Portrait of An Arrogant Master - Chapter 50
Following the set routine, when Eren arrived, Macy would immediately leave her drawing and head to the bedroom. She’d bind her eyes with a black cloth and fall asleep in his arms. After a while, Eren would leave, and their relationship remained unchanged.
‘The only difference now is that Eren doesn’t unbutton his shirt anymore.’
He no longer hugged her as tightly as before. Even when she thought he was asleep, Macy didn’t touch his face or engage in idle chatter.
There was an odd sense of caution between them.
* * *
Macy visited the Baron’s estate to work on her painting of the outing. Today, she planned to use an easel and other tools just like the other artists. Following the butler’s guidance, she entered the art studio within the estate.
“You’re welcome to use any tools you need.”
“Thank you.”
Most of the art supplies in the studio looked expensive and brand new. It seemed they were meticulously maintained.
‘Familiar tools are more comfortable, but I can use these in a pinch.’
As she gathered the easel and necessary supplies, the door was suddenly flung open without warning.
“Damn it, this is unlucky.”
When Macy turned around, the door had already slammed shut. She was stunned by the unexpected outburst.
‘Am I being ostracized now?’
She had had several opportunities to paint the outing.
While Baron Shearton said they usually only sketched on-site, she had seen other artists adding color to key objects and figures. Although she hadn’t asked, the reason was obvious—it increased the chance of being selected. If the choice could be predicted more easily when the painting was more defined, the selection process would be simpler.
So, Macy not only sketched but also added color to key figures and some of the rose bushes she had painted that day.
“Alright, let’s look at all the paintings.”
After the outing, Baron Shearton entered the studio where the artists had gathered. Macy stood holding her canvas. Other artists, curious about Macy’s work, glanced over at her. However, the expressions of those who viewed her painting turned rigid.
“What is this…?”
“Isn’t that Yannick Horton’s style?”
It was almost too tiresome to explain. Macy sighed inwardly and said,
“My brother is Yannick Horton. We’ve been painting together since we were young, so our styles are quite similar.”
She anticipated that her revelation would cause frowns, but the artists reacted even more intensely than she had expected.
“Then you should fix it. This is beyond mere imitation!”
“Such a lack of ethics in art! It’s even more disgraceful because you’re family!”
“Do you think you’ll ever reach Yannick Horton’s level, even if you try?”
They were furious, and while Kieran didn’t speak up, his disapproving gaze was clear. Even Baron Shearton, who had seemed hopeful about Macy’s work, looked displeased. The atmosphere grew chilly.
“Everyone, calm down for now. We’ll put off deciding on the final paintings.”
The meeting ended, and the next outing day arrived.
In the end, Macy’s sketch was not selected. It was unclear whether the problem was her style resembling Yannick’s or if the sketch itself simply didn’t appeal to Baron Shearton, who had given no indication of his preferences.
‘But why do they keep including me as an artist? Is it because of Eren’s introduction?’
If they didn’t like her work, they could just cut her off. Macy would have accepted that with some disappointment, but she would have understood.
“Are you here, Miss Macy?”
“Yes.”
“Thank you for your continued effort.”
Moreover, Baron Shearton, who had seemed stern that day, greeted Macy with a friendly smile as if nothing had happened. He remained kind and considerate towards her.
Even though participating only covered her living expenses, Macy continued to take part, though she felt uneasy. She hadn’t expected such jealousy over her similar painting style. The way everyone scolded her was as if they were Yannick’s spokespersons.
On one hand, it made sense that artistic matters could be sensitive, but she suddenly feared she might be permanently ostracized from this field. Currently, only a few knew, but rumors might spread.
Perhaps her past gallery visits had already widened the rumor mill. If so, does she need to abandon her painting style to survive? It seemed too unfair.
Macy had painted this way for so long. Losing her style, on top of everything else, felt like being a thief in a situation where she hadn’t stolen anything.
