Odalisque - Chapter 60

The contract with Pomel was completed in writing, thanks to Adolf’s help. There was no need to revisit that neighborhood, but Liv felt uneasy about abruptly cutting off contact with Rita.

“Oh, I see. That’s too bad. It’s really a shame to lose such a dedicated believer. How is Corida?”

“She’s doing much better.”

“You may be attending a different chapel now, but even if it’s far, please stop by our chapel sometimes. It feels empty without you, Miss Liv.”

Liv couldn’t bring herself to say she had stopped attending chapel altogether, so she just smiled vaguely.

Not only had she stopped going to chapel, but she hadn’t prayed properly in a long time. The funny thing was, her life felt far more stable and fulfilling now than when she had been praying earnestly.

“Do you still seek God at the chapel?”

It was people who had the power to accomplish things. That statement was true.

It was the Marquis who had made everything happen.

“I remember there being a lot of believers the last time I visited.”

Liv calmly changed the subject, and Betryl responded with a rueful laugh.

“Haha, there was a period like that for a while. But it didn’t last. Apparently, there was a rumor that Marquis Dietrion attended our chapel! Isn’t that surprising?”

“…Surprising indeed.”

How could it be that his name came up in every aspect of her daily life?

Liv suddenly realized how deeply he had embedded himself in her entire life. No matter whom she spoke with, the conversation would eventually circle back to the Marquis or remind her of him. It was astonishing.

“Marquis Dietrion! Why would someone like him visit our chapel? He could have a private meeting with the priest at the largest chapel in Buerno if he wanted to.”

Betryl shook his head, as if amused by the thought. He shrugged, wishing he could glimpse the beautiful face of the man who seemed to monopolize God’s blessings. His voice was filled with genuine admiration.

Liv tilted her head as she quietly listened.

“…You’ve never met him, Betryl?”

“No. If I had, there’s no way I would forget!”

But Liv had encountered the Marquis at the chapel several times. Was it possible that a man as conspicuous as the Marquis had been secretly visiting the chapel just to see her, avoiding the eyes of others?

She had guessed the reason for his visits, but she never imagined he had been coming and going so discreetly that Betryl, who practically lived at the chapel, was completely unaware. Liv was about to ask Betryl more questions when she noticed a carriage approaching behind him and fell silent.

A black carriage. Although common enough, it now seemed uniquely distinct to her. She recognized it instantly.

“I have an appointment, so I should go now.”

Liv smiled as she said her goodbye, and Betryl nodded pleasantly, wishing her well.

“Please do stop by the chapel sometime!”

Liv, still smiling, walked briskly toward the carriage. She exchanged a glance with the coachman before boarding without any hint of surprise.

It was the first time she had been summoned on a day she had a lesson at the Pendence estate, but it didn’t bother her at all. On the contrary, her heart fluttered with excitement at the unexpected call.

This was her first extra work since she had met the Marquis in the glass greenhouse. On that day, the Marquis had abided by Liv’s request to consider Corida, doing nothing more than kissing her. But today would be different.

Liv leaned back against the plush seat of the carriage and took a deep breath. Only then did she realize it.

She had been waiting for this extra work

***

She had thought she had grown quite accustomed to this mansion.

Liv, now seated, glanced around cautiously. She had been prepared to disrobe immediately upon arrival, but instead, she was led to the dining room.

“You haven’t eaten yet, have you?”

The Marquis, sitting at the head of the table, greeted her as if this had all been arranged beforehand. Perhaps the meal had been prepared in anticipation of her arrival; as soon as she sat down, an array of delicious dishes began to fill the table.

“Some excellent veal has arrived,” Philip spoke softly as he personally moved the plates.

In the center of the large table was a large serving of golden-brown roasted veal. Once a servant carved and placed portions on both the Marquis’s and Liv’s plates, he silently withdrew, followed by Philip and the other servants.

“Go ahead.”

Following the Marquis’s lead, Liv picked up her utensils. But even as she cut into her meat, the sense of bewilderment didn’t leave her.

Noticing her demeanor, the Marquis spoke in his usual calm voice, “No time to enjoy a meal?”

“Not exactly…”

“It seems your lesson ended. Did you have other plans?”

The Marquis elegantly sliced his meat, then glanced up at Liv.

“Perhaps with that man you were having a friendly conversation with earlier?”

Did the coachman report what he had seen of her conversation with Betryl? If so, it was an impressively prompt report.

Surprised by the unexpected question, Liv quickly shook her head. “Betryl is a trainee cleric from the chapel I used to attend. He doesn’t socialize with worshippers privately.”

Those who aspired to the clergy were meant to remain pure, devoted only to God. Despite her firm words, the Marquis snorted dismissively.

“Pleasure and clerical duties are separate matters.”

If a devout believer had heard him, they would likely have been outraged and reported him to the church authorities. Even to Liv, who wasn’t particularly devout, his words were shockingly irreverent. She looked at the Marquis in disbelief, then shook her head and averted her gaze.

“I know well enough about your faith, Marquis. You don’t need to explain it to me.”

Cutting her veal into small pieces, Liv added, almost as if in defense, “I haven’t attended chapel since moving. I happened to run into Betryl and was simply exchanging greetings. I didn’t have any plans; I was just surprised by your sudden summons.”

There was no real need to explain her brief conversation with Betryl in such detail. But the way the Marquis had described it as a “friendly conversation” had bothered her. It made her feel uneasy, as though she had been portrayed as a woman who got along too well with men.

That was all. She didn’t want to be misunderstood.

Liv rationalized this to herself, then slowly glanced up at the Marquis. He seemed entirely unconcerned by her explanation, savoring his wine with a composed expression.

Betryl had said that the Marquis was the kind of man who could, if he wished, hold a private audience with the high priest at Buerno’s largest chapel. But the Marquis was not someone who seemed particularly devout. And yet, he had met Liv several times at her chapel.

“You visited that chapel as well, didn’t you, Marquis? Do you remember?”

“Indeed.” The Marquis nodded without hesitation.

Liv, watching him quietly, prodded her veal with her fork before speaking, “Betryl says he never saw you at the chapel.”

A man like the Marquis, who stood out even when standing still. He had gone to such lengths to conceal his identity and visit the chapel repeatedly.

“How was that possible?”

“Why wouldn’t it be?”

The Marquis responded, sounding almost puzzled.

“It’s not difficult to fool people. I don’t like leaving traces. There are too many people who would pounce on even the smallest breadcrumb.”

Yes, it wasn’t hard to imagine. He seemed like someone who hated people approaching him or trying to get close. It made sense that concealing his identity during his visits to the chapel was a bothersome process for him.

So did that mean she was special enough for him to endure such an inconvenience?

Liv unconsciously tightened her grip on her fork and knife. She prayed her expression remained calm as she slowly asked, “Are there many people investigating you in Buerno, Marquis?”

“It’s an intriguing topic, after all,” he answered honestly. “I must look quite appealing.”

Liv thought of Camille. Camille had said the Marquis was obsessively distant from women, yet here Liv was, by his side. If Camille continued to keep an eye on the Marquis, he might eventually discover the connection between Liv and the Marquis. Moreover, Camille seemed interested in Liv herself.

If Liv ended up attracting unwanted attention because of this, would the Marquis still consider her special? The Marquis treated her differently, but the fact that he visited the chapel in secret meant he didn’t want their meetings to be known.

Liv suspected that the Marquis was somewhat aware of Camille’s existence. After all, the Marquis disliked people following him, which meant he was likely cautious enough to prevent such annoying situations from arising. Still, Liv worried about the precariousness of their continued relationship.

More precisely… she feared becoming a nuisance to the Marquis.

“If someone is investigating you in Buerno, Marquis… what would you do?”

The elegant movement of his utensils came to a stop. Setting his cutlery down soundlessly, the Marquis leaned back slightly, fiddling with his wine glass before asking in a casual tone, “Who is it?”

His simple question was so gentle that Liv almost blurted out Camille’s name without resistance. Fortunately, Liv still had her wits about her. She closed her lips, swallowed Camille’s name, and instead gave the Marquis a veiled warning.

“I heard someone mention that our paths overlap. Maybe it would be better to be more cautious…”

“Cautious of what?”

The Marquis’s scoffing voice interrupted Liv’s careful words.

“Our affair?”