Chapter 77

“If you ever need to learn to dance, learn from me. Strictly.”

“What? Why dancing all of a sudden?”

“When you were learning to ride earlier, you were really cute. I’ve never seen anyone work so hard and take so long at it. So, I think teaching you to dance would be even more fun.”

Clarette’s cheeks turned red with embarrassment. She couldn’t say anything to her excellent riding teacher and quietly returned to Pepper.

“…Just wait and see. I’ll never learn dancing from you, Your Grace.”

Clarette boldly put her foot in the stirrup and mounted the horse, the most skillful thing she’d done all day.

“I’ll go ahead, Your Grace.”

Clarette, who had only ridden at a walk before, now sped off at a brisk trot. Lionel watched her straight-backed figure from his saddle and honestly remarked,

“Now she can really ride.”

He leisurely mounted Blackjack, who smartly followed the gray horse at a quick pace.

* * *

The world gave Lionel Clarette, and with her, trials as well.

“What? Two weeks?”

Lionel frowned at Oliver the butler’s report. But Oliver continued his briefing with unwavering composure.

“Yes, Master. With so much luggage, traveling by carriage takes a minimum of two weeks. Of course, depending on the condition of the workshops, it could take longer.”

With mass production of tin tube paints approaching, Lionel had to leave for about two weeks to inspect the state of pigment workshops throughout Rosenta.

Business was reality, and reality was harsh. Lionel felt a headache coming on and dismissed Oliver from the study.

Two weeks. If it were two weeks traveling with Clarette, he’d have rejoiced.

But Clarette had taken on Jasmine de Bruyel’s portrait commission. She went every day to Jasmine’s lodging in Moerven to paint her portrait, only returning late at night.

Sometimes, judging by her luggage and change of clothes, Jasmine seemed to take Clarette along like a maid, involving her in all sorts of activities.

‘She’s my woman.’

Lionel was at a loss. Of course, thanks to Jasmine visiting the ducal residence, he’d been able to get Clarette to attend the hunting tournament, take her riding, become her secret lover, and finally succeed in laying her down…

“…Haa.”

Thinking about that made Lionel crave a drink. But today, he wouldn’t see Clarette’s face and had to go inspect the tin mine.

“When am I supposed to date, then?”

According to Oliver, even if he left tomorrow, he’d have no time to spend with Clarette upon returning—since the Earl Crowley’s hunting tournament would start immediately.

‘After the hunting tournament, I’ll do something. Go to the sea, or anywhere.’

Lionel left the study, determined to make it happen before summer ended.

* * *

A week before the Earl Crowley’s hunting tournament.

Jasmine had gone to the capital’s ball, so Clarette, finally with free time, stayed in the annex studio.

‘I wonder if Lionel is well. He must be at the northern workshops by now.’

The Valentin Duchy’s paint business was progressing smoothly.

High-quality Asilique resin sent by Marian had been delivered to pigment-producing regions throughout Rosenta. In Tivenny, new workshops called ‘Marina Blue’ and ‘Clarette’ had even opened to process lapis lazuli.

‘A color named after me… I never imagined such a thing.’

Clarette recalled Lionel saying the name of the new color, looking into her eyes. A soft, contented smile spread across her lips.

‘I miss him.’

Clarette missed Lionel. But while he was away, she had decided not to work on n*de paintings.

<Why didn’t you call me?>

‘Lionel wants to be my n*de model. He must feel the same as I do. I want to help him however I can.’

Clarette now intended to ask Lionel for help without hesitation. She hoped he would reach out to her just as freely.

‘Then, today I’ll try working on this.’

Clarette took out the greatest gift she could give Lionel and placed it on the easel.

In the restored portrait, Lionel’s mother was still smiling brightly. Unfortunately, almost all the paint except for the face had peeled away.

‘Hmm, this is in Father’s early style. There aren’t many surviving works, so even copying it, I can’t get the feel.’

What troubled Clarette most was the color. She loved her father’s paintings, but Arno Sollier’s warm, radiant colors didn’t suit her style.

‘No matter how much I try, mimicking someone else’s color sense is too hard. When I paint, it always ends up in my own style…’

After struggling, Clarette barely touched the canvas before giving up. She sat like a child on a small stool, hugging her knees and staring at the old portrait.

What would Father have done?

If only Father were here…

‘Ah, right. What about Thiago?’

With a sudden idea, Clarette straightened and focused. Yes, if it were Thiago, he could do it.

Her father’s disciple, and the only painter who could still paint in a style closest to his.

Only Thiago Salto could restore this painting to its original form.

‘Yes, Thiago is better suited for this restoration than I am. But if he finds out who the subject is, he’ll never help…’

Clarette recalled how Thiago had asked her to live together in this studio, and then Lionel’s tense face when he saw them together.

‘Thiago already sees Lionel as a rival. He’s sharp—he’ll recognize the subject at a glance.’

Clarette anxiously stared at the damaged portrait.

But no matter how she worried, it seemed she had only one choice.

* * *

For over 50 years, the Crowley’s hunting tournament had been known as a festival blessed by the Ensila Goddess.

“Do you know why, Miss Sollier? It’s because of the weather.”

“The weather?”

On the morning of the hunting tournament, Clarette was riding in the Bruyel family carriage with Jasmine, heading to the Earl Crowley’s domain. Officially, she was Jasmine’s attendant, so she had to enter with Jasmine.

Jasmine, proud, shared what she’d picked up.

“Apparently, it rains a lot in the Crowley’s domain around this time. But every time the tournament is held, it’s always clear. It’s been over 50 times, so it’s too amazing to be just coincidence, right?”

“Yes, as you say, the weather is wonderful today too.”

Clarette drew back the curtain and admired the sunny outdoors. The early summer sun was hot,mand the earldom’s rural scenery stretched wide.

“And about that ‘bullet of victory’ they give to the winner. When they make it, they actually use holy water from the Ensila Order. Fifty years ago, the current Earl’s grandfather donated a huge sum. Well, so much that the earldom’s treasury was emptied, apparently.”

“Is that so? But the current Earl Crowley seems to run his business well…”

“Yes, he does. But his father and grandfather spent money like water. To rebuild the family like this, he must have struggled a lot.”

Listening to Jasmine, it seemed Earl Crowley had overcome his own hardships to fulfill his role.

‘He must have been in a situation similar to Lionel, but they don’t seem that close. Maybe cousins aren’t like brothers.’

Clarette thought of Earl Crowley’s sinister face and his usual dignified demeanor. Then, something occurred to her and she looked at Jasmine.

“But Lady Jasmine, you know a lot about Earl Crowley’s domain. Did you read about it somewhere?”

“Oh, I looked it up. I want to have fun until this year and get married next year. Earl Crowley’s a bit below my level, but he’s not out of the running as a candidate.”

Already thinking about marriage. Clarette looked curiously at the twenty-one-year-old Jasmine.

‘Marriage…’

To Clarette, it was still a vague idea. After a brief moment of thought, she decided to focus on her new lover.

Her lover, Lionel de Valentin, who would shine more than anyone else at this hunting tournament.