Chapter 3

“Is the woman who came to see me… you?”

“Yes, Your Grace. I’ve been waiting.”

As the woman stood to greet him, the hem of her pitch-black dress fell to just above her ankles. Seeing her oddly short sleeves and skirt, Lionel guessed she must be a commoner wearing ready-made clothes.

A commoner woman wanting a private audience with the Duke. Lionel raised his eyes to study her face closely.

Her features were delicate and elegant. Her deep green eyes seemed thoughtful, and her finely shaped nose was very pleasing to look at. Her soft pink lips looked so gentle, he found himself wanting to touch them.

‘I’d like to take off that hat.’

Lionel was bothered by the black hat that completed her mourning attire. The bothersome hat covered all her hair.

Pressed under the hat, the strands of her hair that peeked out were glossy and black as polished ebony. Her hair seemed quite long; what would it look like if she let it down?

She’d look even more beautiful.

“Your Grace.”

“Ah.”

Lionel snapped back to reality at her call. She looked straight into his blue eyes and spoke.

“You must be busy, so please forgive my rudeness for coming without notice. I offer my condolences for the late Duke and for Sir Victor.”

“Thank you. But how did you know my father?”

“The late Duke was my father’s benefactor, close friend, and a strong supporter.”

Even hearing that, it was impossible for Lionel to immediately figure out who she was. Still, one thing was now certain.

She was not a woman he had ever slept with. Lionel unconsciously smiled with relief as he sat down on the sofa with ease. With a newly generous heart, he asked the beautiful woman,

“What’s your name?”

“I am Clarette Sollier. Daughter of the painter Arno Sollier, and I was sponsored by the late Duke. I provided any painting the Valentin family desired, in return for a monthly sum of 500 gold.”

Her tone was calm, but when she pronounced “500 gold,” her accent became noticeably sharp. From the mass of information in his memory from yesterday, Lionel barely managed to dig up her name.

“Ah, I remember now. The Sollier family.”

He recalled the contract between the late Duke and Arno Sollier and let out a short laugh.

“Yes, that absurd sponsorship contract.”

Seeing the sneer on his lips, Clarette hesitated. The new Duke seemed to have a completely different personality from the late Duke.

“Your Grace, that contract was a formal agreement between our fathers. It was made in the name of both families.”

“Forty years.”

Lionel replied coldly, looking her straight in the eye as he slowly recited the contract’s terms.

“The Valentin family has sponsored the Sollier family for a full forty years. It started at 50 gold a month, but gradually increased to 500. Even after your father died three years ago, you continued to receive the sponsorship as his successor.”

He snorted in disbelief.

“If you’d saved every penny of that money, you could have bought a mansion in the capital. Yet you keep asking for more—don’t you think that’s a bit shameless?”

“But the contracted sponsorship period still has five years remaining. If you notify me so abruptly that it’s ending…”

“And if I cut it off, what can you do? Complain to the world? Our family has sponsored yours for forty years on barely any conditions.”

Lionel thought she’d be shaking with outrage by now, ready to storm out and end this uncomfortable meeting quickly. But Clarette simply steadied her breath and looked at him. Though his blunt words unsettled her, she held onto her composure and spoke rationally.

“Your Grace, even if you truly end the sponsorship, I won’t hate you. After all, it’s your money. But please don’t dismiss my father’s and my paintings as ‘nothing special.’ Painting is our entire life.”

Her calm voice seemed to settle even the listener’s heart. Lionel paused to think, then agreed with a shrug.

“If I was too harsh, I apologize. But no matter how hard you work on your art, I’m just not interested in paintings. I’m not someone who cares much for art.”

Clarette’s lips trembled slightly as she looked at him. She seemed to think she had no bargaining chips except her art. Lionel admired her beautiful face and asked nonchalantly,

“If you’re an artist, why not look for another patron? Don’t just cling to our family.”

“Finding a new patron isn’t realistic. I’m not as famous as my late father.”

…She admitted it honestly. Lionel quietly gazed into her downcast green eyes.

It seemed she’d never begged like this before. Even if she desperately offered everything, it was unlikely anyone would accept, and she hadn’t reached that level of resolve yet.

Should he help her become more desperate?

“So, you’re asking for the sponsorship money again? Are you really that desperate?”

“Yes. I need money. After the recent cruise accident, most of my clients passed away and my income dried up. If you stop the sponsorship, I’ll have to survive by selling my father’s paintings.”

“That’s unfortunate. In that case…”

Lionel looked at her intently and asked,

“How about becoming my mistress?”

“…Pardon?”

Clarette’s eyes widened in surprise. Lionel gave her a relaxed smile.

“I’m much more interested in something else than your painting.”

Only then did Clarette’s eyes reflect her discomfort, as she realized his true intention. She answered his proposal in a cold voice.

“If it’s marriage you want, I’ll do it. But I refuse to be a mistress.”

Lionel chuckled at her sharp rejection.

“You’re greedier than you look. A commoner who doesn’t want to be a mistress, but wants the position of Duchess?”

There was clear sarcasm in his tone, but Clarette replied calmly.

“It’s better than being a mistress, but I don’t particularly want to be Duchess either.”

“Why? Others are desperate for that position.”

“It’s not a place I can handle, nor one I need.”

Every word was clear and firm. Lionel stroked his chin as he met her steady gaze.

‘She’s more opinionated than I thought. She’s picky.’

She must be in dire need of money to come running as soon as the sponsorship was cut.

Yet her attitude remained resolute. She’d drawn a clear line that must not be crossed.

If he tried to cross it, she would get up and leave without looking back.

Seeing Clarette’s hardened expression, Lionel lightly shook his head.

“Well, don’t take it so seriously. You’ll never be Duchess, and I don’t force myself on women who say no.”

Still, Clarette’s eyes were wary. Lionel smiled and added leisurely,

“Besides, I’ve always liked gentle, soft-spoken women. Not the upright type like you.”

“…I’ll take that as a compliment.”

Lionel was impressed. She really didn’t back down at all.

But he wasn’t displeased. In fact, he felt a growing urge to provoke her more.

Not here in this dull, formal ducal residence, but somewhere comfortable and informal.

In an even more improper way.

“You said the Sollier family receives 500 gold in sponsorship. Every month, without fail.”

“…Yes.”

Her voice was tinged with anxiety as she answered. Her hands, neatly folded on her lap, trembled slightly.

Lionel enjoyed watching her eyes grow more desperate and said,

“It’s not a small sum, but it’s not so much that it’s a burden to sponsor. That much is nothing.”

“Then, you’ll continue the sponsorship…”

“The problem is.”

Just as hope flickered in Clarette’s eyes, Lionel cut her off coldly.