Odalisque - Chapter 26

Trying to fasten the clasp of the delicate necklace without a mirror led to several failed attempts, yet the Marquis simply observed in silence, offering no assistance.

After fumbling for some time, Liv finally managed to fasten the necklace, the ruby resting heavily against her chest. It was only after putting it on that she realized the chain was longer than typical necklaces. The cold jewel against her bare skin sent a slight shiver down her spine.

“I thought it would suit you well.”

The Marquis muttered in a low voice, his gaze fixed on the ruby hanging alone against her pale skin.

“Just like the wine.”

Liv, awkwardly looking down at the necklace, gave a small shudder. Despite clearly noticing her now visibly stiff demeanor, the Marquis showed no concern. On the contrary, he seemed somewhat pleased.

Should I sit in a way that makes the necklace more visible?

Liv, awkwardly standing, eventually perched herself on the edge of the bed, facing the Marquis directly. His eyes narrowed slightly.

As if all the displeasure he had shown toward her distracted state had been a lie, the Marquis, now relaxed, took a cigar into his mouth. Wisps of smoke swirled around him. It wasn’t much of a special day, except for the unusually strong cigar scent, so Liv’s attention soon shifted to the jewel.

She had never worn such an accessory in her life. During her school years, there was no occasion for jewelry, and even after graduation, she had never attended an event where such items were needed. If she had owned anything like this, she would have sold it long ago to support the household.

She knew little about jewels. However, she had heard enough to know that the clearer, brighter, and larger the gem, the more valuable it was.

It was possible that the small ruby hanging around her neck was worth more than her own body. The thought made her neck feel unbearably heavy.

Liv looked down at her chest absentmindedly.

“Keep it.”

Suddenly, the Marquis spoke. It took Liv a moment to understand what he meant.

“…Pardon?”

“Sometimes, a tip makes work more worthwhile.”

“No, thank you.”

The words of refusal came out instantly. The Marquis tilted his head slightly at her unhesitant rejection.

“Once worn, it can’t be given to anyone else. If you truly dislike it, you could sell it.”

Sell it?

Liv couldn’t help but laugh dryly.

Whether to a jeweler or a pawn shop, if she took this, the shop owner would call the police immediately. A simple claim of it being a gift wouldn’t be convincing; the jewel and Liv simply didn’t match. Even if it was true, she’d be lucky if she wasn’t accused of theft.

“No, really, it’s fine.”

“Weren’t you the one who said you were short on money?”

The Marquis looked genuinely puzzled by her refusal. After all, every reason that had brought her into this situation was related to money, so it was a natural question for him to ask.

Of course, Liv didn’t want to refuse a tip offered to her. If it had been cash, she might have accepted it without hesitation. But a piece of jewelry like this was a different matter.

“I have enough as it is. If my circumstances change too suddenly… it would look strange.”

The necklace was beautiful, but that was all. It was a valuable item with no practical use, and wearing it felt uncomfortable, as if it belonged to someone else. A little extra cash would be much more helpful for her daily life.

The Marquis, observing Liv’s face, which showed no hint of regret, spoke to himself, “It already looks that way, doesn’t it?”

Liv’s lips, previously calm, trembled slightly.

How could the Marquis always get to the point so easily?

“Were you robbed?”

This was a topic Liv had no desire to discuss. Seeing her remain silent, unwilling to answer, the Marquis clicked his tongue briefly. It was only a small sound, but it was enough to make Liv feel pressured.

Liv glanced at the Marquis’s expression, then reluctantly spoke, “I wasn’t robbed. It’s just… the carriage you provided is so luxurious that it caused a bit of misunderstanding.”

Maybe it would be better if he replaced the carriage she took home with something more common.

Lowering her gaze, Liv tried to think positively. The Marquis didn’t need to provide such an expensive carriage; using a reasonably priced one would cut down on unnecessary expenses. Then again, someone who handed her a necklace purely for its aesthetic appeal didn’t seem like the type to worry about the cost of a carriage.

Still, if his unpredictable generosity were to manifest today, it might alleviate the worries that had been weighing on her.

With that thought, a faint glimmer of hope appeared in Liv’s eyes.

“Ah.”

The Marquis let out a low exclamation at Liv’s words. Pressing his temple as if recalling something, he spoke again after a brief pause, “Your residence is in a slum, isn’t it?”

It wasn’t a slum.

Of course… it wasn’t a very nice neighborhood either.

“It’s an ordinary residential area.”

“If it’s a neighborhood where you have to worry about being noticed just for riding in a carriage, it doesn’t seem very ordinary.”

Liv chose not to argue. To the Marquis, her neighborhood and an actual slum probably looked the same. Denying it would only come off as pointless pride.

The Marquis, rubbing his chin thoughtfully, looked up.

“Do you want me to escort you?”

“…What?”

Liv blurted out without thinking. Her eyes widened, as if she had heard something impossible, and the Marquis twisted his lips slightly.

“Why, do I look like someone who doesn’t understand the concept of an escort?”

“No, it’s not that.”

In fact, it did seem that way. An escort? She hadn’t expected such a polite, refined word to come out of the Marquis’s mouth.

Then again, it would be strange for him not to understand courtesy. He was, after all, the esteemed Marquis Dimus Dietrion. It wasn’t that he didn’t know how to be polite; he simply had no need to be.

But why was he talking about escorting her now?

Oh, right. He had asked if she had been robbed. Did he suggest this because he thought her way home was dangerous?

But how did that lead to an escort?

Following her tangled thoughts, Liv’s expression shifted multiple times. She was so caught up that she didn’t notice the Marquis watching her with amusement until much later.

He was waiting for her response.

Suppressing her confusion, Liv spoke cautiously, “I appreciate the offer, but it wouldn’t solve my fundamental problem, so I must decline.”

“Are you asking for a fundamental solution?”

There was a hint of a smile in the Marquis’s voice as he repeated her words. Liv, growing more flustered, quickly waved her hand.

“I’m not asking for anything…”

“Ask.”

Cutting her off, the Marquis spoke in a clear voice, “Ask, Teacher.”

The smile that had briefly touched his lips was gone, replaced by a cold, dry command.

Yes, a command.

A truly strange command. To ask him for something?

“Why should I make a request of you, Marquis?”

“Why shouldn’t you?”

Liv still looked baffled as she stared at the Marquis.

“If you need a reason…”

Trailing off, the Marquis stared at Liv with an intense gaze. He placed his half-burned cigar into the ashtray, the embers dimming.

“I’m curious. How far will a person who’s kept her pride even while stripped bare go if she oversteps her bounds?”

His words were so insulting that it was difficult for Liv to comprehend them all at once.

Liv, her expression blank, replayed the Marquis’s words over and over in her mind before finally flushing with delayed embarrassment. Her twisted expression revealed emotions she couldn’t fully conceal, spreading like spilled paint.

“If you find me unsatisfactory, then…!”

“Why do you think I find you unsatisfactory?”

Even as Liv raised her voice, the Marquis remained composed, clicking his tongue, his blue eyes gleaming.

“Wouldn’t it be more convincing to understand that you caught my eye?”

Liv, forgetting her anger, gaped at him. The Marquis’s way of thinking was far beyond her comprehension.

Liv opened and closed her mouth, eventually biting her lip to suppress a sigh.

The Marquis might be right. Wasn’t he the kind of man who had the peculiar habit of keeping someone naked before him for hours? Adding the habit of casually insulting someone he took an interest in was hardly a surprise. There were probably countless people who would be grateful for even that kind of attention from him.

This man was Dimus Dietrion. The man everyone in Buerno longed to catch the eye of. A man who wielded such arrogant and ruthless words as if they were his right.

“I understand that you have an interest in me, Marquis, but I’m not sure if that interest is something positive for me.”

Liv conveyed her sentiment in a roundabout tone, expressing that she did not appreciate his interest. Fortunately, the Marquis wasn’t slow to understand and seemed to catch her meaning quickly.

“Life itself is something you can’t be sure of, even a step ahead,” replied the Marquis nonchalantly, turning his gaze away from Liv. “You are more difficult than I expected, Teacher.”

A faint trace of annoyance lingered on the Marquis’s face as he muttered, “I thought it was just your body that was stiff, but your spirit is just as unyielding.”

“I…”

“That will be all for today.”

Although it was earlier than usual, the Marquis rose without hesitation. Liv, startled, quickly stood up as well, but the Marquis left the room without looking back.

Left alone, Liv realized belatedly that she had irritated the Marquis too much. Worry and regret surged through her.

But there was nothing she could do.