Portrait of An Arrogant Master - Chapter 24
But this time, Eren called her by her name in a familiar way. Although his words weren’t particularly kind, it felt different.
“Eren.”
“What?”
He responded indifferently. Perhaps being connected to him through the Name was a stroke of luck.
His arrogant tone suggested he had never bowed to anyone, and the unfamiliar yet soft texture of his clothes indicated they were valuable.
If she knew who he was, she might never be able to address him so casually again….
“I want to see your face, too.”
So, within this space, Macy allowed herself to be a bit selfish—a cowardly greed to experience the truth.
“Eren, you know what I look like. You know what my family does… I won’t look with my eyes, just with my hands.”
Even if their connection was limited to nighttime, she wanted to feel special to him during these hours. She wanted to call his name familiarly and touch his face.
“Is it okay if I see with my hands?”
“…”
He was silent for a while. Macy anxiously waited for any response from him. She had been pondering this request for days, so even if he rejected her, she could understand.
Eren had been reluctant to reveal his identity from the beginning.
“If you just want to feel less wronged, then go ahead.”
“Really?”
Macy was genuinely surprised by his acceptance. She did not expect him to agree.
“But if you’re curious about me, forget it.”
“…”
“It’s useless for us to get to know each other. We won’t see each other’s faces outside this cabin.”
His words crushed any small hopes she had. The excitement in her heart plummeted.
Though his statement hit home, Macy tried to keep her voice steady.
“I’m not curious. Just feeling a bit wronged, like you said…”
“Yeah, I suppose you wouldn’t learn much by touching.”
Eren scoffed and guided Macy’s hand to his cheek.
“Are you worried that the man you hold every night might be ugly?”
“No, that’s not it. I’ve never thought that…”
His cheek was smooth and lean. Macy swallowed nervously and moved her hand.
As her fingers approached his eyes, Eren half-closed them. His eyelids were long, and his eyelashes were thicker towards the outer corners. The ends of his eyebrows were sharp, and even the bridge of his nose had a sharp feel.
Macy meticulously touched every detail, not wanting to miss a single strand of his eyebrows.
“I’ve never been told I’m ugly.”
As her fingers traced down his face to his lips, she noticed his upper and lower lips were similar in size, with a distinct cupid’s bow. His jawline, leading to his ears, was angular, and his chin was pointed.
His facial structure was clean-cut, giving a sharp impression.
“Does a picture form in your mind?”
His tone was mocking, but it didn’t break Macy’s concentration. She continued to explore his features, holding his cheek as if handling something precious.
“Yes, it does. You seem to have sharp features.”
His face had a clean, sculpted look, almost like a work of art. He let out a small, dismissive laugh, and the subtle movement made his facial muscles shift. Macy found it fascinating to feel these small changes with her hands.
The fact that she was allowed to touch his face filled her with pride.
“And I think you’re quite beautiful. Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to…”
“When I was younger, I was often told I looked like a girl.”
Eren replied calmly.
“So, I almost had some bad experiences with perverts.”
“Bad experiences?”
“Whether you’re a girl or a boy, being good-looking but poor isn’t a blessing.”
Macy understood what he meant. In her neighborhood, it was common for pretty girls from poor families to be sold to brothels.
Like Anna, if they’re lucky, they might end up working as a maid for a high-ranking family. Did he have a troubled childhood?
Macy wondered if the small scars on his body were remnants from that time.
“You could say you were somewhat fortunate in that sense. When word got out about your Name manifesting, no one took you in despite your appearance.”
“How do I look?”
Macy knew she was considered attractive, having received numerous confessions since childhood.
But Eren’s comment made her curious. She found herself wanting to hear his opinion directly. Usually, compliments about her appearance made her feel shy or awkward, but this time felt different.
Eren was silent for a moment before responding in a somewhat cold tone.
“You’re not someone who’d make people frown.”
“…”
She heard him chuckle softly afterward, as if he had been joking.
