Florence at the beginning of the 16th century--
The city bustled during Carnival,
and people had fun with abandon in the clever costumes they prepared.
E-Excuse me.
It's fine.
Wow...
Oh dear, I do apologize.
It's okay.
Oh! What am I doing? I'm in the middle of an errand.
Carnival isn't really an event that has anything to do with me.
Arte, I'll take you somewhere interesting today.
Okay!
Put this on and get ready.
What's the matter? You don't want to go?
No, that's not it... I was just a little surprised.
I'll get ready right away.
"First Job"
I can't believe Leo is taking me somewhere! And during Carnival, too!
I wonder where we're going...
A party somewhere... or a banquet?
But why do I have to change-- Hm?
Finally done changing, huh?
Let's go.
U-Um, wait a minute.
Aren't these boys' clothes?
Yeah, it's fine. You don't look like anything other than a boy.
Huh?
Make sure you keep your hair under the hat.
Where in the world are we going?
He's not paying attention to the Carnival festivities at all.
Anyway, what places are there that won't let me in unless I'm dressed as a boy...?
At any rate, Leo walks too fast!
Watch where you're going, boy!
I-I'm sorry!
B-Boy...?
L-Leo?!
Oh, there he is!
Leo!
No, no, that's not true.
Oh, and who's this?
What a cute boy.
My apprentice. Started at my workshop six months ago.
Oh, Leo, you have an apprentice? I thought you were either an ogre or a demon.
With this, do you understand that I was also born human?
Leo's smiling?
When he's talking to me, he always acts like either an ogre or a demon...
Why are you scowling?
I'm sure it's hard to apprentice under this man, but please do you best, boy.
Well, see you later, Leo.
A sweet... scent...
Who was that?
A regular customer of mine. A patron.
A patron? Is she a noble?
She's a courtesan. A high-class prostitute.
It's my first time seeing one.
I'll bet.
You two looked like you were having fun. What were you talking about?
Not much.
It was the first time I saw that smile.
I didn't know he could smile like that...
Let's go!
Oh, coming!
Here we are.
Huh?
This is a hospital, you know.
Just be quiet and follow me.
Can we just walk in like this?
They're doing it, they're doing it.
Huh?
Huh? Wait a min--
Leo! Leo... wait up.
Please don't go off first on your own.
We'll get separated.
You have a good view from here, right?
This is... a dissection?!
Don't talk too loudly.
At the time, dissections were prohibited by the church.
But during Carnival, everything was permitted,
so many aimed to perform dissections during that period.
Here, take this.
Tools for sketching?
In order to paint human bodies, you need to know their structure.
It's too risky for a small workshop like ours to pay for a dissection ourselves.
So make good use of this chance.
I see. That's why you had me dress as a boy and come here.
Hey, someone fainted!
Carry him out!
Maybe it was too intense for the youngster.
Arte, are you all right?
Is something the matter, Leo?
No, it's nothing.
Leo, you were right. This place is interesting.
She's got some guts.
I can't see...
H-Hey!
--A scream? --Hey.
Don't tell me...
--A girl! A girl! --There's a girl in here! --Who brought a girl in here?
Um, this is--
Leo!
We're running away!
Hey, don't let them get away!
If the church found out we let a girl in, we'd get in serious trouble!
Did we lose them?
It looks like it...
Um, Leo, I'm sure I'm heavy, so you can put me down now...
Put me down... Please, put me down!
Right.
Are you all right?
Yes. I'm sorry.
I got flustered...
Did you see them?
What about over there?
Damn it, where'd they go?
Stay calm. Stay calm.
If I panic like I did earlier, then they'll find us...
Ah, so close!
This is my first time seeing a man's face so close that's not a painting or sculpture.
The skin looks so tough... The bone structure's rugged...
And there's the facial hair and Adam's apple...
Their bodies are made completely differently from ours...
It's like they're a different kind of animal.
This is really great reference!
I think it should be fine now.
Well, shall we go back to the workshop?
Hey, hey, what's the matter?
For some reason... my chest suddenly started hurting...
Do you need to go to the hospital?
Maybe I should go...
What is this?
I don't like it. It hurts a lot!
Oof.
Right now, my chest doesn't hurt. I wonder what that was...
For some reason... my chest suddenly started hurting...
Do you need to go to the hospital?
Maybe I should go...
What is this?
I don't like it. It hurts a lot!
That was...
Hey!
Don't fall asleep in front of the fire. It's dangerous.
I-I'm sorry, Leo.
Also, come with me.
Huh? Wh-What did you just say?
I said, you draw part of the background for this.
"From trainee to journeyman"
I-I-I-In...
"From trainee to journeyman" I-I-I-In...
In one bound!
Is it really all right?
I've only been training for six months.
Doesn't it usually take about three years before we're finally allowed to help?
Yeah, that's how it is.
You already studied art and knew the basics before coming here.
Having you start from the beginning would be a waste of time.
Besides, you're pretty old.
"Shocked"
Well, usually people start as apprentices when they're around 13...
Listen, what I'd like you to do is a background that fits this picture of a woman.
First, start with a sketch.
Draw it on a separate sheet of paper and show it to me.
If you understand, then hurry up and start.
Yes, sir!
This is my first time drawing for work.
The assignment is a landscape from the Arno River.
I-I'm happy, so I can't feel the cold, right?
I'm done!
Yeah, yeah, it looks good! It was worth persevering through the cold.
I'm pretty sure we've got some time before we need to deliver the painting.
After I show Leo my sketch, I guess I'll be painting on the wood panel next.
At this rate, we'll be able to finish much earlier than the deadline.
This is great!
All right, I'll keep working hard like this!
Do it over.
Huh?
Hm? What's with that reaction?
Did you think you'd get it right on the first try?
No, no, of course not.
You want me to do it over, right? I'll do it right away.
I shouldn't be surprised.
It's for work, so there's no way it'd be so easy.
All right, I'll do my best!
Do it over.
No good.
It's no good. Do it again.
I can't get him to approve it at all...
What should I do?
I don't know how I should draw this anymore...
While I've been dawdling,
everything else in the painting has almost been completed.
If I don't finish my part, it won't be completed.
There isn't much time left before we have to deliver it.
To be so bad at it...
Even though I'm a journeyman, I'm just getting in Leo's way.
I have to work harder!
Do it over.
What's wrong?
Huh? Oh, um, it's nothing...
I see. Then hurry up and get back to work.
Yes, sir.
U-Um, Leo...
I don't know how I should draw this anymore... And at this rate, we won't make the deadline.
I will cause trouble for you.
Arte. What's the most important thing in this picture?
Huh?
The most important thing...?
What kind of painting does the client want?
U-Um, I'm going to draw it again!
I didn't think about anything except the background I was supposed to draw.
Even though the client wanted a painting of the woman,
I made the background too prominent.
What I should think about is what the client wants.
Okay, this works.
You can start work on painting this directly onto the wood panel now.
I-- I... am not done yet!
Hm?
This is no time to rejoice. The real thing starts now.
Yes, I will do my best.
R-Right...
After that, I still struggled a lot,
but somehow, I was able to finish painting by the delivery date.
And the panel painting that was my first job...
...finally made it into the hands of the client.
Leo!
It's pretty dark. You've been sketching in this room?
I only have one candle left.
Um, did you need something?
Now that work has calmed down a bit, I thought we should go
to the notary to renew the contract.
Here's what's in the new contract. Make sure you read it over.
Your annual contract fee has also gone up a little.
I'll buy more candles with the extra money!
Then I can draw a lot after I finish work, too!
That's fine, but don't go overboard.
You won't be able to do much if a fire breaks out. Also...
You thought of yourself as being in the way, didn't you?
Huh?!
He saw through me...
Don't think about unnecessary things.
You don't think about anything and only look forward...
"Stab" You don't think about anything and only look forward...
...and you're honest to a fault.
"Stab" ...and you're honest to a fault.
That's all you have going for you.
"Stab"
What's wrong?
Nothing... the words just hurt a little...
Well, it's true, anyway. There's nothing I can say to that.
That is all I have...
I was often scolded by Mother for doing nothing but drawing.
All I did was draw, and I never polished any of my womanly charms.
Hm? Really?
I don't think that's true.
Huh?
I think a woman like you is much more charming
than those dolls that just do what men say with dead eyes.
Sorry to interrupt. Don't stay up too late.
If she keeps facing forward and standing with dignity,
then I won't be the only man who recognizes her charms.
Huh? What?
What...?
Ow...
Huh...?
Am I sick?
"Preview"
Why does Leo smile when he's with Veronica?
Do your best, boy.
I'm not a boy, but I'll do my best!
"Courtesan" I'm not a boy, but I'll do my best!
"Courtesan" Next time, "Courtesan."
"Courtesan" There are many different ways of life!
"Courtesan"