"It's the first time I get painted as a senshi!"Ceres told Malwina and Fayruza.
"And very good for you, Your Grace!"sighed Malwina.
"You don't sound like it's good."Ceres observed. She turned to Fayruza. "You're to be painted, too. By yourself. One is supposed to be with my court ladies, and the last two I will be commissioning for you."
At this last one, it seemed to get their attention more.
"For us?"asked Malwina.
"Yes. You. Unless you want one of something or someone else. A still life, a landscape, a portrait of someone else. Mine is supposed to go on the wall in the hall with the former senshis of Ceres. I don't really like the first one. If only they could get rid of that one."
She referred to the one in which she was officially invested as Duchess of Ceres. She had only been a few months old, of course.
"That's not likely, Your Grace. Besides, isn't it one of Her Royal Highness's and His Lordships favorites? And you got to be painted with the Droplet of Venus in it!"
When Aphrodite had emerged from the sea of Venus, it was said that a drop of water dropped from her, which then turned into a pearl. Since, then all the Princesses of Venus wore it. Some in brooches, rings, coronets, tiaras, necklaces or pendants. Minako had it in a brooch, with a scallop shell, and Ceres had been painted with it. Her parents had wanted her painted with it for her name.
"Have you ever had your portrait painted, Fayruza?"
Fayruza shook her head.
"No, Your Grace. One of me was never commissioned."
"A sketch?"
"No. I consider it an honor that Your Grace wants my likeness painted. But just serving Your Grace is honor enough for me."
Ceres turned to Malwina, who shook her head.
"Me, either. I mean, I haven't had a portrait painted. I do consider it an honor to serve Your Grace, as well."
After having met Minako and Kunzite Gabrielle Capetia travelled to the Palace of Ceres. She would be meeting the duchess. The Princess of Venus and her husband had hired her to paint the portrait of their heiress in her senshi attire. She had never done portraits for royalty. She might ask her to paint for her exclusively. They had sent to the academy for someone to paint the Duchess of Ceres. Out of all the candidates, they were most impressed by her portfolio.