“What are your beliefs, and why are you divulging all of this to me? What do you expect me to do if I start disseminating such stories?”
Reluctantly, Liv had no desire to hear any more.
Liv’s face turned pale with disgust as she finally retorted, “You don’t want your status and actions exposed, do you? Your careless words are thoughtless and reckless.”
“My status can be uncovered with a little investigation, and even if it’s not me, someone else would be scrutinizing him. I have no intention of spreading rumors, but I have no reason to conceal anything either.”
Camille’s audacity left Liv dumbfounded. Was it truly so self-assured and confident to openly admit to prying on others?
“No matter what, discussing this with me…”
“I already told you. I’m interested in the teacher. It’s unrelated to my work.”
Perhaps relieved that everything had been laid bare, Camille regained his usual relaxed smile.
“If I don’t speak up, it seems like the distance between us won’t close. I don’t want the teacher to treat me with suspicion anymore.”
“Do you think I would distance myself further because of what I’ve heard?”
“I might regret saying this once you hear it, but… I can’t help it. It’s better than lying, isn’t it?”
Liv was momentarily speechless. If he had said he wanted to sleep with her once, it might have sounded more persuasive. But his words now felt different, not of that nature.
It didn’t mean it was romantic; rather, it was more disconcerting. It felt closer to confusion. They had only had a few conversations and seen each other’s faces a few times. Moreover, Camille’s suspicious approach wasn’t a recent development.
“I really don’t understand. Since the day I first met you, you’ve shown me warmth. Are you saying that approach was all an act?”
“Ah…”
This time, Liv’s remark left Camille speechless. Scratching his forehead, he responded with a helpless tone, “Yes, I’ll confess voluntarily. At that time, I wondered if there was a connection between the teacher and Dietran. I couldn’t be certain whether it was due to the relationship with the Viscount and Viscountess.”
“You mean me and Dietran?”
“More precisely… I thought that perhaps Diethrian, Viscount Pendennis, visited the artist due to some connection. That’s why when Dietran visited this mansion, I paid careful attention to everyone present.”
Liv recalled her first encounter with Dietran. It was at that time when she accidentally ran into him due to a servant’s mistake.
And come to think of it, the buyer of the nude painting she was working on at the time was Dietran. At the time, she didn’t know that Dietran was unaware that she was the model for the nude painting… But did he truly not know?
“Did he not know?”
“I suppose he didn’t. After he received the painting with her side profile, he must have recognized her. He acted like he knew her even in the chapel. If it weren’t for that nude painting, would such a remarkable man have any reason to take notice of her?”
“That’s utterly absurd… pure speculation.”
“Well, since there were no clear leads, especially with the strange overlaps between Dietran’s whereabouts and Miss Roades’ movements.”
Liv thought of the small chapel she used to frequent. At the time, she couldn’t have imagined it, but now she knew. Dietran’ appearance in the chapel was to see her.
“So, has that suspicion been resolved?”
“Dietran did visit Viscount Pendennis for an art transaction. He’s quite sly, and he needed to make a definite mark to satisfy himself. Generally, art purchases are made through the Art Director of Royven, but the one Dietran purchased was from a different channel.”
It seemed that Camille had been particularly close to Viscount Pendennis to uncover his connection. It was a direct hit.
“Do you still think there’s no connection with me?”
“If you’re teasing, I must say it’s embarrassing. I already know that he keeps his distance from women.”
“He keeps his distance…”
Liv mused over Camille’s response, lowering her gaze. It seemed he was talking about someone else. The discrepancy grew, and strangely enough, Liv felt that she was closer to Dietran.
Although Dietran hadn’t shown any consideration for her on their first encounter in bed and often made cutting remarks that deeply hurt her…
Nevertheless, Liv was quite close to him. They shared secretive kisses, slipped into his bed, and she sought his assistance. It was a relationship known only to the parties involved and Dietran’s confidante.
It wasn’t so bad. Liv felt she could tolerate this level of secretive closeness more than she had expected.
“If it’s to this extent…”
Even though she couldn’t proudly display it to anyone, she secretly relished in it. She even sensed a tingling sense of superiority. Camille, who diligently followed and investigated everything, also seemed to know Dietran that Liv knew nothing about.
Camille, unaware of Liv’s thoughts, murmured to himself, “Dietran seems to have unusual sexual desires if he likes nude artwork to such an extent.”
At the mention of nude artwork, Liv unconsciously stiffened her expression. Quickly understanding her reaction, Camille added.
“This is not an idle rumor. It’s accurate information I obtained through the Art Director.”
“Oh, yes.”
Liv lifted her head awkwardly, fidgeting with the teacup for no apparent reason. Her gaze rested upon the untouched tea, her mind preoccupied with a peculiar notion: Did she possess a peculiar hobby of collecting nude artworks? Was that the reason she had commissioned Bread to paint nudes?
As Liv contemplated this, a question she had never considered before surfaced in her mind. “If Bread’s other nude paintings were all sold… then who purchased those nude paintings?”
Upon reflection, she realized that Bread was an unknown artist, limiting his avenues for selling his artwork. It wasn’t as if Bread exclusively painted nudes; she had never heard of him selling any other paintings. Would anyone genuinely be interested in acquiring Bread’s nude paintings, aside from Dietran of Buerno?
“…Even if he had other artworks, he wouldn’t have known about them since they were all painted from behind.”
Furthermore, her hair color was nothing out of the ordinary, making it impossible to identify her as the model.
“Anyway, the more we discuss this, the more my score seems to decrease… but still, since I’ve honestly confessed, please take it into consideration.”
Liv took a sip of the now cold tea, nodding vaguely in response to Camille, who spoke with a melodramatic tone. With Camille, who sought to reconcile with her, Liv’s mind was consumed by thoughts of Dietran.
***
Distracted by her unexpected conversation with Camille, Liv approached Viscount Pendennis, her mind entranced by the encounter.
To think that Camille, the youngest member of the Eleanore family, had concealed his true identity.
All of this had unfolded within a few short months. Extraordinary individuals had intruded upon Liv’s once mundane existence.
Liv wasn’t particularly curious about the grand noble schemes these impressive aristocrats were clandestinely orchestrating. As a powerless commoner, she understood that it was best to remain uninvolved in such matters. She had to ensure that neither Camille nor anyone else discovered her secret encounters with Dietran.
No, it shouldn’t be divulged to anyone, not just Camille.
The mere idea of climbing into Dietran’s bed and garnering his attention would create an enormous scandal. It would not only ruin her own life but also jeopardize the quiet and peaceful existence she had to safeguard, especially for Corrida’s sake.
“Miss Liv?”
Lost in her thoughts, Liv suddenly looked up. A man donning a dark brown cloak approached her with a friendly smile. Liv easily recognized him.
“Oh, Betril.”
He was Betril, whom Liv had encountered while volunteering at the small chapel she used to attend. Since she had stopped going to the chapel, they hadn’t crossed paths for quite some time. It had been a while since she last laid eyes on him.
“Wow, it’s been a while since I’ve seen you here! By the way, I heard you’re working for Viscount Pendennis.”
Betril extended his hand for a firm handshake, casting a glance in the direction Liv had just come from.
“Yes, that’s correct. It has been a long time, Betril.”
“Yeah, it truly has! Why haven’t you been coming to the chapel? Did you happen to relocate?”
“Ah… I had to move suddenly, and the chapel became too far away.”
Even if she had hurriedly moved, it would have been considerate to visit the chapel once and leave a message. But at that time, her mind was preoccupied with other matters, and afterward, the hustle and bustle of life left her little room to ponder the people she had encountered in her old neighborhood.
No wonder she felt guilty. Her neighbor, Rita, would likely be disheartened by Liv and Corida’s sudden departure.
“What are your beliefs, and why are you divulging all of this to me? What do you expect me to do if I start disseminating such stories?”
Reluctantly, Liv had no desire to hear any more.
Liv’s face turned pale with disgust as she finally retorted, “You don’t want your status and actions exposed, do you? Your careless words are thoughtless and reckless.”
“My status can be uncovered with a little investigation, and even if it’s not me, someone else would be scrutinizing him. I have no intention of spreading rumors, but I have no reason to conceal anything either.”
Camille’s audacity left Liv dumbfounded. Was it truly so self-assured and confident to openly admit to prying on others?
“No matter what, discussing this with me…”
“I already told you. I’m interested in the teacher. It’s unrelated to my work.”
Perhaps relieved that everything had been laid bare, Camille regained his usual relaxed smile.
“If I don’t speak up, it seems like the distance between us won’t close. I don’t want the teacher to treat me with suspicion anymore.”
“Do you think I would distance myself further because of what I’ve heard?”
“I might regret saying this once you hear it, but… I can’t help it. It’s better than lying, isn’t it?”
Liv was momentarily speechless. If he had said he wanted to sleep with her once, it might have sounded more persuasive. But his words now felt different, not of that nature.
It didn’t mean it was romantic; rather, it was more disconcerting. It felt closer to confusion. They had only had a few conversations and seen each other’s faces a few times. Moreover, Camille’s suspicious approach wasn’t a recent development.
“I really don’t understand. Since the day I first met you, you’ve shown me warmth. Are you saying that approach was all an act?”
“Ah…”
This time, Liv’s remark left Camille speechless. Scratching his forehead, he responded with a helpless tone, “Yes, I’ll confess voluntarily. At that time, I wondered if there was a connection between the teacher and Dietran. I couldn’t be certain whether it was due to the relationship with the Viscount and Viscountess.”
“You mean me and Dietran?”
“More precisely… I thought that perhaps Diethrian, Viscount Pendennis, visited the artist due to some connection. That’s why when Dietran visited this mansion, I paid careful attention to everyone present.”
Liv recalled her first encounter with Dietran. It was at that time when she accidentally ran into him due to a servant’s mistake.
And come to think of it, the buyer of the nude painting she was working on at the time was Dietran. At the time, she didn’t know that Dietran was unaware that she was the model for the nude painting… But did he truly not know?
“Did he not know?”
“I suppose he didn’t. After he received the painting with her side profile, he must have recognized her. He acted like he knew her even in the chapel. If it weren’t for that nude painting, would such a remarkable man have any reason to take notice of her?”
“That’s utterly absurd… pure speculation.”
“Well, since there were no clear leads, especially with the strange overlaps between Dietran’s whereabouts and Miss Roades’ movements.”
Liv thought of the small chapel she used to frequent. At the time, she couldn’t have imagined it, but now she knew. Dietran’ appearance in the chapel was to see her.
“So, has that suspicion been resolved?”
“Dietran did visit Viscount Pendennis for an art transaction. He’s quite sly, and he needed to make a definite mark to satisfy himself. Generally, art purchases are made through the Art Director of Royven, but the one Dietran purchased was from a different channel.”
It seemed that Camille had been particularly close to Viscount Pendennis to uncover his connection. It was a direct hit.
“Do you still think there’s no connection with me?”
“If you’re teasing, I must say it’s embarrassing. I already know that he keeps his distance from women.”
“He keeps his distance…”
Liv mused over Camille’s response, lowering her gaze. It seemed he was talking about someone else. The discrepancy grew, and strangely enough, Liv felt that she was closer to Dietran.
Although Dietran hadn’t shown any consideration for her on their first encounter in bed and often made cutting remarks that deeply hurt her…
Nevertheless, Liv was quite close to him. They shared secretive kisses, slipped into his bed, and she sought his assistance. It was a relationship known only to the parties involved and Dietran’s confidante.
It wasn’t so bad. Liv felt she could tolerate this level of secretive closeness more than she had expected.
“If it’s to this extent…”
Even though she couldn’t proudly display it to anyone, she secretly relished in it. She even sensed a tingling sense of superiority. Camille, who diligently followed and investigated everything, also seemed to know Dietran that Liv knew nothing about.
Camille, unaware of Liv’s thoughts, murmured to himself, “Dietran seems to have unusual sexual desires if he likes nude artwork to such an extent.”
At the mention of nude artwork, Liv unconsciously stiffened her expression. Quickly understanding her reaction, Camille added.
“This is not an idle rumor. It’s accurate information I obtained through the Art Director.”
“Oh, yes.”
Liv lifted her head awkwardly, fidgeting with the teacup for no apparent reason. Her gaze rested upon the untouched tea, her mind preoccupied with a peculiar notion: Did she possess a peculiar hobby of collecting nude artworks? Was that the reason she had commissioned Bread to paint nudes?
As Liv contemplated this, a question she had never considered before surfaced in her mind. “If Bread’s other nude paintings were all sold… then who purchased those nude paintings?”
Upon reflection, she realized that Bread was an unknown artist, limiting his avenues for selling his artwork. It wasn’t as if Bread exclusively painted nudes; she had never heard of him selling any other paintings. Would anyone genuinely be interested in acquiring Bread’s nude paintings, aside from Dietran of Buerno?
“…Even if he had other artworks, he wouldn’t have known about them since they were all painted from behind.”
Furthermore, her hair color was nothing out of the ordinary, making it impossible to identify her as the model.
“Anyway, the more we discuss this, the more my score seems to decrease… but still, since I’ve honestly confessed, please take it into consideration.”
Liv took a sip of the now cold tea, nodding vaguely in response to Camille, who spoke with a melodramatic tone. With Camille, who sought to reconcile with her, Liv’s mind was consumed by thoughts of Dietran.
***
Distracted by her unexpected conversation with Camille, Liv approached Viscount Pendennis, her mind entranced by the encounter.
To think that Camille, the youngest member of the Eleanore family, had concealed his true identity.
All of this had unfolded within a few short months. Extraordinary individuals had intruded upon Liv’s once mundane existence.
Liv wasn’t particularly curious about the grand noble schemes these impressive aristocrats were clandestinely orchestrating. As a powerless commoner, she understood that it was best to remain uninvolved in such matters. She had to ensure that neither Camille nor anyone else discovered her secret encounters with Dietran.
No, it shouldn’t be divulged to anyone, not just Camille.
The mere idea of climbing into Dietran’s bed and garnering his attention would create an enormous scandal. It would not only ruin her own life but also jeopardize the quiet and peaceful existence she had to safeguard, especially for Corrida’s sake.
“Miss Liv?”
Lost in her thoughts, Liv suddenly looked up. A man donning a dark brown cloak approached her with a friendly smile. Liv easily recognized him.
“Oh, Betril.”
He was Betril, whom Liv had encountered while volunteering at the small chapel she used to attend. Since she had stopped going to the chapel, they hadn’t crossed paths for quite some time. It had been a while since she last laid eyes on him.
“Wow, it’s been a while since I’ve seen you here! By the way, I heard you’re working for Viscount Pendennis.”
Betril extended his hand for a firm handshake, casting a glance in the direction Liv had just come from.
“Yes, that’s correct. It has been a long time, Betril.”
“Yeah, it truly has! Why haven’t you been coming to the chapel? Did you happen to relocate?”
“Ah… I had to move suddenly, and the chapel became too far away.”
Even if she had hurriedly moved, it would have been considerate to visit the chapel once and leave a message. But at that time, her mind was preoccupied with other matters, and afterward, the hustle and bustle of life left her little room to ponder the people she had encountered in her old neighborhood.
No wonder she felt guilty. Her neighbor, Rita, would likely be disheartened by Liv and Corida’s sudden departure.
