Arte (アルテ)

Sixteenth century Florence--

During this period, most commoners didn't have stone ovens in their homes,

so they would either share ovens,

or bring their dough to a bread baker to get it baked.

Hey, it's done baking!

Who's waiting for four loaves?

Yes, here! Those are mine!

Oh, Miss, it's you!

Did you try the leavening agent I told you about last time?

Yes, I used it in today's dough!

Then, go back and have a taste!

I will!

Leo, I'm back.

Oh. Then let's clean up before we eat.

Hey, Arte. Take this.

Yes, sir.

You... How did that happen?

I'm sorry!

"Courtesan"

"Courtesan" The other day,

when I got close to Leo, my chest suddenly started hurting...

Since then, I've been feeling weird...

When my face just gets close to Leo's, I start having trouble breathing...

And if our bodies touch just a little, like earlier, I end up overreacting...

There were also times I got in trouble for being in a daze...

Is there something wrong with me after all?

Here.

Oh, thank you very much.

This tastes better than usual.

Oh, the man at the bakery taught me a trick to making the dough.

I see.

Yeah, it's good.

Even when it's delicious, the sour look on his face doesn't go away, huh?

Leo doesn't smile except in extremely rare instances.

On top of that, it's impossible to predict when and at what he's going to smile.

But maybe that's why I was so shaken by that unexpected smile.

So much that it made my chest hurt.

I wonder if he'll smile again like he did back then.

If he does, then maybe I can figure out why I've been feeling strange lately.

Hey!

Can you hear me?

Huh? What? Were you saying something?!

I was talking about work. After we finish eating, we're going out.

Yes, sir!

Don't be so absentminded. Are you feeling ill?

I-I'm sorry!

I did it again...

A portrait?

Yeah, there's a patron who's a regular customer of mine.

She often asks me for portraits.

Oh...

You met her the other day.

--Huh? --You know,

the courtesan you met during Carnival.

Please wait a moment.

Was she always rich?

No.

She's renting this house with the money she makes from being a courtesan.

What?!

W-Wow...

Apparently, she's also supporting her mother and young brother and sister.

Really?

Leo!

Welcome.

I'm counting on you this time, too.

Oh, my, how unusual!

What's going on? Bringing a girl with you...

She's--

A pleasure to make your acquaintance. I'm his apprentice, Arte.

Oh, my.

It's hard to believe such a well brought up girl is Leo's apprentice.

I'm Veronica. Nice to meet you.

This time, it's for a gentleman who likes intelligent women.

So I thought to use this study as a background

and either hold a book or spread it out on my lap.

Is something wrong?

Huh? Oh, it's just... I was thinking that you had so many books.

Education is also required in order to entertain gentlemen,

so I have read all the books here.

W-Wow...!

What an interesting girl.

Huh?!

Oh, but wasn't the apprentice you had with you the other day a boy?

This is the same apprentice.

Oh, dear, you had me completely fooled!

When I look at her again,

I can see that she's really beautiful and has lovely expressions.

You look very interested in this study.

Would you like to borrow some books?

Huh? I-Is it really all right?

Thank you very much!

You said your name was Arte, right?

Yes!

You can't look at being a prostitute with such sparkling eyes.

Could it be that you're an innocent girl who doesn't know what kind of work I do?

I-I think I probably know... what kind of work it is...

But seeing this mountain of books, I can't help but respect you.

I'm not respecting your profession.

I'm respecting your hard work.

Leo.

Yes?

I like this girl.

I want her to paint my portrait.

What about the compensation?

I'll pay the usual amount plus the cost of materials.

Very well.

Arte, it's your first job.

All right!

It's my first time being requested for a job!

After that, I visited Veronica often in order to paint her portrait.

Veronica was kind even to me, an apprentice painter,

and she held salons at her house to entertain visiting gentlemen

with her wealth of knowledge and gentle way of talking.

She always had a book in her hand,

and whenever she had even a little time, she would read.

The more I knew about her, the more I respected her and liked her.

Did you borrow another new book?

Yes, I did! All the books I borrow from Veronica are so good!

--She chose all of them for me, you know. Isn't it amazing?!

--Okay, okay. --She chose all of them for me, you know. Isn't it amazing?!

--I'm well aware that you love Veronica. --She chose all of them for me, you know. Isn't it amazing?!

-I'm well aware that you love Veronica.

How's progress going on the portrait?

Oh, right.

She chose the one she liked from my sketches, so I'm fine-tuning that now.

Oh, in order to show her more beautifully, you shouldn't use lines like these.

Again... my body won't move...

-Breathe...

--Make the background darker so the subject can look livelier... --Breathe...

--Make the background darker so the subject can look livelier... --How do I breathe again...?

Hey, are you listening?!

You've been slacking off recently.

I-I'm sorry...

Get serious about your work.

You look down.

Oh, no, I'm totally fine!

Sorry, did I seem down?

As you can see, I'm fine! Totally fine!

Arte...

If there's anything troubling you, you can talk to me about it.

I love the cheerful you, so you're making me feel sad, too.

Actually...

So you keep being unable to concentrate, and then, Leo got angry with you?

Is that what happened?

Even though the problem is with me, I don't know what to do...

When his hand touches you, your body gets hot.

You feel like you're suffocating, and your heart hammers in your chest.

How do you know all that?!

Arte...

That's love.

Huh?

L-Love...?

How cute.

It's the first time she's been in love, huh?

But... for women like us trying to live without the protection of a man,

love that makes you lose your head is the first step to Hell, Arte.

Wait, Veronica, I don't have time for this. I won't be able to finish the portrait in time!

Leo's going to get mad at me!

It's fine, it's fine.

I'll pay to compensate for it.

Come now!

That's...

Where are we going?

There's something I want to show you.

We're here.

Come on... It's fine, isn't it?

Oh, my.

That person... Is she an old woman...? No, she's still young...

She was once a high-class prostitute, like me.

She used to be so, so beautiful.