Chapter 258
He wanted to storm the underground prison immediately, but he closed his eyes tightly to calm himself.
Though this was Count Conwellās territory, it wasnāt as if there were no ways to impose harsher punishment on them.
Forcing his anger down, he opened the drawer and took out the first-aid kit.
In a luxury hotel like this, each room usually kept basic medicine on hand.
āā¦I wonāt do anything else, so please just let me apply a salve. It wonāt do any good for marks to linger.ā
Once he received her permission, Ash quietly moved behind her.
Rustleā¦
He carefully brushed her long pink hair forward and opened the neckline.
When his fingertips brushed against her pale, soft skin, his adamās apple bobbed, but he mocked himself for the selfish thoughts that surged up reflexively and spread a thin layer of diluted ointment.
Once upon a time, heād been counting down the days until their divorceā¦ never imagining heād harbor feelings like this.
He sneered briefly at his own foolishness.
āIāll take my leave now. Please rest comfortably.ā
Wiping his hand roughly on his thigh, he put away the first-aid kit and stood up.
Because Ian had latched the door shut, he couldnāt return to his room.
But staying the night in his wifeās room in an atmosphere like this would only make her uncomfortable.
With people watching, he couldnāt take another room eitherā¦
It seemed he would have to take a long night walk tonight.
* * *
House Nord, a private chamber.
With her arms crossed, Rebecca swept a cold gaze over Emilās works.
If Henryās paintings were flawless ācompleted piecesā, Emilās works still had a strong sense of rawness, not yet fully refined.
āStill, at this level, theyāre quite good.ā
Even if Henry was an unknown rising star, he was still the young master of a noble house.
It was obvious that an orphan who had grown up without any support would draw more attention than a painter backed by a noble family.
At Rebeccaās satisfied voice, the tension pooled in Emilās shoulders loosened, but only for a moment.
āProduce five more works within this week.ā
After days of nonstop work, his eyes ached and his wrists hurt.
And now she was telling him to produce five more.
āB-Butā¦ā
āThere are no buts.ā
As she lightly stroked the riding crop and murmured, Emilās complexion turned pale.
After living only in an orphanage, then being dragged to House Nord under the pretext of sponsorship and staying there for several days.
Emil had witnessed Rebecca taking out her anger again and again on a ābeaten childā.
If he failed to carry out her orders, the bloodstained riding crop would rake across his back.
When Emil nodded quickly in fear, Rebecca snorted.
Though the rental schedule hadnāt been set yet, she had already sent several of Emilās works to Count Conwell and asked him to schedule it soon.
She had no concern that the gallery wouldnāt be rented.
After all, it was Count Conwell himself who had requested Emilās paintings.
āBefore Henryās solo exhibition becomes the talk of high societyā¦ā
Rebeccaās lips curved languidly.
After having her maids look into the rumors circulating in high society.
They said that among those who visited Henryās solo exhibition, praise for House Bayernās refined discernment was overflowing.
But if she too held an exhibition at Count Conwellās gallery, the topic of a one-armed orphan painter would sweep through high society.
Leaving the private chamber, she returned to āher bedroom.ā
āWhen we first started sleeping in separate rooms, I was so angryā¦ā
These days, she thought it was for the best.
At least she didnāt have to see that stupid face of his, passed out drunk while reeking of another womanās traces.
Besides, every time they slept together as husband and wife, it went beyond being bothersome and felt downright repulsive.
ā¦If only her husband resembled Duke Bayern even a little, it might not have been that repulsive.
Suppressing her anger toward her pleasure-seeking husband, she picked up her quill pen.
She planned to mention in advance the exhibition she was preparing to acquaintances and to those she had seen at Henryās solo exhibition.
Even if her reputation wasnāt what it used to be, no one would dare ignore the name of House Nord, so they would surely attend.
āOh, right. Now that I think about itā¦ā
Rebecca paused mid-stroke as she wrote in her elegant hand.
Sheād forgotten for a moment, but wasnāt she herself a member of the Delphinium Foundation?
āWaitā¦ why didnāt I think of that?ā
A good idea came to her.
A way to restore her tarnished reputation through this opportunity.
A meaningful smile spread across Rebeccaās lips.
