Portrait of An Arrogant Master - Chapter 181

“I know you like me. But whenever I get too persistent, you seem overwhelmed.”

Those words seemed to mean that, even if it came to light that she had sent paintings with the intention of becoming the court artist, there was a chance that Macy would still be given some leeway.

Despite the fact that Eren had been harsh on her, he didn’t seem to show any guilt—yet these words made it sound as if he cared, even just a little.

She wondered if it was because she had met with Prince Benedict not for personal reasons, but to become the court artist, so perhaps he would overlook it. Even if she was selected as the court artist, if Eren became too upset, she could always say she wouldn’t go…

The more she thought about it, the more her anxiety grew, and she rationalized it in her mind. Despite that, she didn’t want to be misunderstood, so she wanted to finish this matter as quickly as possible.

* * *

“I think I made a mistake.”

They were in the office, discussing the railway project when Rubens suddenly offered Nicholas a drink.

Nicholas was surprised; Rubens usually didn’t drink, so he wondered what the sudden formality was about. Then, Rubens uttered an ominous statement.

“What mistake are you talking about?”

Nicholas had known Rubens for a long time, and he had never seen him make a mistake. Rubens was a man who insisted on perfection and was never seen wavering, no matter the circumstances.

“A slip of the tongue.”

But even someone as perfect as Rubens had exceptions.

“I made a slip of the tongue to Macy.”

“Oh, Miss Macy…”

Macy had always been an exception for Rubens. But if the one he had made a mistake with was Macy, Nicholas felt relieved.

He responded with a sigh, as if dismissing the matter.

“Tell me exactly what you said.”

He wasn’t too worried, but there must be a reason why Rubens had brought it up.

“I told her all about my past.”

“I see… But Miss Macy wouldn’t be someone to spread it around, would she?”

“I thought so too. I didn’t think she’d use it against me.”

“Use… it against you?”

Nicholas’s eyes tightened in concern.

“Macy seems to be meeting with the Third Prince of Ciseina.”

“Prince Benedict?”

“Yes.”

It had been the day Macy had raised her voice at Rubens in her studio.

“Why are you coming into the studio without permission?!”

“Permission? Are you the owner of this cabin?”

Rubens’s face had shown a hint of suspicion, and that suspicion only grew when he realized she might be hiding something.

“I knew letters were going back and forth in your name at the Krygen agency. Something about commissioning a portrait and sponsoring or holding an exhibition, wasn’t it?”

Rubens had opened the letter with his boot and looked over it, but everything in it was information he already knew. He was irritated by her sudden outburst over something so trivial.

“I can get a little sensitive in the studio… I won’t do it again. The cabin and the studio both belong to you, Eren.”

Artists are known to be sensitive about their personal space, after all. Rubens didn’t have to understand her actions, but he tried to make sense of them.

“Alright. You deserve some space to breathe. But I don’t think it should be with me…”

It seemed like it would be difficult for her to breathe after becoming his mistress, yet he felt that she deserved at least a little bit of freedom.

He didn’t want to see Macy crying anymore. Whenever she was in distress, his heart would burn with an unfamiliar heat.

But then…

“No, that’s not it.”

“I told you, if you love me, Eren, I can breathe.”

Macy’s kiss came. Macy had never kissed him first, except for that one time when she acted like a thief, stealing a kiss.

Ever since becoming his mistress, she had never kissed him unless he asked.

“I think you might believe that I don’t like Eren that much.”

“I know you like me. But whenever I get too persistent, you seem overwhelmed.”

“So, all of that… I mean…”

Her words felt sweet like candy. The way her cheeks were red with embarrassment.

Yet, a strange sense of discomfort crept in. People weren’t kind to Rubens without reason, and it seemed that Macy also had a motive for seeking his favor.

Wasn’t it just a short time ago that Macy had nearly gotten into trouble because Rubens had made her his mistress? She had cried out of fear and frustration.

So why would she suddenly act this way, flirting with him without any reason?