Odalisque - Side Story 6

If only I had already made her the Marchioness, I could have easily justified keeping others from receiving any lessons from her by stating that she was too noble for such tasks.

Dimus frowned at the documents in front of him, clearly frustrated.

“Why is this process taking so long?”

Unfortunately, Adolf, who had come merely to report on the progress, bore the brunt of Dimus’ displeasure. Adolf looked momentarily disheartened, though he quickly adapted to the situation and replied in an even voice.

“Well, it’s because you chose Eleonore as one of the witnesses for the marriage oath, Marquis.”

“So what?”

The Eleonore family should be grateful and sign eagerly, considering they were covering up the disgraceful actions of their son, who had overstepped boundaries with someone else’s lover.

Dimus glared sharply at Adolf—a look that made his thoughts unmistakable without words. Adolf took a deep breath, doing his best to remain calm as he continued.

“…Camille Eleonore is quite beloved in his family.”

“What does their affection for that brat have to do with my marriage oath?”

Adolf couldn’t help but marvel at how quickly Dimus reduced Camille from a beloved son to a “brat.” Adolf gave a dry laugh.

“The cherished brat is throwing a tantrum, and his parents can’t ignore it.”

“Are they suggesting they want to cancel the negotiation?”

Being a witness to the marriage oath was only one part of the agreement between the parties involved. While it may have seemed less important compared to other clauses from Eleonore’s perspective, Dimus certainly wasn’t going to let it slide.

“They’re not refusing to sign; rather, they’re trying to delay it as much as possible.”

“There’s nothing to gain by doing that.”

“Exactly, which is why it’s simply a childish tantrum—a spoiled brat’s stubbornness.”

“Pathetic child.”

Dimus scoffed. If Camille had openly tried to block the marriage, Dimus might have at least respected the audacity—even if it meant cursing him as a madman. But this? Delaying things out of petty spite? Such pettiness was why Liv had never spared Camille a second glance. The boy remained foolish and small-minded to the very end.

He laughed mockingly at Camille, wishing that the brat would be forced to watch his marriage to Liv unfold before his eyes, causing him endless agony.

“But in the end, Eleonore will sign.”

“Of course.”

Dimus hadn’t chosen Eleonore as a witness solely to spite Camille. The main reason was that the Eleonore family was a well-respected noble house in Beren.

Having an influential figure act as a witness increased the value of the marriage. With the Eleonore family’s respected name on the oath, it would also strengthen Liv’s authority as the future Marchioness.

Of course, the Eleonore name had faced some scandal lately due to Camille’s disgraceful actions. But at least Dimus hadn’t hauled him into court, as he had Luzia. In his heart, Dimus would have preferred to issue a public challenge and settle things permanently and legally.

“Yes, Camille Eleonore is fond of Miss Rodaise, after all. He should understand how much his family’s name on this oath will benefit her. Eventually…”

Adolf trailed off abruptly as he saw Dimus’ expression change at the mention of Camille’s feelings for Liv.

“…Eventually, Eleonore will sign, thanks to the astute negotiation conducted by you, my lord. Thus, it will be you who pave the smooth path ahead for Miss Rodaise.”

Adolf narrowly avoided making a serious mistake with his quick redirection. Dimus clicked his tongue in disapproval but didn’t press the issue further, shifting his focus back to the documents. Adolf let out a silent sigh of relief.

“Tell them to take their time, but sign eventually.”

“Understood.”

Having survived the tension, Adolf was now visibly calmer as he answered. He was about to leave after giving a polite bow when he noticed Dimus picking up his coat, preparing to head out.

“Are you going out, sir?”

Adolf was certain that Dimus didn’t have any outings planned for today, though he had heard that Liv was out. Did that mean…

“Should I confirm Miss Rodaise’s whereabouts?”

“No.”

“Pardon? Then where are you headed now?”

Adolf’s eyes widened, surprised that Dimus wasn’t about to go after Liv.

Dimus, who gave him a disdainful look, answered curtly, “Art lessons.”

***

If there was one thing Dimus found somewhat acceptable about Liv reconnecting with Milion, it was that it had led to fewer shared sessions with the art teacher.

Liv hadn’t quit her art lessons entirely—she simply couldn’t attend them as often due to her frequent outings. Meanwhile, Dimus, with little reason to leave and no desire for extended absences, continued with his usual lesson schedule.

Their gap in skill had become evident over time, and their lessons began to differ. Liv’s skills had been improving rapidly, whereas Dimus was still struggling. Even if it wasn’t just about the frequency of their lessons, it seemed inevitable that their classes would diverge.

Dimus needed extra lessons, much like a struggling student staying behind after class for remedial help.

As much as he hated to admit it, Dimus had to acknowledge that, when it came to art, he was very much a slow learner.

“You are truly consistent in your steadfastness, Marquis!”

Dimus shot a sideways glance at his art teacher, who clapped in exaggerated admiration. He turned his gaze back to the canvas before him.

“Are you saying there’s been no progress at all?”

“Well, an unwavering skill is quite remarkable in itself…”

“I asked for improvement, not to stay the same.”

Dimus cut him off coldly. The teacher, now used to the routine, calmly took out a handkerchief and wiped his forehead before responding in a composed manner.

“It seems to me that there’s impatience in your brushstrokes, Marquis. Instead of focusing on completing the piece immediately, you might benefit from observing the subject more thoroughly, contemplating, and taking your time…”

“I’ve already spent plenty of time observing and contemplating the subject.”

Every night, Dimus looked at Liv—thoroughly, attentively, never missing a single detail. He studied her meticulously, touching and caressing every part of her body.

Who else in this world could know Liv’s body better than him? Even when she wasn’t present, Dimus could clearly picture her in his mind.

The problem was that his mind wasn’t a canvas he could show to others.

“Tsk.”

Frustrated by his stagnant progress, Dimus threw down his brush. He had recently been visiting the shooting range and training grounds again, trying to regain the dexterity he once had when he was adept at handling all sorts of weapons. But it seemed those efforts weren’t enough.

Maybe he should change his canvas. Perhaps the texture was too rough, making it difficult to draw proper lines.

The fact that he had already replaced his tools several times seemed to have slipped Dimus’ mind. Crossing his arms, he glared at the canvas for a while before his gaze shifted to something else.

Not far away, an empty chair and easel stood. It was Liv’s spot.

Even when they took lessons together, Dimus never bothered to peek at her canvas because Liv didn’t want him to. But he could roughly guess what she was drawing. Like him, Liv had a clear objective when she started learning art.

“What has Liv been drawing lately?”

“She has been very interested in portraiture.”

It seemed Liv’s plan to draw Dimus’ nude portrait was progressing steadily. Dimus nodded, a satisfied smile on his face, before narrowing his eyes. Something felt off about the usual setup.

“Where is Liv’s canvas?”

“Oh, since her lessons are less frequent now, she said it would be better to work on it separately. I’ve already reviewed the basics, so she’s capable of continuing on her own.”

Separately?

Dimus’ expression shifted slightly.

Liv was staying at the Langess mansion. Although her residence in Buerno still existed, it was safe to say that her true home was now at the Langess mansion. Therefore, if she wanted to work on her art separately, it only made sense for her to bring her canvas there.

And besides, he had always attended her art lessons with her. If she had taken the canvas, he would have noticed.

“When did she take it?”

“Quite some time ago.”

“Did you meet her personally?”

“No, not at all! The future Marchioness sent a letter, and afterward, she came by herself to collect it.”

The sharp tension Dimus had felt eased slightly at the teacher’s prompt response, though an unpleasant feeling lingered.

Dimus tilted his head, staring at the empty chair and easel.

There was nothing inherently wrong with Liv taking her canvas. If she wished to work on it alone, he could easily accommodate her. He would even go as far as offering an entire mansion for her to use as her studio.

It was just… what bothered Dimus was the whereabouts of the canvas. If she had taken it to the mansion without his knowledge, that would be one thing. But if, by any chance…

If by any chance the canvas wasn’t at the mansion, it would mean Liv had her own space somewhere that he didn’t know about.