Portrait of An Arrogant Master - Chapter 57
Macy’s paintings were strikingly similar to Yannick’s style, to the point where they could almost be considered identical.
When Nicholas immediately went to ask Rubens about it, Rubens nonchalantly confirmed the matter.
“Macy is Yannick Horton.”
“Excuse me?”
“She has been painting for Yannick Horton for some time. Due to the influence of the Name, she has been unable to move freely.”
“Is that really the case?”
“Yes.”
Art enthusiasts in Laden adored Yannick Horton’s paintings, and Nicholas was no exception.
“A small, young girl being Yannick Horton! The brush of the gods, Yannick Horton, is right in front of me!”
Nicholas was constantly amazed whenever he saw Macy.
Moreover, her recent works showed even more development than those being sold under Yannick’s name. It felt like witnessing a genius who had worked hard to achieve such progress.
Nicholas almost wished he could confine her and let her paint all day.
However,
“Do not select her paintings.”
Rubens’s condition was to include her as a painter for the event but not to choose her work. Nicholas regretted agreeing to this condition every night.
“Then what about sending Macy to study in the Ciseina Kingdom?”
“That would be asking me to die.”
“I heard that not treating her for a few years won’t affect her life. It might be difficult, though.”
“As I said before, I have no intention of making her famous.”
“Then why did you ask me in the first place?”
“I thought it would be acceptable to let her do something she likes, as long as she’s under my control.”
What a devilish kindness. Despite its seeming benevolence, the essence was wicked. It meant keeping Macy confined and thoroughly blocking her future.
Unaware of this, Macy felt she had received a great favor from Rubens and showed enthusiasm to do well in the work he introduced.
‘How did Macy end up caught by such a man…’
Though it was inevitable due to her Name manifestation from birth, Nicholas genuinely felt pity for her.
If she was publicly acknowledged as a mistress, she wouldn’t have to hide it as she does now. For nobles, having a Name manifest and taking the other as a mistress wasn’t unusual, so it wouldn’t be such a disgrace.
Though it might be humiliating for Macy…
“She will live in the shadows for her whole life. As long as my name is attached to her, that’s her fate.”
It seemed that Rubens never had the thought of making her a mistress.
“Don’t you dislike the word ‘fate’?”
“Don’t I dislike it? That old-fashioned sentiment.”
He took a quick puff from his cigar, smirking briefly. Just then, the carriage from the Krygen Duke’s family arrived.
“…You will regret this.”
“That’s quite a frightening thing to say.”
Rubens climbed into the carriage, blooming an arrogant smile as if he had never lost in his life. The Duke’s seal, depicting a silver eagle on a blue background, seemed to suit him perfectly.
Nicholas hoped that the gleam of that eagle’s wings would remain hidden, that he wouldn’t be blinded by it and fall.
Nicholas found Macy’s talent dazzling, but he fervently prayed, holding the rosary around his neck, that his concerns were unfounded.
* * *
A few days ago, Macy received unexpected news through Kieran.
It was rumored among the ladies that Macy was an exceptional portrait artist. Initially, she gained fame as Yannick Horton’s sister, but it was soon revealed that Macy had been painting in Yannick’s place.
Macy had anticipated that such rumors would circulate once people saw her work and time passed. After all, Yannick would not have painted a single piece since Macy left home.
‘That’s why I’ve been overwhelmed with commissions lately…’
With Laden’s most famous painter now available at a fraction of the original cost, requests flooded in. However, they didn’t openly tell Macy this. According to Kieran, they seemed to be withholding the information to avoid raising the price.
‘Even so, I can’t be the one to reveal it…’
Regardless, Macy felt a bit better having regained some of her name.
She was now extremely busy, working day and night with barely a moment to rest. Despite her irregular sleep, she should have had a chance to meet with Eren at least once, but Eren had only come and gone briefly when Macy was asleep.
Every time Macy woke up, she learned about Eren’s visits through Dia. Consequently, Macy couldn’t ask what had happened on the day she returned home drunk.
Was it too much to wonder if Eren was avoiding her?
