If she were in the state of Rozelia, she would have understood, but currently, she was Antonio.

Having seemingly grasped Rozelia’s inner thoughts, Johannes showed his characteristic gentle smile.

“Please pass this on to Lady Rozelia. It’s hard for me to deliver it in person.”

“Ah… Yes, thank you. I mean, I’ll make sure to pass it on.”

In response to her bewildered greeting, Johannes smiled cheerfully.

Rozelia, who was absentmindedly gazing at his smile that could melt most women, suddenly blinked at a passing thought.

“Viscount, by any chance…”
After a moment of hesitation, Rozelia blurted out with a feeling of uncertainty.

“Since you pretended to be Rozelia’s lover, how about helping me, well, us?”

Johannes, who had been making a puzzled expression at her desperate voice, soon responded with a gentle smile.

“What is it? If I can be of help, I’d be glad to assist.”

Upon Johannes’ words, Rozelia’s expression brightened as if she had encountered a savior.

Observing Johannes with a warm smile, Rozelia felt a slight pang of conscience, but she rationalized that she might as well make good use of the situation she had created by pretending to be the lover of the Duke.

Mentally justifying her actions, Rozelia gazed at Johannes with a meaningful expression.

Johannes, who seemed to understand that Antonio already knew Rozelia’s true identity, smiled as if finding her cute.

The carriage of the Duke’s mansion arrived in the bustling commercial district of the city.

Soon, Rozelia in the attire of a male servant and Duke Valtesar, the owner of the mansion, descended from the carriage.

Klaus, gazing at the lively commercial district, furrowed his brows as if bothered.

“We have a first-class chef at the Duke’s mansion. Do we really need to eat out?”

Responding to Klaus’s discontent, Rozelia brightly smiled and replied.

“Sometimes it’s good to lift your spirits!”

Seeing her cheerful expression, Klaus gave up on complaining and looked around.

“Where’s Rozelia?”

“She said she would wait here…”

Saying so, Rozelia pretended to look around, scanning Klaus’s expression.

It seemed like he still had no suspicions.

Now, if Nadia and Johannes played their roles well…

At that moment, beyond the crowd on the opposite side of the city, Nadia and Johannes appeared.

Wearing the blond wig Rozelia had been wearing and a broad-brimmed hat, Nadia turned around.

Confirming the disguise, Rozelia spoke loudly.

“Oh! There she is.”

At Rozelia’s words, Klaus’s gaze turned to the direction she pointed.

Nadia, disguised as Rozelia with the blond wig and chatting with Johannes, was visible only from behind.

Johannes affectionately stroked her cheek.

Observing that scene, Klaus stiffened.

Something felt odd.

It wasn’t like before, where his heart raced or jealousy flared up.

Certainly, just seeing Rozelia with the Duke by her side last time made his blood boil.

Amid Klaus being in shock, Nadia, pretending to be Rozelia, hesitated for a moment and then boarded the carriage Johannes had opened.

Witnessing this, Rozelia, acting as Antonio, exaggeratedly uttered her words.
“Oh? This…! It seems like something urgent has come up for the Duke! What a shame… I’m truly sorry, Your Grace. I’ll try to catch up!”

“…….”

Even as Rozelia continued her act of remorse, Klaus was in a state of serious contemplation.

Misinterpreting his expression differently, Rozelia cautiously observed his reaction.

“A-Are you… angry?”

Thinking that Klaus was angry because she followed Johannes after promising, Rozelia couldn’t contain her anxiety. Klaus, thinking she had gotten angry, hardened his expression and sternly spoke.

“First, let’s return to the mansion.”

With Klaus’s expression having turned quite serious, Rozelia had no choice but to nod silently.

Thus, upon returning to the mansion, the two unexpectedly found themselves having dinner alone.

Under normal circumstances, Rozelia would have declined, but Klaus’s expression seemed too serious. Moreover, due to the preparations for this peculiar play, which involved her roaming around in different directions, hunger had taken over, and she reluctantly accepted.

It seemed Klaus had informed the chef about the expected guest, as the dining table began to be filled with luxurious dishes as if they had been waiting.

However, even with the food laid out on the table, Klaus’s expression remained unrelaxed.

“Eat.”

Antonio, lost in complicated thoughts, didn’t even glance toward Klaus, who picked up the knife.

Holding the fork and knife, Klaus once again became lost in his thoughts.

Certainly, he thought he had an interest in Rozelia, but why wasn’t his heart pounding now?

Even with the Duke beside her, Klaus’s heart used to turn upside down. Why wasn’t he feeling jealousy now?

Could it be that he was really…?

Thinking such thoughts, Klaus inadvertently looked toward Antonio and stiffened with a start.

Whether the hunger had subsided or not, Klaus was seen earnestly chewing the food with his small mouth.

The lips, diligently chewing the food, were temptingly glossy with grease.

His sparkling green eyes pursued the food, and he stuffed his mouth full, puffing up his cheeks.

Klaus couldn’t help but be drawn to the sight.

Damn, why is he eating so cutely like that?

Realizing he had been absentmindedly gazing at Antonio and finding him cute, Klaus was shocked.

Cute…? Cute to a man…!

Oh dear, it seems he has developed a proper taste after all.