The Mysterious Art Museum

Chapter 137 (1) - The Mysterious Art Museum

Bonus chapter thanks to @Sany from Ko-fi!

"Essence of ‘Quiet Luxury’ in elegance and grace - A visit to Rossellini."

Monica Rossellini, former chief designer at Alessandro Cucinelli, held a fashion show to celebrate the launch of her fashion brand 'Rossellini'.

The event, held in the afternoon at the flagship store in the heart of Quadrilatero, was attended by celebrities including the world-renowned pianist Irina Sebanova and the Korean painter Ban Junghoon, who recently became a hot topic with the TV program "Drawing with Ban"

Additionally, figures from politics, business, influencers, and top Italian actors and models lined up to enter, making this event a major talking point, concluding successfully amidst much attention.

'Rossellini' operates on two tracks - the contemporary brand 'Aqua Rossellini' and the luxury brand represented by the 'Black Label of Rossellini'.

Ban Junghoon, who designed the brand's store, revealed a hidden painting in the 'Aqua Rossellini' store during the program.

It was the Black Lotus.

The painting of an autumn path leading to a pond with the Black Lotus, representing 'Rossellini Black Label', was exceptionally beautiful, and the meaning behind it was profound.

This painting, hinting at the Black Lotus being the ultimate destination of fashion, drew much attention from consumers, and the brand's popularity is soaring.

CEO Monica announced in an interview that starting with two stores in Milan, they plan to expand to Rome, Florence, Naples, Genoa, Turin, and Venice. Additionally, as part of the reconstruction project of her hometown Roseto Valfortore, she decided to place all manufacturing factories in the south, prioritizing local employment.

The village was at risk of disappearing, with the population within 50 km dropping below 900, but after the factory's establishment, it increased to 1,800. Observing this, the city hall decided to invest in the village's reconstruction.

Roseto Valfortore became a famous travel destination overnight due to the mural by Korean painter Ban Junghoon. Even now, many people pass through the village during their travels to the south.

Though the village has only one restaurant-cum-cafe, the number of visitors stopping by to take photos in front of Ban Junghoon’s mural is on the rise.

Meanwhile, world-renowned pianist Irina Sebanova, who attended the event, did not hold back in praising the new brand by Monica and the Korean painter Ban.

She even offered Ban a professorship at the Warsaw Conservatory of Music and Art, being a fan who finds inspiration for her performances in his paintings.

Gianfranca [email protected]

* * *

Articles are pouring in.

An overwhelming number of articles are being produced.

Among these, only about 10% are from Monica's side.

Typically, such brand-related articles are paid for by companies as marketing expenses, but perhaps due to the event's enormous popularity, articles are being published spontaneously.

I am sitting on the planter in front of Monica's store, wearing a hat, sunglasses, and a mask.

This is the 'Aqua Rossellini' store, and perhaps due to the hidden painting or its more accessible pricing, there's an enormous crowd.

Usually, at luxury stores, there's a limit on the number of people who can enter at once, leading to queues outside. But this is rare for regular brands. Yet, there's a long line wrapping around the building outside this store.

It wasn’t like this from the start, but as more people gathered, the store manager began to organize a line.

There are more people taking photos in front of the painting and leaving than those buying clothes, but with so many visitors, even a small percentage buying clothes quickly sells out the stock.

By 3 PM, all the stocked items were sold out, and the store manager put up a 'Sold Out' sign.

But that doesn’t mean they're not accepting more people. The staff are handing out catalogs and informing visitors about online orders, looking tired but not unhappy.

This is because Monica made a contract to share a portion of the sales revenue with the store staff.

I smiled, checking the time while sitting on the planter.

'It opened at 10 AM and closed by 3 PM. It’s doing well.'

It’s not just because I received shares that I'm watching with interest. Of course, that's part of it, but I'm also overjoyed to see so many interested in the store design I participated in.

At that moment, a woman in a large hat, sunglasses, and a blue dress sits next to me on the planter.

I was about to move away to avoid revealing my identity, but then she spoke to me.

"How does it feel, Ban?"

Startled, I turned my head to look at her.

"Irina?"

Irina smiled softly and tapped the flowerbed.

"If you're not too busy, why don't you sit a bit longer?"

"If I knew it was you, I wouldn't have gotten up. Did you come alone, by any chance?"

"Of course not."

Irina turned her head.

At the end of her gaze, bodyguards, strategically positioned to avoid attracting attention, were discreetly glancing in our direction.

Irina said, "It's dangerous to walk around alone, even if you cover your face, Ban."

"Haha."

I silently pointed with my chin to the opposite side.

And there, I see guards with a gaze similar to those protecting Irina, lingering around the cafe, clothing store, and bakery, watching over me.

Irina, whose face is hardly visible due to the mask, seems to be smiling judging by her facial muscles and nods her head.

“You did well.”

“I couldn’t go out alone even if I wanted to.”

“Do you feel confined?”

“A bit.”

“Others are desperate to become famous.”

I wanted to be famous too.

But not like this, rather as a renowned painter.

Now, I'm gaining celebrity-like popularity by appearing on TV shows, which seems to repel me.

“Well, I guess I'm a bit unique.”

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