Odalisque - Chapter 35

The Marquis’s face was filled with boredom, as if he didn’t understand why he needed to explain something so obvious.

Liv was at a loss for words, staring blankly at the Marquis. No matter how much she mulled it over, she couldn’t feel any reality in what she’d just heard.

So, he really came to Million’s birthday party to see me?

“That can’t be…”

“Can’t be?”

The Marquis repeated Liv’s words.

“Your reaction is rather underwhelming. Isn’t this what you wanted to confirm?”

Seeing Liv’s bewildered reaction, the Marquis let out a small laugh.

“My interest in you, Teacher.”

It was a direct hit.

Liv’s lips parted, but no words came out. She licked her lips nervously, her mouth feeling dry. She desperately wished for a drink—anything, even wine—but unfortunately, there was nothing to drink. If there had been wine, she would have asked for a glass immediately.

All she could do was swallow her dry spit, struggling to find the right words. Finally, Liv managed to speak.

“How should I take that interest of yours, Marquis?”

“I haven’t really thought about it.”

The Marquis took his eyes off Liv, his expression indifferent. He pulled a cigar case from his coat.

“Consider it yourself.”

With the same cold demeanor as always, the Marquis didn’t even look at Liv as he spoke, “Play.”

Liv turned stiffly, facing the piano once more. However, her mind was so jumbled that she barely knew what she was playing, her performance utterly terrible.

Yet the Marquis didn’t stop her.

***

Does he like me?

In the past, Liv would have laughed it off as a delusion. But now, she couldn’t. Sure, it wasn’t pure affection between a man and a woman that could describe what existed between the Marquis and her… but still.

He called it “interest,” but would someone usually act this way toward a person of interest?

No matter how she thought about it, the Marquis’s actions were excessive and unusual. Liv had even begun to convince herself that his appearance at the chapel had also been for her. Why else would he show up in that small, shabby chapel?

Of course, the reason he kept taking Brad’s paintings was because she was the model. The sponsorship Brad believed in so firmly would probably never happen.

The Marquis had saved her life from a thug, allowed her to rent a house at a very low rate, and even offered her extra work when she needed money.

He had even told her to pray to him from now on.

“But why…”

Liv rubbed her face with a confused expression as she thought about everything the Marquis had done for her.

It was clear that his behavior towards her was special, but she couldn’t understand why he had such interest in her.

Was it just because he liked her body? Would he really go to such lengths just because of that?

For all she knew, there were probably countless women around the Marquis with bodies far more beautiful than hers. Women who would undress at a mere gesture from him.

Was her body better than those renowned beauties? Could that possibly be true? Did she have some extraordinary charm she was unaware of?

“Sister, sister.”

“Oh, yes.”

Liv, lost in thought while sitting at the dining table, hastily composed herself.

“Look at this, sister!”

Corida’s eyes sparkled as she held out her hands. In her hands was a wooden music box.

After scolding Corida harshly for secretly taking on needlework to help with their financial situation, Liv had bought her a few interesting things to distract her. The wooden music box was one of those items.

“Did you finish it?”

“Yes!”

It was a kit that included all the parts and simply needed to be assembled according to the instructions. It had recently become popular, so Liv bought one, and it seemed to suit Corida’s taste very well.

Liv pushed thoughts of the Marquis to the back of her mind and focused on Corida.

“It wasn’t as hard as I thought it would be. I finished it quickly.” Corida tilted her chin up proudly.

“That’s impressive.”

Liv smiled as she took the wooden music box. It looked exactly like the completed version pictured on the packaging.

Even with the instructions, producing such a fine finished product was impressive. Liv genuinely admired Corida’s handiwork.

“You have a real talent for craftsmanship!”

“I just put the pieces in the right places.” Corida gave a bashful smile and continued, “I think I’m good at making things.”

“Feeling confident just because you completed a music box?”

“No! It’s not just the music box—the fence…!”

Corida, who had been about to argue indignantly, suddenly stopped. But by then, the smile on Liv’s face had already disappeared.

Placing the wooden music box on the edge of the table, Liv folded her arms and looked at Corida.

“The fence?”

“Well, um…”

“What did you do while I was out, Corida?”

Corida, who had been rolling her eyes with a distressed expression, finally met Liv’s gaze and spoke, “Well… actually, the real estate agent, Mr. Adolf, came by a few days ago to do some repairs on the fence. He said he was working alone.”

According to Corida, shortly after Liv left for work, Adolf had shown up and asked if it was okay to do some minor repairs on the fence. He said there were some issues that hadn’t been noticed because the move had happened rather quickly.

Corida, who was already familiar with Adolf, agreed, but later noticed that Adolf was working alone, so she helped him out a bit.

“Corida!”

“I didn’t really do anything! I just handed him a few things he needed!”

“Why get involved when he’s handling it? What if you got hurt?”

To Liv, everything outside their home seemed filled with danger.

Adolf probably didn’t think much of accepting Corida’s help since he didn’t know better, but repairing a fence could involve dangerous tools. What if some debris flew and hurt her?

Seeing Liv’s hardened expression, Corida spoke with an aggrieved look, “He said if I stayed inside all the time, I’d only get weaker. He said since the fence is strong now, I should at least come out to the yard!”

“He’s not a doctor. He doesn’t know your condition.”

“He was way more trustworthy than the doctor who examined me back then!”

With Corida’s outburst, an awkward silence fell between them. Corida looked regretful as Liv’s face turned pale.

“Sister, I mean… I was just trying to say I’m healthier now. I didn’t mean to bring up that doctor. And it wasn’t your fault, it was that old man’s fault!”

Corida clasped her hands together anxiously, her gaze dropping to the floor.

“I know I must look the same to you as I did back then… but it’s been years. Things like that won’t happen again. As long as I take my medicine, I’m not going to suddenly collapse. Thanks to all the money you make, I get to eat well too, right?”

Corida cautiously asked, glancing at Liv, who was sitting quietly, “You’re not mad, are you, sister?”

Liv swallowed the bitterness rising in her throat and smiled softly. “Why would I be mad? I’m just worried about you.”

Fortunately, Liv’s smile must have seemed genuine enough because Corida nodded, looking somewhat relieved. She then deliberately changed the subject, and Liv went along with it.

However, in a corner of her mind, it felt as if a heavy weight had settled.

***

Liv was eighteen when her parents died, during a cold winter.

Their carriage had slipped on an icy road, falling over and crushing them. Her parents died instantly, leaving Liv alone with her eight-year-old sister.

It hadn’t even been a year since Liv had returned home after graduating. She hadn’t yet figured out what she wanted to do. She still had a young girl’s dreams.

Back then, Liv had been preoccupied with contemplating her future. Of course, her ailing sister had been cared for by their parents. Liv had known of Corida’s condition through word of mouth, but her parents, who had always looked after Corida, knew her condition much better.

When her parents suddenly passed away, Liv realized she needed to understand Corida’s condition precisely. So, she paid a large sum to bring in a doctor. He was an elderly doctor with a long career, and Liv, who had no real experience in the adult world, had trusted his self-assured demeanor.

That quack.

That man had drawn Corida’s blood, causing her to nearly die from excessive bleeding. Moreover, he had suggested opening her skull to examine her brain, claiming that modern diagnostic methods now involved invasive procedures.

At least, thanks to that fraud, they had learned that Corida had a serious bleeding issue. If nothing else, that was useful.

Since being burned by that quack, Liv no longer trusted doctors. Of course, there were skilled doctors somewhere, but they were all employed by noble families. The doctors wandering around on the streets seemed completely untrustworthy.

Instead, Liv put her trust in medicine. It was the only thing that had shown practical results.

All she needed to do was buy the same medicine her parents had always purchased for Corida. It was far safer than subjecting Corida to experiments based on uncertain diagnoses.

Recalling the past she’d tried to forget, Liv sighed deeply.

“He’s ready to see you.”

Liv looked up sharply at the attendant’s call.