I Was The Real Owner of Elheim - Chapter 76

The Duke of Haron entered the building, pretending to be a commoner and genius painter, Jen Walker.

 

Shapeshifting and disguising were two of the Duke’s minor hobbies.

 

“Jen!”

 

Duke Haron approached the nobleman who called him and opened his mouth.

 

“What did you call me for?”

 

“Now that the preliminaries are over, there are a lot of paintings for the finals, but if it’s you, you’ll be able to score without any problem.”

 

Unlike his dead and quiet family, Duke Haron traveled to many places unpredictably.

 

The purpose of the Duke was to restore the torch for his mother, Lydia.

 

A genius painter, an Awakener with unusual abilities but no power, a librarian, and an assassin.  (Dhruvtara: So many identities! I am jealous.)

 

He permeated everywhere in various forms, but he could not find any clue.

 

In the first place, it was not easy to find someone who could handle the torch.

 

“Where are the pictures that were submitted for the finals?”

 

The painting association had a habit of judging people only by their paintings, regardless of social status.

 

The nobleman pointed toward a large door without getting offended by the Duke’s flat words.

 

“I didn’t have a good place to put those paintings, so I put them in the exhibition hall.”

 

“That’s fine, let’s review it as soon as possible.”

 

“Yes.”

 

Duke Haron pushed the large door open and entered the exhibition hall.

 

‘I was going to quit my activities as Jen Walker but I have to finish what I have decided to do.’

 

Quite some time had passed since the Prince offered to introduce him to the person who extinguished the fire in the imperial palace.

 

Meanwhile, the Prince told Duke Haron of his goal.

 

“There is only one thing I’m trying to get. To be precise, I don’t want to help.” 

 

Count Pedes, who was standing behind the Prince, looked at the Duke with a face wondering if there was anyone like him.

 

It was fortunate that they did not see the face hidden under the hood.

 

Duke Haron almost stood up at the Prince’s foul words and pulled out his sword. (t/n: I really wish he did that!)

 

But all thanks to the Crown Prince, otherwise, he would never have been conscious of Liarte’s existence until now.

 

He also developed a heart

 

‘It’s too bad for that young lady.’

 

Duke Haron looked around the paintings with a brief, mournful expression.

 

For Duke Haron, activities done by Jen Walker were more enjoyable, as he himself was well versed in art and enjoyed drawing and evaluating.

 

“It’s the same this year.”

 

Duke Haron scanned the pictures with his eyes while walking slowly.

 

Aristocrats usually had similar teachers, so the fact that the pictures were similar was not a disadvantage in his view.

 

As standard, paintings were always beautiful yet solid and perfect. The problem was that there were too many people drawing such paintings.

 

When painting the same thing, it was more likely to choose a known artist rather than a rookie or a clumsy person.

 

As Duke Haron was about to pass by without much expectation, he stopped.

 

So far, the entries in the competition have all been beautiful.

 

Aristocrats instinctively tried to capture pretty scenery and people. Beautiful lakeside, mansions, beauties, etc., and among such paintings, the color red was quite striking.

 

The Duke involuntarily took a step toward a certain painting.

 

{ THE WORLD }

 

Under the transparent membrane, a red jewel was visible. From the golden dots inside, Duke Haron guessed the painting’s identity.

 

“Are they human eyes?”

 

The peculiar thing about the painting was the light in the pupils.

 

Liarte had painted a picture that combined imagination and reality.

 

The diamond chandelier in Michael’s room remained an intense memory.

 

She wanted to capture the moment when the light of the all brilliant jewels reflected in Michael’s eyes.

 

‘Peculiar’

 

Duke Haron didn’t realize how close he had come to the painting.

 

It was unpolished, but he was struck by the raw talent and the bold use of light and color.

 

It wasn’t even a very well-drawn painting, but he could guarantee that there would be no substitute in the world.

 

Duke Haron, who was thinking deeply, stopped abruptly and stood there.

 

As the child of a former saint, he was no stranger to divine energy.

 

This painting was of a torch.

 

He held his breath and focused on the energy he felt in the painting.

 

‘It’s the energy of a torch.’

 

The reason the Duke worked as a painter until now was to find someone who had the talent to restore the torch painting.

 

However, if there was an artist who could draw the torch, there would be no need to find someone to restore it.

 

There was no need to ask the Crown Prince to let him meet the person who put out the fire in the imperial palace.

 

With extreme nervousness, Duke Haron approached the painting again.

 

No matter how many times he examined it, the fact that it was a holy fire did not change.

 

‘Who are you?’

 

He had to find the artist. The Crown Prince was now the last thing on the Duke’s mind.

 

Things were going according to Liarte’s expectations.

 

***

 

It usually took more than half a year to prepare for a coming-of-age ceremony.

 

The ceremony itself was simple, but the fact that it was held in the name of the family meant there was a lot of preparation.

 

‘Right now, Elheim alone was preparing for a lavish blood feast.’

 

Michael looked down at Liarte.

 

“Liarte, what are you thinking about, huh?”

 

“I’m thinking about whether it’s okay to do nothing.”

 

By summer, the silver fox had taken up residence in the garden.

 

After a while, she curled up on Liarte’s lap and let out a long yawn.

 

“It’ll be okay.”

 

The complications would be solved with money, that was Birce’s way.

 

“My coming of age ceremony took a similarly long time—a month, or was it shorter than that?”

 

Carmen laughed as if there was nothing money couldn’t buy, and Aaron made a face that said, ‘You’re right, but I feel bad for you.’

 

Whenever he thought of that time, he thought of it as something Liarte would never see again.

 

Even if he spent the rest of his life paying her back, he would never be able to repay her.

 

The memory of his coming-of-age ceremony was etched quite painfully in Michael’s mind.

 

He remembered the feeling of loss that had washed over him.

 

He couldn’t get back the time he’d lost, but Liarte was by his side now.

 

“Is there anything you want from your coming-of-age ceremony?”

 

“Just to be known as a woman of Birce.”

 

“Then your first dance should be with me.” Michael smirked.

 

“Ah.”

 

“You didn’t get a proper dance in Elheim.”

 

Remembering the uncomfortable Elheimers and the patch over her eye.

 

“Michael, you do know the meaning of a first dance, don’t you?”

 

The first dance was only for those who were in love, lovers, or companions. (t/n: Awww!!!)

 

“Of course, of course, I know.”

 

He said it on purpose because he knew there would be many men asking Liarte to dance with them that night.

 

So he needed to be the first to show them who was at her side.

 

At the very least, any mercenaries approaching, coveting Birce’s power or wanting Liarte’s abilities, would back off.

 

It was a reasonably direct statement, but Liarte didn’t seem to mind it one bit.

 

With a slight nod of her head, Liarte replied.

 

“I don’t need to know.”

 

Michael was the only one struggling with the ambiguity of her answer, but even being bullied like this was good.

 

“Can I ask what that means?”

 

The shade of the garden provided some cover for Michael and Liarte.

 

To prevent her from running away, Michael held Liarte’s hand tightly and wouldn’t let go of her.

 

He spoke very softly, so as not to push her away.

 

“The first dance is obviously important for a reason, Liarte. Why do you think I would say something like that to you?”

 

Unlike his soft, persimmon-like voice, it was somehow hard to meet Michael’s gaze.

 

Liarte, who lowered her eyes, replied to him.

 

“Do you think of me as the opposite sex, just as I treat you as the opposite sex?”

 

“It’s not the answer I wanted, but it’s good enough.”

 

He wasn’t sure he wanted to ask her to the first dance just yet.

 

But the fact that she had accepted the dance request was a positive sign.

 

At least, didn’t that mean that the man Liarte was closest to was Michael?

 

It wasn’t enough to satisfy Michael, but it wasn’t bad.

 

It was already summer, which made him even more aware of the coolness of Liarte’s hands.

 

The slender fingers that curled together had white skin.

 

Just a bite or a light lick would leave marks on Liarte’s hands.

 

Michael pursed his lips and brought his lips to her hands.

 

Then he bit down on her wrist, and she stopped flinching. (Dhruvtara: Hehe!!)

 

“Is something wrong, Liarte?” he asked, knowing and deliberately flirtatious.

 

Liarte turns her gaze downward, her red eyes widening.

 

The most satisfying thing was that he was holding her hand, so she couldn’t easily escape.

 

This time, she couldn’t bring herself to kiss him between the fingers.

 

Michael would never stand for it.

 

For now, he didn’t feel any guilt about seducing her.

 

Since she had a cool body temperature, Michael’s body temperature would always feel hot to Liarte.

 

“Don’t be afraid.”

 

Michael whispered kindly so that even at this moment, Liarte would not run away.

 

“I won’t eat you.”

 

Of course, it was a blatant lie.