Portrait of An Arrogant Master - Chapter 64

‘255, 256, 257……’

Before Macy had even counted to 300, she heard the sound of hooves from outside. She perked up her ears, waiting for him to open the door.

“You’re here!”

As soon as the door opened, Macy jumped up from her seat.

“…Yes.”

Eren’s reply was slightly delayed. She couldn’t hear his footsteps approaching, as if he was merely observing from a distance.

“I have something to say.”

“Let me speak first.”

“Alright… Is something wrong?”

Eren firmly pulled out a chair and sat down in front of Macy. His voice sounded stern, causing Macy’s heart to race anxiously.

What is he going to say?

“I heard you’ve been commissioned to paint portraits.”

“Oh, yes! I had the chance to paint portraits of some noble families. Oh! If things go well, I’ll be able to find a house by the end of the year—”

“Stop.”

“Pardon?”

Macy was startled and asked, having thought that Eren would be pleased by her news. Instead, she received an unexpected response.

“Didn’t I tell you to take it easy?”

“I only heard that you liked it when I was in debt… I did say I would repay the favor. I can’t stay here forever…”

“I said I didn’t care.”

His voice was filled with anger. The atmosphere was tense.

“You can live here for the rest of your life without doing anything. How much do you think you’ll earn out there, causing such a fuss day and night?”

“It’s not much now, but in the future, I will—”

“Do you think I’m an easy target?”

“What? No, I’ve never thought of you that way!”

Macy, who had been speaking timidly, suddenly jumped up in surprise.

“So why won’t you listen? Am I asking for something unreasonable?”

“No… Is it because you’re worried that the portrait commissions might take away from your time for Name treatment? If that’s the case, I won’t take on any more commissions—”

“Word is spreading among the nobles that you were Yannick Horton’s ghost painter.”

“That…”

Eren was aware of the rumors. Was this really the problem?

“What you’re doing is outright fraud. Don’t you realize how dangerous this situation is? It’s just gossip among the nobles now, but if Yannick reports you to the Inspectorate, and you end up in a cell, it will affect your Name treatment. Isn’t it strange that I’m telling you to stop?”

“But if I deny it…”

“How long do you think that denial will hold up? If Obelit decides to bury a painter, it won’t be hard to do even without that reason. Public opinion will naturally side with Yannick, not with you.”

This was an unexpected guess. Macy had thought that if Yannick would also be taken away, he wouldn’t report her. Had she been too complacent about this situation?

Even if Yannick couldn’t paint, he was an extraordinary artist compared to Macy, having established himself far beyond her in Laden. Just seeing the artists at Baron Shearton’s outing, Macy was treated as a criminal. If public opinion turned against her, it would be very unfavorable for her.

She had just begun to regain her name and thought things were going in a positive direction, but her mind was now in turmoil.

Seeing her confusion, Eren sighed and continued.

“Finish the commissions you’ve already accepted and paint only here from now on.”

“Are you saying I should never go outside and only paint here for the rest of my life? What about my independence?”

“If you don’t like it, you can just consider it as if it never happened.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Obviously, our relationship. I’m suggesting you stop your Name treatment.”

“……”

For a moment, Macy was frozen, unable to say anything. Was this really what she just heard?

It was hard to believe the words she had just heard, even though she heard them with her own ears.

“If you can’t even stay put quietly, then you’re of no use. Go back to that miserable place and paint other people’s pictures. Oh, didn’t they say that once stiffness starts, it relapses within three months? If your hands get stiff, you won’t be able to paint at all.”

“Eren, why are you saying this…”

“Our meetings were for Name treatment. If you’re not going to undergo treatment, you’ll naturally have to leave. Did you plan to shamelessly stick to me?”