Chapter 19

At the soft call, Clarette turned to look at Lionel. Perhaps she had unconsciously touched her face while drawing, for a dark smudge stained her cheek. Lionel stared at that mark and asked her,

“That painting I saw at the atelier back then—you promised to finish it and give it to me. ‘The Man of the Rocky Mountain.’”

“Yes, I remember.”

“How do you plan to finish it?”

Clarette looked down at the sketch of the statue she had been working on and replied,

“To complete it, I think I’ll need more practice. As you mentioned before, Your Grace, I’d need a man willing to undress for me.”

“Do you have anyone in mind?”

“If you’re asking if there’s someone I’m seeing, I’m not sure yet. I’ve been too busy with gallery sketches to have time.”

“If you’re going to use someone as a model, shouldn’t he have a good body? It’s not easy to find someone noticeably fit.”

At his picky remark, Clarette readily agreed.

“It would be ideal if he had a good physique, but I’m not expecting that much. After all, it’s hard to find someone in real life with a body as beautiful as a statue’s.”

“No, there are plenty in real life. Men with bodies as impressive as sculptures.”

“Pardon? Who would that be?”

As she turned to look at him, Lionel shamelessly replied with a smile,

“Me.”

A brief silence fell between them.

Now fully understanding his meaning, Clarette looked at Lionel warily.

“……Why are you suddenly boasting like that?”

“It’s for your reference. Instead of searching everywhere for a well-built man, just think about undressing the one close by—me.”

“So you mean, Your Grace, you would personally…….”

Startled by his unbelievable suggestion, Clarette accidentally dropped the charcoal she was holding.

“Oh.”

She hurried to grab the charcoal that had rolled onto her skirt. A black mark was left on her once-clean clothes.

“You should be careful.”

At Lionel’s voice suddenly coming from behind, Clarette flinched and turned her head. He had come over and was now sitting on the floor beside her.

His face was close.

“Clarette, hold still.”

Lionel gently leaned over, steadying himself on Clarette’s skirt spread on the floor. As she tensed, his hand slowly reached out and softly brushed her cheek.

“Your Grace, what are you…….”

Clarette was anxious, not knowing his intentions. But Lionel’s hand only lingered on her cheek for a moment before withdrawing.

When she looked at him in confusion, he smiled playfully.

“You’re clean now.”

Clarette belatedly noticed the dark stain on Lionel’s hand. He had simply wiped the charcoal smudge from her cheek.

That was all.

She finally breathed a sigh of relief.

“You startled me. You could have just told me I had something on my face, but your hand suddenly coming at me…”

“Why? Did you think I was going to kiss you?”

Lionel was clearly enjoying her reaction. Clarette struggled to regain her composure and managed to reply,

“It’s because you suddenly said something strange, Your Grace. Was that just a joke, too?”

“No, I wasn’t joking. I meant it. My body’s worth looking at, so use it if you need to.”

“Use it, for what…….”

“For your artwork.”

Lionel nodded toward the statue.

“As a n*de model.”

His words were straightforward, but Clarette spoke up, feeling confused.

“Your Grace, do you realize how risky that suggestion is? Even an ordinary man would be gossiped about if it got out he modeled n*de for a woman artist. But if it were known that a Duke did so……”

“No one has to find out.”

Lionel’s answer was always simple and clear. He looked into her eyes and offered a relaxed solution.

“This is my house. Everyone knows you’re living in the annex. So there’s nothing strange about us spending time together. Even now, we’re alone, aren’t we?”

Lionel’s voice was especially low and gentle as he said this—so much so that it was hard to tell whether he was persuading or seducing her.

‘Why does this man always make such outrageous suggestions?’

Was her racing heart from anxiety, or excitement? Clarette gazed at Lionel, unable to find her bearings.

His body, seen from this close, felt even larger than when he was a few steps away. The hand that had touched her cheek was bigger and firmer than she’d thought. His perfectly sculpted features were handsome from every angle.

If such a man undressed in front of her, posed as she directed, and she could capture it all on canvas with her own hands……

How wonderful would that be.

“To me, it’s a very welcome and generous offer.”

But instead of accepting right away, Clarette checked carefully,

“What do you gain by being my n*de model, Your Grace? If I accept, you’d be taking all the risk.”

“That’s true. So this isn’t for free.”

“In that case……”

“If you get to use me, I should get to use you, too. Isn’t that right?”

Now, Clarette’s confusion cleared and her mind sharpened. It felt natural for him to ask for something in return.

After all, the Duke wasn’t doing this as her lover. This was a transaction.

“What do you want from me?”

It wouldn’t be money. Nor a painting. Clarette waited, hoping he wouldn’t make an unreasonable demand.

But unlike his bold proposal, Lionel simply looked at her in silence, not answering right away. His gaze lingered on her lips, her shoulders, her blackened hands, then returned to her eyes.

It was in that moment that Clarette faintly sensed what he wanted.

A loud knock echoed through the spacious gallery. Both of them, seated facing each other, flinched and looked toward the door.

“Master, are you here?”

It was the butler, Oliver. Lionel hesitated briefly before finally getting up.

“Come in, Oliver. What is it?”

Oliver entered the gallery and paused when he saw Clarette sitting on the floor. But as he began his report, she continued sketching as if nothing had happened.

“All the auction invitations have been sent. And we’ve received a ball invitation from the Bruyel Duchy. It’s a prominent family in the northwest, so it would be best for you to attend, especially for your image…”

“All right, reply that I will attend. Anything else?”

“Yes, and about accommodations for the guests arriving from abroad……”

As the business discussion dragged on, Lionel left the gallery with Oliver. Left alone, Clarette raised her head at the sound of the door closing.

She hadn’t heard the Duke’s answer.

Was it just another lighthearted joke? But if it wasn’t—

What did he want from her?

* * *

After that first day together in the gallery, Lionel could hardly spend any time with Clarette. The auction invitations, sent throughout the Empire, had stirred great anticipation.

Every morning, Oliver would come to him and report a packed schedule.

“Today’s luncheon is at the Winbern Marquisate. After you return, you’ll have tea with someone introduced by Earl Crowley, and then right after that……”

With all the auction preparations and the sudden increase in appointments, he was busier than ever. Day after day, new people came to see Lionel, and sometimes he was called outside the ducal mansion.

What’s more, the ball he’d casually agreed to attend was to be held at the Bruyel Duchy, a three-day journey by carriage. Forced into a week-long round trip, Lionel had to hurriedly deal with all the piling work in advance.

In the end, it was only the night before leaving for the Bruyel Duchy that he finally managed to enjoy a proper rest.

“Hoo……”

Settling alone in his bedroom, Lionel had his first drink in a long time.

The whiskey Oliver had procured to suit his tastes was perfectly strong. Smoke from the cigar, with its heavy oak and light cinnamon scent, rose in thin wisps from his fingertips.

He looked much as he did during military leave, but there was a big difference between Duke Valentin and Captain Lionel.

Women.

Lionel leisurely raised his glass, glancing at the empty bed. The absurdly large bed was empty, but instead of feeling lonely or empty, his mind was occupied by something else.

The question Clarette had asked him that day kept echoing in his mind.