“Tell me, were you kicked out of your home?”
At Nadya’s blunt question, Roselia, who was preparing to leave, offered an awkward smile.
“Ah, well… yes. Circumstances just turned out that way.”
Noticing Roselia’s troubled tone, Nadya rested her chin on her hand, her expression unreadable.
“When you showed up so suddenly last night, I thought maybe you’d been dumped by a man.”
“What??”
“Why not? You’re at the perfect age for that.”
Seeing Roselia’s startled reaction, Nadya curled the corners of her lips, as if she found it endearing.
“It’s not like that.”
The moment Klaus’s face flashed through her mind, Roselia felt a guilty sting and averted her gaze.
Nadya narrowed her eyes, a meaningful smile playing on her lips.
“Right, it’s the prime of life.”
“I told you, it’s not like that.”
Roselia, previously defensive, suddenly flinched and froze upon spotting a medicine bottle on the table.
Noticing her gaze, Nadya sauntered over to the table, tapped the bottle, and spoke with casual grace.
“It’s not from the money I made selling paintings, but a donation from a wealthy gentleman who took a liking to my talent. I used it willingly. Thanks to him, I bought medicine and got proper treatment, so don’t you worry.”
Nadya’s lighthearted tone eased the tension in Roselia’s chest.
“That’s a relief. I’ll come by again to deliver the next donation once I receive it.”
Nadya beamed at her.
“You can visit often, even without a donation.”
“Pardon?”
“I get bored. Come by often.”
Caught off guard by Nadya’s easy-going smile, Roselia found herself smiling back before she knew it.
“Yes, I will.”
With that, Roselia stepped out into the streets, where the sun had yet to crest the horizon.
Fortunately, she spotted a transport carriage approaching in the distance.
Lucky enough to catch the early morning ride, Roselia changed her clothes in a flash.
She had become so accustomed to being Antonio that she now always kept men’s clothing in a small bag.
The coachman looked at her with bewildered, wide eyes—as if he’d seen a ghost—when a woman boarded and a man stepped out, but Roselia ignored him and quietly entered the Baltezar Duchy.
Seeing the staff already starting their morning duties, she ducked away, avoiding their gaze as she slipped toward her room.
It was an infiltration operation that could only be described as perfect.
Sighing with relief, she stepped inside and began unbuttoning her wrinkled shirt to change into something neater.
“So, you’ve finally returned.”
At the sudden voice, Roselia drew in a sharp breath and spun around.
Klaus was sitting leisurely on a single-seat sofa.
“Duke…?”
Klaus rose slowly, hands clasped behind his back, meeting Roselia’s gaze—a silent demand for an explanation.
“Where have you been?”
Where else? You were the one who dropped me off at Nadya’s house, so I stayed the night.
Roselia suppressed the retort and replied as calmly as she could.
“It is a private matter.”
Perhaps not expecting such a sharp response, Klaus let out a scoff of disbelief.
“A private matter?”
Did she mean she had been meeting a secret lover?
Klaus’s expression twisted into sudden displeasure.
“What kind of private business requires staying out all night?”
Under Klaus’s interrogation, there was no room left for the diplomatic courtesies Roselia usually maintained. She spoke as rationally as she could, defending her autonomy.
“Even if you are my employer, I am under the impression that you have no right to infringe upon an employee’s private life.”
That “right.” Seeing her use his own logic against him, as if they were truly siblings, Klaus offered a cynical, crooked smile.
“As an employer, I have a duty to manage and protect my subordinates. Therefore, I believe I have every right to ask.”
He clearly had no intention of leaving without a proper answer. Exhausted from a restless night in an unfamiliar place, Roselia sighed, resigning herself to the situation.
“I met a friend.”
“Which friend?”
At Klaus’s persistence, Roselia’s brow furrowed in frustration.
“Would you know even if I told you?”
“Is it a man, or a woman?”
Klaus, having asked the question, looked momentarily taken aback by his own words.
What did it matter if it were a man or a woman? Which one was he hoping for?
While Klaus fumbled with his own chaotic thoughts, Roselia sighed heavily.
“It is a woman.”
She answered honestly. Nadya was, in fact, a woman.
But Klaus’s expression turned to one of profound shock.
As Roselia stared at him in confusion, he cleared his throat and averted his eyes.
“A woman… I see.”
Roselia narrowed her eyes. Was she supposed to have answered that it was a man?
Just as she began to ponder his strange reaction, Klaus suddenly hardened, his aura turning icy.
“Even if it is your private life, as a servant of the Duchy, you should not let it interfere with your work, should you?”
Roselia blinked, furrowing her brow.
“It is not yet working hours.”
Official duties did not begin until 7:00, and it was still early.
Klaus frowned at a subtle, lingering fragrance wafting through the room.
Did she wear perfume to meet a woman? The thought made him even more displeased.
“Did you wear perfume?”
Roselia looked bewildered.
“I didn’t spray any perfume?”
Had Nadya’s scent clung to her? As a puzzled Roselia lifted her arm to sniff the air, Klaus cut her off coldly.
“Do not wear it in the future. It doesn’t suit you.”
Roselia felt a flare of indignation, but before she could argue, Klaus turned and strode toward the door.
“Come to my office after breakfast. I have something to tell you.”
He was likely going to discuss the Crown Prince’s proposal.
Roselia already knew the content, but she nodded nonchalantly.
Klaus glanced back at her, standing blankly for a moment before exiting.
Only then did Roselia sigh, collapsing onto the bed with a drained face.
She could never understand why the Duke kept taking offense.
* * *
“I am never going to have dinner with the Crown Prince or that human ever again.”
At Closette’s sullen voice, Roselia let out a soft, winded smile.
Seeming offended by her reaction, Closette furrowed her brow and protested.
“I’m not joking. I almost died, for real. Melda had to prick my finger three times!”
Hearing that, Roselia felt a strange pang of wonder, thinking how little this world differed from her previous life.
Unlike Roselia’s musings, Closette, perhaps feeling guilty for leaving Roselia behind, spoke up cautiously with a dejected expression.
“I’m sorry about yesterday… nothing happened, did it?”
“Why would you be sorry, Young Lady? It was because the Crown Prince was being stubborn and holding me back.”
Originally, Roselia had intended to follow closely behind as Closette left.
That was, until the Crown Prince threatened her with bizarre accusations, claiming the meal was far from over or asking if it was truly alright for her to leave when he had more to say about “Antonio.”
Come to think of it, if not for the Crown Prince, she wouldn’t have had to ride in Klaus’s carriage, and today’s incident wouldn’t have happened either.
Thinking of the Crown Prince as the root of all evil, Roselia’s expression soured.
Noticing this, Closette mumbled, feeling guilty.
“Are you angry, Antonio?”
“What? No. I’m not angry at you, Young Lady.”
Seeing Closette look so crestfallen, Roselia hurriedly waved her hands with a bright smile.
Feeling reassured, Closette’s face lit up, and she approached Roselia to whisper conspiratorially.
“Actually, the Crown Princess sent a letter yesterday. She was worried.”
“The Crown Princess did?”
“Yes! She wants to invite you to the tea party again today as an apology. Of course, it’s a tea party for ladies only, so the Crown Prince or Klaus won’t even be able to get near.”
Unlike the excited Closette, cold sweat broke out on Roselia.
It would be so much more comfortable if she simply didn’t go to the Imperial Palace at all.
While Roselia hesitated, unable to find a polite way to refuse, Closette cut her off with a smirk.
“And I just happen to have had your dress delivered.”
“My dress??”
It was a topic that didn’t fit well with being Antonio, who was dressed in servant’s attire.
Closette, full of anticipation, clapped her hands.
As if on cue, Melda and her personal maids appeared.
*Oh, this situation feels very familiar…*
“I ordered several in the size of that green dress we were lucky enough to fit for the debutante. Now, take your pick!”
That did not look like “several” to her.
Staring at the dresses lined up on the wheeled rack, Roselia felt a wave of exhaustion.
“Um… Young Lady, I think I would be fine just wearing the dress I have…”
“What are you saying! You have to wear something decent when you go to the Imperial Palace! You don’t call that low-quality thing you wore yesterday a dress, do you? Honestly, I didn’t say it yesterday because you were Antonio, but that outfit was a bit embarrassing.”
Was it really that bad…?
She had bought it in a hurry at a tailor shop frequented by commoners, so the quality was lacking, but it hadn’t seemed that disastrous.
While Roselia hesitated, Melda and the maids rushed in at Closette’s signal.
Melda’s expression was full of determination to ensure a perfect transformation, as they had plenty of time.
The result of that two-hour process was, somehow, even more meticulous than the look she had sported at the masquerade ball.
“My goodness, Rosel… no, Antonio! As expected, you’re beautiful!”
“You can call me Roselia when I’m dressed as a woman.”
Unlike the green dress from the ball that matched her eyes, this one was a cool, elegant blue that highlighted her refined purity.
Having put on the matching accessories and shoes, Roselia sighed, thinking it was finally over.
Then, as if it were her turn, Melda brought out Closette’s dress, and the young lady rose with excitement.
It was a blue dress of a similar shade to Roselia’s.
As Roselia looked at the gown with curiosity, Closette said with a sly smile.
“I bought mine to match yours so we could coordinate. Isn’t it pretty?”
At Closette’s beaming expression, Roselia smiled helplessly and cautiously rose to her feet.
“Then, please get ready. I’ll go to my room to pack my clothes and come back out.”
She had to keep men’s clothing with her at all times, not knowing when or where she would need to turn back into Antonio.
Just as she greeted Closette and exited the room, Roselia bumped right into Klaus, who was about to enter.