Lady Felice’s Secret Class - Chapter 101

Having left the gallery, Julian started walking with his eyes fixed on the floor. After a while, he looked up absentmindedly—only to find himself face to face with a painting. The moment he saw it, his brows knitted in a deep frown and he quickly shut his eyes.

It was a painting by one of the current students, probably displayed by the school with pride. But to Julian, it was the kind of picture that deserved to be tossed on the floor immediately. The reason? The way the light hit the vase in the lower left corner was just completely off.

He turned his head abruptly, as if he’d just seen something he never wanted to see. For a moment, he stood there, gathering his breath.

“…Ha.”

He let out a shaky sigh, his lips trembling.

For the past several days, he’d suffered from headaches—whenever he didn’t get enough sleep, his head always hurt. But ever since Baron Racliffe had mentioned Felice by name, he’d barely slept at all.

“If I could just make a little more money… That’s why I accepted Count Legrand’s sponsorship as soon as I won last year’s competition.”

His quiet mutter faded into the air.

He still hadn’t managed to pay off the full ten thousand francs he owed. Even so, he couldn’t stand putting up with the Count’s behavior for even a year. Still… well, at least his reputation had grown; he was planning to bring it up to Felice soon.

Soon… very soon…

But then—

Smooch!

Julian’s eyes flew open. Somewhere, the sound of a kiss echoed down the empty hallway. Instantly, he pictured Felice and the Baron leaving this place together.

No… It couldn’t be…

It was probably just some students messing around in the halls, right?

Julian’s footsteps slowed. He was nearly at the corner, just a few steps from where the sound had come from.

Please, let it not be true… please…

He peered around the corner—and froze in place. His lips began to tremble.

He’d thought Felice only came here as the Baron’s partner because Marchioness Depende had asked her to. Even if no one else believed it, Julian had.

There was no way Felice would do something so low as to use her teacher as a shield against a scandal with another man… She just wouldn’t…

And yet, the Baron’s arm was wrapped around her waist, turning her toward him, completely at ease—as if he knew Julian was standing there watching.

For an instant, blue eyes met his, caged between the Baron’s sharp gaze.

And the Baron’s eyes curved in clear satisfaction.

“Fu…!”

Julian almost spat out a curse. Felice flinched and turned her head at the sound.

At her movement, Julian hurriedly ducked back behind the corner, pressing his back to the wall and biting his lower lip hard.

“Claude, didn’t that sound just now come from over there?”

It was Felice’s voice. The worry in her voice made it clear she’d never let the Baron force himself on her.

Julian slumped down the wall, eyes squeezed shut.

“I didn’t hear anything… Why? Did you hear something?”

He heard the Baron’s voice in reply, and realized there was no longer any point in sticking around. Forcing his unsteady legs to cooperate, he headed back toward the gallery.

* * *

“Let’s just go back, all right?”

Felice’s green eyes watched the far end of the hall.

Claude glanced down the hallway with her, relieved to see that the artist he’d locked eyes with earlier was nowhere in sight.

…Looks like he left.

Satisfied that his rival was out of the picture, Claude finally released Felice from his arms.

She nervously glanced around, craning her neck toward the corner.

But all that greeted them was silence.

To Claude, this was enough—one less competitor to worry about. Of course, it was unexpected: for an artist hoping to appeal to a sponsor, leaving the gallery before the assembled nobles was unheard of.

“Must’ve just imagined it.”

It didn’t matter whether Julian’s feelings for Felice had been growing for a while or had only just begun. Even if he tried again, Claude would find a way to stamp out any hope he had.

“…I’m pretty sure I heard something, though.”

Still, a small twinge of guilt made Claude speak up—just in case Felice really did care about the other man.