The Killer Queen ( Noella Briony ) novel Chapter 141

On the stage, the young girl was all smiles. Clad in a pale aquamarine chiffon dress, she seemed to merge with the oil painting behind her, a beauty so ethereal it was as if a sprite had stepped right out of an enchanted grove.

Her voice, a melodious tinkling, resonated with confidence, yet it sent shivers down the spine of many in the audience!

How could they dare to express dissatisfaction? Setting aside the repercussions of having offended Master Killian, even the Schnabels themselves wouldn't let them off the hook!

Standing beside Noella, Master Killian spoke with gravity, "Noella is my one and only apprentice in this lifetime. Her artistic talent surpasses even my own. If any of you wish to critique my apprentice, you'll have to go through me first!"

His implication couldn't be clearer.

Did they really think they could measure up to his apprentice?

Travis stepped forward, pride written all over his face. "Ladies and gentlemen, the exhibition begins now. Please, enjoy at your leisure."

He was beside himself with excitement! This was Master Killian in the flesh! For those in the art world, it was like their ancestors had blessed them with fortune!

Who could have imagined that Ms. Noella was the direct disciple of Master Killian!

Years ago, Master Killian had declared he would take only one student under his wing to inherit all he knew. With this, their gallery's status in Imperial City was set to be unmatched!

Noella escorted Master Killian over to the Schnabels. "These are my family."

Master Killian gave Marcel a nod, a gesture that conveyed ample respect to the Schnabels.

"Have they been good to you?" he inquired with genuine concern.

"Very," Noella replied.

Master Killian cared deeply about how the Schnabels treated Noella.

Coming from the Polaris Star, he knew all too well the challenge of accepting new family members, akin to throwing a ray of hope into an already sealed and darkened heart.

If they hadn't treated Noella right, he'd whisk her away without a second thought and join forces with the old timers to bring the Schnabels to their knees!

Master Killian's gaze lingered on the face of the four Schnabel sons, his eyes narrowing ever so slightly. "You taught the Lamberts a lesson, and that's good. Noella is the best child in this world. Should you fail her, I'll take her away, and you'll never see her again!"

Tristan hurriedly interjected, "Master Killian, you jest! Noella is the jewel of our family. We'd never mistreat her. As for the Lambert's troubles, we'll handle it without disturbing our dear girl."

He had no desire to let the Lambert's issues trouble his beloved daughter.

Master Killian nodded, his expression softening, and his gaze on the Schnabels turned gentler.

He then turned to Noella. "They seem to be a cut above the Lamberts. I can rest easy then. I'm tired; I'll head back to the hotel. I've got some business to attend to but will catch up with you later."

"Understood, I'll have Ivan accompany you."

"That would be helpful; I could use a hand."

As Master Killian made his way out, he cast a slightly reproachful look at Noella. "Why hide behind my name when yours could shine even brighter?"

The mysterious painter known as "Solitude", whose works had taken the international art scene by storm, was none other than Noella herself—a rising star whose paintings commanded even higher prices than Master Killian's.

Even in the depths of the deep web, Solitude's pieces fetched astronomical sums at auction!

If Noella were to host an exhibition under the name of Solitude, it would not just rock Imperial City but send shock waves around the globe!

"For now, there's no need. I don't seek the spotlight."

Her identity as Killian's sole apprentice was recognition enough. If her alias as Solitude were to be revealed, she feared she wouldn't have a moment's peace.

Initially, she had released her work under the alias Solitude out of boredom during an experiment, casually crafting a few pieces to appease Master Killian's impatience. To her surprise, they became an overnight sensation.

Master Killian shook his head with indulgent affection. "Suit yourself. Even if you publicly claimed to be Master Killian, I wouldn't mind."