Masterpiece - Chapter 6 - Belle Reservoir

Chapter 6

Translator: Yonnee

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“Hello, may I escort you to Lady Quixote’s drawing room?”

A maid standing outside the study greeted him kindly. Her voice barely reached his ears from somewhere near her chest, so Couven bent down in response.

The man’s face was close as he lowered himself. Sensing the hesitation of the maid who felt that way, he followed the servant in silence.

Another maid joined behind the man. She carried a silver tray with a teapot adorned with floral patterns, teacups, and dessert plates.

As they walked towards the lady’s chambers, the empty walls and the plain white ceiling continued to appear.

‘Perhaps I could spend my entire life here just painting.’

Couven brushed his unruly hair aside casually.

Why were there so many middle floors in this labyrinthine mansion? As he had already gone up three flights of stairs, he suddenly felt the surroundings getting darker.

The duke’s study seemed to be well-lit, but as he approached the lady’s room, the surroundings became dimmer.

He glanced at the view outside the corridor windows. It was a sunny afternoon with an endless expanse of landscape spreading out before the penthouse.

While it wasn’t entirely devoid of light here, he wondered why the ducal lady had her room facing north. Weren’t the nobles a breed known for leisurely sunbathing?

“Milady, we’re entering.”

The maid who had taken on the role of a guide stopped, and Couven also halted his steps. He put a stop to his unnecessary thoughts and trailing musings.

The maid knocked, announcing their arrival, but there was no response from inside, granting permission to enter.

Beyond the door slowly opened by the servant, the drawing room, decorated elegantly though somewhat modestly, caught the artist’s attention.

“You can wait here, sir.”

Inside the ducal lady’s drawing room, there was no one waiting for Couven.

* * *

Vessia engaged in a conversation with Maybach, discussing animal intestines.

They talked about which animal’s intestines were most suitable, how to process them to make them more durable, the required thickness to withstand intense friction without tearing or puncturing, and methods for thoroughly cleaning the intestines, aside from using lye or sulfur.

They were examining intestines cut to a certain length from sheep, calves, and goats, laid out on a table.

“Milady, there is a guest for you in the drawing room,” the maid announced.

Upon hearing this, the ducal lady rose from her comfortable chair. It was time to get ready to meet the guest. Following her, Maybach also got up from his seat.

Until just moments ago, Vessia’s hair had been disheveled, as if she had been rolling around in bed. The count’s son, who stood beside her, watched her actions with a blank expression.

Having thoroughly tousled her own hair, Vessia glanced over at Maybach. She first applied pomade on him, then neatly combed through his tousled hair. She also loosened the cravat that was fastened to his shirt collar.

“Sia, do we have to do this every time?”

“You know it’s what Father wants. Quit complaining and go along with it.”

Dragging indoor slippers along, she walked into the powder room^[1]. What she took out from the makeup box on the vanity was rouge. She applied pink rouge to both her and the count successor’s lips, smearing it with her thumb.

It was a simple performance, staging a passionate kiss between a man and a woman in the bedroom.

Next, Vessia pulled down the collar of her chemise gown. The hollow between his collarbones and just above his chest was revealed.

“Peruel, make some kiss marks here. Bite my shoulder too if you like.”

“…Alright.”

The ducal lady pointed to a spot between the collarbone and the upper part of the chest. Maybach hesitated for a moment, but he soon followed her request without a word.

The man touched her fair and soft skin. A distant fragrance emanated from her delicate flesh to the point that it might make him lose his mind.

The man struggled to suppress the urge to raise his head. With determination, he vigorously kissed and suckled her smooth skin.

Distinct bite marks and crimson stains were sequentially etched onto Vessia’s fair flesh.

“Should I make some on your neck too?”

“…No, it’s fine.”

Maybach imagined Vessia’s lips touching his neck. Even the thought alone made his lower abdomen tighten.

Yet, the woman who had aroused him was as composed as ever, which only added to his frustration.

The maid, who had been watching their unpredictable actions, couldn’t help but question,

“What are you doing?”

“Getting ready to meet the guest.”

The maid’s eyes widened in surprise. Vessia smiled with satisfaction as she looked at her reflection in the mirror.

“This should be perfect.”

Vessia reached for the doorknob, leaving the bewildered maid behind. All that occupied the maid’s mind was the need to quickly fix her mistress’s appearance.

“You’ll regret it if you go out as you are now, Milady! You don’t even know who the guest in the drawing room is!”

The maid tried to warn Vessia.

“Enough. Baudry, I’ll take care of my own appearance.”

With her lips freshly painted, she interrupted the maid’s words. And, as the maid stepped aside to clear a path for her mistress, Vessia grabbed the doorknob and turned it.

¹ a room equipped with facilities for makeup application. ↩

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