The Art Support Association

To maintain her image, Lux could only bring out her own pocket money and establish an "Art Support Association" for these frustrated artists.

The "Art Support Association" aimed to support artists who had decent skill but received little appreciation. To conceal her identity as a mage, Lux had gone all out. Under Karya's guidance, she did her best to play the part of an enlightened noble who loved and supported the arts.

In fact, she was even more passionate than nobles who genuinely loved art.

An enlightened noble who loved the arts spending a little money on them... Well, that was only natural.

When Ogesha heard about the association Lux had founded, she not only didn't object but also offered a sum of money to support it. In her eyes, establishing the association was nothing short of a stroke of genius!

Ogesha might not know much about art, but she knew politics.

In her view, the association would let Lux win over many frustrated artists. And because she trusted her daughter's skill and judgment, she was certain the association would produce quite a few genuine master artists.

Unlike those art brokers who merely sought to bask in the glow of the nobility, truly talented masters could have a tremendous influence on Demacia. As their patron, Lux would naturally be able to share in that influence.

Well, no wonder she was my daughter. She'd clearly inherited her mother's political acumen. She was leagues ahead of her one-track-minded father.

That evening, Ogesha praised Lux over dinner and formally offered to contribute some funds toward the association's operations.

Then she began using the situations she'd encountered while founding her own ladies' tea society as examples, teaching Lux in detail how to run an association.

Lux, meanwhile, was completely dumbfounded.

Why do I need to learn this stuff?

Wait, I only wanted to build an image as an art lover. I never intended to use art to expand my influence!

But seeing her mother looking so pleased and vindicated, Lux couldn't bring herself to deny any of it. In the end, she could only nod awkwardly and say, "I've got it, I've got it."

After dinner, using the excuse that she needed to "digest all that knowledge," Lux went to the garden alone.

"Karya, what's going on?" Lux stood beside the pond, one hand resting on the hilt of her sword. "Mother... the association... What is all this?"

"She thinks you're good at handling this sort of thing, and sees the association you founded as a place to expand the Crown Guard family's influence and socialize with the nobility," Karya replied as if it were obvious. "Isn't that clear? She's always been happy to see you manage these things."

"That's not what I'm asking." Lux gave a cold snort. "Don't play dumb with me, my dear teacher. You orchestrated everything at the banquet!"

"Ah, that was to maintain your image as an art lover as much as possible!" Karya said, sounding utterly innocent. "I was only just managing to keep up with all those people so passionate about art..."

"Don't try to muddle the issue!" Lux raised her voice. "You knew what kind of influence this association would bring. You knew what it meant from the very beginning!"

"Ah, how touching!" Karya was still being unbearably theatrical. "My dear student, the image of your teacher is finally growing grand in your eyes. It seems you think I can see through every political maneuver—"

"It's not what I think. It's the truth." Lux cut off Karya's operatic performance and sighed helplessly. "Why are you doing this? Why are you dragging me completely into the whirlpool?"

"Whirlpool? This is the pinnacle," Karya said lightly. "The pinnacle of Demacian power!"

"But I don't want any of this!" Lux made as if to take off her sword belt. "You know perfectly well that I never wanted to stay in the Demacian Imperial Capital and play boring political games with masked nobles, following their rules of etiquette!"

"Then what do you like?" Karya asked in return. "Tell me, Lux. If you don't like politics, what do you like?"

"I want adventure. I love stories, travel, and seeing more of the world!" Lux raised her head and looked up at the glittering night sky. "I love anything new!"

"Yes, anything new. That's what young people long for." Karya's voice finally held a hint of ruefulness. "But unfortunately, along with the desires in your heart, you also have to bear the responsibilities you owe your family, your country, and Runeterra."

"I'm not refusing those responsibilities." Lux sat down beside the pond. "I want to be a good daughter to the Crown Guard family, make my parents happy, and keep an eye on my dim-witted brother. I want to be a good soldier of Demacia. If my country needs me, I can put on armor..."

"Yet being a good daughter of the Crown Guard family means becoming a political creature," Karya interrupted, showing no mercy to Lux's daydreams. "And Demacia doesn't need you as a soldier right now. If you truly care about your country, the best thing you can do is push for the normalization of magic."

"..."

Karya's words left Lux silent.

That was the contradiction she was facing.

Karya was absolutely right.

Lux's own dreams seemed incompatible with what her family and country expected of her and needed from her.

Lux longed to be a free and happy traveler.

But the Crown Guard family needed a capable, mature next-generation matriarch, and Demacia needed a savior who could solve the Rune Stone problem.

"Are the choices in life always this difficult?" After a long silence, Lux finally spoke again. "Or is it only when you're a child, full of naive wishes?"

"I'd like to comfort you by saying it gets better when you grow up," Karya replied softly. "Unfortunately, the truth is... it's always like this."

"That's awful." Lux stood up. "But for some reason, hearing that answer actually makes me feel relieved."

"Of course you should feel relieved," Karya chuckled. "Because it means that even in the future, you won't become the sort of political creature you despise now."

"Well said, Teacher Karya." Lux lifted her head again. "Now tell me what your next step is. I'm sure you've prepared a long, comprehensive plan for me, one where I'll gladly accept every step."

"Don't make me sound like some great villain, Lux," Karya said, as if deeply aggrieved. "But I do have a plan..."

Half a month later, the Crown Guard family's "Art Support Association" officially opened its doors.

Many struggling, frustrated artists spread the word, and before long, the temporary office was packed with visitors.

But Lux, the association's patron, didn't show up. She handed most of the day-to-day work to specially selected professionals and stayed in her carving room, using a chisel to engrave Magic Circuits into smooth, sturdy Nullstone.

She kept at it for a whole year.

A year later, when the "Art Support Association" successfully organized its first art exhibition, a remarkable statue on display caught the attention of nearly every visitor.

It was a miniature city. Its distinctive walls and the towering Dawn Citadel made it clear that the city was the Demacian Imperial Capital.

The sculptor's work was exquisite, capturing an immense city in a statue less than three feet long and wide. Yet many of its details still caught the eye. From people in the residential district cooling off on their rooftops to children chasing merchants through the streets, every figure was lifelike and vivid.

Objectively speaking, the statue didn't have much in the way of artistic thought or expression. But its unique realism made even people who knew nothing about art feel the creator's love for the city.

Of course, what drew everyone's attention wasn't just the statue's quality. More importantly, the name listed under "Artist" read: Luxanna Crown Guard & Sona Buweier!

Those two peerless beauties had pulled off another astonishing feat for Demacia's nobles without anyone realizing it!

Before long, Lux and Sona, who had faded from the center of attention, once again became a hot topic among the nobility.

And since they were both about to turn twelve, quite a few families had begun entertaining some very questionable ideas.

Most noble girls were little more than pawns for political marriages.

But those two... They were different!

They were talented in their own right!

Demacian law might forbid anyone from doing anything to girls under twelve, but that didn't stop kids their own age from "making friends" with them, did it?

So Lux was surprised to discover that, at some point, more and more lively, chuunibyou boys had started showing up around her.

These fourteen- and fifteen-year-old lads were either impeccably polite or full of energy. Every one of them seemed eager to get on good terms with her.

If she'd been a normal twelve-year-old girl, she might have developed some fluttery thoughts of young love—or at least felt proud of her own charm. But unfortunately, as a clear-headed and composed mage, Lux usually felt like she was looking at a bunch of monkeys whenever she saw boys her age.

Well, that might have been a little rude to the young men. But thanks to her teacher's influence, although Lux seemed as dazzling as sunshine, she was anything but naive.

At first, Karya was the only one mocking these young men.

Later, Lux joined in.

Lux was fairly tolerant of those who were merely admiring her or trying to prove themselves. But when it came to sleazy men—or outright trash putting on an act—she could see right through them at a glance!

An act?

Heh. Lux didn't believe anyone in the world could be better at acting than she was. For the past three years, she'd managed to talk to Karya while handling every social interaction flawlessly. You nobodies really thought you could compete with me?

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