Portrait of An Arrogant Master - Chapter 41
Macy shook her head as if she had already committed a crime just by thinking about it. Of course, it was a bad idea. No one would appreciate being kissed without permission while they were asleep. How was that different from an assault?
‘But…’
She was curious if Anna’s words were true. No, she was curious about Eren’s lips. She already felt happy just being in his arms, could it get even better than this?
Would kissing him make them closer? His lips weren’t particularly full, so they probably wouldn’t feel soft. His breath was warm but not meltingly hot. Maybe Anna had exaggerated?
The longer she thought, the more her curiosity grew, filling her with anticipation and desire.
Wasn’t it just skin touching skin, like it was now with her lips resting against his chest? Was it really that different from a simple kiss? As long as they were name partners, what was the harm?
As she justified her thoughts, Eren’s distinctive musky scent filled her nose.
Macy gulped. She found herself cupping his cheeks, thinking that it was his fault for sleeping so vulnerably. She pressed her lips against his.
But she misjudged and ended up kissing near his upper lip. Even that brief contact felt different, making her shiver. She couldn’t tell what it was exactly but knew she wanted more….
As if entranced, she leaned in again, feeling something soft and tender press against her lips.
Their mouths fit together like pieces of a puzzle. Through his slightly parted lips, she could feel his warm breath.
‘Ah…’
Macy almost made a sound, the sensation was so dizzying and intoxicating. As she breathed in, she wanted to go deeper, to taste more of this sweetness. She nibbled at his lower lip, gently parting it.
His mouth tasted sweet, not like cake, but soft and comforting.
What started as a timid prank had now completely absorbed her, leaving her lost in the moment.
Then, something different, something soft, touched the tip of her tongue.
Macy quickly opened her eyes and pulled away, curling up and catching her breath.
‘What was I thinking?’
She hadn’t planned to go this far with a sleeping person. Her lips still felt moist, and she didn’t know if it was from her own saliva or his. Her heart pounded with a mix of guilt and fear. Her fingers trembled, and her breath came in irregular gasps.
‘Calm down. If Eren wakes up…!’
She froze, holding her breath. At some point, his arm had tightened around her waist again.
* * *
“Wow, this is amazing…”
Macy stood in a reception room adorned with various paintings. Through the window, she could see a garden filled with flowers and leaves, extending out into a field of peach and willow trees.
What a magnificent estate. It didn’t quite rival the grandeur of the Krygen mansion, but it had a vivid charm all its own.
‘I was so surprised when I was first told to come here.’
“Go to the Baron Shearton’s estate?”
“Yes. I’ve arranged for you to be their picnic painter. Just go and find him.”
The person Eren had introduced her to was Baron Shearton, a well-known art enthusiast in Obelit’s tight-knit art community.
Although the Baron didn’t paint himself, he was passionate about art. He regularly hosted outings, mingling with nobles and hiring artists to capture the scenes.
The resulting paintings sold for prices comparable to those under Yannick Horton’s name. It was more than enough to live on, even extravagantly.
And wasn’t Anna working as a maid at the Shearton estate? What a coincidence!
“But how does Eren know Baron Shearton?”
“Am I not allowed to know him?”
“No, it’s just…”
Then a fleeting memory came back to her. Anna had mentioned that the Shearton family had long been vassals of the Krygen family and that the current heads were close friends. And Eren’s voice was very similar to Duke Krygen’s.
Could it be…?
“He’s a business contact. He mentioned being interested in art, so I made the connection.”
Eren replied nonchalantly.
So Eren is a businessman? Judging by his tone, they didn’t seem particularly close…
