Chapter 11: CH 11

After sending the magic notes to Ar, she plopped down on the couch. The last time she’d contacted him was two years ago.

‘Please, I hope he gets the note…….‘

She tried to shake off any negative thoughts.

“……”

It was quiet inside the room with Louis away. He was often called out by the lunatic many times and so, she was left alone, like now.

Well, she secretly thought it was a good thing. If she was to get stuck with someone who wasn’t the same gender as her for 24 hours….

It would simply be uncomfortable to be with each other.

‘Though I can’t help but feel weird about this.’

Juliana was suspicious of the butler who only looked for Louis. For once, she even suspected he was the lunatic.

“Huff, I don’t think so.”

Her thoughts had gone too far. Juliana leaned her head back, and then quickly got up to her feet. How tired had she been because of finding ways to escape?

She was thinking of painting to cool down her head and refresh herself. Juliana’s long-time hobby, drawing, cleared her head.

‘In such times, it would be good to go to the beach and get some fresh air.’

She was really sad about that. When she caught the view of the sea and enjoyed quiet scenery in a nice place without any people, her mind would automatically feel light.

Juliana took big strides, and grabbed the paper and pen on her desk even though it wouldn’t be enough for her to draw. After that she looked around the room to find something worth drawing.

“Huh?”

Just in time, a red apple in the kitchen caught her eyes. The apple looked very pretty and appetizing on a closer look.

“Good, I’m going to draw this.”

Juliana settled on the nearby chair. Then, she began to brush the pen over the paper slowly.

Scribble scribble.

She had been engrossed in drawing for a while….

“Juliana, what are you doing?”

She heard a languid voice from behind her. Looked like Louis, who’d gone out earlier, had come back.

Juliana’s eyes were still fixed on the apple even with his approaching steps, dragging his feet lazily.

“I’m drawing something…” Juliana answered shortly while focusing and fixing her sight on the apple. Her pen didn’t cease moving. Then Louis, who was hovering around her, moved over so he could block her sight.

Juliana stopped moving her pen. Louis was blocking the apple, so she couldn’t continue painting. She raised one of her eyebrows and opened her mouth to say something.

“Louis, what are you doing now-“

Louis’ sullen look was evident. Juliana was bewildered at the sight of him, with the corner of his lips slightly lowered.

“W-What’s wrong?”

“You’re really mean.” Louis snapped at her question as if he had waited for her to talk. Juliana was dumbfounded by his reproachful gaze.

‘Wh-what’s so mean?’ Juliana blinked slowly. Wasn’t he more rude interrupting the artistic time of an artist? When she sent a look to express her intention for Louis to move aside, Louis slowly raised his hand and pointed it toward himself instead.

“……I’m right in front of you.”

“H-Huh?”

“Please put me in it,” His clear and low voice rang in her ear.

‘W-What are you talking about now?!’ Juliana opened her mouth widely at Louis’ words. Her palms were damp with sweat.

“Please draw me.”

She wasn’t sure whether the man who dropped hints repeatedly knew Juliana’s thoughts or not. Juliana stared at him absentmindedly, half-mesmerized. He’d requested it with a soft smile.

“W-What are you talking about…. Get out of my way.”

Juliana, who came to her senses belatedly, had a serious look on her face when he turned his body back. After meeting the lunatic, it seemed like Louis had caught his weirdness. She shook her head while looking behind Louis. Louis hid it with his back as though she was going to check the apple.

This ridiculous man had no intention of moving out of the way at all. Juliana tapped him on the shoulder in order for him to move aside.

Louis’ body slowly leaned sideways and fell down to the floor.

“Gasp! Louis!”

Juliana was startled at the sight of Louis lying down on the floor. She didn’t put that much force on him….

“Are you okay?!”

She hurriedly checked his condition. She suddenly became scared on seeing his body that drooped limply without answering her.

“Are you hurt? Let me see…!”

“Juli… Ana…….“

Louis blurred the end of his words with a weak voice. His pronunciation was muffled as his face was resting on the floor.

“Yes, tell me!” Juliana helped Louis slowly as he stood up on his feet.

‘I can’t believe I had mistook this fragile man as the lunatic for a moment.’ Juliana blamed herself while getting him up.

She thought she could do anything for him because she felt sorry for him.

“Juliana…….“

“Yes.”

“…Please draw me with your artistic hands.”

Juliana was stunned at his words and her lips stretched into a faint smile. He, who was taller than her, gently lowered his eyes and tugged at her hand.

“…Haha.”

She couldn’t believe he said it again! Why did it feel like she was being fooled by him?

“Louis.”

Juliana glared at him with both of her hands on her waist. She was about to say a word to him regarding his prank.

However.

“Yes, Juliana.” Louis answered calmly, blinking his eyes and smiled. Juliana was at a loss for words by the blinding aura that emanated from his face. She couldn’t keep her eyes stable with that attractive appearance in front of her. Juliana stared blankly at his face for a long while.

……The problem was her intense stare.

“What’s on my face?” Louis’ amused voice brought her back to reality.

‘…That damn aura.’

Juliana barely managed to swallow the blatant words that almost came out of her mouth and gulped.

Did she really need another model when there was a handsome guy in front of her?

The memory of an appetizing apple had long been forgotten. Being generous toward the handsome man, she gave a nod, agreeing to his suggestion. Louis flashed a smile just like the morning sunlight.

“Then, I assume you’ve agreed.”

At her approval, Louis closed his eyes and took off his shirt.

…H-Huh?

Scribble, scribble.

There were no words exchanged. Juliana opened her mouth first because she felt alone at the awkward silence that engulfed them.

“Aren’t you tired?”

“I’m fine.”

A brief and clear answer.

They became silent again after that. Juliana glanced at Louis while moving her pen over the canvas.

‘I thought he wanted me to draw a proper portrait.’

Louis hugged the pillow while lying sideways. Despite being far away, the veins on his forearm were visible all the way from here. Juliana’s eyes were wide in delight, taking in all of Louis’ face displayed directly in front of her.

His broad shoulders and the thick muscles on his chest were messing up Juliana’s mind. It would be a pain to stay in a single position for a long time, but Louis seemed to be indifferent to that.

“Tell me if you’re having a hard time.” Juliana said and cleared her throat at the awkward silence. What started as drawing lightly with the purpose to relax herself, turned into a serious drawing of Louis’ semi-nude body.

“No, I’m not having a hard time.”

Louis fixed his eyes at Juliana and added in a languid voice, “Keep your eyes just on me.”

Those meaningful words that stimulated her imagination… Juliana painted quickly while saying nothing in response.

A few hours later.

“Ha, I finally finished it!”

She really put her heart and soul into it. Juliana put down her pen and wiped the sweat off her forehead. There was a figure of a man drawn on the canvas.

“Amazing.”

Before she realized it, Louis already came to her side while wearing a robe. He stared intently at his portrait in a brief admiration. She was proud to see his round eyes widen.

Juliana’s shoulders shrugged on their own. She felt his reaction was a reward itself.

“It’s beautiful…”

Louie praised with eyes full of ecstasy while touching his chin quietly. It was uncertain whether he was praising her artwork or admiring his own appearance. Suddenly he turned his head and looked at Juliana gently.

W-What is it now?

“The way Juliana sees me……”

“……?”

“…is so beautiful,” Louis whispered when he slowly caught her gaze. His full smile strangely jerked her heart.

“I-I’m glad you like it,” Feeling embarrassed, Juliana scratched her head while avoiding his gaze.

Louis was in a good mood for the first time in a while. He had nothing but his childhood portrait.

All of the painters were just bored because they drew similar sculptures.

‘But this is different.’

Louis contentedly saw her drawing that turned him into a lion-headed man. He didn’t know where his hair went.

The corner of Louis’ lips was slightly lifted up because of the woman who made him laugh from her perspective.

‘Hmm, I’ll have to repay you for this.’

Louis slowly brought Juliana up to her feet with a serene look on his face.

“I want to thank you in return.”

“Come on, no need to do that. It’s alright.”

At his solemn voice, Juliana waved her hands and denied it. What would he do to repay me?

“Please give me a chance to repay you.”

She was about to refuse and said it’s fine at Louis’ offer once again but then Juliana hesitated and then nodded. It didn’t seem polite to reject someone twice.

“Come this way.”

Louis led Juliana to the couch. She sat down on impulse and was surprised at his behavior where he slowly sank to his knees.

Why is he suddenly on his knees?!!

“Juliana.”

Louis with a serene expression, kneeled on one knee and looked up at her from below.

“I’ll draw a picture for you as well.”

He grabbed Juliana’s right ankle softly and held a magic pen in one of his hands.

“Stay still and don’t move.”

“No, it’s fine…..“

Louis went ahead to engrave a drawing in her inner leg while holding it steady. Julienne looked down at the back of Louis’ head with a perplexed look. His soft and silky hair fell in her attention.

Gulp.

Juliana closed her eyes tightly and focused only on the sensation of the moving pen.

“I’m done.”

After a while, Louis retrieved the pen to see the finished result. Juliana opened her eyes she had closed.

“Butterfly?”

Black curling flowers and butterflies were the symbol of the Grand Duke Teflano.

The symbol of the sole Grand Duke…..and Louis had engraved it on her inner leg. Juliana’s eyes quivered at the engraved pattern, similar to a tattoo.

“…L-Louis. What is this……”

Juliana’s voice trembled. She looked back and forth just to be sure. This pattern belonged to the lunatic.

‘Why the lunatic’s symbol, of all things?!’

There were so many other symbols, such as tiger, lion and dragon, why must it be the symbol of Grand Duke…?

‘…Why would he engrave this?’

Juliana looked at Louis with a stiff face at his peculiar behavior. Louis smiled innocently at her, who was demanding an explanation.

“I’m the flower and Juliana is the butterfly.”

“What?”

Far from being given an explanation, he gave the answer in an ambiguous way instead. Juliana tilted her head with a confused look.

More than that… Didn’t people usually describe women as flowers?

Juliana, who was about to protest a little, shut her mouth again at his beautiful appearance. Louis propped his face in both of his hands.

The embodiment of a flower blooming.

“Yes, I see…” Juliana quickly nodded while staring absentmindedly at his face. Louis’ face was undoubtedly brighter than most flowers.