Chapter 2.7

Just as Liz was about to offer an explanation, Valentine spoke.

“Did you draw me?”

Valentine asked, gazing into Liz’s eyes.  

Because of his gaze, the simple question felt strangely significant.  

Liz hesitated, unable to answer.  

Then he reached out silently and removed the hairpin from Liz’s hair.  

Her long brown hair fell freely.  

The wind blew Liz’s hair wildly.

“Oh….”

Liz hurriedly gathered her scattered hair.  

A faint smile appeared on Valentine’s lips.  

He watched Liz quickly braid her hair, then picked up Liz’s drawing notebook from the table.

“Ah. It’s still practice… I can draw better.”

Liz tied her hair with the silk ribbon on the table and checked his expression.  

It had been a while since she showed her drawing to someone, and she felt embarrassed, but also anticipated his reaction.  

Valentine slowly turned the pages of the notebook until his hand stopped.  

Liz craned her neck to see which drawing it was.  

In the notebook, Valentine was glancing sideways as if avoiding the viewer’s gaze.  

A faintly smiling mouth, yet eyes that were never calm.  

Eyes alive as if they might tremble at any moment.  

It was Liz’s favorite drawing of Valentine.

‘Does he recognize it?’

Liz wasn’t confident in her skills.  

But she could at least be sure it was better than the emotionless portraits for articles.  

Liz proudly opened her mouth.

“This one’s quite well….”

“Is this my face?”

His voice trembled slightly.  

Liz looked up at him, puzzled.  

Valentine’s face was unexpectedly flustered.  

His eyes were reddened, and his trembling lips seemed at a loss for words.  

Liz asked cautiously.

“Are you disappointed in my skills?”

“That’s not it. I just….”

Valentine trailed off.  

Did he prefer the expressionless portraits in the newspaper?  

If he had requested them to be drawn that way, it made some sense.  

Liz quickly added an explanation.

“In the portrait, I’ll draw you with a more… how should I say, dignified? That kind of look. This was just practice, drawing various expressions.”

“…I understand.”

With those words, Valentine finally nodded.  

Though she felt a bit disappointed, if the model wanted it, there was no choice.  

Valentine had already composed his expression and spoke.

“Actually, I came because your studio is ready.”

“Already?”

Liz’s eyes widened, and she perked up. Her anticipation ballooned.  

Her own space to freely draw.  

She was more excited than for any decoration or fancy jewelry.  

Valentine also seemed to sense this, chuckling as he replied.

“It’s a bit late, but if you have no other plans, shall we go?”

As he said, it was already evening, close to night.  

But Liz answered without hesitation.

“Yes. If you don’t mind.”

Valentine extended his hand.  

Liz placed her hand on his and stood up.  

Her heart was pounding, but Liz tried to remain calm as she followed him.  

It was almost the first time she was leaving the room since entering the Winchester estate, so she couldn’t help but feel excited.

“Uh…?”

However, the place he led her to was not the exit.  

It was the door connecting Liz’s room to Valentine’s room.

“Why suddenly here… Didn’t you say you’d show me the studio?”

Liz hesitated.  

Valentine had clearly said that she shouldn’t open this door, that she shouldn’t dare to covet his bedroom.

“If you bear my child and become my mistress.”

To Liz, opening that door meant something like that.

‘Surely, that’s not what he means….’

Liz shook her head in an effort to dismiss the thought.  

But Valentine’s next words were enough to cause her misunderstanding.

“This is the easiest and most discreet way to reach the studio.”

Those words chilled Liz’s mind.

‘…Easiest and most discreet way.’

When the Garrett family fell, the first people to approach were matchmakers.  

Liz was now the most valuable commodity in this household.

“Just close your eyes and have a child. That’s the easiest way, they say.”  

“Oh, painting? You can do that as much as you want. The Viscount has so much money.”  

“He’s only a little older… but not much different from your father!”

Her father chasing away the matchmakers with a broom. Her mother’s hopeful eyes asking if it wouldn’t be better to live comfortably.  

How miserable the whole situation was.  

Liz lowered her eyes and spoke haltingly.

“You said you liked my painting… and that’s why you’re giving me a chance, right?”  

“That’s not all.”

His eyes shone bluish like a boy showing a hidden treasure.  

But Liz, who had been tormented countless times, couldn’t read it.

“How could…!”

Liz, overwhelmed, shook off his hand.

“What….”

Valentine looked down at his empty hand with a confused expression.

“I can’t… I don’t want to receive it like that.”

Liz said in a trembling voice.  

After a moment of silence, Valentine let out a hollow laugh.

“…What do you take me for?”

His voice had become rough.  

Liz looked up at him, confused.

“What?”

Valentine’s brow was slightly furrowed.  

Had I misunderstood something? 

Liz stammered as she spoke.

“If this is the price for helping me, then I….”

Before Liz could finish her sentence, Valentine interrupted with a sneer.

“What a cheeky thought. If it’s something received in exchange for rolling around with someone, shouldn’t I be the one receiving it?”

Valentine spoke sharply, looking Liz up and down.

“As I said before, I have a lot to lose, and you have only things to gain.”

Liz’s face turned bright red.  

It was no different from what the matchmakers had said, that she had nothing to lose.

“…Yes. You’re right. I’m not worthy of receiving such grace.”

Liz retorted firmly.

“So it’s best for both of us to forget about the studio.”

Liz turned away.  

But it had the opposite effect.  

His hand gripped Liz’s arm tightly.

“Ah…!”

Liz winced in pain and looked at him.  

His cold eyes were fixed on her.

“Don’t be mistaken. I decide that.”

But Liz bit her lip and replied.

“What can you do? In the end, if I say I’m quitting this foolish play, it’s all over, isn’t it?”

The moment she spoke, she felt relieved.  

But immediately after, Liz regretted it.

“…No.”

His voice was lower than usual.  

His gaze alone seemed to freeze her blood.  

It was the first time he showed such clear displeasure.

“You have no right to say the end.”

He took a step closer.  

The heavy sound of his footsteps echoed dully.  

His appearance was unfamiliar and unsettling.  

He had always been as noble as a swan gliding on a lake.

“Because you are mine.”

His lips covered Liz’s.  

Startled, Liz struggled to push him away.  

But his body didn’t budge.  

His lips pressed against hers, and his tongue invaded her mouth like a thief.

“Mm, ah….”

Liz struggled.  

Her small hands pounded his back and tore at his shirt, but Valentine didn’t move an inch.  

Liz tried to turn her head to avoid his lips.  

But he naturally adjusted to Liz’s angle and continued kissing her.  

When Liz tried to keep her mouth shut, Valentine frowned slightly and pulled away.  

Then he looked directly into Liz’s eyes and removed his gloves.  

Thud, the leather gloves fell to the floor.  

The heavy sound felt as if Liz’s heart had dropped to the ground.  

Liz bit her lip and stepped back.  

She glared sharply, but Valentine chuckled as if he found it amusing.  

He reached out and gripped Liz’s cheek.  

His thumb pressed her cheek, forcing her mouth open.

“Ah, mm….”

He shoved his index and middle fingers into her mouth.  

It was to prevent her from closing her mouth.  

Liz couldn’t even push away his fingers with her strength.

“Ah, ugh…!”

Valentine kissed her roughly again.  

His fingers forced her mouth open, and his tongue swam inside her mouth, making wet sounds.

“Haa….”

Liz’s mind grew hazy.  

She couldn’t tell if it was his fingers or his tongue touching her retreating tongue.  

Breath and saliva flowed from her forcibly opened mouth.  

The sticky sensation on her neck, soaked from her chin, was humiliating.  

But it was as if her mind had broken. Tremors piled up deep inside her.  

After exploring Liz’s lips for a while, Valentine slowly pulled away.  

Liz glared at him with resentful eyes.  

But with her lips parted and wet, breathing hotly from those parted lips,  

Liz posed no threat to him. Instead, she only provoked his desire.

“It’s neither an exchange nor a price.”

Valentine pressed his index and middle fingers inside her mouth, along with the thumb on her cheek.  

The simultaneous pain from the mucous membrane and skin was sharp.  

Her cheek was crushed from inside and out, feeling completely caught.

“Mm….”

Saliva trickled down his fingers.  

Liz’s tears welled up from embarrassment, but Valentine smiled satisfactorily at her expression.

“It was mine from the beginning. How could it not be?”

His fingers slowly explored inside Liz’s mouth.  

Liz tried to turn her head, but his fingers roamed her mouth leisurely.  

They poked around, wrapped around her tongue.  

When the rounded tip of his finger lightly scratched her palate, goosebumps rose.  

Her back tingled with unfamiliar sensations.  

Liz shivered and pounded his chest with all her might.  

But it was a meaningless resistance.  

Valentine matched her rhythm as if teasing her, letting her bite his fingers before delving back into her mouth. It was a completely mocking attitude.