Masterpiece - Chapter 17 - Look Straight at Me

Chapter 17

* * *

Vessia returned to the bedroom after a somewhat disappointing meal. Of course, she wanted to go to the waiting room, but she didn’t want to disturb the artist while he was working.

The lady, her makeup removed, lay face down on the bed. On the table by the bedside, she could see the bouquet of flowers that Couven had given her. A vase with a pale sky-blue base, with gold streaks extending from it. The flowers were arranged in a trophy-shaped vase with a narrow opening.

The pink-hued flowers filled by the man blended well with the atmosphere of the room.

‘Where did he get such a beautiful bouquet?’

She stretched out her arm while lying face down. Her fingertips touched the delicate petals. Soft as a blanket, and a little eerie like morning dew. The pistil of the fuchsia trembled as if tickled by her touch.

She wished it wouldn’t wither, like her feelings toward him.

She pulled back her arm and wrapped her arms around herself. She tilted her head and rested her cheek on the back of her hand.

Vessia, while receiving a massage from the maids, repeated the fact that Couven had told her.

‘Alpha….’

However, wasn’t his skin too pale? She couldn’t generalize hastily, but most of the alphas she had seen so far had copper-colored skin.

Was it a rare trait?

While thinking about his traits, she recalled the lewd talk that the omega servants had gathered and whispered about.

‘What I overheard….’

As an omega, no matter how foul the scent, their body would inevitably react to an alpha’s pheromones. The rut would come, and they mixed their body with the alpha, and even though it was painful enough to die. Then, they would be satisfied with the greater pleasure.

They want to find a mate, but alphas were also someone who would sow seeds here and there, so they were dangerous.

There were many alphas who seduce omegas into imprinting them by force, even having children, and then pretending they don’t know anything.

Pheromones were unique body odors emitted by alphas and omegas. Pheromones vary greatly from alpha to alpha and omega to omega, and Couven said that the pheromones of the omegas who reside in the mansion were disgusting.

‘The man who said that smelled of stale oil.’

It has only been two times they’ve met. However, that oil smell had been so strong that it had stung her nose, but there were times when it was faint.

Vessia knows that she was a ‘beta’. She also knows very well that she cannot smell the pheromones of Couven, an alpha, and the omega servants.

The omegas would be able to smell Couven’s scent, but the servants, who love to gather and chatter, never mentioned what the painter’s pheromones smelled like.

That’s why she was curious.

What does the man’s pheromone smell like?

* * *

Vessia, wearing a mask, grabbed the fleuret*. As she brought her folded arms to her chest, the thin blade rose long, splitting her face in half.
*TL/N: A small fencing sword. It weighs less than 500 grams and is less than 100 centimeters long.

“Whew…”

“Relax, Sia. You’re cute even when you’re like that, but I want you to watch me today.”

She slowly took a deep breath. She put strength into the hand holding the sword. Her heart calmed down. The heavy weight of the attire pressed down comfortably on her body.

Maybach, who was standing face to face with Vessia, prepared for the duel with the same movement.

She tightened the buckle on her wrist a little more so that the glove wouldn’t come off. Her sky-blue eyes blinked from within the tightly-worn mask.

“Ready?”

“Yes.”

Two people gestured to Vessia’s maid. It was a sign for her to take on the role of judge and give the starting signal.

The maid, who had been reading a book in the corner, took her place between the young lady and the count’s son.

“En garde.”

The maid, who had stated so, looked at the two people alternately. The two nobles glared at each other and lowered their stances. Their thighs tightened with effort, and their breaths, trapped behind their masks, were already hot.

“Êtes-vous prêt?”

Like fighting bulls excited by the red cloth waving in front of them, the two people, their tension stretched to the limit, nodded their heads.

“Allez!”

The first to jump forward, putting her foot on the floor, was Vessia. Maybach, who had retreated a few steps, quickly thrust out the blunt tip of his sword, but she did not let herself be easily stabbed.

The maid, who could not afford to miss the movements of the two people, looked around incessantly.

Maybach knocked away the sword that Vessia was aiming at him. He rushed forward and touched her fleuret. He pretended to thrust the tip of the sword into her stomach and then stabbed her shoulder.

The charcoal dust fell on the lady’s shoulder. The man, convinced that he had scored a point, shook his fist and roared. The maid raised her hand towards the young master.

“You idiot.”

The lady, who had thrown off her mask, reproached herself.

After a short break, the two returned to their starting point and resumed their dueling stance. Since she was at a disadvantage in terms of physique, she had to aim for a weak spot.

Vessia, who had retreated two steps, agilely avoided the sword that was thrust at her neck.

Once, at the face that was smiling leisurely.

Once, at the chest that was opening up as she approached.

“Look at me straight, Sia.”

“….”

Her eyes flickered quietly. Was her yellow eyes always this cold? Maybach felt a chill run down his spine.

The lady, who swung her fleuret, chased after the young master. The sound of the sword cutting through the air was truly threatening. After showing an aggressive attitude, she suddenly lowered her hand and distanced herself.