Odalisque - Chapter 258

Buerno returned to peace. It was as though all the commotion of the cardinal’s visit and the scandal of the great nobles were a thing of the past.

The rain that had poured for days had stopped, and the sky was clear and warm with sunshine. A cool breeze blew in through the half-open window.

Standing at the window, Demus looked out and let out a deep breath. His eyes were fixed on the view outside, his half-burnt cigar clutched loosely in his hand.

“My lord.”

Demus, who had been staring out for what seemed like an eternity, glanced back at the call.

“We have been informed that the goods are ready, and you are welcome to come and see them anytime. Also, Director Aaron has reached out again, asking for another chance. Should we deal with him moderately?”

Aaron was the director of Royven, the largest art gallery in Buerno, and the man who had once been in charge of all the artworks Demus dealt in. He was also the one who had secretly given Camille the information about Demus.

Normally, Demus would have taken care of him, but this time, instead of doing so, he decided to end all business with him and start dealing with someone new. Growing a ramshackle shop into a respectable art gallery wasn’t a difficult task for Demus, he just had to pick the right people to do it.

In the first place, the art business in Buerno had grown up relying heavily on Demus’ bold, over-the-top investments. As much as it had swelled in recent years, it still relied on him.

With business halted overnight, Royven seemed to survive initially, but Aaron soon realized his limits and fell flat on his face, begging for another chance.

“Does he want to close the only art gallery he has?”

Charles, keenly aware of the irritation in Demus’ languid voice, replied immediately.

“I’ll warn him.”

“What about the painters?”

“I’ve drawn up a list.”

Charles handed Demus a thick sheet of paper. It was a report of the painters’ personal details.

Demus gave the cigar he was holding to Charles and took the papers. He scanned them with an indifferent gaze. They were all of excellent education and experience, and the only thing unusual about them was that they all specialized in portrait drawing.

Flicking through the papers as he barely read them, Demus picked out a few, folded the corners, and handed them back to Charles.

“Let’s go to the gallery first.”

“I’ll have a carriage ready right away.”

Seeing Charles leave, Demus turned to look out the window again.

Above the green leaves, glistening in the sun, roses in full bloom covered the garden.

…

She will come back, right?

“I’ll move everything to the exhibition hall you mentioned.”

The tense-faced director spoke in a very nervous voice. Demus nodded indifferently to him and opened his cigar case out of habit. Contrary to his nonchalant exterior, his mind had been in constant turmoil.

They should have announced the acceptance.

If I’d known this would happen, I would have gone to Adelinde myself.

Heck, I should have told Adolf to wait until the results were announced and then bring her here.

Adolf returned to Buerno before the acceptance of the Adelinde’s Girl School was announced. He had a job to do, and Demus had returned to Buerno, so he had to assist him by his side. Philip, as expected, arrived in Buerno following Demus’ schedule, while Roman traveled back and forth between Adelinde and Buerno.

Thierry was the only member of Demus’ aides who remained at the mansion in Adelinde.

What if she changed her mind?

If this time she coaxed Thierry out, pulled the wool over my eyes, and was buying time?

“My Lord?”

Seeing Demus standing there, cigar in hand, deep in thought, Charles gave him a questioning look. Demus then turned around under his gaze. He hadn’t been in this bad of a state since he returned from the capital.

He’d never thought Thierry would betray him. However, now that she’d gotten so close to Coryda… it was honestly hard to trust her. The thought was probably just an unfounded suspicion, but it stuck with him.

He remembered how Coryda didn’t like him.

Coryda was the only family Liv had. Not only was she the one who influenced Liv the most, but she was also the one who brought out the most unpredictable behavior in her.

What about me, compared to her?

When Liv had come all the way to the capital to see him, Demus had been somewhat certain of Liv’s feelings. For he could see Liv Rhodes who smiled so pretty, who kissed him first, who told him stories of the past, who worried about his nightmares at night.

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