Chapter 107

The dinner Lionel prepared was a warm mushroom cream stew. Clarette was left speechless in front of the steaming, beautiful dish.

“Lionel. Did you learn all this in the army?”

“No, this is a menu I picked up as a child. I got bored being alone, so I tried following a cookbook from start to finish.”

“What? Surely you had maids at the townhouse?”

“There were, but not a single one was loyal to me. Well, it was understandable. So sometimes I just took care of my own meals.”

Lionel spoke casually as he ladled stew. Clarette frowned slightly, watching his skills that hardly resembled those of a noble.

“But that’s a bit much. You must’ve been a kid then, and they didn’t even make sure you ate properly?”

“There was always bread in the kitchen. But you can’t live on bread alone.”

As a result of his self-reliance, Lionel became a pretty decent cook. Of course, after entering the Military Academy, he rarely cooked himself.

“How is it? It’s been a while since I tried.”

The stew, beautifully cooked to a light brown, was filled with the rich flavor of mushrooms. Clarette carefully blew on a spoonful and tasted it, letting out a spontaneous exclamation.

“Oh my, this is really delicious. Even better than the stew the chef at the ducal residence makes…”

“See, you’re getting better at compliments.”

Lionel replied playfully, though he seemed quite pleased. Clarette smiled softly at him across the table.

It really felt like happiness. If she could marry Lionel and live together like this for the rest of her life.

Clarette was imagining a future that was nothing short of a fantasy when Lionel spoke up.

“But Clarette, about when you were painting outside today.”

“Yes?”

She paid attention as Lionel suddenly brought it up. He glanced toward the easel standing in the living room and asked,

“Why did you suddenly use the sketchbook? Was the canvas too small?”

“Oh, that. Actually, I meant to ask your permission.”

“For what?”

Clarette explained to Lionel about the military portrait. Since the rifle was suddenly added, a vertical composition made the figure and rifle too close, making the layout awkward.

“So, I think drawing it horizontally would be better. There’s a bit of a problem, though…”

“What problem?”

“This is your portrait, so you should be the main focus. But if I draw it horizontally, you and the rifle will have equal presence. It won’t feel like a typical portrait.”

“So, you mean for others who see it?”

“Yes. It’s a painting that’ll be shown to other people, so I wanted you to stand out most…”

Clarette trailed off, feeling troubled, but Lionel smiled as if he found her cute.

“Are you having trouble? You want to paint me handsomely, but you also think emphasizing the rifle makes a better piece?”

“Yes. But that’s just my opinion. Still, it’s your first portrait, so maybe I should stick to a layout focused on you…”

“Clarette.”

Lionel called her warmly. As she looked up, he gently encouraged her.

“What matters is your idea. I think it’s right for you to judge freely and paint. There’s no need to stick to a typical portrait.”

“So, even if it turns out to be a bit unusual, is that okay? The nobles who visit the ducal residence will probably prefer something conventional.”

“So what. I’m not exactly conventional myself.”

Lionel was an illegitimate child, a retired soldier, a businessman, a Duke, and a n*de model. At the same time, he was a chef who could make stew just to Clarette’s taste.

“So, don’t worry about others. Push ahead in the direction you think is right. For me, that’s the answer.”

Clarette felt a pang in her chest from Lionel’s sincere encouragement. Her eyes sparkled with determination as she nodded.

“Thank you, Lionel. I’ll paint a portrait that goes beyond a portrait, just for you.”

“I’m looking forward to it. I’m really curious about what you think Captain Lionel should look like.”

Clarette recalled the image she had observed all day.

Lionel’s loneliness, as if he were left alone in the world; the silence of the battlefields he’d passed through; his strength in living relying only on himself.

After finishing the delicious meal, Lionel went out to look around the lake, and Clarette sat before the easel after cleaning up.

She combined the Lionel from her daytime canvas and the rifle from her sketchbook onto a new horizontal canvas.

Because he had completely cleared her worries, Clarette finished her sketch with joy.

‘I want to add color quickly. I want to surprise Lionel. No, I want to surprise the whole world.’

Clarette’s heart raced with the desire to perfectly express his humanity and charm.

She had never felt her heart beat so fast while painting someone. She was filled with a pleasant sense that the finished work would be excellent, a feeling she’d never had before.

‘Maybe Lionel is my muse.’

Every time she painted him, Clarette grew as an artist. Being near Lionel always inspired her, pushing her to new challenges.

‘If that’s true, I don’t mind not marrying Lionel. I’ll stay by his side for life, in any form. Even if he stops wanting me someday, it doesn’t matter. I need him.’

The hotter her passion for painting burned, the calmer her mind became as she imagined the future.

If all the Valentin family’s debts were gone, and Lionel chose marriage as Duke to fulfill his duties, then told her goodbye—

Clarette planned to end their relationship cleanly and ask for only one thing.

Even if he wasn’t affectionate anymore, please remain in my canvas as my model.

‘Lionel without affection… that’s really…’

Clarette remembered the cold attitude Lionel had shown her the first day they met. Although he had been gentle ever since.

He was a man who could be chillingly cold to others. He could be indifferent if he wanted, sometimes cutting ties so clearly it seemed harsh.

It was unimaginable now, as lovers, but if a long time passed and only a dry patron relationship remained—

There might come a day when Lionel looked at her as he did at others: keeping distance, staring indifferently, sometimes showing disappointment with a cold gaze.

If Lionel had a beloved wife, and a child with her, and Clarette, not part of the family, was pushed further aside…

‘What am I doing?’

Suddenly, Clarette felt her chest tighten and swallowed hard. She had imagined breaking up with Lionel many times, but the thought of him having a family was unbearable.

Thinking of another woman in Lionel’s arms—

‘…I feel like I’ll cry.’

Clarette’s eyes grew hot, and she rubbed them with her hand. Her heart felt empty, and she sighed deeply, surprised by her own reaction.

She had promised not to become obsessed with him. She shouldn’t be like this already.

As Clarette cooled her face with a hand fan and calmed herself, the front door burst open and Lionel, who had gone to the lakeshore, returned home.

“It’s definitely cooler at night. Good for a long run.”

Clarette composed herself and looked at Lionel. He was wiping sweat from his forehead, apparently after exercising outside.

“Lionel, did you go running?”

“Ah, just a few laps around the lake. I have to exercise every day.”

“Is that a habit from your soldier days?”

“That, and…”

Lionel walked to the bathroom, stripping off his shirt. As his sweat-slicked muscular upper body was revealed, Clarette blushed and looked away.

Lionel smiled as he reached for his waistband, about to remove his trousers.

“I have to keep this figure so you’ll keep looking at me.”

He finally took off all his clothes and entered the bathroom. Clarette listened to the sound of water through the slightly open door.

Unlike in the morning, there was no hot water, but he poured cold water over himself without hesitation. Since it was time to get ready for bed, Clarette finished her sketch and stood up.

‘He’ll probably want to do it again tonight.’

The white scarf was still tied to the bed headboard. She had originally brought it to tie Lionel’s wrists, but it ended up being used to tie her own wrists.

<Turn around, Clarette.>

Clarette unconsciously brushed her hand over the nape of her neck. She remembered how Lionel had gently bitten and kissed her there last night.