Portrait of An Arrogant Master - Chapter 75
When he realized that fact, the first emotion that surfaced was pity. It was as if she was in love with the person who had cornered her.
But that feeling was short-lived, soon replaced by an inexplicable joy. He was pleased that Macy liked Rubens. While it was bothersome when someone else liked him, it didn’t feel that way with Macy.
Not long ago, when he had considered the possibility of Macy liking Rubens, he had thought it would be annoying. It seems ridiculous now. Back then, he must have thought it was absurd to imagine that someone could like a man they had never seen and who only visited at night for treatment.
Now that he saw Macy as belonging to Eren, the inexplicable desire for her had also faded. There was no need to be so anxious about a woman who could be embraced whenever he wanted.
Additionally, he believed that if Macy liked him, it would make it easier to bind her to him. Eren had been rewarding Macy with affection every time she followed his instructions, and Macy appeared satisfied with it.
There was no reason not to use such an easy method.
‘Keeping her in the cabin was indeed a wise choice.’
If she were out and about, she might meet other men or drink unnecessarily. It was better for her to stay in the cabin. Macy would sleep in the place where only Rubens would visit and enjoy what he provided while living forever unaware that Eren was Rubens.
There was no more perfect plan.
He had walked to Baron Shearton’s residence after finishing with the council because he had one last thing to check. The maid who had served tea was Macy’s friend, and the boy sitting next to Macy was the one who had drunk with her.
It was amusing to think that such a boy had tried to act charming. Macy was clearly good at painting but seemed to lack judgment.
“Then, let’s go inside. Don’t linger out here.”
“I’ll just finish this drink and then leave.”
Nicholas looked at Rubens with concern, knowing he wrapped himself up even in summer because of his scars. As Rubens calmly replied, he suddenly remembered something he had forgotten.
“Oh, and send Macy’s sketches to the Duke’s residence.”
“Pardon? Why?”
“I paid for Macy’s fee with my money, didn’t I? So, naturally, the sketches are mine.”
“Couldn’t it be returned to me? She was an outing painter, all the paintings she made are originally my property… even if they’re not finished.”
“Well, since you’re my person, it seems like they’re mine too. Stop with the pointless talk and send them. Don’t make me repeat myself.”
“…Yes.”
Nicholas looked aggrieved but didn’t say anything more. Rubens was not one to retract his words easily. No matter how incomplete, he had no intention of letting anyone else have Macy’s paintings.
“Then, I’ll take my leave first.”
“Are you really leaving?”
“Yes. Nothing else to do.”
Having confirmed everything that needed to be confirmed, Rubens got up from his seat. Macy’s eyes were darting around busily. Everywhere Rubens moved, her gaze followed.
It seemed there was an issue with the engagement portrait given how she couldn’t take her eyes off him and she even kept coming to the Duke’s residence.
‘I thought the last drawing would be fine since she’d seen it once, but maybe not?’
It looked like she was ready to follow him wherever he went. Seeing Macy sneakily trailing Rubens while trying not to be noticed brought a sense of strange satisfaction.
‘I never thought I’d want to play hide and seek at this age.’
Rubens pretended not to notice Macy’s gaze and instructed his butler to bring the carriage. Then, he hid behind the building to avoid her attention.
* * *
“Where did he go?”
Macy looked around. She had followed the Duke as soon as he moved, but he had disappeared completely at some point. His expression wasn’t as bad as it was when he was with Baron Shearton, but he wasn’t smiling either. The shadow of the canopy made it hard to see his face clearly.
“I should have just spoken to him earlier…”
She hadn’t expected Duke Krygen to leave so quickly. It seemed he hadn’t come for the outing but had a brief engagement with Baron Shearton instead. She could have asked him to pose properly just once.
Macy had tried to wrap up everything during the outing because she was uncomfortable meeting the Duke, but now she had missed her chance.
Macy anxiously ran around the Baron’s residence, searching for any trace of the Duke, even a single strand of his hair.
She was just turning around a large statue next to the entrance.
“Ah!”
