Chapter 187
“I told her not to go out for a while, but she went anyway… tch.”
Rubens clicked his tongue as he paused from his paperwork. After the warning, things had been quiet for a while, but now she had gone ahead and met with Prince Benedict. The spy’s report from Ciseina was still there.
‘She’s determined to go behind my back and become a court painter.’
He didn’t like the idea of her trying to deceive him and do something without his knowledge, but what could he do? She wanted to follow her dreams. Fine, if that’s all she wanted to do, there was no need to stop her.
Macy had already become well-known in Leden, to the point where no one there didn’t know her, and Rubens had played no small part in making her famous.
But even though he had warned her, seeing her go out only fueled an unsettling suspicion in him.
“Make sure to keep a close watch on the carriage.”
“Yes.”
“Check if there’s any subtle rocking, or if any sounds like groans can be heard.”
“Understood, what?”
Kronen, who had been responding quickly, now hesitated and asked.
“Do you want us to thoroughly monitor if Benedict and Macy are… together?”
This suspicion had only started recently. After Rubens assigned someone to Macy, he received reports that the amount of time Benedict and Macy spent talking had increased.
‘What could they possibly be saying for so long in that tiny space?’
He had heard from Morgan that they were discussing art, but knowing full well Benedict’s feelings, Rubens found it irritating that the two were confined together in such a closed space.
However, it wasn’t the right time for Rubens to reveal what he knew. He decided he had to act as if he didn’t know and continue watching.
But as he focused, Rubens realized he was already in front of Macy. Like a dog with a flame lit under its tail, he had rushed to Macy’s side, probing on her hole. Like he was searching for some kind of clue, he felt relieved when he felt the dry flesh.
He shuddered.
No matter how much he disliked the thought of someone else touching his beloved things, it was a disgraceful thing to do. It was petty and pathetic behavior. Every time he lost control and acted out of character toward Macy, intense self-loathing and hot rage built up inside him.
Trying to push aside the thoughts clouding his mind, he tried to focus on his duties, when a voice came from the other side of the door.
“Rubens. May I come in for a moment?”
“Yes.”
It was Ottilie Krygen who entered his office, dressed neatly. Rubens suppressed his fierce energy and guided her to the sofa.
“What brings you here?”
“I hope I’m not disturbing you when you’re busy.”
“Not at all. Grandmother comes first.”
His smooth smile gave the unmistakable impression of a kind grandson.
“I heard something strange. It’s about your mistress.”
She brought up Rubens’ mistress for the first time. After a brief silence, she spoke as if seeking confirmation.
“Macy Horton. The painter, isn’t she your mistress?”
“That’s right.”
“I hear she’s being considered to be the court painter in Ciseina.”
“Yes.”
“I suppose you already knew about that?”
“I had heard about it.”
Rubens responded calmly. The maid came in with tea on a tray. As she poured the tea, Ottilie remained silent, but once the maid left, she spoke again.
“I thought you cared for her quite a bit, but I guess I was wrong. You’ve sent her away so far… So, will you not meet her anymore?”
Ottilie, too, was aware of the rumors circulating in Leden. However, her tone made things feel a little more delicate.
“It seems a bit different from what I’ve heard. Could you tell me more?”
It worked out well. Waiting for the spy’s report from the Royal Academy of Art seemed slower than just asking Ottilie directly.
“It’s just as I said. Macy Horton is being considered as a court painter at the Ciseina Royal Academy of Art. Normally, you’d need to deliver more than ten pieces, but I heard Benedict valued her work so highly that he decided to send only about five pieces.”
This was something Rubens already knew.
“But to be a court painter, doesn’t she need to become a citizen and enter the palace? I heard Benedict liked her work so much, he assigned her to the room next to his.”
“…”
“Hmm, I guess you didn’t know about that.”
Ottilie said sympathetically, noticing the smile fade from Rubens’ face.
“There’s already a lot of chatter in the Ciseina palace about how Benedict’s woman is becoming a court painter. And that woman is Macy Horton.”
“…”
“Perhaps this is the time to cut ties with her. It seems like Benedict is taking the painter seriously.”
“Well, I don’t know. As you said, I do care for the painter quite a lot.”
Rubens, who had been silent, finally spoke in a calm voice.
“Moreover, if the reason to sever ties is because of Benedict, then that makes it even less likely. You know, I hate losing things the most.”
In other words, this kind of gossip was pointless. Ottilie’s once gentle expression grew colder.
“So, you’ll still keep her even if she betrays you?”
Ottilie’s voice trembled slightly, revealing the disgust she had been hiding.
“Are you asking me if I would still hold that woman even after she’s attached to another man.”
“Let’s leave it at that.”
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