Even though she had received crash courses in etiquette from the Duke, she wasn’t confident she could properly display them. In fact, about half of the Duke’s etiquette lessons ended with him correcting her posture before suddenly slipping his hand under her skirt.

‘This is all because of him.’

Nelie blamed the innocent Duke while rubbing her increasingly tingling hand. The fact that she herself had not rejected his advances but accepted them gradually faded in her tension.

Her nervousness increased rather than decreased as time passed. She thought she might faint from breathing too quickly.

She felt someone’s gaze. When Nelie looked up, she unconsciously felt her breath ease.

‘Your Grace.’

Despite having blamed him just moments ago, seeing those eyes watching her in this unfamiliar place made her feel reassured. She couldn’t explain why, but she felt that even if she made a mistake, he would help her. She felt this way despite knowing he wasn’t that kind of person.

‘…Because he’s my patron.’

A patron wouldn’t stand by and watch his protégée tarnish his honor. While thinking this, Nelie’s heart kept beating foolishly. When she left her seat on the pretext of going to the bathroom and was dragged away by the Duke, no thoughts crossed her mind. When the Duke burrowed into her dress, she belatedly realized where they were and tried to push him away, but…

“Just a little, Annelie.”

“……”

“Just a little.”

The way he called her name felt like it pierced her heart. His voice, different from usual, pleading and whining, seemed to bewitch her.

‘…I thought the third time wouldn’t happen.’

In the end, knowing it shouldn’t happen, knowing others were outside, she still did it. Even during moments when she could have actively pushed the Duke away, even when people passed by the guest room, she couldn’t push him away despite flinching. Instead, she opened her body, wanting him to come deeper inside.

“You’re crazy, Annelie.”

Even while muttering unconsciously, Nelie’s gaze kept turning to the teeth mark left by the Duke. She felt increasingly thirsty seeing how it looked like a finger wearing a ring from a distance.

‘What does it mean?’

Because he’s a patron. Since he’s a patron. Such explanations were too inadequate for how distinct this mark was. Why did he leave such a mark on her while always saying harsh and mean words? Suddenly, she felt a strong desire to go back and ask him right away.

‘…He might be with someone else.’

But she felt that if not now, she wouldn’t get another chance. Annelie Heich, a daughter from a printing house in a small rural village. She recalled herself then, someone who had been satisfied with inheriting an ordinary daily life and a decent printing house. A girl who found contentment in not being greedy, who deliberately suppressed her heart even when something desirable appeared, saying she was fine as she was.

‘Actually.’

Actually, that wasn’t true. Though she thought she would be happy staying as she was, that thought was half a denial of her true feelings. Her true heart…

She wanted to be greedy. She wanted to go out to grand halls instead of a small printing house, to draw lines in bright and beautiful parks rather than in the corner of an old workshop.

Though she said she was satisfied with meals of old cheese, she wanted to try fresh cheese and goat milk with rye bread. Though she said she was content with a husband who wouldn’t oppose her inheriting the printing house, she also wanted a husband who would love her.

Annelie Heich actually desired many things. She had so many desires that she pretended not to have any. She had neither the situation nor the environment to freely express them.

‘But now.’

The newly realized fact made Nelie’s heart race.

‘Can I be greedy?’

Her heart beat faster and faster. This was different from wanting to eat better food or visit better places; this was a different dimension of desire.

‘That I, with those desires……’

What suppressed her rising fear was still the mark left on her ring finger. Also the beautiful Duke’s deep eyes looking at her while leaving that mark. And the Duke’s hot lips that licked her finger longingly, as if reluctant to part.

An unusual courage suddenly welled up. Somehow, she felt that it would be alright to ask now.

Your Grace. Do you perhaps have feelings for me?

Beyond issues of denunciation or defamation…

‘If I don’t leave the townhouse, and continue…’

Would it be alright to stay by your side?

She wanted to ask that. To ask if she could stay. Even without lessons or support for pigments and painting tools, could she indulge in the luxury of staying by his side a little longer?

Nelie turned her steps again.

“…Damn it! Damn it all!”

“What kind of law is this!”

She reflexively hid her body, startled by rough curses coming from somewhere.

Though she hadn’t committed any crime, she felt she had to hide. The violence in those uttered curses instinctively evoked fear. The men’s tone were passionate, as if they might hit someone at any moment.

‘Where is it?’

She turned her head to find the source of the menacing sounds.

“This doesn’t make sense!”

“Please, everyone calm down. We need to go back to the hall.”

“What’s this, did you win an award?”

“It’s not like that……”

“How else could you accept such a result?”

They were the preliminary passers she had met earlier, particularly Jerome’s classmates from the Academy. Among the angry shouts stood Jerome, pale-faced and embarrassed. From the conversation, Nelie instantly sensed that Jerome had won an award.

‘That’s wonderful, Jerome.’

But before she could feel relieved with that thought—

“A woman with no background won an award?”

“Don’t speak carelessly!”

“Ah. Come to think of it, you know that woman, don’t you?”

Her heart plummeted with a thud. She instinctively knew they were discussing her.

‘I… won an award.’

From passing the preliminary round to winning an award. It was certainly unusual. Once again, the Duke’s whisper flashed through Nelie’s mind. Words she had heard but couldn’t ask about, words she had set aside. His words that he would do anything she wanted.

‘Could it be……’

Could the Duke really have influenced her award? Nelie’s fingertips trembled unconsciously. She thought she had done her best, but if the Duke’s influence had truly impacted it…

Nelie didn’t know, but such a thing was actually difficult to happen. The Tevant family had appointed judges who weren’t closely related to their interests to ensure their influence wouldn’t affect such competitions. Family members never participated in the judging.

The Academy classmates grumbling now knew this fact perfectly well. Moreover, among them were those from high noble families or wealthy households who had passed the preliminary round by treating judges to meals or offering bribes.

They rationalized their own actions as necessary for family honor while fiercely condemning others for doing the same.

They couldn’t accept that a commoner girl, neither from a distinguished family nor wealthy, had entered the excellent works category and won an award.

They couldn’t believe that they, who had learned art under renowned professors and even resorted to solicitation for good results, were surpassed by a commoner girl who appeared from nowhere.

Yes. There must be something. She might have done something with that pretty face and body. They shouted, half sincerely and half wanting to deny the truth they knew.

“She must have used her body, for sure!”

“You guys!”

Jerome shouted with a pale face, but the students’ words didn’t stop.

“You saw her earlier, right? Why else would she wear a dress that reveals her figure like that? How many men has she seduced with that precious body of hers?”

“Jerome, according to you, how could a girl who doesn’t even have a proper place to live wear such clothes and jewelry?”

“She definitely sold her body to win the award. There are many high-ranking officials among the judges!”

“Who knows? Rumors about the Duke having a mistress are widespread.”

“A mistress he cherishes enough to prevent any news articles about her. I heard he keeps her close by his side?”

“Isn’t that her? That woman is the mistress who offered her body to the Duke.”

“Otherwise, this award……”

“Stop it!”

Jerome’s scream shattered into pieces in Nelie’s ears.

Even while her chest rose and fell breathlessly, Nelie couldn’t properly lift her head and leaned against the pillar where she hid. The sharp words cut through her heart.

What hurt her most was…

“Don’t deny it. Even you, Jerome, were so shocked when you saw what she wore today that you couldn’t speak properly!”

“That’s……”

“You’re her friend, right? Tell us. Where did she get such expensive jewelry? Hmm?”

Jerome’s long silence, unable to answer.

Pain shot through her chest, which she thought had been rebuilt solidly despite several hardships.

“Huh.”

The night air, feeling much colder than before, brushed against Nelie’s skin. A hot lump circled inside her stomach. She wanted to jump into that place and confront those who were gossiping, demanding to know what right they had to talk about someone like that, asking if they weren’t being too cruel.

But she couldn’t.

‘I……”

Her hands trembled with anger, but she simply couldn’t deny it.

The fact remained that she had given her body to the Duke. The Duke had said things suspicious enough.

And……

‘Mistress.’

Rumors about the Duke having a mistress were widespread. Everyone knew, even though no articles had been published. She didn’t want to admit it, but she felt it herself.

…It was probably her.

Someone who provided her body whenever the Duke wanted, and in return received gifts or benefits.

What else could that be but a mistress?