Portrait of An Arrogant Master - Chapter 149

Since losing that child, Rubens had never given his affection to anyone the same way, especially not to something small and fragile. He disliked those who were weak enough to face death.

It had become a habit, knowing how much he would fall apart if he grew attached to such things.

“How tiresome…”

Rubens, while looking over the issues that had been sorted, pressed his dry eyes for a moment. He walked to the long couch and slumped down carelessly.

His body felt heavy. The cool air of Lettern village seemed to weigh on him, as if it knew everything he had been through.

He wanted to live. He didn’t want to die.

He didn’t want to give in to the meager fate that life had handed him. It was absurd for fate to toss him opportunities and then blame him for them. It was unreasonable to criticize him now.

The ghostly words of reproach whispered in his ears, but Rubens covered his ears and closed his eyes.

It was a useless guilt, an emotion that didn’t need to be heard.

* * *

“You called for me?”

“Yes.”

Rubens entered the drawing room with a somewhat subdued voice. On the tea table, two teacups sat, but only Arzena was present.

Rubens didn’t ask where Isabella was but sat down in the empty chair.

“You don’t look well. Is there something bothering you?”

“It’s nothing. I just got up after a nap, feeling a little sluggish.”

“It’s the air of Lettern, isn’t it? Every time you come back here, you’ve seemed a little off, even though you’re not sick. Just languishing for no reason.”

Rubens lightly replied with a slight hint of amusement.

“It’s not that bad. Are you sure you’re not confusing me with your son?”

Arzena smiled silently.

“If you’re not sick, let’s take a walk. Lying around when you’re not feeling well only makes it worse.”

“Yes, let’s. I’ll take you outside.”

* * *

Rubens gently pushed Arzena’s wheelchair. When they reached the lakeside, the yellow leaves of the birch trees embroidered the meadow and the surface of the water.

Four white ducks leisurely swam together through the fallen leaves.

Arzena observed the scene, then spoke in a soft tone.

“Isabella has grown into a very beautiful woman.”

“Yes.”

“She’s perfect for marriage—her family, appearance, upbringing, and character have all made her an ideal bride since childhood.”

“That’s true.”

Rubens calmly agreed.

“But she looks like someone with many worries for someone who just had her engagement ceremony.”

“Did she ask for my mistress to be punished?”

Arzena laughed quietly.

Since childhood, Rubens had never been uncomfortable around Arzena, nor did he avoid speaking frankly. Though he had been told not to speak so directly in public as it was not considered noble, when they were alone, he always let his true self show.

“I haven’t heard anything like that. But she did ask if I knew the name ‘Eren Wood.'”

The wheels of the wheelchair came to a sudden stop. The brief moment of tension was only noticeable to Arzena, who was sitting in the wheelchair.

“What do you think I said?”

“…You probably made up some excuse.”

“I said that was your name.”

“…”

This time, Rubens completely stopped, tilting his head slightly to look at her.

Rubens’s lips pressed into a thin line, and his brows furrowed.

It was the kind of expression that might intimidate an outsider, but because Arzena knew his face from his childhood, she found it rather cute.

“Your nanny lost her biological child when you were young and often called you by that name. For a while, you even thought that was your real name, and she continued to call you that until you started speaking. But then, I asked how Lady Werfel knew that name.”

After hearing Arzena’s words, a soft laugh escaped Rubens.

“You remembered that. We had agreed to cover it up like that if anyone had suspicions.”

“It was my lie, do you think I’d forget it?”

In truth, a person’s Name is decided by the first word they recognize as their own. Therefore, nicknames or pet names that are often used can sometimes become part of their Name.

Arzena and Rubens had used the peculiar nature of Names to their advantage. If anyone ever mentioned the name “Eren Wood” and became suspicious, they had agreed to explain it away like that.

It had been a long time ago, and since their relationship was no longer as cordial, Rubens momentarily thought she had betrayed him.