Drawing Manga in a Romance Fantasy

Chapter 82

Rupert's art class continued smoothly after the first day.

Even for most professors, it was difficult to completely ignore the backgrounds of their students when teaching, but Rupert had no hesitation in evaluating his students solely based on their abilities.

Because of this, whether they were commoners or nobles, the art department students had to give their absolute best effort to finish class on time and avoid receiving additional assignments.

“I remember assigning ten sketches for homework. Why are there only seven here?”

“Professor, we’ve never had to draw so intensely before. It’s really hard. We’re so busy keeping up with the art assignments that we’re falling behind in our other classes.”

“Gal!”

One student, nearly in tears, begged Rupert to lessen the amount of homework after being tasked with drawing ten sketches in just three days.

But Rupert shook his head firmly.

“The uniforms you wear, the shoes on your feet, the meals you eat—none of it exists without the blood and sweat of the Empire’s people.”

If you’re going to give up because it’s difficult, then quit the academy and go back to your family immediately.

For once, Rupert's voice carried a rare note of sternness.

"Neglecting your assignments means you are not fit to be at the academy, which carries the responsibility for the future of the Empire. The only way to repay the Empire is by learning and working hard.”

Hearing Rupert’s words, the students bowed their heads in silence.

Indeed, the Imperial Academy received significant funding each year from the imperial treasury to cultivate future talents, and that funding came from the taxes paid by the Empire’s citizens.

Every student here prided themselves on being the future of the Empire, so they couldn’t just complain about homework being too difficult.

‘Hmm, they can't afford to get lazy. You’ll all need to improve if you’re going to... No, if we’re going to share the same dream.’

Rupert was adamant about not compromising on sketching, which was the foundation of all drawing.

Many students who considered themselves naturally gifted at drawing tended to overlook the importance of basic skills like sketching. They would spend hours or even days completing a single drawing, proud of the final product.

While that might be acceptable for a hobbyist, it was not the right approach for someone serious about art.

Sketching helps train the eye to observe and capture objects. While the benefits might not be immediately visible, over time it builds a solid foundation that underpins all future drawings.

Rupert firmly believed that the difference between someone who practiced regularly and someone who slacked off would eventually be revealed in the subtlety of their strokes.

This was why he regarded sketching as a critical process in developing one's unique artistic style and insisted that it remain a non-negotiable assignment.

And sure enough, the students' skills were visibly improving as they tackled Rupert’s challenging homework.

Given that they were among the most talented young artists in the Empire, Rupert’s structured approach was exactly what they needed to fill in their gaps and further their growth.

However, the students themselves hadn't yet realized how much they were improving.

“Student Soria?”

“Yes?”

Rupert’s eyes gleamed as he reviewed the students’ homework.

Soria had submitted 20 sketches.

The assignment had been for just ten, yet Soria had gone above and beyond, submitting twice as many.

"Twenty sketches, impressive."

“Well, I don’t really have any other hobbies, so I end up drawing in my spare time...”

Soria’s response only made Rupert more interested.

Sketching isn’t about quickly filling in numbers; it’s about capturing the essence of the subject. While many other students’ sketches seemed rushed and careless, Soria’s 20 sketches were all well thought out, with the key elements carefully and skillfully captured.

“Do you have any plans this weekend, Soria?”

“...No, not really. Why do you ask?”

“Brother, aren’t you too busy these days?”

“Are you ready for your wedding, William?”

The crown prince and the second prince hadn’t had much time to talk lately, but now they finally had a moment to sit down together.

Not long ago, they had barely spoken to each other, but recently, they had started having more conversations.

In truth, William had always cared about his older brother, the crown prince, but it was the crown prince who had kept his distance.

That is, until the day the crown prince unexpectedly said to William,

"Shall we visit Mother together?"

William had been surprised. His brother, who usually gave indifferent responses to anything William said, had been the one to initiate the conversation. It was an unexpected change.

William had dismissed the rumors about the crown prince’s transformation as idle gossip. Yet, here his brother was, behaving in a way that was completely out of character.

Seeing how the crown prince was now making an effort to connect, William was sure of it: his brother had truly changed.

‘What happened to you?’

‘I realized the suffering I went through wasn’t special, and that people grow by overcoming it.’

The once impatient and immature child now seemed more mature and dignified.

The sharp edge that once surrounded the crown prince, keeping everyone at a distance, had softened. Now, he exuded the aura of a future emperor who was ready to embrace the entire Empire.

“Don’t even talk about the wedding. It’s all your fault, you know?”

“Hahaha, I’m sorry for making you suffer because of me.”

“As long as you know. But where were you all day yesterday?”

“Yesterday? Oh, I was at Eolin’s palace. She asked me to come over.”

“Eolin?”

William's gaze sharpened at the mention of Eolin’s name.

He had secretly investigated both Eolin and Edrick after they left the palace at the same time, and what he found had raised suspicions.

‘They’re both up to something.’

Eolin had been going for late-night walks more frequently. Moreover, she was keeping her attendants and guards at a distance, and there were reports that she was meeting someone in secret.

William’s own shadow guards had discovered that even Eolin’s shadow guards were involved in something, though the details were unclear.

As for the third prince, Edrick, he was equally suspicious.

It was no secret that Edrick had commissioned the palace workshop to make special modifications to his room. Even though he was now attending the academy, William had learned that before enrolling, Edrick had been conducting secret activities and had even joined a covert social group.

‘The Doujin Club, was it?’

The club was so secretive that William’s shadow guards had failed to infiltrate it. On the surface, it seemed like a gathering for hobbies, but its secrecy made it look suspicious.

‘What exactly are they plotting?’

Originally, William had no issues with either of them becoming emperor. But now, things had changed.

Seeing how much his older brother had matured and grown into a capable leader, William was convinced that the crown prince, Alex, was the right person to inherit the throne.

“Eolin saw my arm and got really excited. She asked if I could spare some time for her.”

“Your arm?”

William still had doubts about Eolin.

Sure, Alex’s new mechanical golem arm was fascinating, but had Eolin really asked to see him just to examine it?

His suspicions of Eolin were not easily dismissed.

“She was sketching something really intently while looking at me.”

But Alex, oblivious to William’s concerns, seemed happy to have spent time with his sister after so long.