Odalisque - Chapter 45

Camille tried to smile, waving his hand. His puzzling attitude made Liv’s face sterner as she lowered her voice.

“I am sorry, Mr. Marcel. I’ve been to this chapel for a long time.”

“… You mean you didn’t come to see him?”

“Who are you talking about?”

“The Marquis of Dietrion.”

Liv opened her eyes wide. Seeing her reaction, Camille made an odd expression.

“I guess you had no idea at all.”

Wearing the hat he was carrying, Camille glanced around the chapel. Several people sitting close to them were seen glancing as if responding to their conversation. Liv also felt the eyes gathering on them, and she looked embarrassed.

“This isn’t the right place for a conversation. Shall we go outside?”

Liv nodded cautiously after thinking for a while.

…

Sitting on an outdoor bench near the chapel, without any warm tea, the conversation with Camille went on longer than she’d expected.

She eventually left the chapel without even praying. The prayer, however, was not something she regretted. It was the premonition that the chapel would no longer be secluded that she regretted.

“If I had known you were here, I would have come earlier.”

“You can just come from now on.”

“Oh, my. I don’t think there’ll be any seat left for me to sit.”

Camille clicked his tongue and shook his head, exaggerating. Just in time, there were people who just came to the chapel. Camille, who glanced at them, murmured to himself.

“Because I think the rumor will spread further.”

Hearing his murmur, Liv made an awkward smile and turned her gaze slightly.

So all the people who were in the chapel were people who had heard some kind of rumor.

A rumor that the Marquis of Dietrion went to this chapel.

Camille was also one of the people who visited this chapel after hearing the rumor. He smiled awkwardly, saying, “I came here because I was wondering if there was any special energy in the chapel where the great Marquis Dietrion attends.”

Meanwhile, Liv, who said she was “interested in the Marquis” at Millian’s birthday party, showed up in the chapel, so he thought she was also led by rumors and came to see the Marquis’ face.

Liv glanced up at the small, old chapel building. Camille uttered to her, as if to give her consolation.

“Well, everyone will soon find out that it’s a false rumor.”

“Do you think it’s a false rumor?”

“Of course.”

Camille shrugged and followed Liv’s gaze.

“There is no reason for the Marquis to go to such an old chapel. He might as well have a worship room inside his mansion.”

“… You’re right.”

She realized yet again that it was strange as she heard Camille. Why did he come here?

“Oh, have you ever seen the Marquis here, Miss Rhodes?”

“No way. Why would the Marquis come here?”

Liv smiled and shook her head. Looking back, it seemed that she had never been caught by anyone whenever she ran into the Marquis. It was a relationship that she thought to be better to remain unknown.

“I know, right?”

Liv, glancing at Camille who smiled lightly, saw the darkening sky and turned around.

“I have to go now. It’s too late.”

“Where do you live? I’ll take you just to the neighborhood.”

“It’s not far away, so it’s okay. It’s late, so go ahead.”

Camille offered again, but when he saw Liv’s refusal, he didn’t ask further. He seemed better the more she saw him. Thinking that she really had no idea how such a man became interested in her, Liv walked ahead.

The day quickly grew dark.

The sense of remoteness was even more palpable as she left the bustling chapel and turned into a secluded alley. Liv made her steps unnecessarily loud. Not a single passerby was seen on the way home today.

The dark and desolate atmosphere made the alley even more dreary.

Liv curled up in an attempt to erase the chill she felt for no reason. Striding with her arms crossed, she suddenly noticed a subtle noise mixed with the sound of her own footsteps.

Clomp.

It was such a strange and heavy footsteps in such a dead area.

A chill ran up the spine to the nape of her neck. Liv, stopping with a panicked face, immediately looked behind, but no one was seen anywhere in the dark alley.

I must be wrong.

Liv, who tried so hard to console herself, moved again. But once the anxiety kicked in, it didn’t go away easily. Liv, who was walking a little faster than before, listened to the sound behind her back, holding her breath.

Clomp. Clomp.

It didn’t seem she was wrong. The sound, which overlapped with her footsteps, was heavier and more cautious than hers.

She regretted that she shouldn’t have refused Camille’s kindness if she had known this would happen.

Fear washed over her, along with a rush of regret. She questioned herself what to do if the owner of the footsteps was the owner of the gaze she had felt for days. If the gaze she thought had disappeared had been actually watching her the whole time and was going to rob her today.

All she had with her was the few bucks she was going to give as an offering. She wondered if she could escape if she threw it.

Her head was turning white and her steps were getting faster and faster. Accordingly, the sound that followed her also accelerated.

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