Portrait of An Arrogant Master - Chapter 91
“Ciseina? What do you mean all of a sudden…?”
“Oh, I should have explained better. There’s an upcoming exchange between Obelit and Ciseina. We’re looking to take on Ciseina artists…”
Benedict continued his enthusiastic explanation without pause, but Macy seemed flustered and struggled to follow his words. His grip on her hands was firm, and the distance was too much for her.
With a slightly frightened expression, she stumbled backward, accidentally tripping over the easel and falling.
“Ah!”
“Miss Macy!”
A loud crash echoed through the room. Benedict had grabbed the hem of Macy’s dress before she fell, but he lost his balance and tumbled down with her. In his arms, Macy let out a small groan.
“Ugh…”
“Are you alright?”
“Yes, yes… Are you alright, Your Highness?”
“Yes, I’m…”
As he tried to reassure her, his eyes were drawn to the torn fabric clutched in his hand.
Macy’s blouse, which had been covering her upper body to the neck, was now ripped. Her pale skin was exposed, revealing parts of her unhidden bust, delicate collarbones, and the flushed, colorful bruises between her neck and armpits.
It was an obsessive and lewd mark that any man would recognize. The red paint from the fall added to the salacious appearance, making it almost impossible for him to look away.
Scrawled across her exposed skin was a name. Benedict, swallowing nervously, muttered it in a trance.
“E… Ren… Wood.”
It was only then that Macy realized the situation and clutched at her chest. She tried to pull the remaining fabric over to cover herself, but the tear was too wide to manage. As she struggled, her voice trembled.
“P-Please don’t look…”
Her face flushed with embarrassment and fear, the color gradually deepening. The exposure was spreading beyond what was barely covered.
An unexpected and intense desire surged within Benedict after seeing the woman he had just met today. Without realizing it, he reached out his hand.
“What are you doing?”
A low voice interrupted his actions. Benedict came back to his senses and turned his head toward the source of the voice. Duke Krygen stood by the door, watching the scene unfold.
“Your Highness, are you alright?”
The Duke rushed over and immediately helped Benedict. Macy slipped out of Benedict’s arms, retreating to a corner of the room and huddling there.
“Yes… I’m fine. Ugh!”
He felt a sharp pain in his arm, which had struck the floor. Rubens noticed that Benedict was injured and spoke with a stern expression.
“First, you should receive treatment from one of our household doctors. What exactly happened here?”
“We both fell with the easel. I must have missed my step…”
Although it was Macy who had stumbled, Benedict didn’t want her to be blamed, so he claimed responsibility for the fall. After a brief silence, Duke Krygen spoke in a calm voice.
“I apologize for this unfortunate incident occurring in my absence.”
“No, it’s not your fault, Duke.”
“Even so, it happened in my residence, so it is indeed my oversight.”
“Miss Macy might be more hurt. If she goes for treatment with me—”
“Please leave.”
Rubens’s voice was cold and sharp, enough to make Benedict flinch. The atmosphere became chilling, leaving Benedict feeling disoriented.
Rubens then handed Benedict over to the incoming maids.
“I’ll handle the aftermath. Your Highness, you should focus on recovering.”
“Yes, yes…”
Supported by the maids, Benedict walked awkwardly and gradually moved away from them.
“Miss Macy, make sure to—”
He muttered the unfinished sentence as he left, but the Duke was no longer looking at him.
Only the darkened back of the Duke’s head was visible.
‘But why is he so angry?’
It was the first time Benedict had felt such an intense emotion from Rubens. He was generally an unflappable person, so this reaction was unusual. It seemed like concern for Benedict’s injuries, but the initial question, “What are you doing?” had clearly been filled with anger.
Macy, huddled in the corner, looked up at the Duke with a frightened expression.
The door closed as the Duke approached her.
* * *
Rubens cursed inside. As he entered the room and saw the scene, he barely managed to suppress the harsh words that wanted to escape.
Macy was sprawled beneath Benedict.
Her white skin was exposed.
Benedict’s gaze was locked on the torn fabric, unable to look away. Rubens had clearly seen the sinister glint in Benedict’s eyes as he was mesmerized by her body.
Had Rubens not intervened, something terrible might have happened. The memory of Benedict’s reaching hand made Rubens’s anger surge.
