The polite attitude that Brian Merry had shown me just moments ago vanished, replaced by a slouched, cocky posture as he tilted his head. At the same time, I noticed Ian, who had been standing a step back, now wore a dangerously hardened expression, as if he might draw his sword any second.
I quickly gestured for Ian to stand down with my eyes. Fortunately, or perhaps unfortunately, Brian Merry, who was clearly fuming, didn’t seem to notice even Ian.
“You looked like you had some money, so I thought I could sell a few pieces. But the way you talk….”
He gave me a once-over.
Wait, wasn’t this the same man who was praising me a minute ago, calling me a beautiful lady with a discerning eye?
“A machine? A painting machine? The more I listen, the more absurd this gets.”
And it was only now that I started to get a sense of how Brian Merry managed to negotiate his way out of the mess with the Marquis and Marchioness.
The Brian Merry without his business façade had quite the temper.
His expression was growing colder by the second.
“I don’t know how much you underestimate me, but even if you offered me a million gold, I’m turning down that ridiculous offer. So, leave while I’m being nice.”
He glared menacingly at me and then at Ian, who stood back with his arms crossed, clearly growing more hostile.
“You think people in this city sell their pride just to paint day and night for a bit of cash?”
“Hm? And what’s the alternative?”
I raised an eyebrow in amusement.
“What’s the alternative? You think artists like me are slaves, painting on command? If I were going to paint like a machine for someone else, why would I even bother making art? Do you even know what creation means? No artist who wants to become famous would agree to that.”
“Oh?”
“I’d rather starve to death. I’m not painting that crap.”
‘Look at him.’
The fake, accommodating look in his eyes was completely gone, replaced by a fierce gaze as he spat out each word.
But he didn’t seem to notice my growing interest in him, waving me off with an annoyed gesture.
“I paint what I want to paint. Not for anyone else.”
“……”
“And it’s not just me. No one in this city would sell their art to someone arrogant and disrespectful like you. So leave, while I’m still talking to you nicely. Get out of my house and out of Marisen.”
It was more than just a simple request; it was a threat.
“Are you not leaving?”
It was clear that if I didn’t leave soon, he was ready to kick both Ian and me out by force. Seeing Brian Merry’s attitude shift so drastically, Ian once again hardened his expression and moved forward, but I was quicker.
“It’s fine.”
“Wife.”
‘This is enough.’
Yes, for someone I’m recommending as the Grand Duchess, he needed to at least have this much backbone. Without it, he would’ve been out from the start.
I glanced briefly at Ian, then dropped my arrogant attitude and smiled brightly.
“Passed!”
“…What?”
“You’ve passed!”
I clapped my hands like a seal, and Brian Merry’s face filled with confusion.
“What…?”
“I must apologize for the late introduction. I came all the way here to see you before recommending your talent to the Biblos Academy.”
His half-lidded eyes narrowed as if he couldn’t understand what I was saying.
“Biblos…?”
“Yes, that’s right. I apologize for being rude, but I had my reasons. Plus, I thought if I came as my true self, you might misunderstand, so I added a bit of acting. I hope you’ll understand.”
I cleared my throat, feeling a bit smug. Brian Merry exhaled a long, exasperated sigh.
He clearly had no idea what I was talking about, but the mention of “Biblos” had at least softened his tone, and he started to look me over again.
“So, who are you exactly?”
He still looked suspicious, as though I seemed shady no matter how he looked at me. I playfully smiled and rotated the jewel of my necklace twice to the left.
Brian Merry’s eyes widened.
“…Lady Alpheus, no, the Grand Duchess…?”
He quickly corrected himself, and I stifled a laugh.
Even though I’d been stuck in the countryside for five years, it seemed word had still reached him. His reaction might have been slow, but at least it came.
“I happened to see your paintings, and they were so beautiful that I became interested. And now I can see that not only is your skill excellent, but you also have the backbone to stick to your convictions.”
I slyly left out anything related to Mary Merry and played the part.
Meanwhile, Brian Merry stared blankly, as if questioning if what he was seeing and hearing was real.
He then slowly shifted his gaze past me, locking eyes with Ian.
“Wait, if you’re the Grand Duchess, then that means….”
At that moment, Ian’s navy blue eyes glimmered dangerously as they met Bryan’s.
‘…I can’t let him say another word.’
If he started talking, it would be a disaster.
Seeing the shock begin to spread across his face, I quickly cut him off.
“Hold on, there’s something more important. I can’t recommend you on my own whim, so I’ll ask you directly. Do you still want to attend the Biblos Academy?”
“That’s… of course.”
“Good. That’s all I needed.”
Before he could be more shocked, I cheerfully waved goodbye and turned around.
“We’ll discuss the details once you’ve been accepted. Ian, let’s go!”
I quickly grabbed Ian’s hand, almost dragging him along as I hurriedly moved away, as if fleeing.
“My lady?”
“Hurry, before he chases after us.”
He looked at me, bewildered, then furrowed his brows and came to a sudden stop, right before we even reached the entrance.
“Why, what is it?”
“I have something to say.”
Before I could stop him, Ian released my hand and turned back toward Brian Merry.
Contrary to my expectations that he’d soon chase after us in shock, Bryan still stood there, looking dazed and unsure of what was happening. Ian approached him and tilted his head.
“Painter.”
“…Y-your Highness, the Grand Duke?”
“You’d better relearn how to use your tongue.”
Ian’s voice was calm, without a trace of anger, but the menacing air around him was palpable.
“Since the Grand Duchess has taken an interest in you, I’ll let it go this once.”
At Ian’s low warning, Bryan seemed to realize what he had said earlier, his expression showing sudden regret.
“I-I apologize, Your Highness the Grand Duchess! I didn’t realize who you were…!”
He bowed so low his head nearly touched the ground.
Watching this, I couldn’t help but feel conflicted. I did it on purpose, though.
“Well… no… it’s fine.”
“Let’s go, my lady.”
Ian, now looking quite satisfied, lightly grabbed my hand and led me out the door.
It wasn’t until we were well away from the hill that he released his tight grip and quietly stared at me.
Though he said nothing, I could tell what he was thinking.
His expression seemed to ask, Was this really the best plan?
“…Well, it was an extreme method, but we’ve confirmed it, haven’t we? He’s definitely worthy of the academy recommendation.”
Still, he didn’t have to criticize me so openly like that. I pressed a hand to my chest, feeling a small scratch on my pride.
Suddenly, I turned to him and said,
“You didn’t have to be so hard on him. After all, I provoked him on purpose.”
“Regardless of your plan, I didn’t like him.”
He slightly grimaced, as if recalling the earlier incident.
“Especially that arrogant tone of his.”
“…Are you serious?”
The frog forgets it was once a tadpole, they say.
Was he really one to talk?
At a loss for words, I made a dumbfounded face before snapping back to my senses.
“Anyway, let’s go.”
I extended my hand toward him, silently asking him to take it, and turned to glance back at the road we’d come up.
The houses lined up at the bottom of the hill looked like a painting.
As beautiful as the view was, we had too much to do to linger. And our goal was accomplished.
But instead of taking my hand right away, Ian stood still, quietly watching me.
“…What is it?”
He shifted his gaze from me to the view below the hill.
“Do you like it? The scenery.”
“Uh… yes. It’s beautiful.”
Ian turned his azure eyes back to me.
“Then let’s finish the date we didn’t get to complete.”
“What?”
“Remember? We couldn’t finish last time because of the incident at the theater.”
It seemed his promise to continue the date hadn’t been an empty one.
Just then, the wind picked up, lightly tousling Ian’s silver hair. Even as his hair fluttered in the breeze, his gaze remained fixed on me, steady and unyielding.
“……”
Feeling a strange flutter in my chest, I reflexively averted my gaze.
“…Uh, sure.”
I wasn’t flustered because he called it a date.
I just genuinely wanted to see more of Marisen.
Yes, that’s it.
“Then, how about we head to the main street we passed earlier? I was actually hoping to take a look around there.”
In response, Ian, now well-accustomed to this, effortlessly intertwined his fingers with mine.
“Yes, let’s go.”
♧♧♧
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