Portrait of An Arrogant Master - Chapter 3
Macy, having calmed her startled heart, descended to the first floor after a long while. In the parlor, a stranger she had never seen before was standing.
“I apologize for visiting so late at night. Are you Miss Macy Horton?”
“Yes? Yes, I am…”
The man was dressed in a well-fitted coat and shiny shoes, exuding an aura of luxury at first glance. He politely removed his top hat as he introduced himself.
“My name is Kronen Hilston from the Krygen Brokerage. Mr. Eren Wood is looking for you, Miss Horton.”
The Krygen Brokerage.
It was the premier name brokerage operated by the esteemed Krygen family of Obelite, renowned throughout the empire. Macy had listed her name with several brokerages, but this was among the most trustworthy.
“Have you truly found the name bearer? Is it really Eren Wood?”
Yannick entered the parlor belatedly.
“Yes, it is.”
“When did the manifestation occur? Will he cooperate with the treatment? From when? Can Macy use her hands now?”
While Macy was too stunned to speak, Yannick was brimming with excitement and curiosity.
“If the contract is finalized, it will be possible. Let me start with the basic information.”
Kronen pulled out a file from his neat briefcase. The paper was densely written with terms related to name brokerage.
“The brokerage fee at Krygen Brokerage is uniformly one million grands. All information regarding the name treatment is confidential, and violating this will automatically terminate the contract. Furthermore…”
Kronen read from the paper mechanically. This was unbelievable. Macy had hoped that someday someone might find the bearer, but she never imagined it would happen at this moment.
Could she now walk like normal people? Would her hands function properly again so she could paint?
“If that’s all, I believe I’ve covered the basic details.”
While Macy was still in shock, Kronen had finished explaining the brokerage fees and the basics.
“The contract will include the conditions proposed by Mr. Eren Wood.”
“Conditions?”
Then he turned to the last page.
Eren Wood shall be defined as the ‘first party’, and Macy Horton as the ‘second party’
[Special Conditions]
- The ‘second party’ shall undergo name treatment at the location and using the transportation provided by the ‘first party’.
- During the name treatment, the ‘second party’ agrees to have her eyes covered.
- If the above conditions are violated, the contract will be terminated.
Macy’s eyes narrowed with suspicion. The conditions laid out by the name bearer seemed somewhat strange and one-sided.
“Perhaps I’m missing something… but these terms seem to favor the other side excessively, don’t they?”
Yannick too seemed to find the contract odd, his expression was uneasy. While the provision of transportation and location might be understandable, the second condition about covering the eyes was puzzling.
“What kind of person insists on hiding so thoroughly… Could it be a nobleman known to everyone?”
Yannick’s suspicion was reasonable.
Given the secretive nature of name treatments, even if they were medical in nature, they were frowned upon among the nobility. If both parties were nobles, the scrutiny was less. But if a commoner was involved, they were often demeaned and looked down upon for engaging in such ‘vulgar’ acts.
It was common for some to use the name treatment as a pretext to extract money or other personal gains, so nobles preferred to keep such treatments hidden.
‘But isn’t covering the eyes going too far?’
Moreover, if he was of such high status, he wouldn’t need a brokerage to locate someone; he could have found her directly. Inquiries had been made in other countries as well, but there was no noble bearing the name Eren Wood.
“I cannot disclose any personal information about the broker.”
Kronen stated bluntly.
“Mr. Eren Wood has made it clear that if even one of these conditions is not met, he will not proceed with the treatment.”
“What? Then he will suffer too, right? Did his manifestation occur recently?”
“…”
“Ah, right. You said you couldn’t tell me…”
The atmosphere was firm, meaning that no further discussion would be allowed. After a moment of thinking, Yannick spoke with a determined air.
“Alright. Let’s sign it. Macy, go ahead and sign.”
Macy hesitated because she was clearly uncomfortable with the conditions.
Macy had heard plenty of unsettling rumors about name treatment accidents, even while confined to her secluded room. In the worst cases, it was possible for someone to be assaulted by a stranger.
“Do you have any other options? Are you going to continue living like a walking corpse?”
Yannick, who was running out of patience, reminded her of her dire situation as he urged her.
“Once the treatment begins, not only your hands but also your legs will be able to move. Don’t you want healthy legs?”
She did want them. For a moment, she longed to run through the fields of her childhood once again.
More importantly, if her legs were healed, she could go wherever she wanted without needing anyone’s help, and she could do whatever she wanted.
That was what she regretted the most after her condition deteriorated.
‘Now I can paint under my own name.’
She was desperate to reclaim her name and escape this confinement.
“Yes, I’ll do it.”
“That’s right! That’s the spirit! You’ve made a wise decision, Macy!”
As soon as Macy spoke, Yannick let out a cheer.
He was happy by the prospect of regaining a source of income, he failed to notice the coldness that had crept into Macy’s gaze that was different from before.
