Odalisque - Chapter 270

Unlike Demus, who looked disgruntled, Liv looked calm.

“It’s said that she made the arrangements on short notice because the author happened to be in town. The author is a famous romance novelist, and Millian had always wanted to invite her. I also promised her that if she ever held a reading, I’d be there.”

“So that famous author just happened to be in Buerno? It’s much more convincing to me that they urgently looked for her, paid her a large sum of money, and made the earliest possible arrangements.”

Demus could see through their ploy.

They had probably been looking for an excuse to contact Liv again, taking a glimmer of hope from the casual promise she’d made in class. And that kid from the Vendons family must have written that letter cheerfully, because she’d always liked Liv.

If the person inviting her had been Baron Vendons or Baroness Vendons, Liv might have been reluctant to honor the invitation.

But Liv was delighted when she realized the invitee was Millian. She hadn’t been able to say goodbye to her when she was fired, and she seemed to feel bad about it.

Furthermore, the reading would be held at a rented venue in downtown Buerno, not at the Vendons estate. It would relieve her even more because she wouldn’t have to travel to the Vendons’ mansion.

It wasn’t hard for Demus to see that she would eventually accept the invitation.

“Do you not want me to attend?”

Demus narrowed his eyes at the question.

It wasn’t that he didn’t like Liv going to the reading. It was that he didn’t like the idea of her reuniting with Millian at the reading.

She was a girl about Coryda’s age.

What should he do if Liv, who adored her sister so much, tried to fill the void she felt apart from Coryda through Millian? Not to mention, Millian was a duckling… who followed Liv around.

Demus didn’t have the slightest intention of sharing Liv’s attention with anyone else. He was already uncomfortable with her sister, Coryda, and now a young girl from another family?

“I just know that if that little girl from the Vendons clings to you, you won’t be able to shake her.”

“I’ll be careful not to get you in trouble.”

“I don’t really care if you make trouble.”

There was no way Liv attending that reading was going to cause any trouble for him in the first place, it just…

“I just don’t like the idea of ‘the place your eyes reach’ is increasing.”

If they met again, chances were she’d be in touch with Millian again, regardless of the Vendons family.

Demus realized he really shouldn’t have returned to Buerno. He could have settled the rumor in any other way. He should have stayed at Adelinde, where he had Liv all to himself among strangers.

Then again, if they’d stayed at Adelinde longer, maybe she’d have gotten a bunch of girls like Millian to cling to her. Liv was polite and kind to everyone, so she’d probably get plenty of attention there, too.

It was so hard to have a popular lover.

At the childish jealousy that didn’t match his impassive voice, Liv was speechless for a moment and stared at Demus.

Seeing Liv’s expression, it crossed Demus’ mind very belatedly that he might look a bit petty. However, Demus expressed his dissatisfaction openly.

After all, he couldn’t say he liked something he didn’t like.

Liv studied Demus, who pressed his lips together in a straight line, and Demus, who was silent for a moment under her gaze, spoke in a slightly softened voice.

“… I’m not trying to force you to absent yourself.”

Demus paused, then added softly.

“I’m just saying that you don’t have to show up in uncomfortable places.”

Demus remembered Liv’s words about being intimidated by the gaze of others.

The work Demus had done to change Liv’s reputation within Buerno was not the same as Liv facing them directly.

From Liv’s point of view, wouldn’t it be sickening to see the people who had been gossiping about her suddenly change their behavior and fawn over her? Even Demus, who watched from the sidelines, felt sick to his stomach.

“If you wish to interact with the Vendons’ daughter again, we can find a more comfortable and private place.”

The reading was nothing more than a charade, and considering the guests who would be attending, it was sure to bring nothing but unwanted attention. Demus knew the Vendons would be more than happy to have a private audience.

Liv gave Demus a strange look at his words.

“Of course it would be convenient for now if we did that, but it’s only a temporary solution. I can’t just avoid this kind of gathering forever.”

Pressing her lips tightly together, Liv coughed lightly and looked away from Demus.

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