Chapter 36

Lionel gazed at Clarette’s unfamiliar appearance with curiosity. She sighed and pulled the cloth away.

“You startled me, Your Grace. Why did you come in without knocking?”

“I did knock. You just didn’t hear it? Because of that noise.”

At his gesture, Clarette set down the small stone bowl on the table. She removed the cloth covering her nose and mouth and placed it over the bowl.

“What were you doing? It doesn’t look like food.”

“I was grinding pigment materials. I wanted to prepare tomorrow’s supplies in advance.”

“Why do you do it yourself? You can buy paint from a supplier.”

“Even if I buy pigment, I still have to mix the oil myself. Just now, I was combining different things to make a color I wanted.”

Lionel blinked in confusion at her explanation. He’d only caught a glimpse, but making such fine powder by hand must take an enormous amount of time and effort.

“Don’t tell me you make all your paint like that…”

“Most of it, yes. It’s oil painting. If you mix oil with the raw material, the color lasts longer.”

“What about asking Diane to help?”

“Your Grace, Diane isn’t my maid. She isn’t here to serve me.”

“Well, that’s true, but it still seems too much for you alone.”

He kept expressing concern, but Clarette replied without a hint of trouble.

“This is a painter’s job. Of course, if I had apprentices, I’d make them do it… But it’s fine, I’m used to it. I often made paint for my father since I was young.”

Lionel was stunned that she kept up such inefficient work. He wanted to help personally, but persuading her, when she even refused Diane’s help, seemed difficult. After thinking, he came up with an idea.

“Then how about this? Hire someone for a day to make a large batch of paint in every color. Then you could just use it whenever you need… Wait, that’s actually a pretty good business idea.”

Wouldn’t painters prefer buying ready-made paint rather than grinding raw materials themselves? Lionel’s eyes sparkled, but Clarette shook her head.

“If that were possible, everyone would pay for it. But it’s hard to transport paint once it’s made. If exposed to air, it hardens quickly. Sealing it somewhere is tricky—leather doesn’t store well, glass or jars are heavy and break easily…”

“Ah, so that’s why.”

Lionel, who’d been listening quietly, spoke as if he’d realized something.

“That’s why you scoop paint onto the palette? I always wondered why you didn’t use glass jars.”

“Yes, it’s not like I’m going far anyway. That’s why painting outdoors is difficult. You can only bring as much paint as you need, and since the amount is limited, you can’t paint outside for long.”

Clarette looked at the pigment bowl with a regretful expression, then shrugged as if there was no helping it.

“Anyway, Your Grace, you don’t need to worry about my paint. I’m really used to it. Grinding materials helps me calm down when I’m feeling troubled.”

“Were you troubled?”

Lionel showed interest at this unexpected comment. Clarette quietly closed her mouth, but he looked at her with a delighted gaze, as if he’d found a delicious treat.

“Clarette, are you troubled? By what?”

Because she could read his thoughts so easily, Clarette cleared her throat and dodged the question.

“It’s just, um, I’m worried. About whether I can draw you well.”

“Of course you’ll do well. The model is excellent.”

“Well, that’s true…”

When Clarette admitted it without protest, Lionel felt quite pleased. He wanted her to admire him even more.

“Tell me. What should I do now?”

His hand, resting on the back of the chair, gently touched her shoulder. Clarette quickly stood and moved to the center sofa, as if avoiding his touch. Lionel followed her with a light step and a smile.

“Just sit here.”

“In what pose?”

“The most comfortable one. Take a pose you can hold for at least thirty minutes.”

“Thirty minutes? That’s too easy.”

He sounded disappointed, but Clarette smiled as if to say, ‘Just wait and see.’

“It won’t be easy, Your Grace. For most people, even ten minutes in one position makes something go numb.”

“Well, you shouldn’t treat me like most people.”

She hoped his confidence was well-founded. Wanting to protect his pride, she turned toward the easel.

“Now, please undress.”

Lionel let out a short laugh as he looked at her back. Clarette was a peculiar woman. She would see his bare body anyway, but didn’t have the courage to watch the process.

He stared at Clarette as he began to undress, ready to tease her with a smile if she turned around.

But Clarette quietly tidied up near the easel, simply waiting for his signal. Lionel deliberately took off his clothes slower than usual.

He unbuttoned his silk shirt, slipped his arms out, and tossed it onto the sofa’s backrest. The soft sound of fabric rubbing together made her pause for a moment, but she didn’t turn. So he deliberately made a rough sound as he undid his belt.

With a swift flick, the sound of leather whipping through the air made Clarette hold her breath. She didn’t need to look to know exactly what he was doing.

Soon, the belt dropped onto the oval carpet with a thud. The sounds of him taking off his shoes, folding his trousers, and tossing his socks onto the pile of clothes kept stimulating her imagination.

Then, barefoot, he removed the last piece of clothing…

“Ah, not the underwear!”

Clarette suddenly remembered and shouted. She nearly turned around in her panic. While she stood frozen with nerves, Lionel’s calm voice came from behind.

“Hm? Wasn’t I supposed to take everything off?”

“No, it’s not necessary.”

“That’s the most important part of a man’s body. You’re not going to draw it?”

“No, not for now. If it becomes necessary, I’ll ask then, so please keep it on for now.”

“Hm. Too bad.”

Why did he sound disappointed? Clarette was at a loss, but kept her mouth shut, waiting for him to put his underwear back on.

After a long wait, she finally heard the Duke settle onto the sofa.

“All right, I’m ready.”

Clarette took a deep breath and turned around.

“Is this pose enough?”

Seeing his calm question, Clarette was speechless for a moment.

With his right arm draped over the backrest and his back leaning against it, Duke Valentin sat with his legs naturally spread apart, looking utterly relaxed and languid. He seemed so at ease, he almost appeared arrogant. It looked like he could sit in that pose for hours, not just thirty minutes.

Moreover, his body was even more muscular and solid than she had imagined. The masculine curves that could only be seen in statues flowed along his forearms and thighs, and his chest and abs looked both firm and supple.

That wasn’t all. The masculine line from his thick neck down to his broad shoulders formed a gentle slope, something rarely seen in ordinary people…

“Clarette.”

“…Yes?”

Clarette, who had been staring blankly, snapped out of it at his call. The moment their eyes met, her cheeks flushed red.

The Duke was smiling. While Clarette was lost, exploring his body with her eyes, he enjoyed her gaze.

“How is it? Don’t you want to draw?”

‘Yes, right now.’

Clarette wanted to answer like that, but she held back and simply nodded calmly. Lionel, watching her blushing cheeks with satisfaction, gestured with his chin.

“Begin. I’ll stay still for you.”