As Long As You Are Happy

“That little rat… She does nothing right. Tsk, even the way she breathes grates my nerves.”

“That fool, how many times do I have to tell you this! How many times! I have never had to deal with someone as dumb as you before! Do you even understand me?”

The people in the slums had hated Irina. 

Their reason for the hatred was simple. Because they thought Irina was getting preferential treatment from Ben. 

In a way, they were right to think that Ben treated Irina differently. 

Because Ben did not beat Irina to death or immediately sell her to the Baron of Barrodon. 

‘He had only been bidding for the right time to do so but…’

Unaware, the people in the slums merely hated seeing her and hated hearing the sounds of her breath. 

Their sharp gazes whenever she took a step and the way that they would swear at her clung onto her ankles when she took another. 

Her chest now felt stuffy. 

Irina bit her lips. 

‘I should go back.’

If they continued to stay in this convention, even the duke might receive criticism just for being with her. 

She should tell him that she was not feeling well and return to the estate. 

‘Since the duke noticed I wasn’t feeling comfortable earlier, he should understand.’

She had not even seen half of the paintings here yet but she held no regrets.

They were heading back. 

Just as she slightly parted her lips to speak, the Duke of Winfried pressed his thumb down on Irina’s lower lips. 

And Irina found herself suddenly biting down on the duke’s finger. 

“Is this a habit of yours?”

“Huh?”

“To bite your lips whenever you’re feeling anxious.”

Was she biting her lips? 

Irina blinked her eyes slowly. 

“Look, you have a wound here now.”

The duke pressed his thumb down even harder.

Maybe she really had a wound on her lips now because a tingle shot down her body when he did. 

Urgh, Irina winced. 

The wound was small but it hurt when he pressed that hard. Tears welled up in the corner of her eyes. 

‘What’s going on?’

Now that he had alerted her of her wound, was he not going to remove his thumb soon? 

But the duke did not remove his finger. On the contrary, he only pressed down harder. 

His red eyes were fixated on her as always.

“… I-it hurts.”

Eventually, unable to endure the pain anymore, Irina sputtered out almost incomprehensibly. It was only then did he remove his hand. 

“Miss Irina.”

After retracting his hand, the duke continued. 

“They’re not gossiping about you, they’re talking about me.”

“About the duke?”

Why?

It would make sense if they were talking about her but the duke left no flaw on display for them to criticise. 

The way he walked, the way he stood and the way he dressed was impeccable in every sense. 

“Have you not heard rumours of me?”

As though she really did not know, Irina furrowed her brows before the duke continued. 

“Have you really not heard anything about me? I must be fun to talk about so I’m sure that there are some rumours about me circulating in the slums.”

“Ah.”

Right, she remembered now. 

It was only then did the countless rumours about the Duke of Winfried she had heard come to mind. The war-crazed lunatic, his killings, the way he had been thrusted into the war the moment he was born and was raised on the battlefield. Ah, there was also word that he was excited by the sight of blood. 

The war hero who fought for everyone. 

The rumours about him were so messed-up but she had no idea why. 

Didn’t she even hiccup in his presence because she had believed in those rumours as well?

Even though he was the one who had saved her.

“…..”

When she recalled how they first met, she had fallen into him.

Regardless of whether she heard of his rumours, the duke continued. 

“So, you do not have to worry yourself with what the others are murmuring about.”

As he spoke, there was no change in the Duke of Winfried’s expression.

He looked as though he was not bothered with the murmurs because he had more or less gotten used to them.

“… That’s only because they are unaware.”

Though she was upset, Irina tried her best not to bite her lips again.

“If they could just talk to you, your grace, they would know that those rumours are absolutely false.”

But she could not stop her forehead from wrinkling or her brows from furrowing. 

She squeezed the duke’s arm she had been intertwined with for escort. 

“You don’t need to concern yourselves over them either,”

“Well.”

Hm? She had never thought he would react like that.

“… I don’t know if I shouldn’t.”

He muttered as though he was mostly talking to himself. Irina blinked slowly. 

“Miss Irina, there seems to be a humongous painting over there.”

“A humongous painting.”

“Would you like to go and take a look?”

Irina nodded.

 What was going on? Irina was certain she had not heard him wrong. 

She was only more confused because there was no change in his usual expression.

The two continued walking again before entering a room that looked as though it used to be a drawing room before it was renovated.

It was in this room where most of the paintings were hung and where people had gathered in groups of either two or three.

“Wow.”

What entered Irina’s line of sight was a landscape painting that was, as the duke said, literally large enough to fill half of this side of the wall. 

The green hills, the clear skies, the lake and the sunlight showering down on it all. 

She was overwhelmed by the size and the grandeur of the painting.

“Uhm, I recognise this painting.”

Irina’s voice rose by several notches. 

“I remember seeing it in a book once and I heard about it from the madam as well. I heard the artist behind this painting was also from the slums.” 

“Really?”

Irina nodded the instant she heard the reply that seemed to be laced with a smile. 

“Yes, I even heard that the painter was a woman. I was surprised to learn that. She had pretended to be a man at first before later revealing that she was a woman. Isn’t that fascinating?”

Winfried nodded. 

“The madam had told me that back when that artist was active, for a woman, being an artist was frowned upon.”

“I never knew.”

“Really?”

Irina flashed a broad smile. Her blue eyes curled beautifully as they drew a gentle arch. 

“If you hadn’t, then you can learn now. I’ll tell you more about it.”

Grabbing onto his arm tightly, Irina continued to explain excitedly. 

Rogan smiled to himself at the sight. 

To be honest, everyone knew about this painting. 

The artist behind the painting was so famous that even people who were not that into art knew about her. 

Moreover, the previous duchess, not wanting her son to fall behind even though he was still fighting in the war, brought tutors to their estate to teach him art, painting, dance and even singing. 

It was thanks to his upbringing that Rogan could recount every moment of this artist’s life without a single hiccup. 

Still, even though Irina was talking about something he already knew, he was enraptured. 

As she talked, Rogan found himself staring at her instead of the painting. 

Whether it was her eyes that were illuminated by the chandelier or her cheeks that were flushed with excitement. 

He captured her crimson lips as she spoke in his gaze. 

‘Pretty.’

It was just like the time they first met. 

Even though the situation or her appearance shouldn’t logically make him think that of her, hadn’t he automatically thought that she was? 

And now that she was eating and sleeping well, she looked even prettier. 

To the point, his hands keep reaching out to her in spite of himself.

“…..”

Rogan clasped the finger that had pressed on her lips earlier. For some reason, he wanted to bite that same finger. 

“Duke?”

It was at that moment her blue eyes turned to him. Rogan let out a soft noise in surprise. 

“Why do you keep staring at me? You should be looking at the painting.”

Irina slightly tugged at his arm as though she wanted him to get closer to the painting. Letting himself be dragged, Rogan took a step closer to the painting. 

“If you take a look here, doesn’t the sunlight look like a flower to you? That’s why this painting is titled ‘Flowers in the Field’. Isn’t that interesting?”

“Do you like this painting?”

“Huh?”

“Then I’ll buy it.”

No, what was he talking about? 

To her surprise, he did not continue. Irina blinked her eyes. 

She had merely asked if he had found what she was saying interesting too but suddenly the conversation had shifted and they were talking about purchasing the painting. 

Regardless, the duke reached out for a piece of paper from underneath the painting. 

“H-hold on!”

Irina desperately clung onto Rogan’s arm. 

“It’s too expensive.’

“You act as though you know how much money I’m bidding.”

Irina’s gaze spun when she heard Rogan teasing her. 

“I know that people buy paintings for higher prices on purpose in charity auctions.”

Actually, the butler had told her that just before she left. 

But Irina raised her head without shame as though she had known from the very beginning. 

“The duke has already donated a few paintings, including some in my name. And that is enough.”

“It is not enough.”

Replying curtly, Rogan picked up the piece of paper. 

“A donation is a donation but purchasing is a different matter. 

Rogan quickly scribbled an amount on the paper. Irina tilted her head to sneak a glimpse at the amount but he was a step ahead of her.

“And if I’m going to buy a painting, it’s best if I buy something someone likes.”

Rogan carefully folded the piece of paper before slotting it into a small box.

“So, it’d be best if I buy this one.”

“Did you not have a painting you fancied either, duke?”

Rogan nodded in response. 

After she pondered over his response, she gave a small nod.

“… Thank you.”

She wiggled her fingers before looking up at Rogan. 

“I’ll cherish it.”

“I never said I was giving it to you, though?”

“…..!”

“Kidding.”

Staring back at her widening eyes, Rogan smirked before smoothly nudging her to turn around and pulling her away. 

The ladies and wives that were around her age seemed to have gathered in a corner. 

They shot side-glances at Rogan and Irina before quickly turning back around when their eyes met. 

“Now, shall we execute what the madam has taught you, young lady of the Leonid County?”

She had attended this event to impress the other ladies in society before Seine Florence could spread any strange rumours about her.

However, Irina, who had been staring intensely at the duke just earlier, hesitated. 

“Do I have to? If I just stay put…”

“Watching is not the same as doing it yourself.”

“Still.”

When she took a peek at her surroundings moments  before, she realised that there weren’t anyone here who were whispering about the duke. 

But that did not relieve her of her hesitation. 

Still, she couldn’t be sure. 

There might be people who are still gossiping about the duke behind their backs. 

“Alright.”