ISTL CHAPTER 38

“What…?”
“I told you I would paint you once my atelier was complete.”
“……!”
It was something he had mentioned in passing, almost like a joke, when he first started setting up his studio.
Being asked so suddenly caught Anaïs off guard, but she didn’t dislike the idea, so she didn’t refuse. However, unfamiliar with such things, she felt her neck stiffen. Caught unprepared, her posture became awkward and tense.
“Oh? Don’t move.”
Arthur, busy taking in her form, reminded her firmly.
“……”
Unsure where to look, Anaïs’ gaze eventually settled on Arthur. But the weight of his amber eyes, scrutinizing every detail of her face, felt heavier than ever, making it a little difficult to hold his gaze.
Having never commissioned a portrait before, she found being a model far more awkward than expected. It was a much harder task than she had imagined.
As her thoughts drifted elsewhere, her posture unconsciously shifted.
Arthur’s hand, which had been moving steadily across the canvas, suddenly stopped.
He set his pencil down and approached Anaïs. If she remained this tense, she would surely wake up sore by evening.
A soft smile appeared on Arthur’s lips as he stood before her.
“Relax. If you stay too stiff, it’ll be hard to hold the pose for long.”
“Like this?”
Arthur watched as Anaïs adjusted her posture little by little, his gentle eyes crinkling with warmth.
“No, like this…”
Just as his hand carefully rested on Anaïs’ shoulder, the atelier’s curtain was suddenly yanked aside with force.
Both of them instinctively turned their heads toward the source of the disturbance.
Anaïs rubbed her eyes when she saw who was standing at the entrance.
“Your Highness…?”
Max’s gaze was fixed on the man’s hand resting on Anaïs’ shoulder. Only when she spoke did he seem to snap out of his trance. His face twisted into a scowl, and he strode forward with a dark expression.
“Who the hell are you?”
“……”
“I asked, who the hell are you?”
Arthur frowned at the sudden and informal hostility. Irritated, he shot back.
“And who exactly are you?”
“That’s none of your business.”
Max forcefully shoved Arthur’s hand off Anaïs’ shoulder and pushed him back. At the same time, he positioned Anaïs behind him protectively. Arthur, who had remained composed until now, flared up instantly.
“Did you just push me?”
Thud!
It happened in an instant. Arthur, regaining his footing, pushed Max right back.
“Ha?”
“How unbelievably rude. Who do you think you are, acting so high and mighty?”
“I asked first. Who the hell are you?”
“Try acting like a gentleman. Aren’t you ashamed of yourself in front of a lady?”
“You… You’re Joslain’s lackey, aren’t you?”
“What nonsense is that?”
Anaïs, too shocked by the sudden confrontation, remained frozen until she saw the two grab each other by the collar.
The tension had escalated so rapidly that she barely had time to process it. Now, it looked as though things were about to take a violent turn.
“What are you both doing?! Let go of each other!”
Anaïs, frantic, rushed to Max’s side and tried to pull him away. But with their locked grips and rigid strength, she was easily pushed aside like a paper doll. She was no match for them alone.
“Monsieur Giverny, you too! Calm down!”
Neither of them listened.
No matter how loudly Anaïs pleaded, they were completely absorbed in their power struggle. The way they pushed and pulled at each other now was so intense that she didn’t dare step in recklessly.
A few harsh insults flew between them before Max suddenly raised his fist.
Anaïs gasped in horror.
She had to stop this before it turned into a full-blown fight!
There was only one way. No choice!
Without hesitation, Anaïs clutched her head dramatically and staggered, making a visible show of distress.
“Kyaa! My head…! Ugh! My stomach…!”
Sneaking a glance at the two men through barely opened eyes, Anaïs squeezed them shut and cried out even louder.
“My heart! My heart…!”
With a dramatic thud, she collapsed onto the floor.
No matter how much she had yelled before, neither of them had paid her any attention. But now, both men immediately rushed to her side.
“Anaïs!”
“Are you all right?”
Just as suddenly, Anaïs snapped her hand away from her forehead and glared at them.
“Are you two children? What is wrong with you?”
The two men, who had been ready to tear each other apart just moments ago, were left speechless by her abrupt change in demeanor.
“What the—? Are you fine?” Max asked, looking utterly dumbfounded.
Anaïs stood up awkwardly and huffed at him.
“How could you just push someone like that?”
“What? He started it—”
“Monsieur Giverny is a friend who’s been helping me with my work at the salon. And Monsieur Giverny, this is His Highness, the third prince of the Barbier Kingdom.”
Afraid they would start another scuffle, Anaïs hurriedly made introductions and sprang to her feet. The two men stood there in stony silence, still glaring at each other.
The earlier hostility had lessened, but Arthur was clearly taken aback as he scanned Max from head to toe.
Max, on the other hand, looked like he was about to snap again, especially at Arthur’s scrutinizing gaze. He was just about to say something cutting when Arthur spoke first—he really had a knack for getting under people’s skin.
“I was ignorant as a foreigner. Please forgive my rudeness.”
Though his words were an apology, his expression didn’t quite match. Still, it was a formal attempt at reconciliation.
Caught between them, Anaïs finally had a moment to take in Max properly.
He was dressed more casually than usual, wearing only a light shirt, and his normally neatly combed hair had fallen loose. It was rare to see him like this. In fact, she had never seen him look anything but perfectly put together. For some reason, it made him feel unfamiliar to her.
She knew that he was aware of her work at the salon, but he had never shown any interest in it before. So his sudden visit—and his aggressive attitude—caught her completely off guard.
Seizing the brief moment of calm, she cautiously asked, “What brings you here?”
“What brings me here?”
Though Max seemed calmer, there was no telling when his temper might flare again. Anaïs quickly stepped between them to block Arthur from Max’s intense stare.
Max, however, kept his eyes locked onto Arthur, his expression darkening.
Where had he seen him before?
Then it clicked—Tophi Park.
The same man who had once claimed to be asking for directions now stood beside Anaïs as if it was the most natural thing in the world. The sight of him irritated Max more than he cared to admit.
“You’re seriously asking me that? You really don’t know?”
Anaïs genuinely had no idea what he was talking about, but she could tell from his expression that something was off.
“Um… I’m not sure?” she replied hesitantly.
Max took a deliberate step closer.
“We have a lot to talk about.”
“What?”
Arthur interjected.
“Then let’s talk here.”
Max frowned deeply at Arthur’s blatant lack of awareness. How was he supposed to describe this ridiculous feeling?
“It’s a private conversation. Just the two of us. Maybe take a hint?”
Max snapped, turning back to Anaïs, silently demanding her response.
Privately. Just the two of them.
Anaïs’ eyes flickered as she caught his meaning.
“Monsieur Giverny, would you mind waiting here for a moment—”
“No. I’d rather talk right here.”
Max cut her off immediately. His tone left no room for argument—he was demanding Arthur’s departure.
Arthur, however, didn’t budge.
“Lady Brienne, if this situation is making you uncomfortable, perhaps…”
“That’s not true. His Highness is right. This is a conversation that should be had in private.”
“……”
“Monsieur Giverny, if you could wait in the parlor—”
Despite Arthur’s concern, Anaïs firmly insisted that she was fine. With that, Arthur had no choice but to back down.
However, before leaving, he spoke in a tone that carried a subtle undertone of meaning.
“Very well, Lady Brienne. I won’t be far.”