Masterpiece - Chapter 14 - Belle Reservoir

Chapter 14

He even let out a small groan as his agony deepened.

Vessia watched all of this. Even the sharp gaze he had when he put the oil-based paint on the canvas, like a predator that had found its prey.

Couven did not speak more than necessary. Since the servants did not open their mouths unless Vessia called them, the waiting room was as quiet as a baby’s cradle.

Occasionally, only the sound of the wind pushing the clouds passed through the quiet waiting room was heard.

It was boring to just sit there in such silence. Of course, it was fun to watch the man. Vessia wanted to hear the taciturn painter’s gentle voice.

“Aren’t you pushing yourself too hard from the beginning?”

“…What do you mean?”

Couven delayed his answer. He was busy painting the base color on the dress.

“The painting seems really big.”

“Ah…”

The man who let out an exclamation did not say anything for a while. It seemed like he was choosing his words on how to explain. Maybe he was just putting off his answer because he was focused on painting the base color.

“Of course. A portrait is that important, so you have to capture it on a large canvas.”

Vessia nodded her head slightly. The painter shook the brush mixed with oil paint in walnut oil.

Couven, who had discovered something, stopped moving. This was because the pose she had given him to draw the portrait was slightly distorted. You could tell by the angle of the light falling on her face.

For some reason, she made eye contact with the man. Vessia thought so and smiled broadly.

The painter, who took off his gloves and checked if his hands were clean, approached the lady.

“Excuse me.”

The man lowered his waist. He grabbed Vessia’s chin with his thumb and index finger.

‘So suddenly…’

The lady opened her eyes wide in surprise.

She didn’t feel any kind of desire from him at all. Until now, she had joked around playfully, but Couven had not fallen for any kind of teasing. Rather, didn’t he sincerely deny it and cut it off?

He always kept his distance and was polite. She couldn’t understand why he was breaking down the wall and approaching her. The woman, who was contemplating whether to stick out her lips, decided to just hold her breath.

The man tilted Vessia’s sharp face slightly. The painter, who let go of her hand, took a step back and bent his knees. He approached her again after checking if there was any place left to touch.

He properly folded the lady’s cold hand.

“And as you can see, I prefer a large canvas because I am physically larger than other people.”

Couven sat down in the chair. He put on his gloves and picked up the brush and palette.

He was so calm. He seemed to be proving with his whole body that he did not attach any meaning to the physical contact that had just taken place.

Vessia also smiled faintly and did not pretend to be surprised by the sudden situation. Of course, she was very flustered inside, and she was struggling to control her pounding heart because she was so disappointed, but….

‘He apologized, but should I punish him for taking advantage of me? Or should I praise the painter for his dedication to his profession?’

She was troubled by this, but she was simply annoyed by the man’s integrity. The warmth that had touched her face and hand felt like a mirage.

The painter stretched out his folded arms as if he didn’t know lady’s heart, which was restlessly fluttering like a tray filled with hot cups of tea. He stretched his neck in all directions and spoke in a somewhat hoarse voice.

“I’ve laid down the base color, would you like to come and check it?”

“Yes.”

The lady got up from her seat. She stood next to Couven and admired the painting.

The lady seems to be standing too close to him, hence, the painter took a step back from Vessia to keep their bodies from touching.

“Please let me know if there’s anything you’d like me to fix.”

Even though only the basic colors had been applied, it looked more defined than when it was just a sketch. It was still vague because it wasn’t finished yet. She could tell that the man was talented as a painter. That’s why he must have been hired as a painter.

Vessia, engrossed in the painting, unknowingly leaned her body toward the canvas. The moment she straightened her upper body to say that there seemed to be nothing to fix,

Growl.

Someone’s stomach started rumbling.

The lady thought it was her stomach for a moment and put her hand on her belly. It was almost time for dinner anyway.

She was gently patting her hungry stomach when she realized that the sound echoing through the silent waiting room was coming from beside her.

Couven didn’t care whether he was hungry or not. He just waited to hear the lady’s opinion.

Vessia, who had her eyes fixed on him, called the maid.

“Baudry.”

“Yes, milady.”

“What’s for dinner today?”

“We have bacon and mushroom skewers with goat cheese, burrata cheese and arugula salad, and steamed sea bass.”

The lady’s eyes stared at the painter. It seemed as if she was asking if he wanted to eat.