Odalisque - Chapter 20

“I heard that you told Brad to stop all his other work… while he works on the painting for you, my Lord.”

She heard it when she suggested to Brad to work on something else.

Brad looked at Liv with a troubled look on his face and informed her that there was a clause in the contract he had signed that he would not paint another picture until the work was finished.

It also meant that she could not earn additional income as a nude model until they finished the painting for the Marquis.

This was quite a conundrum for Liv. If she were to work on the painting for the Marquis on top of the time she spent as a tutor for the Barony of Vendons, she would only get a few days off. There weren’t a lot of places that would hire people who were only going to work a few days a week.

The Marquis, whom Liv thought would just leave, looked back at her. He wore a cold face that Liv had seen many times.

Liv, who had spoken out desperately, came to her senses as if she had been hit by cold water as soon as she saw the Marquis’ face. Her face turned red with shame. Averting her gaze in a hurry, Liv rambled.

“Forgive me, my Lord. That was a slip of the tongue. I’m not in a good situation right now… I’d appreciate it if you could give Brad a little more time so that he could finish the work quickly.”

Liv could not bear to look at the Marquis and bowed her head further.

She must have been crazy for a minute. She must have been so desperate that she forgot who the man in front of her was and spat out nonsense.

A wave of shame and anxiety washed over her.

What should I do if my brazenness upset the Marquis?

What should I do if Brad’s working time increases?

As Liv rolled her eyes nervously, a neatly folded handkerchief came into view. Presumably of the Marquis. Leaving her wondering: if he is a man who would lend a handkerchief to a crying woman, then…

A desperate hope rose from the depths of her heart.

Maybe that man really said it out of pity and without hidden intention.

“Teacher, do you want to do extra work?”

Liv looked up at the Marquis with a blank face. He was still indifferent, with a haughty look on his face.

“I will pay you well.”

He was probably asking whether she wanted to work more after the painting work session. Liv only opened her eyes wide as she couldn’t answer the sudden offer from the Marquis. As if he understood her surprise, the Marquis turned away nonchalantly.

“I will get that handkerchief back with your answer.”

The steady footsteps rang across the chapel. Liv, gazing blankly at the back of the Marquis’ back as he got further away, groped for her face.

The tears on her cheeks were almost dry.

***

The handkerchief was placed on the old desk.

She didn’t use it. She would rather soak her old sleeves as she couldn’t even dream about using that fancy looking handkerchief.

But just because it hadn’t been used, it didn’t seem reasonable to just give it back. Therefore, Liv wondered if she should wash it. She was in agony if the fabric would get damaged after she washed it with cheap soap.

The supplies delivered to the aristocratic houses were not of the same quality as what people like her used, even if it was just a bar of soap. She wondered if it would be more rude to wash it and return it.

“Liv, who gave you this handkerchief?”

Coryda asked the same question the whole time with a curious face. Liv could feel her strong and firm will to find out the owner of that handkerchief.

That made Liv heave out a sigh to Coryda.

“I told you. The person only lent it to me, not gave it to me. I’m going to give it back.”

“Then who lent it to you?”

“A good-hearted person.”

Despite saying it, Liv found it to be a little funny. A good-hearted person. Is Demus Dietrion really a good-hearted person?

“So who’s the good-hearted gentleman who gave my sister a handkerchief?”

She hadn’t said anything about the handkerchief’s owner being a gentleman, but Coryda already had a sly grin on her face that said she knew everything. Liv gave Coryda a stern look.

“Coryda.”

It was fortunate that there was no emblem or letters related to the Marquis’ family on the handkerchief.

If it was a handkerchief with a name embroidered on it, he wouldn’t have lent it like this in the first place. He could get involved in a vulgar scandal if he did that.

However, she was worried that the quality of the handkerchief was too good. While Coryda just focused on the fact that someone lent her a handkerchief because she didn’t know it well, it was easy for people with good eyes to infer that the owner of the handkerchief is an aristocrat.

Liv was determined to give it back as soon as possible.

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