Portrait of An Arrogant Master - Chapter 147

“Was there anything written about Duke Krygen’s new woman?”

There was a sharp edge in Isabella’s words. Rubens smirked and replied briefly.

“If they could write about that, they would surely have written about what the lady did in the Duke’s household as well.”

“…”

“It seems you had quite a pleasant time. The grand ceiling of the Duke’s residence must have been raised to its full height, I’d say.”

A chill sparkled in his blue eyes beyond the weekly paper. Isabella flinched involuntarily when she met his gaze.

He knew. He knew what she had done in the Duke’s household.

Despite her growing tension, Rubens’s eyes softened into a gentle smile.

“Well done.”

“…Are you serious?”

“Yes, I’m genuinely complimenting you.”

Isabella’s face flushed with embarrassment.

“You truly lived up to being the future Duchess Krygen.”

Rubens’s gaze returned to the weekly paper. His face showed no trace of discomfort. She had expected him not to care much, but to receive a compliment…

This was what Rubens expected from her? The mixture of humiliation and anger made her teeth clench.

On the other hand, Rubens’s face seemed to glow with subtle vitality as if his appearance had somehow become even more radiant.

How satisfied must he have been to be smiling like that all the time? The stiff man, who always had a mask of indifference, now seemed to radiate with a smile.

‘How frustrating…’

When has she ever won against him?

Since the truth about the Name had been revealed, any attempts she made to challenge him had only resulted in humiliation and defeat.

Rubens’s demeanor had become more sharp whenever Name-related matters were discussed, making it even harder to approach him.

She wanted to ask why Macy’s Name manifested differently from Rubens’s, but couldn’t bring herself to speak.

Even if she did ask, she didn’t think she would get an honest answer. He must have had his reasons for keeping things hidden.

Then, recently, an absurd thought kept nagging at Isabella’s mind.

‘Could it be… that someone else is impersonating Duke Krygen?’

She had wondered if someone named ‘Eren Wood’ had taken Rubens Krygen’s place.

Looking back, it did seem strange that Rubens, who had been on the brink of death, suddenly returned to good health.

With the clear blue eyes that symbolized the Krygen family and his naturally arrogant nature, she thought there must be another explanation.

But, with a Name, there are ways it could manifest under a different name. However, could ‘Eren Wood’ really have no connection to ‘Rubens Krygen’?

The more she thought about it, the more complicated Isabella’s mind became. Fortunately, there was still a way to find out, even if he wouldn’t speak.

Today, she was on her way to meet his mother.

“Let’s go.”

Isabella knocked on the carriage window, and soon the wheels began to turn slowly.

‘Let’s see how long you can stay so composed.’

If he’s been hiding his flaws all this time, perhaps there’s a way to find Rubens’s weakness.

The thought of having Duke Krygen’s weakness in hand brought a smile to Isabella’s face.

She sharply pulled the curtains open and opened the window. A cool autumn breeze flowed in. It was the perfect weather for a long journey.

* * *

Sweet music flowed through the air. A feast for the honored guest was laid out on the long table.

The soft, resonant melody even drowned out the small clinking of the silverware. Seated at the head of the table, Arzena spoke calmly.

“The southern dishes are rather bold in flavor. I wonder if they’ll suit Lady Werfel’s tastes.”

“They’re quite delicious. The sauce blends well with the meat, enhancing its richness.”

“I’m relieved to hear that.”

The two women exchanged warm smiles as they glanced at each other. Then, Isabella, setting her fork down on the table, continued.

“And please, be at ease. You’ve always called me by name, haven’t you?”

“But you’ve grown into such a lovely lady. How can I possibly call you so casually?”

“I prefer being called by name as it makes me feel closer. Please do so for me.”

“Then I’ll call you as such from now on.”

Throughout the meal, the two women focused more on conversation than eating. Anyone observing might have thought that Arzena’s child was not Rubens, but Isabella.