Katelyn slightly raised an eyebrow and said, “Green Peony.”
Her suggestion sparked further debate among the attendees, who pondered the practicality of her idea.
A woman in a stark white dress stepped forward, her brow furrowed as she said, “Considering the subtle hue of the green plum, wouldn’t crafting a green peony be too ambitious?”
Other gemstone carving artisans present shook their heads in agreement, saying, “It seems improbable. The color is too subtle to make the necessary impact.”
While the petals of a green peony didn’t need to be vividly green, they still required a noticeable tint. The color of the green plum was pale, almost imperceptible—far from enough to effectively depict a green peony. Such an attempt would likely lead to an unsuccessful outcome.
Norma’s lips twisted into a mocking smile as she said, “Your jewelry at the competition was truly remarkable. I recognize your talents in gemstone carving, but your choice of materials seems flawed.” Despite her initial compliment, her final remark cast doubt on Katelyn’s overall expertise. For a gemstone carver, poor material selection undermined all efforts, making it impossible to craft a masterpiece.
Ashlyn’s expression shifted subtly, her concern evident as she watched Katelyn. Yet, Katelyn remained undisturbed, her demeanor cool and collected. This left Ashlyn both intrigued and somewhat puzzled.
Was Katelyn harboring another strategy?
Ashlyn felt an instinctive certainty that Katelyn was more than capable of handling the situation.
Meanwhile, Galen looked toward Katelyn with a spark of curiosity and said, “Miss Bailey, why do you believe transforming this sculpture into a green peony would enhance it?”
Katelyn approached the glass case and explained, “The structure of this sculpture accentuates its top section, where the color intensifies upwards. You can observe this from here.”
She gestured toward the highest cluster of green plums. It was indeed slightly darker than the lower ones, a detail subtle enough to be overlooked without close inspection. This indicated that the emerald’s color became richer toward the top.
“If we elevate the overall shade of the piece, a richer hue will emerge, making the final sculpture even more striking,” Katelyn said.
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The audience exchanged looks before moving closer to the display, driven by curiosity to verify Katelyn’s observations. As they did, they indeed noticed the deeper color in the upper green plums. Their perception of Katelyn shifted, and whispers spread among them: “Could Katelyn be onto something? It’s remarkable that she could discern the potential of the material in an already completed work.” The gemstone carver, who had earlier expressed doubt, now admitted, “This is quite impressive. She appears to be truly capable.”
Norma’s expression soured. She had hoped to embarrass Katelyn, but instead, Katelyn had astutely turned the situation to her advantage. At that moment, applause broke out among the crowd.
It’s My Pleasure
Galen clapped first, and his applause quickly spread throughout the room, filling the air with the sound of eager hands. The clapping was a tribute to Katelyn’s remarkable talent.
Ashlyn observed Katelyn from where she stood, a proud smile slowly forming on her face. She leaned in closer to Katelyn and whispered, “You’re amazing.”
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