense enough that if a dead relative were to cry over a failed harvest, it wouldn’t be out of place. But that wasn’t Dojin’s concern.“So, where exactly is Gemma?”“Well, I suppose she’s fine wherever she is.”“Pardon?”It was easy to forget that Luca Orsini, just like his cousin, could be just as absurd in his own way.“There are a lot of rumors about you, Dojin.”“Excuse me, what?”“About the love triangle at the Cà D’oro restoration studio, for example.”What the hell?It was one thing for rumors to float around, but hearing one so ridiculous, especially when it spread so widely, caught Dojin off guard.“I heard the restoration chief is the one spreading these rumors.”Dojin was shocked to learn that Angelo, who seemed to have no idea what was really going on, was actually aware of these rumors.Did he know and still let me restore oriental paintings? As the person in charge?The idiot with the bushy beard, who pretended to not know anything when talking to Signora, was the real culprit.