The Most Beautiful in the World

“Vanessa, when do you think humans are at their most beautiful?”

At the sudden question, Vanessa almost opened her eyes that she had been keeping shut.

Fren let out a light laugh and moved the brush again.

Vanessa felt cosmetics gradually spreading across her face.

Applying something to Vanessa’s eyelids as well, Fren asked again.

“Tell me, Vanessa. When are humans the most beautiful?”

It was the command of the most precious master in the world, yet Vanessa couldn’t say anything.

The reason was embarrassingly simple.

She had nothing to say.

But Fren clearly wanted to hear her answer.

Feeling the weight of guilt pressing against her chest, Vanessa spoke carefully.

“I’m sorry. I can’t answer that question.”

“Why not?”

“Because humans aren’t beautiful.”

“Why do you think that?”

There were countless reasons.

Vanessa listed off why humans were ugly.

“They have short lifespans, weak fertility, and except for a tiny few, they’re born with pathetic levels of magic and appearance. They don’t even have strong bodies.”

They didn’t have light, swift bodies like Elves.

They didn’t have the jaw strength to bite through steel like Lycans.

They couldn’t freely swim underwater like Sirens.

Vanessa had always wondered why God created humans.

There was no species more useless than humans.

Then Fren asked softly.

“Do you really think so?”

“Yes.”

The brush that was stroking Vanessa’s eyelid fell.

Fren whispered gently.

“You can open your eyes now.”

Vanessa slowly opened her eyes.

Fren’s green hair fluttered softly in the breeze coming through the open window.

Vanessa stared blankly at her master, forgetting she was still being prepared.

One golden eye, pure like melted gold without any impurity, and one dull gray eye, cloudy like a sky heavy with storm clouds, looked down at Vanessa with kindness.

Looking into Fren’s mismatched eyes, Vanessa felt her heart grow heavier.

She instinctively tried to avoid Fren’s gaze, but Fren was faster.

Of course, her master was swift.

With her chin caught in Fren’s hand, Vanessa could only admire.

Fren spoke with a deep, shadowed expression.

“You didn’t have to go that far. You’re human too.”

“……”

Vanessa glanced at Fren’s long, pointed ears, so different from her own round, flat ones, and replied:

“That’s why I can’t help thinking that way even more.”

Her voice carried more certainty than ever.

“There isn’t a single moment when humans are beautiful.”

“No, Vanessa.”

Fren spoke with equal conviction.

“It’s true humans are born with less than other races, but you have beautiful moments too.”

To Vanessa, Fren’s words were absolute.

She was prepared to believe even if Fren told her something ridiculous—like Sirens actually hated humans.

But this time, she couldn’t believe him.

That was how deeply Vanessa despised humans.

She asked:

“When is that moment then?”

“It’s when—”

Fren bent down to meet Vanessa eye-to-eye.

Then whispered as if sharing a secret.

“When they love.”

“When they… love?”

“Yes. It’s the only feature and advantage unique to humans in this world.”

Fren wrapped an arm around her shoulders and led her in front of the mirror.

Vanessa’s lightly made-up face flushed red.

With a cheerful voice full of amusement, Fren praised her.

“As proof, look how beautiful the human right in front of you is.”

“But a human like me—”

“Vanessa.”

The gold and gray eyes stared at her without the slightest tremor.

“You are beautiful.”

His tone left no room for denial.

At those words, Vanessa realized her audacity.

How could a s*ave dare not believe her master’s words?

It felt like the past ten years of slavery had been wasted.

When Vanessa lowered her head in shame, Fren’s hand, which had created countless masterpieces, gently pressed her waist.

“Straighten your back.”

“A-ah, yes.”

Her embarrassment faded quickly, replaced by another emotion that flushed her cheeks.

Fren continued correcting her posture.

“Pull your chin slightly in, let your arms hang naturally. Good, like that. And your expression…”

He paused and stared deeply at Vanessa’s face.

Vanessa panicked inside.

Whenever Fren gazed at her like that, she became so flustered she couldn’t control her expression.

She desperately wondered what expression she was making now—and how ugly it must look.

Then Fren murmured brightly:

“Just look at me.”

“Yes?”

“From now on, don’t ever take your eyes off me. Understand?”

Vanessa was confused but nodded.

Fren checked the time and wrapped Vanessa’s body in a veil.

It was long enough to cover her entire face and reach her feet.

After checking several times to ensure she was fully hidden, Fren reached out his hand.

“Come, let’s go.”

It was to guide Vanessa, who couldn’t see clearly through the veil.

Fren spoke excitedly.

“It’s finally time to reveal my eternal masterpiece to the audience.”

Holding Fren’s hand, Vanessa shyly nodded.

They walked together through the hallway where slaves bowed flat to the ground, descending the red-carpeted stairs until the glass conservatory hosting today’s exhibition appeared.

Fren entered, receiving greetings from attendants.

Lavishly dressed guests admired Fren’s works displayed inside glass cases.

Someone murmured:

“An exhibition themed around humans? Insane.”

It was quiet, but Fren’s sharp ears heard without fail.

He observed the crowd’s reactions.

“But it is impressive. I think Fren is the first to display something alive. Other exhibitions only show paintings or sculptures.”

“I especially like that one. I want to take her home right now.”

One guest pointed to a woman reading a thick book inside the glass.

Soon everyone began buying the pieces aggressively, afraid others would claim them first.

As nearly all the works received red tags, Fren signaled to his attendant.

“But where is the special piece Fren promised to reveal today?”

“I heard it’s so special it’s not even for sale…”

Ding-ding-ding—
The attendant rang a silver bell.

All eyes turned to the entrance.

Fren bowed elegantly and walked forward holding Vanessa’s hand.

Even with her sight blocked, Vanessa felt the countless stares.

She swallowed nervously, then regained calm through the warmth of her master’s hand.

Then Fren stopped walking.

Before them stood the empty pedestal that had stirred so much curiosity.

Vanessa carefully stepped onto it.

Everything was ready.

Fren addressed the audience gracefully.

“Good evening, everyone. Thank you sincerely for attending my exhibition today.”

Applause erupted.

Waiting until it faded, Fren continued.

“Thanks to all of you, I have held many successful exhibitions. But today’s exhibition will be unforgettable.”

Letting go of Vanessa’s hand, he spoke:

“As promised, today I will reveal my masterpiece.”

“Aren’t you too young to speak of masterpieces?”

Interrupted a guest whose white, scale-shaped ears flickered.

“What if your future work surpasses what you reveal today?”

Others seemed to agree silently.

But Fren denied firmly.

“That will never happen.”

“What?”

“No matter what I create in the future, I swear nothing will surpass this. This is a truly special piece only possible for the present me. Now—let me reveal it.”

Fren grasped the veil.

“My eternal masterpiece.”

Ssshhh—

The veil fell to the floor, revealing Vanessa.

The audience gasped.

Fren stepped back to admire Vanessa as if he, too, were a spectator.

“Incredible…! How can something be that beautiful?!”

“A human s*ave like that existed?”

Vanessa stood still like a true sculpture upon the pedestal.

Her black hair, reminiscent of the night sky, fell like a river to her waist.

Her vivid violet eyes shone like gemstones.

Her slim, perfectly balanced body looked as though sculpted by the gods.

Unlike the lavishly dressed viewers, Vanessa wore only a laurel crown and plain white garment—yet the simplicity radiated divine nobility.

To feel the presence of a god from a mere human—
the guests gasped and sighed repeatedly.

Then Vanessa and Fren’s eyes met.

Vanessa’s doll-like, expressionless face crumbled instantly.

Finally…!

Trembling with excitement, Fren murmured:

“You’ll never know.”

Her lips curved softly like a crescent moon.

A lovely blush bloomed like flower petals across her cheeks.

In a heartbeat, the statue-like Vanessa blossomed into a single perfect flower.

Gasps filled the conservatory again.

With a face overflowing with rapture, Fren said:

“How beautiful you are when you look at me with love.”

A moment later, the dazed audience finally read the name engraved on the pedestal.