Chapter 45

“This, you see, is a straw!”

Upon hearing the answer, Lionel wondered if he had indeed entered a madman’s home, and hesitated for a moment. Meanwhile, Clarette gently redirected the words Lionel was about to throw out.

“Mr. Markrel, by straw, do you mean the kind you use to drink water?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“Hmm, but aren’t straws usually made from plants or paper? This one is clearly metal, tin, to be exact….”

“How do you expect to make money with this? What’s the advantage?”

Lionel finally asked, his eyes filled with pity. Doris, as if waiting for this, brought a water cup, stuck the straw in, and handed it to Clarette.

“Go ahead, try it.”

Clarette hesitated, then took a light sip of water through the metal straw. She used it quite normally, but as soon as she took her lips away, Doris quickly showed the mouthpiece to Lionel.

“Look, Your Grace. The lipstick barely smudged, right? Isn’t this practically a must-have for women?”

But Clarette, a little embarrassed, pointed out,

“I’m sorry, but it did smudge. My lip color left a mark….”

“That’s alright! It’s made of tin, so you can just wash it off.”

Lionel let out a bewildered laugh.

“But how is this different from a paper straw? Tin is much more expensive than paper, so you’d lose money. People throw these away after one use anyway.”

“Your Grace, this can be used over and over! As long as you wash it well, you can practically use it forever….”

At that moment, Lionel grabbed the straw. Clarette’s red lip mark was instantly covered by his own lips.

As she looked on in surprise, Lionel immediately pulled away and handed the straw to Doris. Now it was Doris’s turn to widen his eyes behind his glasses.

The thin tin straw was mercilessly bitten.

“See? Once you bite it, it’s ruined.”

Lionel spoke calmly, but Doris cried out.

“Aaah! What are you doing! That’s my invention!”

“Invention or not, what’s the point of this? It’s not solid iron, tin is too soft. If you squeeze it, you could crush it with your hands.”

“This is meant for women! Ugh, I’ll have to flatten it out again….”

Doris fidgeted anxiously with the bitten tin straw. Lionel coolly drove the point home once more.

“The problem is the material. Once it bends, it’s hard to straighten, and if you squeeze it just a little, it folds so tight water can’t even pass through. What’s the use of something like this….”

As Lionel explained reality to the dreamy inventor, he suddenly stopped speaking. Clarette, who had considered interrupting because the Duke’s words seemed too harsh, looked at him as he fell silent.

“Your Grace? What’s wrong?”

She asked, but Lionel just stared at the tin straw he had bitten. It was as if thoughts were racing through his mind.

“Hey, Doris.”

“What now!”

Doris clutched the ruined straw, glaring at Lionel. But Lionel’s blue eyes sparkled as he made a request.

“Make that straw even thinner and bring it to me. Thinner than it is now, about as thick as heavy paper. But make the diameter a little bigger.”

“What? You said my invention was useless!”

“As it is now, yes. But from now on, it might actually be useful.”

Lionel immediately pulled out all the gold coins he had and placed them in Doris’s hand.

“This is an advance. If you make it as I asked and bring it to the mansion, I’ll pay you three times more. Understood?”

Doris’s eyes widened, having hardly ever seen gold coins in his life. Before he could even agree, Lionel gripped Doris’s hand and shook it encouragingly.

“Do your best. If you do well, we might be able to revive this failing mine.”

***

After touring the mines, the Duke of Valentin shut himself up in the study for a while. He canceled all party and ball appointments and only summoned Lawyer Fabian and Art Dealer Melanie to the mansion a few times. He was so busy, it seemed he even forgot to visit Clarette’s studio.

Clarette found herself constantly worried about his sudden change in behavior.

‘Are there still things left to handle after the auction?’

The auction was a huge success, and all the gallery’s works sold except for Castion’s ‘Spring’. She understood why the lawyer had to visit to process such a large payment, especially with the Duchy’s debt issues.

But with no more works left to sell, Melanie’s continued visits felt strange.

‘Could it be that Ms. Bouvier still wants to sell my father’s paintings? What business does she have with His Grace?’

Even as Clarette painted in her studio as usual, she would sometimes step out to check the atmosphere in the main residence. Today, there was only one carriage parked near the main building. It was close to sunset, but the Duke hadn’t gone out, nor did he seem to have any dinner guests.

‘Today, for sure….’

Clarette decided to stop just waiting for the Duke to come to her.

Resolutely, she headed to the main building. Her destination today was not the dining hall, but the study.

She knocked and entered. The Duke sat at his desk, surrounded by piles of documents and books. He was deeply focused on writing, but looked up as Clarette entered.

“Clarette? What brings you here all of a sudden?”

“It’s almost dinner time.”

The Duke watched with curiosity as she closed the door carefully and turned toward him. When their eyes met, a gentle smile spread across his handsome face.

“How unusual. For you to come looking for me.”

“Yes. There are things I want to ask, and things I want to request of you.”

Clarette went to sit in the chair opposite the Duke, the seat usually occupied by Fabian. Lionel felt oddly moved by her sitting there.

For some reason, it reminded him of the first time they sat together in the drawing room.

“Go ahead. What are you curious about?”

“Ms. Bouvier has been visiting often lately. May I ask why?”

It was an unexpected question, and Lionel was a bit puzzled. But he had nothing to hide, so he answered honestly.

“I asked her for help. I need some personnel for a business I’m planning, and she’s looking for them.”

His answer was completely different from what Clarette expected. The business plan must be related to what he’d asked Doris at the tin mine. Clarette felt relieved but asked carefully.

“So you weren’t trying to sell any artwork, but looking for people?”

“That’s right. There’s nothing left to sell anyway…. Oh, wait.”

He seemed to realize what she was worried about and smiled faintly.

“Clarette, don’t worry. I’ll never sell Castion’s ‘Spring’. I kept it for you, so there’s no way I’d sell it now. Think of it as my gift to you.”

“Oh, that’s not what I was worried about…. I thought you might be selling my father’s paintings. Ms. Bouvier kept suggesting I hold a memorial exhibition and sell them.”

Upon hearing this, the Duke gently furrowed his brow and shook his head.

“That’s out of the question. Why would I sell Mr. Arno’s paintings? They’re your father’s legacy, and I’ve made sure they’re displayed in the gallery.”

Only after his reassurance did Clarette finally feel at ease. The Duke of Valentin who’d once suggested selling her father’s paintings if money was tight was gone. He no longer treated her treasures carelessly.

Lionel, noticing her relaxed demeanor, asked,

“So, is that all you wanted to know? What do you want to ask of me?”

Finally, Clarette had her chance. She looked him straight in the eye and calmly requested,

“Your Grace, please come to my studio tonight.”

This time, it was Lionel’s turn to be surprised. As he stared at her, Clarette continued, slightly embarrassed.

“I know you’re very busy. You have to manage this mansion and the estate, and you’re caught up in business preparations. But please, make time for me sometimes.”

She had hesitated for a long time before finally adding honestly,

“I need you too, Your Grace.”

Having said it, Clarette flushed, feeling she’d made an overbold request.

After all, it was up to the Duke whether to visit her studio. Modeling was physically demanding, and she could always paint something else.

But deep down, Clarette wanted to ask him to visit every day. Truthfully, she wanted to paint him day or night, especially after seeing him unclothed—her desire only grew.

She wanted to paint him perfectly. Not just his beautiful exterior, but his inner self as well, to capture this man wholly in her art.

“If you really can’t, it’s alright to refuse.”

As Lionel’s silence dragged on, Clarette became embarrassed and stood up. She almost wished he’d just refuse quickly.

But the Duke stood up with her and said,

“How about we go down to the first floor right now? Let’s eat early, and then go straight to your studio.”

Clarette stared at him in surprise, trying to hide her happiness as she cautiously reached out to him.

“Your Grace, there’s no need to rush….”

“I want to rush.”

Lionel softly opened the door for her and added,

“I hope tonight lasts a long time.”