#cdlc

Finally, I'll yap about my CdlC playthrough!! Yes!!

So, Rowan is a gold digger and social climber, and he's interested in procuring a fabulously benefitial marriage with an Archambault student.

Soon enough he turns away from Florin Kraemer (he is too enthralled by her, and she wouldn't marry him anyway 😔) and Prince Rosario (his position as a foreign royal acts against Rowan's plans to become Prime Minister of Westerlind, plus he's such a good friend 🥺).

Rowan is searching for someone that will give him wealth and status. So he shifts his focus to Auguste Renaldt, whom he upstaged in their first meeting, during her speech in Chapter II. He's plotting to impress Lady Françoise Renaldt (his model of decorum), so marrying her daughter seems fitting.

However! Auguste shakes his preconceptions when she reveals her true character: she's rightful but not uptight, she's noble and honest, and her plan is to become a diplomat for Westerlin. And everyone knows they end up doing espionage- she’d sacrifice to make sure other people have freedom... and Rowan has a weak spot for good natured individuals, so he easily develops feelings™.

Anyway, during Chapter VII, while trying to protect Miss Dalca - while also remaining in Lady Renaldt's good side -, he gathers evidence against Mr. Blanchard. Rowan justifies himself, thinking in the romantic sub-plot between his teachers, and deciding that Mr. Blanchard is best away from it all. This is a mix of thinking that Miss Dalca deserves someone more exciting than him, and because Rowan is the type to prioritize kindness towards an already established partner, and he thinks Miss Dalca should extend that consideration towards Mr. Griffith.

Then Chapter XI turns out, and Rowan feels so bad!! So he starts plotting to foil Lady Renaldt's plan, and I mean getting her sacked. He conspires as a double agent, he tells the teachers, he tells Inspector Burgin, etc etc. During Summer Holidays, he's adamant that Gallatin College (now under Mr. Griffith) must make reparations to Gaspard's family, Blaise, Karson and Mr. Blanchard.

And I love this!! Because it shows how easily Rowan shoots himself in the foot by doing the right thing! He vyied for power, so he got enganged to an aristocratic woman-no thoughts of love in the arrangement. But because his sense of justice was stronger than his greed, he revealed the Gallatin conspiracy... thus ruining his and his fiancé's future prospects. He singlehandedly sunk House Renaldt's reputation, and, as he is now engaged to Auguste- whom he cherishes too much to abandon- his destiny is achored to it.

Now, by the end, Auguste sends a letter to Rowan. She isn't sure why her mother 'resigned' from her position (despite literally everyone else knowing why, Auguste is kept in the dark). She's eager to start her term at Gessner University with Rowan, and to discuss plans for the wedding. My baby girl!! 😭

Rowan's stay at the Renaldt Summer House was so telling about their future dynamic. I keep thinking about Rowan and Lady Renaldt having this mentor-apprentice bond turned sour (she even taught him to fence!), and how Auguste would react if she knew all the underhandedness that Rowan is/has been up, and that's how this meme came up 😅

Anyway, yaping done! Now I will talk about the illustration.

I wanted to express this mentioned dynamic in their poses: Rowan has his back straight, trying to remain composed- but his hands are on the table, and he's fiddling with his thumbs. He's approaching this situation with as much honesty and openness as he can. Despite his poise, you can tell he's afflicted by Auguste's (completely reasonable) scrutiny. Lady Renaldt is the opposite of this: her back's against the chair, her hands are clasped under the table, limp. She's looking away with an unreadable expression (too ashamed to face Auguste? too prideful?)

That's why Auguste is the only one standing, giving the situation the concern it deserves. Her mother, once her idol, turned into a villain - that's already a heavy blow. However, one thing is Auguste knowing about Rowan's involvement in the investigation as a double agent... but another thing is Auguste acknowledging all the reprehensible things he did to get on Lady Renaldt's good side, and maybe finding out about all his romantic dalliances; the secrets he kept from her when his intent was to snare her.

I wanted the room to be spacious, with big windows. The light rests on Rowan's face - showing he's sincere - but shadows Lady Renaldt's. It's also mostly white and bluish, to contrast Rowan's darker color scheme. I'm using Musterion's Marble Texture for the floors.

A clear reference for how I draw Lady Renaldt is Vivienne from Dragon Age: Inquisition. I literally cannot unsee it- I insipired her facial structure on Vivienne's and Auguste's, and styiled her informally but fancy- it's a midi dress with pleated bodice and voluminous cuffs.

Rowan is still pretty similar to how I first illustrated him, as he's not much older yet. He's sporting enfadandoaminerva's collar because I like how the pearl would match Auguste!

Paraphrasing the description, Auguste is tall and stately, with dark skin and eyes, and short dark hair with a coiled texture (4b)- I first imagined a sort of Betty Boop curls with baby hairs mix, but then I remembered her dark braids should fall perfectly to her shoulders, and so I improvised. I couldn't find an image to reference, but I found this, which was... surprising. Anyway, I based her physique on Philomena Kwao, and her dress is this custom mermaid skirt in silk brocade taffeta by The Pinkraye Affect with a touch of Phoebe D’Ysquith (A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder) for the skirt.

Both Rowan and Auguste are wearing their diamond engagement rings, which are based on this Ivy Leaves Nature Inspired Proposal Ring. I tried my best but ahhhh.

The painting behind Rowan is a reference to Las Meninas (or 'The Ladies-in-waiting') by Diego Velázquez, adapted to reflect Auguste's Upbringing. I thought long and hard on a painting that Lady Renaldt would have on her study, and figured only Auguste merited the praise. The frame is ANOUE's Antique picture frame and mirror (Witch's House).

The flowers next to the painting are Augusta Luise Roses, and they're not there just because: they represent the concept of children for Rowan and Auguste. I see both of them thinking about it as a sort of duty, but because of the turbulent times they're facing, the possibility is wilting- the opportunity is blooming in abundance, but signaling an inevitable decay. I used the cutout from the very page I linked above, and for the flower pot I'm using NannerCoco's Ceramic Planter.

I wanted to use ANOUE's antique office trial, but I just couldn't get the hang of it. I'm still pointing it out in case someone is interested!

Now I will list all the Clip Studio Assets that I used! I wanted to practice with 3D objects, so I made the background with them and then illustrated over it. For the walls I mixed ANOUE's Antique Wall (Witch's House) and with クリスタ店's Windows (窓) and ANOUE's Antique Large Window (Royal Capital). I also added MINNOW3D's Fireplace (暖炉) for more ambience. I wanted to make it abundantly clear that this is Lady Renaldt's private study, and to illustrate my vision of her interior design. Outside the window is the last image from this @housinginfo's post- that fountain is very Lady R!

The furniture employed is makigane(BOOTH販売中）'s Gladstone Chair -for Lady Renaldt- and ANOUE's Antique chair (outside the castle town) -for Rowan. This is to emphasize the implicit power difference between Rowan and Lady Renaldt, even now, after she has lost her status. You can't see Rowan's chair at all, but oh well 🥲

To Lady Renaldt's side, there's JSW's Round Table (Antique) with 師帥's 4 types of plates and k2k3's Tea Cup set. I wanted to portray that she just snacked on her favourite treat (ginger cookies), and already ate her fill.

Between Auguste and Lady Renaldt there's Qquong's Scales of Justice. This is ✨symbolic✨ of Auguste's view on morality (now a radical dichotomy, due to revealing her mother's double nature and the inminent betrayal of her trust), and also a sort of 'measure' of Rowan's redeeming qualities. The character positions also help to situate this as a sort of Judgement. The desk is ririanna's table.

Also, if you check on でじるみ札幌厚別's Chess Set (チェスセット), I tried to place the pieces like ChessMakta's Queen Gambit (Old Variation), which made me think of an alternate storyline where Lady Renaldt realized Rowan was a double agent. The "Trying to protect the small things, you'll lose something bigger. Manners maketh man." is sooooo Lady R in my mind. Maybe the items on the desk are implying Rowan was playing chess with Lady R, alone in her study? 👀 The clash between Auguste and Rowan's color palettes aids the symbolism.