The Versatile Master Artist

This phrase, like a motto, is likely the publishing philosophy of the magazine, and it’s not difficult to understand.

There is only one mystery that has lingered for a century, haunting the hearts of many collectors.

The question that has puzzled many is—who does the "K" in Tribute to Lady K actually represent?

"The original will of the Old Count Ilana still lies in the archives of my estate. The first stipulation on it demands that whoever inherits Oil Painting magazine among the descendants must preserve this tradition. On the last page of every issue, this sentence must be printed, to be recited over and over thousands of times."

Anna recalled the yellowed page of the will that she had once read.

"This seems like a game of hide-and-seek orchestrated by the magazine with collectors and art lovers around the world. Just who is K? Some speculate she was my great-great-great-grandfather’s lover from his youth, others say she was a teacher who introduced him to the world of art. Some even say it’s the initial of the word ’art’ in German. To this day, the magazine continues to receive a variety of letters from readers worldwide guessing the true identity of K. The magazine has even issued an announcement stating they don’t know the details either."

"So, aren’t you curious to know who this Lady K really is?"

Secretary Miss Eliot’s grey eyes opened wide as she nodded eagerly.

Who exactly is Lady K.

In the art world, it’s like the question of whether the five billion dollar Savior painting is really by Da Vinci’s hand.

It’s a perpetual gossip topic that stirs controversy online.

Various seemingly logical yet speculative interpretations from self-media flood the internet, but most seem rather unreliable.

Eliot thought this would remain an eternal mystery, until today when Anna unexpectedly brought up the subject herself.

"It’s not really an important secret. Back in the Old Count’s era, quite a few people knew K’s identity, but as it was nothing glamorous, everyone was just reluctant to mention it. In fact, the mystery’s answer lies right on the surface."

Elina pointed to the nameplate below the sculpture.

"Her name was Kara, the aunt my great-great-great-grandfather mentioned in the preface of Oil Painting magazine, the one who took him to Melk Abbey. She once bravely went to France to become a painter."

"I see."

Eliot stuck out her tongue.

The Old Count’s aunt.

This answer is neither good nor bad, an unexpected yet reasonable solution.

It wasn’t the kind of sweeping romantic love between a wealthy young gentleman and Cinderella that Eliot had imagined.

Once the mystery was stripped away, she even felt a little disappointed.

"A female artist? Uh... very admirable."

Eliot initially wanted to ask if she had any famous works.

However, the tactful Secretary Miss considered that during that era, there were only a few notable female artists, so few that each might have their own dedicated biography and documentary.

And some have even been adapted into art films.

Since she couldn’t recall anyone named Kara among them, and with the Elena family’s resources, she still couldn’t make a name for herself.

This could only indicate that her career was perhaps indeed... not very successful.

"Haven’t heard of the name, right? She has nearly no surviving works, and didn’t paint for many years before being captured by the butler and servants and locked in a basement until she died."

"My great-great-great-grandfather’s father, who once laughed heartily at being praised by guests as a great patron of artists, just because his sister became a true artist, joined his father in leading her to her death."

Anna murmured softly like a dream: "So, behind the Ilyena family name, it’s not as noble and clean as people imagine, is it?"

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