Chapter 66

“Your Grace. You once told me, didn’t you?”

Clarette interrupted Lionel, stepping forward. She quietly looked up into his blue eyes and spoke.

“You said that if you didn’t kiss me, there would come a day when I’d regret it.”

“I did. Absolutely.”

At his low voice, Clarette nodded as if accepting.

“It’s true. Now that you say you’re leaving, I feel so disappointed.”

Her rather cute response made Lionel smile helplessly. He tried to reply with his usual teasing tone.

“If you’re disappointed, then tonight, maybe a little more…”

But before he could finish, something soft touched Lionel’s cheek.

Clarette, having stepped close, was on tiptoe, holding onto his shoulders. She leaned in gently, lifting her face toward him.

Clarette’s lips touched Lionel’s cheek for just a brief moment. But that gentle sensation, though fleeting, left a strong impression on him. There was a soft, affectionate sound between her lips.

When Clarette straightened up, Lionel stared at her, speechless.

It was definitely the first time.

That she had come so close, approaching him first.

“Clarette. This is…”

Lionel looked at her in disbelief. Clarette, now embarrassed, avoided his gaze and said,

“It’s strange. Originally, all I wanted from you was for you to be my n*de model, Your Grace, just that one thing. But now, I want so much more from you. I don’t know how it turned out like this…”

“Tell me.”

As Clarette trailed off, Lionel took her hand.

“Tell me everything you want from me.”

“I…”

Clarette hesitated, her lips moving. She gathered her thoughts and spoke calmly.

“First, I hope you are freed from debt safely, Your Grace.”

It was a kind wish, but Lionel sighed inwardly. Was Clarette’s feeling toward him really just that dry? He hadn’t dared hope for love, but not even romantic feelings?

But she continued quietly.

“And I hope everyone around you will recognize and respect you. So that you can remain the Duke of Valentin forever. I’ll always be your painter, Your Grace. Then we can…”

Clarette finally smiled at Lionel, gently.

“We can stay together like this, always.”

She waited for him to respond with a smile, as usual. But what came back wasn’t a smile.

Lionel stepped forward and pulled her into his arms. Even as he hugged her tightly, Clarette didn’t flinch or try to escape.

Clarette slowly spread her arms and embraced Lionel’s large body. When her hands carefully touched his back, he kissed her briefly on the ear and said,

“Clarette, I’m not going anywhere. If you wish, I’ll stay here, in whatever way you want.”

Clarette nodded quietly.

Lionel smiled unconsciously at her small movements in his arms. Had he ever found someone so lovable? He whispered sincerely,

“Say you want me.”

Clarette wanted to say it, but when she tried, she was too shy and couldn’t speak. After several attempts, she gave up and murmured, her face flushed red,

“…Please keep our promise.”

When Clarette loosened her arms and gently pushed him away, Lionel slowly let go, but kept her close, as if he couldn’t bear to be further apart.

Clarette placed her hands on Lionel’s strong arms and continued,

“After we paint together, Your Grace, you get what you want. That was our deal.”

“Yes. We promised.”

Lionel, as if fulfilling that promise, leaned toward her. When Clarette softly closed her eyes, his lips gently touched her cheek.

But Lionel’s kiss lasted much longer than hers. As his soft lips slowly explored her skin, Clarette shivered at the strange feeling and gripped his arms tightly.

Lionel slowly stroked the nape of her neck with one hand, then, realizing how tense she was, lifted his lips.

Clarette, who had unconsciously craned her neck, finally exhaled and lowered her head. Lionel smiled quietly and leaned down.

“Ah, Your Grace!”

Lionel suddenly picked her up, and Clarette, startled, clung to his neck. Lionel laughed happily, rubbing his cheek against her hair.

“It’s alright, Clarette. I’ll never drop you.”

“That’s not what I’m worried about… Uh, where are you going?”

“The bedroom.”

“What?”

She stared at him in shock, but Lionel walked lightly on. Each stride made his shadow flicker large in the lamplight.

Clarette’s hand on Lionel’s chest began to tremble quietly.

‘What should I do? This isn’t right. It’s too fast. I can’t even imagine going that far yet…’

As she struggled with her dilemma, Lionel, who had said he was heading to the bedroom, went straight to the sofa and sat down with her still in his arms. When she looked at him with wide eyes, he stroked her cheek and whispered,

“Is this not enough? Should we go to the bed?”

“N-no. I like it here.”

“You like it here, on my lap?”

That’s not what she meant… Or maybe, hearing it, it was.

Clarette couldn’t say yes or no and just closed her mouth.

Truthfully, she liked being held by Lionel. When his solid body pressed close, her heart raced uncontrollably, and his strong legs supporting her felt reliable.

I like this man’s body. She’d thought it many times, but Clarette wasn’t naive enough to confess that in this situation.

“Honestly, I’d like to take you to bed right now.”

Meanwhile, Lionel gently brushed her tousled hair.

“But I don’t think I could control myself there. That’s why I’m holding back.”

“…I thought you wouldn’t. When you suddenly picked me up.”

Clarette muttered, and he smiled at her, finding her adorable.

“If I didn’t hold back, it’d be trouble. You’re scared, even now.”

He knew everything. Clarette felt like he could see right through her, and she was embarrassed. As she dropped her gaze, Lionel gently lifted her chin, wanting to see her eyes.

“Don’t be afraid of me. I’ll never do anything you’d hate.”

Clarette gazed into Lionel’s eyes, which held only her. Because he longed for her trust, she gave it to him.

“Alright. Then, as promised…”

When Clarette nodded, Lionel, as if waiting, pressed his lips to her nape. As she naturally tilted her head to allow him, he immediately undid her hair.

Unlike at the auction party, Clarette’s loosely pinned hair quickly fell to the floor. Her black hair, cascading like a veil, secretly shrouded Lionel’s figure as he explored her.

His lips lingered on her nape for a long time before finally settling on her shoulder.

“Mm, Duke…”

At the unfamiliar sensation, Clarette flinched. But Lionel, as if coaxing her, slowly kissed her shoulder and stroked her back. As the strings behind her loosened, Clarette felt dizzy and bit her lip.

“It’s alright, Clarette. Relax.”

Even as he said this, Lionel didn’t stop. When the strings at her back were half undone, he pulled her top down just enough to bare her shoulders.

As Lionel’s lips touched her exposed skin, Clarette squeezed her eyes shut in embarrassment. She couldn’t relax, and every time she flinched, his hands gripped her waist and shoulders firmly.

‘I feel awkward enough to want to run away. But it feels good…’

Clarette was confused between conflicting feelings, feeling trapped with nowhere to escape. Sitting on Lionel’s lap, her feet dangled in the air, and her only support was his body.

The beautiful body she wanted to keep forever, even if only in a painting.

While he kissed her shoulder, Clarette cautiously reached for Lionel’s shirt front. At her unfamiliar attempt, he paused and looked up.

Their faces were close, and their breath reached each other before their eyes did. In front of Lionel’s gaze, filled with affection, Clarette didn’t know where to look. She was embarrassed and thrilled at the same time.

And then, a thought she’d never considered before flashed through her mind.

If it’s now, she could do it.