Roselia cursed inwardly. *Dammit, you idiot! He’s going to be even more suspicious now. Not that I’d expect anything less from Klaus!*
As she had anticipated, Klaus was looking down at her with a piercing, suspicious gaze, his eyes tracking the way she kept her face hidden behind the frame.
“Did you injure yourself when we collided?”
His tone was polite, but his voice was chillingly sharp. Unable to answer—or even lower the heavy frame shielding her face—she simply turned on her heel and bolted.
Klaus watched her go, finding the sight of her scurrying away with that massive, awkward package utterly absurd. He was so taken aback that he didn’t even feel the urge to give chase. Was she a debtor who owed him something? It was a plausible theory. However, he couldn’t shake the sensation that the woman’s face, caught in a fleeting glimpse during the collision, was hauntingly familiar.
He hadn’t examined her closely, as he had been preoccupied with other affairs, but he vividly remembered her green eyes.
Green eyes, he thought…
“That’s impossible.”
Out of all the people in the world, why would a face like that come to mind? Klaus let out a self-deprecating smile and shook his head.
Just then, Alejandro, who had been waiting for him, lost his patience and approached.
“Duke, what are you doing? The owner of the plot is waiting.”
At Alejandro’s urging, Klaus pushed his doubts aside and turned away.
“I’m coming.”
Alejandro sighed, grumbling as he watched Klaus walk over as if nothing had happened. “But why on earth are you planning to build a school in a small village like this? Wouldn’t it be far more profitable to build it in the capital or the Duchy estate?”
Klaus shot a pitying look at Alejandro, who was busy stating the obvious, and spoke as he began walking toward the plot.
“The capital already has an academy exclusively for nobles. Even if I built one in the Duchy, the inhabitants there are already wealthy enough that they would prioritize the capital’s academy anyway.”
“Well… but the number of students allowed into the capital is limited. Wouldn’t those who fail to get in apply to your new academy instead?”
Klaus clicked his tongue at the predictably dull response.
“Alejandro, this is exactly why you can’t manage a project on your own.”
“Why? What did I say wrong?”
“As you said yourself, that would just make the school a second-tier substitute for the capital’s academy.”
“Well… I suppose.”
“Furthermore, the land in the Duchy is already saturated. Trying to secure a plot large enough for a school there would lead to a massive loss.”
“Hmm… that is true.”
“However, this village of Algrisha is small and undeveloped, so the land is both spacious and cheap.”
“But will building a school in a tiny place like this actually be profitable?”
To Alejandro’s skeptical question, Klaus offered a smug, confident smile.
“This isn’t just some small village. It’s a gateway for merchants traveling between the capital and the Duchy, and a hub for commoners who cannot afford to live in the capital. As more merchants and caravans congregate here, the village will grow, and the population will increase.”
Alejandro’s expression lit up as if he had finally grasped the point.
“So, you’re targeting merchants and ordinary commoners, rather than the aristocracy?”
Klaus curled the corner of his mouth, satisfied with the realization.
“I’m going to build a school that isn’t a second choice for nobles, but a first choice for the rising middle class.”
Alejandro looked at Klaus with a mix of awe and respect, realizing once again how frighteningly adept he was at sniffing out profit. The capital’s academy had stringent requirements for entry; it was nearly impossible for commoners to get in without a noble’s recommendation. Even for wealthy merchants, gaining entry usually meant facing rampant discrimination.
By building a school for these marginalized but affluent groups, Klaus could rake in wealth while simultaneously cultivating the public image of a benefactor. He was his boss, yes, but sometimes he was truly terrifying.
“Truly… you never cease to be brilliant in these matters.”
To Alejandro’s half-praise, Klaus let out a soft, airy laugh.
“It’s not just in these matters. I haven’t lost the top rank since my own academy days.”
“Yes, yes. Of course.”
As if tired of hearing more, Alejandro shifted his attention to the land documents.
“Well, as long as we finish the negotiations with the owner, the rest should proceed smoothly. By the way, do you know the woman you bumped into earlier?”
He had asked because he remembered Klaus staring at her retreating back. Klaus rubbed his chin, his face lost in thought as the woman he had momentarily forgotten returned to his mind.
“I’ve been wondering about that myself.”
“Pardon?”
“Whether she is someone I know.”
Klaus’s expression, as he said this, mirrored his usual coolness, causing Alejandro to shiver and turn his head, wanting no part of it.
***
Roselia slammed the table in disbelief.
“20 Berang??”
Despite her fierce protest, the man sitting in front of her shook his head with a firm look, as if any further bargaining was an insult.
“I can’t offer more than that. Even if it came from a servant in the Duchy… the artist is a total nobody! You should be grateful I’m offering this much.”
Roselia gulped back a frustrated breath. 20 Berang was barely enough to cover the original cost of the canvas. This was a masterpiece destined to be a hit—it should have fetched at least 500.
“Appraise it once more! I’m telling you, it’s worth at least 500 Berang!”
“Haha… 500 Berang? Where did you hear such an absurd price?”
*In a novel!!*
Roselia swallowed her anger, holding back the words she desperately wanted to scream. In the original story, the Crown Princess had personally paid a massive sum for this painting, meaning it was likely that only someone of her stature would recognize its value.
That meant she had to get this painting in front of the Crown Princess. But there was no way a mere servant could ever secure an audience.
Just then, a thought struck her. No, it wasn’t impossible. Wasn’t someone quite close to the Imperial Family residing right there in the mansion?
Duke Klaus De Baltezar.
He could come and go from the Imperial Palace as if it were his own home. He was the Crown Princess’s longtime childhood friend, after all. Or perhaps more? In the original story, the Duke even…
Roselia felt a sudden wave of discomfort and shook her head violently, grabbing the painting.
“Forget it. I refuse to sell to a place that can’t recognize the true value of art.”
The merchant didn’t even bother to stop her. Roselia walked out fuming, then sighed as she leaned against a wall to think. If she asked the Duke, she might be able to meet the Crown Princess, but it felt unsettling—as if she were stepping into the shoes of the original Roselia, whose life had been ruined by those very connections.
She caught a glimpse of herself in a shop window. Her white shirt and tuxedo vest made her look like any other servant of a noble house.
*That’s right,* she told herself. *I’m not a maid being toyed with by the Duke. I am fundamentally different.*
That thought gave her a necessary boost of confidence. She had to sell the painting and pay off her debt. With a determined expression, she headed toward the Duke’s mansion.
***
Roselia paced back and forth in front of the Duke’s door.
*Is asking the Duke really the only way? What if he refuses?*
*No, I’m doing this to pay back my debt. Why wouldn’t he agree?*
*Still… it’s getting late. Maybe I should come back tomorrow…*
Suddenly, as if he had heard her inner monologue, the door swung open. Startled, Roselia found herself staring into the surprised eyes of Klaus. He wasn’t in his usual tailored suit; he wore a more relaxed outfit, consisting only of dress trousers and an unbuttoned white shirt.
Klaus’s gaze moved toward her, puzzled at first, then settled calmly.
“I was just about to call for you. How convenient.”
Since it was the first time they had faced each other since her cross-dressing incident, she felt like she might hiccup. Roselia swallowed hard and feigned indifference.
“For me?”
“Didn’t you have some business with me? I could hear you pacing in the hallway.”
As Klaus stepped aside to let her in, Roselia felt a jolt of anxiety and let out a dry cough. The Duke’s room was exactly like him—tidy, devoid of clutter, and precise. While she was busy looking around, noting how the room felt as cold as its owner, she heard the door slam shut with a heavy thud.
The sound was jarring. Roselia turned, her face tense, to see Klaus firmly locking the door. He began walking toward her with a leisurely, predatory stride.
She stepped back until the sofa armrest pressed against her thighs.
“What business do you have with me?”
As Roselia hesitated, unable to find her voice, Klaus let out a soft, mocking laugh and reached for the buttons of his shirt.
*Huh? Why is he unbuttoning…*
While Roselia’s eyes went wide with confusion, his hands worked with agonizing slowness.
*Uh… wait? So suddenly? And I’m currently a man, even if it’s just a disguise!*
While Roselia spiraled into a state of chaos, he finished undoing the buttons and slipped the shirt off his shoulders.
“Hup…!!”
She barely managed to suppress a scream and darted her eyes away. Klaus furrowed his brow, looking at her with cold confusion.
“What are you doing?”
“Yes…?”
“Aren’t you going to help me change?”