Odalisque - Chapter 56

“Your body seems to have recovered well.”

“Pardon?”

“You didn’t seem to be in great shape.”

Liv blushed as she understood what Dimus meant. After their intimate encounter, it had taken Liv quite a while to recover her energy. If they hadn’t been in the Marquis’s mansion, she would have wanted nothing more than to sleep right then and there.

No, to be precise, the Marquis had said she could stay. But Liv, thinking of Corida waiting for her at home, had insisted on washing up and returning. Honestly, she hadn’t wanted to linger long in that cold, desolate room either.

“…I have average stamina.”

“I see.”

The Marquis made a sound of admiration, though his expression showed he didn’t agree at all.

“Then you should raise your standard for what counts as average.”

“Raise the standard, you say…”

“Unless you intend to reject me without hesitation after trying it once. I can’t guarantee I’ll give you this much time to recover next time.”

So the reason he hadn’t called her since then wasn’t because he had lost interest, but out of consideration for her recovery?

Liv looked at Dimus in disbelief. As always, he seemed indifferent and aloof. As she stared at his expression blankly, Liv couldn’t help but think, however absurdly, that there must be a speck of conscience in him if he had given her time to rest.

Honestly, if he didn’t have even that much of a conscience, he wouldn’t be human. After enduring her first time with that “weapon,” Liv had genuinely felt as though her body would split in two.

And yet, in the end, it had all turned into pleasure, causing her to cry out without any shame.

Trying to shake off the vivid memory of that day, Liv quickly opened her mouth to speak.

“I didn’t realize I had a choice.”

“I have no intention of forcing myself on someone who refuses.”

Dimus’s blue eyes glanced at Liv as he responded casually.

“Also, I know that you have no reason to refuse.”

It was an incredibly arrogant statement. He was implying that anyone would want him.

What was frustrating was that he wasn’t wrong. If he asked for a companion for the night, countless people of all genders and ages in Buerno would jump at the chance.

And Liv, who had already spent a night with him… had no desire to refuse him in the future either.

“Weren’t we both satisfied?”

“Were you satisfied with me?”

“Yes.”

Sometimes, his affirmations came so easily that they made her question their sincerity. The Marquis smirked as Liv remained silent, unsure of how to react.

“I’m a very particular collector. You should be proud that you met my standards.”

“It sounds like you’re saying I’ve become one of your collection pieces.”

“Isn’t that true?”

Oddly enough, Camille’s words came to mind at that moment. The Marquis, who was treated like a valuable statue by others, did not even treat people like statues himself.

Should she be grateful to be treated as part of his collection by a man like that?

An uncomfortable feeling started to grow in the corner of her mind. It was similar to the emotion she had felt when left alone after their intimate encounter.

A thought crossed her mind—it felt pathetic. As if she had expected something grand from the Marquis and ended up betrayed. Their relationship had been clear from the start.

The Marquis had always viewed her as a passing amusement, and Liv had been willing to accept his interest, grateful for whatever attention she received. It was nothing more than a shallow relationship where all control rested on one side.

Determined to brush off her unnecessary emotions, Liv spoke in a deliberately light tone, “Do you also collect taxidermy?”

“Taxidermy?”

The Marquis glanced at the kingfisher Liv was staring at and replied nonchalantly, “If something has value, there’s no harm in owning it.”

But for all that value, it wasn’t treated particularly well. Liv had heard that taxidermy pieces had specific care requirements.

Staring at the kingfisher’s delicate feathers, Liv spoke softly, “I’ve heard a rumor. They say you have human taxidermies in the basement of your mansion.”

“Interesting rumor.”

The Marquis let out a brief chuckle, seemingly amused.

“Are you afraid you’ll end up as one?”

“I heard the rumor, but I don’t believe it.”

The Marquis clicked his tongue, failing to hide his amusement.

“What if it’s true?”

“Then I’d curse my foolish judgment and limited perspective.”

“Indeed.”

The Marquis tilted Liv’s chin toward him as she stared at the fountain. His voice had carried laughter during their conversation, but his face now showed none. His blue eyes, calm to the point of coldness, looked at her.

“I prefer a living teacher, not a beautifully preserved dead one.”

His warm breath was close enough for her to feel. Liv felt his hand slowly slide from her chin, tracing down her neck and then moving to the back of her head.

Where this intimate touch would end depended entirely on the Marquis’s intentions. Yet she couldn’t simply let him take full control.

Licking her lips, Liv spoke in a steady tone, “I’m here at the Berryworth mansion for Corida’s treatment.”

Her voice naturally softened due to their proximity, but Liv made an effort not to let it tremble. She wasn’t alone here, after all.

In just an hour, Corida would be looking for her sister. And considering the night she spent with the Marquis before, she knew that he wouldn’t finish anything in under an hour.

“I hope you’ll take that into consideration.”

“You’re getting better at making demands, Teacher.”

“I’m trying.”

Liv, who had been looking down quietly, shifted her gaze slightly. The blue eyes right before her seemed like a mesmerizing jewel, capable of drawing one’s soul. She couldn’t help but look directly at them. She didn’t know how it looked to the Marquis, but there was nothing she could do.

“It seems to be what you want.”

The Marquis’s eyes narrowed slightly. Liv realized that, once again, she had found the “right answer.”

“Quick learner.”

How commendable.

His final words were swallowed as their lips met.

***

The date of Cardinal Calliope’s visit to Buerno had been announced.

Technically, it was part of his pilgrimage schedule, with Buerno being one of his stops. The Cardinal was set to visit a few chapels and orphanages in Buerno over the span of several days.

People were now less interested in the Cardinal’s visit itself and more intrigued by his specific itinerary while in Buerno. Numerous one-off events were being organized throughout the city in preparation for the Cardinal’s visit, and these were the types of occasions where all sorts of notable figures were likely to make an appearance.

Some believed that this time, the Marquis Dietrion would finally show himself in public. Especially the press, who eagerly hoped to snap a few good photos of the reclusive Marquis, were busy checking their cameras in anticipation.

Naturally, none of this interested Dimus in the slightest.

“I’ve given the press a heads-up, but it seems they’re still holding out hope,” Charles reported as he cautiously observed Dimus’s expression while he read the newspaper.

“Even if they take pictures, they won’t be able to publish them.”

“They don’t know that.”

Dimus let out a faint snicker and tossed the newspaper onto his desk. The front page featured a large photo of the smiling Cardinal, waving warmly.

“I’ve adjusted your schedule accordingly.”

“Not that I had much of a schedule to adjust.”

Dimus’s daily life was largely uneventful. He had no noble obligations or responsibilities. There was no sense of burden or duty to lead his family.

His schedule mostly consisted of regular meetings with museum curators to purchase art or participating in private auctions. The most recent source of excitement in his monotonous life had been meeting Liv.

Although adjusting his schedule for the Cardinal’s visit seemed unnecessary, Dimus didn’t reprimand Charles. After all, there was no harm in being prepared.

“Shall I prepare a seat for you?”

“Since he’s coming all this way, I suppose I should spare an hour to see him.”

Muttering cynically, Dimus looked at the man in the photograph. Even with the passage of time, the Cardinal remained strikingly handsome.

It was this appearance alone that won over the hearts of many believers. Dimus understood that the pursuit of beauty was ingrained in human nature—the Cardinal’s followers were proof of that.

Moreover, Cardinal Calliope was particularly known for advocating peace within the church. In a continent fraught with conflicts big and small, it was difficult for any believer to dislike a gentle and kind-hearted figure praying for peace.

“They say he’s now a strong candidate for the next Gratia.”

At Charles’s subtle comment, Dimus lifted one corner of his mouth.

Gratia, the highest-ranking clergy member and head of the church, was chosen from among the Cardinals. It was the most honorable position, standing tall as a figure of universal respect.

And to achieve that position, the bloodshed required was enough to form a river.

Scoffing openly, Dimus murmured to himself, “Wasn’t Cardinal Augustine in a strong position before?”

“His internal standing took a significant hit after losing the battle between Elba and Torsten last year. Should I gather more specific information?”

“No need. I can imagine.”

Whatever the specifics, it had nothing to do with Dimus. He had long since stepped away from the stage they had created. If they were trying to resurrect a role that had already exited, that was their business.

He was about to dismiss the thought when Charles continued his report.

“Also, someone has arrived from Malte.”