Chapter 33

Clarette quietly accepted the Duke’s unwavering gaze. From the very first moment they met, she had known that he desired her as a woman.

In the way he looked at her, the tone of his words, and the occasional brush of his hand, Clarette could faintly sense the desire he could not hide. Yet, even so, she chose to stay by the Duke’s side.

It was because the Duke respected her. He wanted her, yet he restrained himself; he cherished her, yet gave her freedom.

That was why, even now, Clarette could speak to him with confidence.

“What I want from you, Duke, is only one thing now.”

She carefully voiced the wish she had long kept in her heart.

“Please be my model, Duke. I want to accept the deal you proposed last time.”

Lionel met her sincere eyes and asked softly,

“Clarette, do you really think I’d make a good model?”

“Yes, without a doubt.”

Her sharp answer made him laugh briefly. He drew closer to her, seeking confirmation once more.

“Are you sure? You won’t regret it? All I have is my body, and I have no experience in that area at all.”

Clarette immediately nodded. She recalled the pose Lionel had struck in the gallery on her first day here.

His figure was more dignified and beautiful than any statue. His presence filled the empty space completely.

‘Even then, he was wearing clothes…’

The finer the body, the more its splendid lines stand out, even when covered by clothes. In that sense, his properly dressed figure was always superb.

Then, what would his body look like, with nothing at all…?

“I’ve actually imagined it before. Your n*ked body, Duke.”

At Clarette’s sudden confession, the Duke raised his eyebrows in surprise. His reaction made her feel a little shy, but Clarette did not back down and spoke firmly.

“If my eye is not mistaken, Duke, you would be the best model. Any painter would desperately want a model like you.”

“You too?”

“Yes. Me too.”

Clarette’s voice grew more earnest. She worried, just a little, about what would happen if the Duke changed his mind.

But the Duke did not let her linger in that uncertainty, not even for a moment.

“Then, as promised.”

His hand reached out and wrapped around her waist. Unlike the gentle touch when he had fixed her dress earlier in the day, Lionel now pulled her into his arms with a completely different strength.

“I’ll show you what I want, Clarette.”

His calm, deep voice made Clarette’s cheeks flush. The heat of his body, so clearly felt against her skin, made her suddenly feel warmer.

The moment Lionel’s breath grazed her ear, Clarette quickly realized her entire body must be flushed red.

Their bodies were closer than ever before. Even closer than when he had stroked her cheek. If she raised her head just a little, their lips would touch—Clarette, tense, remained nestled in Lionel’s arms.

She had already expected him to act this way. She knew he would want something… intimate.

But how far would he go?

A light kiss, perhaps? Or would he want to touch her all over? Maybe he wanted to undress her. Just as she wanted to undress him.

But instead of hugging or kissing her, Lionel slowly raised one hand. Clarette thought, just like last time, that his hand would touch her face.

But the Duke’s hand passed her cheek and reached her hair. He gently stroked her tightly pinned black hair, then carefully pulled out the hairpin. Each light hairpin fell to the floor with a soft sound, and her long hair gradually unraveled.

When Lionel finally removed the large last pin, Clarette couldn’t help but gather her tumbling hair in her hands. She didn’t want to show him a messy appearance.

“Duke, why…?”

She had dressed up so nicely, with Diane’s help styling her hair so prettily—why? She looked up at him with a hint of reproach, but the Duke whispered, satisfied,

“I wanted to see this. I’ve been curious for so long.”

“If you’d asked, I would have undone it myself…”

“I wanted to do it with my own hands.”

Lionel gently moved her hand away from her hair and slowly combed through it with his fingers. His touch, as soft as if handling a precious treasure, left Clarette at a loss. It felt as if she had entered his bedroom, not the gallery.

“You’re beautiful, Clarette. Even more than I imagined.”

His gaze was as tender and warm as a lover’s. His voice was sweet, and the way his hands moved down her hair to caress her wrist was careful and delicate.

Everything was so perfect that Clarette thought she could accept a kiss from him right then. It would be her first kiss, but if it was with him, she felt it would be alright.

But when he lifted her hand and kissed it, Clarette flinched and pulled her hand back. For the first time in her life, someone’s lips touched her skin, and she was utterly flustered. Her two cheeks burned red-hot.

“Duke, wait…”

Seeing Clarette embarrassed by the unfamiliar touch, the Duke smiled mischievously. He held her wrist, kissing the back of her hand, her palm, even the soft inside of her wrist. Each time Clarette’s hand twitched, he seemed even more pleased.

Finally, when he let go of her hand and began stroking her neck, Clarette realized what he intended and caught her breath.

“Wait, stop…”

Clarette couldn’t bear the Duke’s gaze any longer and turned her head away. Before he could come any closer, she hastily pressed her hand against Lionel’s chest.

“…Stop.”

“Clarette?”

Still clutching his collar, Clarette stammered,

“I’m sorry, Duke. It’s not that I dislike it, it’s just… too unfamiliar…”

Lionel felt a strange sensation seeing her so much shyer than he’d imagined. Her anxious look was adorable, but he too was getting heated, and stopping now was difficult.

“Clarette, is this as far as you’ll go?”

Lionel sighed softly, disappointed. As she clung tightly enough to wrinkle his clothes, he gently stroked her hand and tilted his head, checking her state.

“I want more.”

No woman had ever refused him when he coaxed and persuaded. But Clarette shook her head firmly, without hesitation. No meant no.

What was he supposed to do with this woman? Lionel, troubled, quietly held Clarette close. If he decided to stop, he should let her go now.

They could pretend the deal never happened and keep a proper distance as before. No undressing on either side.

“…….”

But Lionel, still holding the tense Clarette, kept hesitating. Unlike his usual clean endings with women, he couldn’t reach a conclusion. He was too reluctant to give up on her.

What now? While his thoughts were stuck in a deadlock—

“Then, from here…”

Clarette, who had been silent, finally managed to gather herself and squeeze out her voice. She separated herself slightly from his broad chest and looked at him. Lionel waited quietly for her answer, so Clarette, swallowing her embarrassment, continued.

“Let’s pick up from where we left off. If we add a little more each time I draw you, I think I’ll be able to get used to it.”

“…I see. So you need time?”

The Duke’s voice carried a hint of disappointment as he repeated her words. But that was the best Clarette could offer. Hoping he wouldn’t distance himself, she nodded.

“One day, I’ll give you everything you want, Duke. So, will you undress for me?”

With eyes as earnest as a proposal, she pleaded,

“Please be my n*de model, Duke Valentin.”