Chapter 84

By the time Duke Valentin emerged safely from the forest, the sun was setting in a clear sky. Those who had been waiting for his return rushed toward him as he appeared on horseback.

“Duke, are you all right?”

“Earl has rescued you after all! Thank goodness, surely it was the Goddess Ensila who watched over you.”

“Here, please! Step down onto the stirrup.”

Lionel was able to leave the forest riding Pepper, thanks to Richard’s help. Meanwhile, Clarette, who had ridden with Richard, looked at Lionel with worried eyes.

‘If only he could see a doctor right away. Since it’s a hunting tournament, surely they have that prepared, right?’

Clarette wanted to ask Earl Crowley if there was a doctor, but it was difficult to bring it up. From the start, there was no noble in the world she could speak to as comfortably as she did with Lionel.

While Clarette hesitated, Richard was gazing down at her face, which was tilted slightly toward him.

‘She’s certainly pretty. There’s a pure charm, too. But that seems to be all there is.’

Why was Lionel so taken with this woman? He had experienced countless women until now, so why was he suddenly obsessed with such a dull-looking commoner woman?

‘Is there something I can’t see on the surface? Maybe she’s good at serving him at night.’

Richard was observing Clarette with suspicious eyes when she turned and looked at him. Since she was caught between Richard’s arms holding the reins, Clarette carefully asked,

“Earl, may I get down now?”

“Where did you learn to ride?”

Richard didn’t move his hands right away, so Clarette was a bit flustered. She didn’t really want to talk with him, so she replied with an awkward expression.

“I had a chance to ride in the woods near the ducal residence.”

“Did Duke teach you himself?”

While Clarette hesitated, wondering if she should answer honestly, someone approached from the crowd.

“Earl, you’ve returned safely.”

It was Thiago, coming toward them from where the crowd was gathered. Clarette had never been so glad to see him.

Thiago looked up at the two riding together.

“Is Clarette afraid to get down? If so, I can help her.”

Richard wanted to learn more about Clarette, but didn’t want to show that intention in front of Thiago. He had no choice but to loosen the reins so she could dismount.

Thiago reached out to help, but Clarette shook her head lightly.

“It’s all right, Thiago. I can get down by myself.”

She jumped off the horse without hesitation. Richard spoke with a composed face.

“You two should head straight to the stands. Since the Duke has returned safely, the hunting tournament awards ceremony must proceed.”

Clarette stared intently at the Earl’s back as he walked away.

Was it really as Lionel said, that he wasn’t the shooter? Or did he shamelessly come to find Lionel after shooting him?

‘If it’s the latter, he’s a dangerous man.’

While Clarette couldn’t shake off her uneasiness about Richard, Thiago spoke as they headed toward the stands.

“Clarette, did you end up finding the Duke?”

Clarette nodded as she followed him.

“Yes, I rode the ducal residence’s horse. Fortunately, it didn’t take too long…”

“But why you?”

Thiago frowned, as if he couldn’t understand.

“That’s something the noblemen or servants should do. Not the resident artist.”

Although that wasn’t entirely wrong, Clarette answered firmly.

“I owe the Duke a debt, Thiago. As a matter of human decency, I can do at least that much. I was truly worried.”

“It didn’t look like you were just repaying a favor. You seemed… Clarette, do you like that man?”

Thiago finally couldn’t hold back and asked directly. When Clarette hesitated, he pressed again.

“One-sided love? Or does he feel the same for you?”

Thiago’s gaze was too persistent for her to deflect, so Clarette chose the answer that would cause the least trouble.

“…I’m just the one who likes the Duke. It’s embarrassing, so please don’t tell anyone else.”

Thiago stared at her, knowing she was lying. He had already figured everything out after seeing the Duke and Clarette together at the auction party.

The Duke and Clarette had feelings for each other. They’d lived together for three months already, so they must have done everything—but she claimed it was a one-sided love?

‘How long does she think she can hide it like this, Clarette? Is she planning to stay in that mansion forever?’

Thiago unconsciously wore a dark expression and furrowed his brow.

“Thiago, I’m sorry. I left in the middle of our conversation earlier.”

Clarette hurriedly apologized to him, sensing he was somehow upset.

“I was so distracted when I heard the Duke was missing. If I get another chance…”

“The portrait restoration.”

Thiago spoke coldly to Clarette, who was flustered.

“I’ll help you, so bring the painting to my studio. But there’s a condition.”

“Okay, tell me.”

Clarette looked at Thiago with eager eyes, as if she’d do anything in exchange for the restoration. But he already knew she wouldn’t accept his request.

Originally, Thiago had planned to ask Clarette to live with him again in exchange for restoring the portrait. But seeing her rush after the Duke, he changed his condition to something more realistic.

“Clarette, be my model again.”

At Thiago’s answer, Clarette stopped in her tracks, speechless. It was exactly the reaction he expected. Thiago calmly added,

“I’m not going to paint your portrait again. This time, I’ll paint a mythological painting.”

“Mythological painting…? Thiago, I thought you weren’t interested in that.”

“I wasn’t. But now, I think I’ll try.”

Thiago muttered, recalling Marquis Xavier’s letter full of criticism and the Crown Prince’s cold treatment.

“I plan to submit it to next year’s Imperial competition. Of course, I could submit a portrait, but so far, all the paintings chosen by His Majesty the Emperor have been mythological works.”

Thiago spoke clearly to Clarette, who still seemed stunned.

“If I paint a mythological piece, I’ve always thought the first model had to be you. So I don’t want any other price.”

“But, I don’t intend to be a model anymore…”

“Think it over and decide.”

Thiago cut off coldly and turned away from Clarette. She didn’t follow, but he wasn’t worried.

Clarette was a woman who could never give up her father’s painting. She would eventually visit the studio in Genoa.

With the damaged portrait, determined to bloom once more within the frame.

* * *

Despite the commotion, Earl Crowley’s hunting tournament finally reached the awards ceremony stage.

“Now, I will announce today’s hunting tournament winner.”

Marquis Graham, the head judge, looked around at the nine contestants standing in the center of the arena.

“Today’s winner is…”

Everyone was tense, and the Marquis’s gaze turned to Lionel, who was receiving first aid in the stands. Lionel, who was drinking water and letting the doctor tend to his ankle, tilted his head as the Marquis looked at him.

The Marquis smiled, as if praising the Duke’s fighting spirit despite his injury.

“The winner is Duke Valentin, who caught the largest stag! Please give him a big round of applause!”

The unexpected announcement surprised the contestants, but they couldn’t help but admire him. As they looked at Duke Valentin with respect and applauded, the spectators in the stands also cheered happily for the expected winner.

Only Lionel and Richard were left dazed amid the congratulations. Especially Richard, the host, who hurriedly joined the applause but couldn’t hide his discomfort.

‘What? I’m sure the one I caught was bigger than last year’s winner. Did Lionel catch something bigger?’

What was even more shocking was that Lionel had barely used any marked arrows.

‘He only used one or two blue arrows. And yet he won? How?’

Richard gritted his teeth inwardly and forced a smile.

Meanwhile, Lionel sat with a sour face in the midst of the congratulations. As soon as first aid was finished, he stood up with the prepared crutch.

As Lionel slowly made his way to the arena, even louder applause broke out. But he felt only uneasy.

‘I only caught one, and there’s no way that was a winning catch. Even Jeremy’s was much bigger than mine…’

Ah, Jeremy. Lionel finally spotted Jeremy, who was standing with an embarrassed face.

The red-haired boy smiled happily and clapped for Duke Valentin.

“…Jeremy, that kid.”

Lionel laughed wryly and shook his head.

The massive stag that Jeremy couldn’t finish off, which Lionel had shot instead. Jeremy had stuck Lionel’s blue arrow into the beast, not his own.

‘Blackjack went wild and spilled all my arrows on the ground. I can’t believe a kid would yield like this.’

It was a remarkably generous act for a sixteen-year-old. When Lionel arrived where the contestants stood, everyone cheerfully congratulated him.

Champagne popped for the winner, and people scattered blue Veronica petals from baskets. Marquis Graham presented the victory bullet, in a heavy wooden box, to Duke Valentin.

“Duke!”

Jeremy approached to offer congratulations, smiling sheepishly.

“Congratulations on winning! And please, teach me shooting and boxing!”

“Well, I guess I can’t refuse.”

Lionel smiled and patted Jeremy’s shoulder affectionately. The boy smiled proudly and returned to his family.

And soon after, Richard took the opportunity to approach Lionel.

“Congratulations, Lionel. You said you didn’t intend to try hard, but you won after all.”

When they were alone, Lionel quietly reverted to a familiar tone with his cousin. Smiling, he spoke to Richard.

“Richard. Just asking, in case.”

“Yeah, what is it?”

“Do I need to pay for the dog?”

“For the dog…?”

Richard asked, not understanding, and Lionel chuckled.

“The hunting dog I shot dead.”

He gazed steadily into his cousin’s violet eyes and asked,

“That was yours, wasn’t it?”