Chapter 46
“Do you watch her reactions and try to be careful with your words and actions?”
That question reminded Claude of a moment a few days ago in her room—the slight tremor of her body, the stiff movements. She was clearly nervous, her first time, and frozen, unable even to refuse.
Seeing that, his first thought had been that he didn’t want to hurt her.
“It seems so. I worry I might accidentally say something that would hurt her.”
“Last question: Have you ever felt such emotions for anyone else?”
Claude studied Felice intently.
Her dress was perfectly buttoned, her brown hair neatly tied back. The most striking feature was her eyes. Clear green, like summer foliage, they shimmered even brighter in the sunlight.
“No… never.”
Claude’s words made Felice beam and nod in satisfaction.
“Do you feel anything as you answer my question?”
Felice asked eagerly. Claude exhaled deeply.
She’s answering happily while talking about someone else…
“Not really. Besides, it seems the lady isn’t interested in me.”
“I see. But it’s alright. Even if she isn’t interested now, things can still develop.”
“How?”
Claude’s question drew a sly smile from Felice.
“My reputation as a romance tutor is backed by many successes. Don’t worry, Claude.”
* * *
Reassured, Felice returned to her room to begin proper lesson preparations.
The lesson would happen only after visiting Rose’s atelier, as Elise was on Rose’s client list.
“I can get information from Rose about what colors and flowers Elise prefers.”
Felice smiled at the smooth progress, then remembered the handkerchief and gasped.
“I forgot to return it. I’ll bring it to the next lesson.”
While organizing her bag, she spotted the erotica work in her drawer and froze. Her mind instantly became tangled.
“No… I won’t conduct that kind of lesson anymore. I’ll return this book to the Madam.”
Closing the drawer, she made up her mind.
Yet when she glanced toward the window, Claude’s image from a few days ago, leaning out to look outside, flashed in her mind.
“Ha…”
Sighing, Felice squeezed her eyes shut. The sticky sound from before echoed.
“I can’t let this be. I need to do something.”
She took out the newly purchased brushes from her bag. Afraid of revealing she was a painter, she hadn’t brought enough paper or paint, but she needed something to immerse herself in.
Anything to drive out the clamor of desire in her mind.
“…”
But no matter how she moved the brush, her thoughts remained tangled. Glancing at her notebook, Claude’s face kept appearing, causing her lines to falter.
After staring at the notebook for a long while, Felice gave up on completing a proper drawing and stood.
“It’s just that I only have black paint. No paper either.”
Blaming the tools, she sighed deeply. Her mind was distracted, her hands wouldn’t cooperate, and outside, darkness had fully settled.
Sighing again, she draped a shawl over her shoulders.
“I need to wash the brushes, and since I’m going out, I’ll get a glass of cold water too.”
That might help her regain her composure.
Carefully, she wrapped the brushes in paper and held them close. At this late hour, everyone would likely be asleep.
As Felice walked slowly down the corridor and approached the stairs,
“…Felice?”
Claude was ascending the stairs, looking slightly disheveled as if he had just arrived home.
“C-Claude?”
Startled, Felice gasped as he chuckled softly and tugged at the tie around his neck.
The deep-brown tie swung lightly in his hand.
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