Chapter 6
I should just give away the painting. As Brad said, no one will recognize who the model is.
But what if they do recognize me?
Even if the buyer was particularly observant and recognized her face from the painting alone, it didn’t matter as long as she didn’t run into them. When would a mere tutor of the Baron Pendence’s household have a chance to meet high society?
But what if Baroness Pendence saw the painting?
Ah, he did promise to keep my identity a secret. Maybe I should just go directly and explain the situation. Could that possibly make things right?
Would the person who bought the nude be that considerate?
Pondering like that, time slipped into evening. In the end, Liv had done nothing all day, unable to make any decision. She had pleaded with Brad to inform her immediately if anything changed or if anything happened, but there had been no news.
There’s no way this will be resolved easily…
The next day, she had to work at Baron Pendence’s residence for Million’s lesson, leaving her no time to handle anything else. On the third day, she argued with Pomel, who had come again about the overdue rent, only to have to rush off when Corida’s condition worsened, spending the whole day searching for a doctor.
And so, four days passed. The slip of paper with the address written on it had been crumpled in her pocket, opened and folded so many times that it was now wrinkled and worn.
No matter how much she thought about it, there was no way to come up with the money immediately. Liv left her house, mentally repeating the address that she had practically memorized from looking at it so often. However, her feet carried her to the chapel instead of the address.
Today, for some reason, no one was around the chapel. Liv stood there, staring vacantly at the chapel before forcefully opening the door.
As always, the inside of the chapel was quiet. She could see a single person praying at the front, but she wasn’t in any state to pay them much mind. Liv sat at the back, instead of her usual middle seat, wanting to soothe her heart, which had become ragged in just a few days.
I’ll pray for a short while, and then I’ll really go to that address.
With that determination, Liv clasped her hands. Her clenched jaw caused tension to form in her chin.
Even when her parents died suddenly in a carriage accident, although it had been unbearable at the time, she had ultimately endured. The first time she worked as a live-in tutor, when she was humiliated by the count’s family, she had also persevered and overcome.
She would be able to overcome this too. Surely, there would be a way.
Alright, I’ll go and explain. Since they promised to keep my identity a secret, I should personally go and explain why the agreement was broken, apologize, and ask them to understand. If they had any complaints about damages, she could promise to repay them gradually. She just needed to avoid losing her current job.
Step by step.
The thoughts she was carefully organizing in her mind suddenly scattered. She heard footsteps echoing in the empty chapel. Liv’s long eyelashes quivered slightly. Once her focus was broken, she couldn’t regain it. Naturally, her attention shifted to the footsteps.
A crisp sound, familiar, one she had heard somewhere before.
Liv opened her eyes as if drawn by a spell.
The person she had thought was praying at the front had moved and was now standing, blocking her view. He stood there in silence, light from the stained glass cascading down upon him. Dust in the beam of light danced like mystical smoke, and his platinum blonde hair shimmered with an ethereal glow.
Since she had taken a seat in the very back, Liv could take in the whole scene at once, and she found herself unconsciously parting her lips.
Noticing her gaze, he looked back at her. The moment Liv felt as though their eyes had met, she instinctively bowed her head.
The distance is far. It’s the front and the back; there’s no way he recognized me. There’s no way our eyes met.
She tried to console herself, but her heart had already started pounding wildly. She closed her eyes, pressing her forehead against her clasped hands to hide her now-pale face.
The sound of footsteps drew closer. The sound, which had approached steadily, stopped near her.
As she licked her dry lips, a cold voice spoke above her head.
“It seems a tutor should know more about proper greetings.”
Oh, God. What exactly did I do wrong?
Calling oou to God in frustration, Liv slowly opened her eyes. Forcing strength into her trembling lips, she lifted her gaze, only to meet a pair of cold blue eyes. The person looking down at her arrogantly, hands clasped behind his back, was none other than Marquis Dietrion.
Of all the chapels, why did he come to this one? Most people rarely even see him once, and I’ve run into him three times already.
“It seems four days should have been enough.”
Suspicion flashed in Liv’s eyes. Naturally, she assumed he was criticizing her attempt to feign ignorance a moment ago. But four days? Marquis Dietrion showed no intention of explaining further.
He frowned slightly and gave her a brief, disdainful glance before turning away, clearly unwilling to continue the conversation. Watching his retreating figure, Liv suddenly recalled what had happened four days ago.
The nude, Brad, the servant, the address.
“Could it be…!”
The hair on the back of her neck stood on end. She jumped up belatedly and rushed out of the chapel, but the marquis was already boarding his carriage. She thought he might have glanced at her as she chased after him, but that was all.
Liv could only stand there in stunned silence as she watched the carriage drive off, kicking up dust as it went.
This can’t be. It must be a mistake.
Liv took the crumpled slip of paper out of her pocket. Seeing the address on it, her throat tightened as though she had swallowed a burning coal. She quickly started walking.
***
This is a nightmare. A vivid, elaborate, yet terrifying nightmare.
With that thought, Liv looked around anxiously. Everywhere her eyes landed, she saw luxurious objects. Paintings hung on the walls, and sculptures stood at intervals.
From the outside, the place had looked ordinary, but inside, it resembled a small art museum. Even someone like Liv, who had no particular interest in art, could tell that the owner of this house was a serious collector. To have the wealth to fill a space this size with such pieces—this was no ordinary individual.
“I’m sorry, but the master is busy with other matters. You can tell me whatever you need to say.”
After sitting alone in a grand and opulent reception room, waiting in vain, the owner had not appeared. Instead, a middle-aged man, presumably a servant, had entered and now stood near her.
Liv glanced briefly at the servant’s neat attire before lowering her eyes. The sight of her skirt, covered in dust and dirt from her frantic journey, made her shrink back involuntarily.
Liv took a small breath to steady herself, then began to speak calmly.
“First, I want to apologize. I came far too late, and I imagine your master must be greatly displeased. Due to some circumstances, I couldn’t come right away.”
“I’m sorry, miss. I don’t know anything about that. I’m simply here to convey your message.”
“Then please, first convey this: I deeply regret the delay.”
Perhaps sensing the desperation in Liv’s tone, the servant nodded in acknowledgment. Liv took another deep breath before continuing slowly.
“I’m here to inform the master of this house that the painting he purchased four days ago cannot be sold. He said he wanted to hear the reason directly from the model, which is why I’ve come. The painting contains details that were not agreed upon by the model, and that’s why I’ve had to intrude in such an impolite manner.”
“Ah, I see.”
“As for the price of the painting… I cannot return the full amount right now, but I will do my utmost to ensure that no loss is incurred. So…”
The more she spoke, the lower her head sank. She was barely managing to get the words out when a cold voice interrupted her.
“And how do you intend to ensure that?”
The servant immediately bowed his head and stepped back.
Perhaps because she had envisioned this scene in her mind countless times on her way here, facing Marquis Dietrion in person wasn’t as overwhelming as she had feared.
Of course, that didn’t mean she was brave enough to face him confidently. At the very least, she wasn’t reduced to a trembling mouse in front of a cat, as she had been during their previous encounters.
Liv stood awkwardly and spoke in a hurried voice, “I-If you could give me some time, I could settle things with Brad…”
“The painter has already delivered the painting.”
Before Liv could finish, the marquis spoke with a sneer.
“The transaction is complete.”
The color drained completely from Liv’s already pale face.
Brad actually went through with it!
“That painting violates the terms of our contract.”
“Disputes between the model and the painter are not matters the buyer needs to concern himself with.”
His words were undeniably correct. Especially now that he had already received the painting. But Liv couldn’t afford to back down.
The painting was now in the marquis’s possession. The marquis was someone who visited the Pendence mansion, and he knew that Liv was a tutor there.
“When you said you wanted to hear the reason directly from the model, wasn’t that an indication that you were willing to be considerate?”
“Yes. But it was the painter who showed up that day, not the model.”
He handed over the painting that very day? Brad, that wretched man!
“Even if, at this point, you were willing to be accommodating…”
The marquis, frowning, slowly stepped into the reception room as he spoke, “I wished to speak with the model. The person whose identity I promised to keep confidential was also the model. On what grounds do you, tutor, make such a request?”
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