?Chapter 1716:


    Christina curved her lips into a calm smile and spoke before Alban had the chance to interject. “Mr. Martel, are you prepared to acknowledge that your judgment was mistaken?”


    Alban replied without hesitation. “I was the one who extended the invitation to Mr. Burton. I have full confidence in his judgment.”


    No one present had bothered to investigate Christina’s past, and so they remained oblivious to the countless abilities she concealed. Even a single role she carried was sufficient to establish her mastery of art. She was a celebrated conservator—someone who could resurrect works others deemed beyond saving, returning ruined canvases to their former glory. It was only natural that such a person possessed a formidablemand of painting fundamentals.


    The true motive behind Alban’s decision to invite Ronald had been to validate her identity as Wyvena. She had already distinguished herself across fields far removed from restoration, so it came as no surprise that she demonstrated equal brilliance in a closely rted discipline.


    A trace of quiet esteem surfaced in Alban’s eyes. To him, Christina eclipsed all three of her brothers by a wide margin. Had she been born into the Martel family, they would have long surpassed the Jones family and imed the foremost position in Lionesspaw. Regrettably, he had no sister of such caliber.


    “Alban, how can you possibly stand up for her?” Violette snapped, her fury unmistakable.


    Christina had undeniably captured Alban’s interest. The regard shining in his gaze was impossible to miss, and it sent a violent wave of envy crashing through Violette, deepening her resentment. She could not tolerate the idea of another woman iming the man she coveted.


    Alban’s expression hardened as his eyes shifted to the visibly agitated Violette. “If you were aware of everything she represents, you would not speak so recklessly. She is an outstanding art conservator and unquestionably a capable painter.”


    The moment his wordsnded, the room exploded into chatter once more.


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    “No chance! She’s an art conservator too?”


    “That exins why her technique is so refined.”


    “I can’t believe I didn’t ce a higher bid on her piece…”


    Watching the crowd’s enthusiasm swell, Violette trembled with rage, her jaw clenched tight.


    “So what?” she hissed. “Talent with a brush doesn’t prove she’s Wyvena!”


    Violette clung stubbornly to her denial, convinced that as long as she refused to concede Christina’s identity, she had not truly lost.


    Bain let out a dry, mirthlessugh. “Miss Hewitt, why don’t you look into her standing within the restorationmunity? Magnus Cruz of Apresh is a titan in that world. Do you know what ties him to Christina?”


    Violette sneered. “What sort of ties? Are you implying she’s one of Magnus’s students? And what exactly would that demonstrate?”


    The onlookers traded nces. Earning the status of Magnus’s student was no small honor, and it spoke volumes about one’s ability.


    “To be precise,” Bain said coolly, “she is Magnus’s teacher.”


    A hush swept over the room as eyes widened in stunned disbelief.


    “What? She’s Magnus’s teacher? How could that even be possible?”


    “I recall hearing rumors like that, but I dismissed them as nonsense… So it’s actually true?”


    “She’s that young and already mentoring Magnus? This is insane…”


    The audience remained shaken, struggling to absorb the revtion. For a legendary figure like Magnus to willingly ce himself as a learner under someone so young was monumental, and it underscored the extraordinary depth of her expertise.


    Anyone who had questioned Christina’s identity was now left without grounds for doubt. If Magnus truly learned under her guidance, then the likelihood that she was Wyvena was undeniable—and her artistic prowess had to be nothing short of exceptional.


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