Odalisque - Chapter 49

Today, Brad’s studio door was firmly locked again.

Liv stared at the locked door with a troubled expression before lowering her shoulders and turning away.

“The painting work will be suspended for the time being. It seems the artist’s health is in very poor condition.”

Adolf, who had come to inform her of the suspension of the nude painting work, said as much. However, Liv couldn’t quite believe that Brad’s health had deteriorated. It was also hard to believe that the Marquis accepted that explanation.

Though the Marquis had been lenient with Liv up until now, she knew that his attitude was quite unusual. No matter how one looked at it, the Marquis was not gentle by nature, nor was he the kind of person to be attentive to the health of a poor artist. More likely, he was just watching to see how far things would go, biding his time.

She wanted to meet Brad and at least warn him, but the studio showed no signs of opening for several days. Uncollected mail was piling up haphazardly beneath the studio door.

What was the last conversation she’d had with him?

‘A businessman…’

Right, he had said he met a businessman who promised to hold an exhibition for him in the capital. Liv had advised him to cut ties with that person, and Brad had gotten angry in response. Could it be that something happened to him because of that?

Liv descended the stairs with a worried expression, her steps slow and heavy, just as she was about to take another step—

“Who are you?”

A sharp voice called out from right beside her. Liv turned reflexively toward the source of the voice.

“Pardon?”

“I asked who you are. That’s my husband’s studio.”

A woman with sharp, upturned eyes glared at Liv suspiciously. Liv, who had been looking at the woman with a puzzled expression, soon realized that she was Brad’s wife. Perhaps she was there to pick up the mail piling up outside the studio?

Brad’s wife, who was short and plump, placed her hands on her hips and approached Liv with brisk steps.

“I asked who you are.”

Faced with her aggressive demeanor, as if she was ready to grab her by the hair at any moment, Liv blurted out her answer without thinking.

“I’m, um, Mr. Brad’s work partner.”

“Work partner?”

The disbelief on the woman’s face was evident. Knowing her husband’s abilities, she didn’t seem to believe that Brad could have a proper work partner.

Of course, Liv couldn’t admit to being a model. All the paintings Brad had done using her as a model were nudes.

Liv quickly added an explanation, thinking fast, “I provide Mr. Brad with art supplies and materials.”

Technically speaking, it wasn’t entirely untrue. Liv had been the reason Brad ended up working in the Marquis’s mansion. If she insisted, she could claim that she had indirectly provided the art supplies.

…Probably.

“Art supplies?”

“Yes. As you know, art supplies are extremely important to an artist. That’s why I always make sure to handle such transactions carefully.”

The woman scrutinized Liv from head to toe with suspicious eyes before crossing her arms and replying curtly, “So why are you here at the studio?”

Although she seemed unconvinced, she appeared willing to let it slide for now.

Liv sighed in relief internally and spoke quickly, “I was supposed to deliver some materials, but I haven’t been able to see him for quite a while. Since I received no notice, the sudden loss of contact has caused some issues with the transaction.”

The woman’s expression hardened as she sharply responded to Liv’s words, “Hah… Did that guy put it on credit again?”

Judging by her reaction, it seemed this wasn’t the first time Brad had struggled with debts. Liv quickly waved her hands, concerned that the woman might start hurling curses at any moment.

“No, it’s not on credit. It’s just that there’s a set delivery schedule. If the dates get pushed back, it affects other transactions too.”

Liv was sweating nervously as she made up the explanation, but fortunately, her expression seemed convincing enough.

The woman’s tone softened slightly as she replied gruffly, “I don’t know what you were supposed to deliver, but he won’t be coming around for a while. You’d better take care of your other transactions first.”

“He’s not coming around?”

“No.”

It seemed that nothing terrible had happened, judging by her reaction. That was a relief, but Liv still couldn’t simply wait around, clueless.

“Do you know why?”

Liv glanced toward the studio door before forcing a smile and speaking, “I need to report back, after all. I need to know the exact reason to handle the transaction smoothly.”

Although Liv wasn’t familiar with how merchants conducted their affairs, she knew they wouldn’t abruptly suspend regular transactions without a good reason.

Seemingly convinced by Liv’s quick thinking, the woman reluctantly replied, “He went to the capital.”

“The capital?”

Liv’s eyes widened in surprise at the unexpected answer.

“Yes. He’s planning to hold an exhibition there, so he went to check the reserved exhibition hall. Since he’ll need art supplies to continue painting, the transaction shouldn’t be canceled.”

Liv barely managed to suppress a sigh.

“Oh, I see. Alright.”

It was clear that this woman had no idea that the exhibition hall’s rental fee was supposed to come out of Brad’s own pocket. The news that Brad had decided to take the businessman’s offer left Liv feeling uneasy.

Should she tell the woman the truth?

But she wasn’t sure if it was right to interfere in someone else’s family matters and create discord for no reason.

Unaware of Liv’s inner turmoil, the woman suddenly narrowed her eyes.

“But didn’t that guy tell you about the exhibition? He must’ve been bragging about it everywhere.”

Indeed, if Brad was true to his character, he would have boasted about his exhibition to anyone who would listen. Liv nodded in agreement.

“I vaguely heard about it, but it didn’t seem finalized.”

It wasn’t Brad but the woman in front of her who was keeping the household afloat. The more trouble Brad caused, the greater the burden on his wife.

Liv, who knew better than anyone how financial hardship could drain a person, found it difficult to ignore her unease.

Liv finally decided to speak, but before she could, the woman waved her hand dismissively, changing the topic.

“That’s how it is. Anyway, you said you were delivering art supplies, right? Where’s your shop? I’d like to see a receipt.”

The woman gave Liv a skeptical look, and Liv froze with embarrassment.

“Pardon? Ah, we only deal in small quantities… It’s all done privately, so we haven’t set up a shop yet. I don’t have the receipt with me right now, but could I bring it next time?”

“When will you be back?”

It seemed the woman still had her doubts. After all, Liv didn’t exactly look the part of a merchant.

Liv put on a reassuring smile, one she had practiced during her work as a tutor.

“Once the studio opens, I’ll deliver it directly to Mr. Brad.”

“Hmph. That guy might not bring it properly, so just send it by mail.”

The woman knew Brad’s nature all too well. Liv nodded while maintaining her smile, and then coughed awkwardly before cautiously speaking again.

“By the way, ma’am, from what I’ve heard… the exhibition hall fee—that was supposed to be paid by, um, Mr. Brad, wasn’t it? Or am I mistaken?”

The woman’s expression immediately changed.

“What?”

“Since there’s an upcoming exhibition, it seems like everything worked out. Congratulations.”

The more Liv spoke, the more the woman’s face hardened before twisting into a grimace. As if she had just realized something, her expression darkened, and she let out a string of angry curses.

Forgetting to give Liv an address for the receipt, the woman muttered a hasty farewell before quickly turning away. She left in such a rush that she was practically running, and Liv watched her disappear with a deep sigh.

Liv wasn’t sure if she’d done the right thing, but she hoped Brad would come to his senses. Rather than getting swayed by the ridiculous lies of that businessman, it would be far more productive for him to finish the Marquis’s painting as soon as possible.

***

“Turn back.”

“Pardon?”

The coachman, who had assumed he would be taking Liv, peered into the carriage in confusion. Dimus, who had been gazing out of the window with the curtain pulled back by the tip of his cane, withdrew his gaze with an indifferent expression.

“Turn the carriage around.”

It was as capricious a decision as when he had insisted on personally fetching Liv. Nonetheless, the coachman wordlessly obeyed, pulling the reins.

From afar, the coachman glimpsed Liv walking away, unaware of the black carriage. He glanced at her retreating figure before turning the carriage around as ordered.

The black carriage left the city of Buerno as swiftly as it had entered.

***

Adolf was unmarried.

Thus, the story about having a sick daughter that he had told Liv was a blatant lie.

Normally, Adolf didn’t enjoy lying, but at that time, he had no other choice. He had known full well that Liv would never have opened up to him if he hadn’t said something like that.

Ever since he began working under the Marquis, there were times when Adolf had to do things he didn’t want to, and lying to Liv had felt no different.

But unlike usual, this particular lie weighed on him more heavily.

Especially whenever he ran into Corida.

“How old is your daughter, mister?”

Inventing a nonexistent sick daughter was giving Adolf a headache. Reading a law book would have been more relaxing.

He wasn’t a creative person, nor was he very imaginative. If he exaggerated too much, he might not be able to keep up with his own lies later, so he couldn’t afford to make any reckless fabrications.