Chapter 26: Talent and Opportunity (III) |
“No… I sent someone to persuade him, but he informed me that he would not apply considering he’s already contracted.”
Ben continued speaking, flinching at the piercing gaze directed at him.
“He said no?”
Deheen’s expression hardened coldly as he agonized over Ben’s report.
“How much time does he have left with his contract?”
“About nine months…”
Deheen removed his glasses and slowly twisted his neck to the side.
“How about giving him more than three times the amount?”
“I’ve already suggested it. Unfortunately, I don’t think money will solve it.”
“What was his attitude like when you brought the conversation up?”
“He wasn’t uncomfortable.”
“I see.”
Deheen lifted his head as he contemplated a solution and soon rolled up his lips.
“Then there’ll be no problem if the Count breaks off the contract.”
“Yes. No, pardon?”
Ben nodded with a solemn expression, then jumped back with surprise.
“He doesn’t want to break it himself, but it wouldn’t matter if the contract is cut off by the Count, would it?”
“That’s true, but… How?”
“Was it Count Douglas you mentioned? I remember passing by him at a meeting before. Arrange a table with him.”
Deheen’s eyes glowed languidly.
Count Douglas was a man who owned a lot of money but didn’t have connections and wanted to somehow build up his network.
Considering his attitude that seemed favorable towards Deheen throughout the meal, the problem seemed easy to resolve.
“All right.”
Ben rummaged through Deheen’s schedule to find an empty date.
It wasn’t long before Deheen abruptly halted. Ben also came to a stop, his feet nearly failing him.
“What’s wrong?”
“Isn’t that Esther?”
It was quite a distance, but Esther’s small figure could still be seen from afar.
She was walking around the garden alone, without a maid attending to her.
“Why is the lady here…?”
“Let’s advance nearer.”
Deheen turned away from his initial destination without hesitation.
His face, which had been indifferent until a while ago, softened.
★★★
Esther stretched her arms.
“Haaaa.”
She was waiting for Dorothy to go for a short walk.
The sun was particularly dazzling, considering it was midday.
As Esther covered her head using her palms, she turned her head towards the gaze she felt approaching her.
“Ah…?”
Esther’s eyes widened.
She didn’t realize when Deheen had arrived.
It seemed like he was coming from or to a meeting as he was still wearing his glasses. Next to him stood Ben, covered with papers.
“Hello.”
Startled Esther hurriedly nodded while Deheen waved his hand.
‘Huh, you want me to wave too?’
Esther waved her hand to the side correspondingly, wondering if this was the correct way to return the greeting.
Deheen abruptly lowered his head, his mouth twitching.
Even Ben couldn’t stop himself from laughing.
‘I guess it wasn’t it.’
Esther pretended not to be embarrassed.
Deheen strode towards Esther, managing to hold back his laugh.
“Are you taking a walk?”
“Yes. The weather is nice.”
Esther didn’t think she needed to mention that she was waiting for Dorothy, she just glanced around.
“Then shall we walk together?”
Esther raised her head, surprised at Deheen’s casual comment.
She attempted to examine his face, but it was difficult to face Deheen properly due to the great aura surrounding him.
Deheen bent his knees and crouched down so that Esther’s neck wouldn’t hurt from facing upwards.
His eyes bent gently when both their eyes reached the same level.
“I saw the drawing.”
“Ah, the drawing of Dennis?”
“Yes. Dennis framed it. It seemed like a very sacred painting. Thank you.”
It was a very excessive compliment from a man who rarely praised anyone.
Wasn’t he Deheen, the monster who thoughtlessly sliced off the heads of his opponents on the battlefield?
Ben couldn’t hide his embarrassment as he observed the changed appearance of his usually cold master. He shrugged his shoulders, clearly creeped out. At his disgusted gesture, Deheen glared at the assistant.
Esther, who knew of nothing, only smiled shyly at the praise.
“Um, does the Grand Duke also want me to draw you?”
“Me?”
“Oh, I’m sorry if I was presumptuous.”
She thought she owed that much to Deheen, the person who freed her from the temple. It just popped from her mouth as she wanted to pay him back with at least something.
Esther apologized with a flushed face. Perhaps she was too rude.
He was the Grand Duke whom she couldn’t even face properly. There was no way such a great man’s portrait would be left to be drawn by a child such as her.
But Esther didn’t know.
That Deheen’s lips twitched silently at her suggestion.
He quickly glanced away in fear that Esther would speak to him.
As soon as Deheen found a good area with a sunny spot and a table, he lightly coughed and suggested, “Shall we go there?”
“Yes?”
“Draw me.”
“Really?”
“I’d be happy to. I was just about to have a portrait painted.”
Though puzzled, Esther’s expression lit up at Deheen’s words.
Ben, on the other hand, currently wore an expression showing he had seen something that he shouldn’t have witnessed.
He couldn’t get used to it, the master he had served for more than a decade seemed completely different.
“Your Grace, you said you don’t like portraits as they take a long time to finish.”
“When did I? You misunderstood me. Be quiet.”
He blocked Ben’s mouth before Esther could hear him.
Deheen despised it when someone did a portrait of him.
It was because all artists outlined violent features of him while drawing. Just looking at the painting annoyed him.
But if Esther drew it, it would be different. The time she took to draw him would be meaningful, so it didn’t matter what the results were.
The servants soon set up the drawing tools.
‘I have to draw well.’
Esther was so nervous that she almost dropped her pencil several times.
However, once she started drawing, she remained focused.
Esther scrutinized Deheen.
It seemed like strong, thick lines would play a part in his cold appearance. His dark eyebrows had a strong impression, one that killed people.
It wasn’t difficult to draw faces, but the problem was the atmosphere around Deheen. It was difficult to express the strong feeling that stretched from him.
As Esther struggled, Deheen commenced speaking.
“Are you having fun?”
“Yes. It’s nice to be able to draw whatever I desire.”
Just as Esther was observing Deheen, he was also observing her.
Esther’s eyes while drawing, just as Dennis stated, sparkled like never before.
“If you want to draw properly, I’ll hire you a tutor.”
“Tutor?”
“Yes. It doesn’t have to be drawing. If there’s anything you want to learn, everything will be available. Do whatever you wish to do.”
Esther blinked at his crude yet friendly remark.
Deheen’s eyes deepened as their eyes met.
He didn’t say anything after, so Esther was sure he meant everything he said.
He was completely different from what she thought. There was always tenderness hidden behind his coldness. Just like now.
‘Why is this person doing this to me?’
She couldn’t understand at all. Esther, however, gave up her doubts and grinned.
“Thank you.”
“No, thank you.”
The painting was completed shortly after Esther regained her focus.
Esther’s heartful painting greatly surprised Ben and Deheen.
“Well, I don’t know if I should say this about my portrait, but… Doesn’t it seem different?”
“Yes, it’s not just a painting. It’s more like the lady snapped off a part of the Grand Duke and captured it inside. It seems likely to move any second.”
“This is a gift from god. The talent is too good to be wasted like this.”
The two began their debate on Esther’s solo exhibition. Serious expressions were written all over their faces.
Thus, Deheen’s bragging about his daughter proceeded from that day.
***
A few days later…
Deheen attended a dinner in the eastern part of his territory.
He did not like the place as it was a political gathering of ignorant aristocrats.
“I heard your training prevailed exceptionally. There has been a lot of praise around the topic.”
“Yes, everyone viewed your tactics from the side, and their stomachs jumped.”
As everywhere, there were many aristocrats especially anxious to be recognized by Deheen.
They tried somehow to catch his eye by flattering him.
“It’s a compliment. You don’t believe me?”
Deheen sent them a bitter smile.
“I still can’t believe it. You’re the best knight in the empire, in name and reality.”
“Then why don’t you join us for the next training?”
“Oh, I have many salons to attend to.”
“I started a new business this time, so I can’t attend just yet…”
A bunch of smooth talkers who couldn’t do anything.
Deheen twisted his lips into a smirk while viewing the disillusioned ones.
Dinner began and the friendly atmosphere continued, though Deheen didn’t take part in any conversations.
‘A waste of words.’
It was annoying for him to have to answer every useless remark.
No one could talk to him anymore because his eyes were too aloof for them to even face.
Deheen turned around with an annoyed expression. Then, he turned his head back. The timing seemed right.
“Let me show you all.”
The green pupils of his eyes turned thinner.
Deheen straightened his back and raised one hand above his head.
The attendant recognized the signal and opened the door of the banquet hall.
When the door unlatched, the maids waiting outside entered with a massive object.
The square object covered in a red fabric was moved to the table next to Deheen.
The nobles began to roar at the sight.
“What is that?”
“Well, it looks like His Grace has prepared something.”
With all eyes on the object, Deheen reached for it.
When he removed the cloth without hesitation, a frame could be found underneath.