Portrait of An Arrogant Master - Chapter 95
“I’ll just say it’s because we met while you were painting the portrait. People won’t think much of it, and as long as no concrete evidence surfaces, we can keep the Name bond hidden.”
“….Are you serious?”
“Why not? After all, the things we’ve been doing lately aren’t so different from what a mistress does, are they?”
Eren’s gaze trailed over Macy’s body, his blue eyes lingering with a sharp, deliberate intensity. She instinctively squeezed her thighs together, recalling how he had tormented her only days ago.
Noticing her subtle reaction, Eren’s lips curved into a loose smile.
“You choose. Do you want to be Duke Krygen’s mistress or Eren Wood’s lover?”
“They’re the same thing…”
“No, they’re not. As Eren Wood’s lover, we’d only meet at night in the cabin like we do now. But if you’re the Duke’s mistress, we could meet during the day too.”
It was clear that Eren had no qualms about making their relationship public.
“And what if I don’t want either?”
But he was about to get married. Wanting to spend days with him had been a fleeting wish, one born from ignorance. Now that she knew the truth, continuing such a relationship felt wrong.
It was morally corrupt. She would face far more ridicule and scorn than she did now. This was not the kind of relationship she had dreamed of with Eren, nor how she wanted to stand by his side.
“Do you really think you can live without me?”
Eren frowned as if irritated by her hesitation. His words were a stark reminder of her reality—she was never in a position to make demands of him. He knew this, which is why he could speak so bluntly.
Macy’s clear eyes wavered with betrayal.
“There’s no other option. Make your choice.”
Macy’s head dropped in defeat.
“No matter what, I’ll have you.”
“But… why me? Why someone like me…”
There was a time when Macy might have been thrilled to hear such words, even if it was just an obsession driven by their Name bond.
But now, all she felt was despair. It wasn’t just that Eren was in a position of power, but that he was using it to drag her into a pit she couldn’t escape.
“Does desire really need a grand reason?”
“….”
And in that muddy pit, Macy knew she would be the only one sinking deeper and deeper.
Even though he didn’t love her. He didn’t care for her—he just called it desire.
What was she hoping to hear when she asked for a reason? From a man who offered her the role of mistress as if he was doing her a favor…
“Oh, and don’t even think about revealing my real name to anyone outside.”
Eren’s hand lifted Macy’s chin, forcing her to meet his gaze. Their eyes reluctantly aligned as his sculpted lips pressed softly against hers.
“That bloodstain on your body was a lot more unpleasant than I expected.”
His kiss, filled with sultry heat, was enough to make her body flush, yet Macy remained stiff as a board. Somewhere, she could almost smell the sharp, metallic scent of blood.
* * *
The incident where she tripped over the easel had damaged the painting a little.
The paint had smudged in several places on the canvas. She had already completed Lady Werfel’s portrait, but now she needed to touch it up.
When she explained the situation in a letter, Lady Werfel had graciously offered her time for the adjustments. That’s why Macy was on her way to the Count’s townhouse in a carriage, lost in thought as the scenery passed by.
‘What did Eren even do before? How did he become the heir to a Dukedom?’
She’d had the chance to ask, but at the time, she’d been too angry to talk to him. She didn’t want to talk with him at all.
“Oh, and don’t even think about revealing my real name to anyone outside. That bloodstain on your body was a lot more unpleasant than I expected.”
The more she thought about it, the more unsettling his words became.
Did he deal with people who discovered his secret like that? Bury them underground? Or maybe he just put them on fishing boats and threw them into the sea? Once her thoughts started down that path, they spiraled endlessly.
It was clear that Eren wasn’t afraid to cross dangerous lines. The more she learned about him, the more perilous it seemed. That’s why she hadn’t asked about it—because she was afraid of what the truth might bring.
Once, she had been desperate to know everything about him.
“Ugh…”
Macy still hadn’t made a decision about the choices Eren had given her. Deep down, she didn’t want to choose, ever. But how long would he wait for her? She felt utterly lost.
“You’re here? It feels like it’s been forever, doesn’t it?”
Lady Werfel greeted her as soon as she entered the room where they’d be working, which served as her studio.
“Yes, it has been a while. I hope you’ve been well, my lady. But… the Duke is here as well?”
