Odalisque - Chapter 27

Brad’s work pace had increased.

It happened after the Marquis stopped supervising him. Without the Marquis’s interference, Brad had free access to the studio as much as he needed, and he threw himself into his work as if trying to make up for lost time.

Even though it was what she had hoped for, Liv wasn’t happy at all. After the Marquis stopped attending the sessions, her extra work also came to a halt, without any indication of resuming.

Adolf had informed her that the Marquis would be away for a while, so there was no need for extra work in the meantime. He assured her that the contract hadn’t been terminated, just temporarily paused.

It was a relief that the contract wasn’t terminated. However, the uncertainty of when the extra work would resume left her in an uncomfortable position. On top of that, Brad’s accelerated progress only made her feel more anxious.

Would her extra work continue after Brad finished the painting?

Would she ever forget the substantial pay she’d tasted, even for a short while?

These thoughts weighed heavily on Liv’s mind. Moreover…

Once the extra work abruptly stopped, Liv realized she had become more interested in the Marquis than she initially thought.

Truthfully, anyone would have felt the same. For Liv, it was inevitable. She had spent more time with him than expected, and their frequent interactions had reduced the psychological distance between them. Of course, the Marquis’s physical attributes couldn’t be ignored.

Above all, no one knew that such a seemingly impeccable man had that peculiar hobby. The fact that only she knew the secret of such a remarkable man gave her a sense of significance.

It wasn’t merely her delusion. Looking back, it seemed like the Marquis treated her a little differently from others.

“But in the end…”

Liv swallowed a sigh and shook her head. She didn’t know what whim made him take an interest in her, but their last conversation had upset him, ruining everything.

Without the extra work, Liv could go home before nightfall, and she walked back with a lack of energy. The only comfort she found in this situation was that the strange, watchful gaze that had unsettled her for some time had disappeared. Since she no longer took an expensive carriage home late at night, the odd rumors circulating in the neighborhood would also disappear.

Out of habit, she made her way to the chapel. She hadn’t visited in a long time, having been too busy with extra work.

In front of the chapel building, now coming into view, stood a familiar figure holding a broom.

“Hello, Miss Liv!”

“Hello, Betryl.”

Betryl looked the same as always, and seeing him made the events of the past few weeks feel like a distant dream. It made her wonder if this was reality, while everything involving the Marquis had just been an illusion.

Betryl greeted her warmly and spoke with a broad smile, “There are so many visitors seeking God’s embrace today.”

At his words, Liv’s gaze turned to the chapel’s worn entrance. As soon as she heard the word “visitors,” an unexpected individual she often encountered there came to mind.

Could the Marquis be inside?

Just the thought made her palms feel damp. A sense of tension, whose cause she couldn’t pinpoint, made her spine stiffen.

Swallowing dryly, Liv cautiously pushed open the door. Just as Betryl had said, despite it not being a service time, many people were seated in the pews. Liv’s eyes quickly scanned the backs of the congregation.

No platinum blonde hair in sight.

Liv, standing there with an involuntary expression of disappointment, startled herself. Disappointed?

‘Get a grip.’

Scolding herself sharply, Liv looked around for an empty seat. She noticed a few people rising to leave, and her feet moved naturally in that direction.

As she neared the empty spot, Liv instinctively halted. The person approaching from the opposite side did the same.

“Oh? Teacher Rodaise?”

“Teacher Marcel?”

The person greeting her with surprise was Camille. He smiled brightly as he spoke but suddenly paused, his face changing as if realizing something.

“Wow, I never thought I’d run into you here. To think… Ah.”

The one greeting her with a familiar face was Camille. He beamed as he spoke but abruptly froze, his expression hardening as if some thought had crossed his mind.

“For even you to come here, he must indeed be extraordinary.”

Camille seemed a little regretful, perhaps even disappointed. Though she didn’t know the details, Liv could sense he had jumped to some kind of conclusion on his own.

Furrowing her brows, she calmly responded, “I’m not sure what you’re implying.”

“It’s alright. There’s probably no one in Buerno who isn’t interested in him.” Camille waved dismissively, forcing a smile.

Liv’s expression grew more rigid as she spoke in a lowered voice, “Pardon me, Teacher Marcel, but I’ve been attending this chapel for a long time.”

“So, you’re not here to see him?”

“Who are you talking about?”

“The Marquis Dietrion.”

Liv’s eyes widened. Seeing her reaction, Camille’s expression turned peculiar.

“You really didn’t know, did you?”

Camille, pressing his hat down on his head, glanced around the chapel. A few people sitting nearby turned their heads to look at them, seemingly drawn by their conversation. Liv also noticed the gathering attention and felt embarrassed.

“This isn’t the best place for a conversation. Shall we step outside?”

Liv hesitated briefly before nodding.

Without any warm tea to share, Liv and Camille sat on an outdoor bench near the chapel, and their conversation dragged on longer than expected.

In the end, she left without offering the prayer she had come for. But she wasn’t too disappointed about missing the prayer. What bothered her more was her suspicion that the chapel wouldn’t be peaceful anymore.

“If I’d known you were attending here, I would’ve come sooner.”

“You can start coming from now on.”

“Well, it seems even this small space won’t be available for much longer.”

Camille clicked his tongue exaggeratedly as he saw more people approaching the chapel.

He muttered under his breath, seemingly to himself, “The rumor will likely spread further.”

Liv responded with an awkward smile, subtly shifting her gaze.

So all those people crowding into the chapel had heard a certain rumor and had come because of it.

The rumor that Marquis Dietrion attended this chapel.

Camille was also among those who had come because of that rumor. With an awkward laugh, he said, “I wanted to see if there was something special about the place that His Lordship the Marquis frequented.”

And when Liv, who had mentioned having an interest in the Marquis at Million’s birthday party, appeared in the chapel, he assumed she was there for the same reason.

Liv glanced up at the small, old chapel building. Camille, misinterpreting her gaze, spoke reassuringly, “Everyone will soon realize it’s just a baseless rumor.”

“You think it’s a baseless rumor?”

“Of course.”

Camille shrugged, following her gaze.

“There’s no reason for the Marquis to come to such a worn-down chapel. If it were him, he would likely have a prayer room set up inside his own mansion.”

“…Right.”

Hearing Camille’s words made her think how odd it was. Why had he come here?

“Wait, Teacher Rodaise, have you ever seen the Marquis here?”

“Why would I? Why would the Marquis be here?”

Liv laughed and shook her head. Thinking back, it seemed like no one had caught her meeting the Marquis in this chapel. It wasn’t an encounter that would benefit anyone by making it known.

“True, right?”

As Camille laughed lightly, Liv checked the now-dark sky and turned around.

“I should get going. It’s gotten quite late.”

“Where do you live? I’ll accompany you part of the way.”

“It’s not far, so it’s alright. You should head back as well, it’s late.”

Camille insisted again, but when Liv refused, he didn’t push further. The more she interacted with him, the more she thought he was a decent man. She wondered how a man like him could have taken an interest in her as she shuffled away.

Night fell quickly.

After leaving the bustling chapel and entering a quiet alley, the difference felt stark. Liv exaggerated her footsteps, feeling the contrast even more keenly. There wasn’t a single passerby in sight on her way home tonight.

The dark, silent atmosphere made the alley feel eerier, and Liv huddled in on herself, trying to ward off the sudden chill. Crossing her arms and moving quickly, she suddenly picked up a faint sound mixed with her own footsteps.

Thud.

A muffled, heavy step trying to stay quiet.

Chills ran from her spine up to her neck. Alarmed, Liv came to a halt and turned abruptly, but there was no one in the dim alley.

‘It’s just my imagination.’

Desperately trying to reassure herself, Liv resumed walking. But once her senses were on high alert, they wouldn’t calm down easily. Walking even faster than before, Liv held her breath, straining her ears to listen behind her.

Thud, thud.

It wasn’t her imagination. The sound overlapped with her own steps but was heavier and more cautious.

She should have accepted Camille’s offer to accompany her.

Regret and fear flooded her, consuming her entire body. What if the source of those footsteps was the same person whose gaze she had felt for days? She thought it had disappeared, but what if they had been watching her all along, planning to rob her tonight?

All she had was a few coins intended for an offering. Would throwing it be enough to get away?

Her mind went blank as her steps quickened further. And the footsteps behind her kept pace.