Staring into the garden with absentmindedness, Klaus, who was painting with an easel unfolded, asked in surprise.

“What happened?”

Finally realizing that she had come out to the garden to be a companion for Klaus, who was drawing, Roselia was startled and raised her head.

“W-What happened…?”

“All day, it seemed like your mind was halfway out.”

“M-Me?”

“Hmm…”

With her face turning red, completely flustered, Roselia caught the scrutinizing gaze of Klaus.

“Looking like someone who’s had too much to drink, blushing with a vague expression…”
In response to Closet’s direct words, Roselia blushed even more and avoided eye contact.

Observing her intently, Closet, after glancing around, spoke bluntly.

“But did you know?”

“W-What?”

“Today, all the male servants of the aristocrats are all glancing at you.”

“What?”

Only after Closet’s words did Roselia look around nervously.

As Closet said, all the servants of the aristocrats were glancing at her awkwardly.

Could it be because of the fragrance? Perhaps it was due to the persistent fluttering in her chest and the pounding heart all day.

Embarrassed, Roselia, lowering her head in an awkward manner, called Closet in her embarrassment.

“Milady!”

As Roselia called Closet in embarrassment, Closet, glancing somewhere, spoke playfully.

“Oh, another big bee is flying over there.”

“What?”

Perplexed by Closet’s words, Roselia turned her head and, with a puzzled expression, looked at Klaus, who was approaching briskly.

“Antonio.”

In response to Klaus’s displeased appearance, Roselia answered in embarrassment.

“Yes, my lord.”

“I guess it won’t work. Today, let’s talk about business in my study.”

Saying that, Klaus suddenly grabbed her wrist, and Roselia had to move her steps with a bewildered expression.

Well, what wouldn’t work? Moreover, what kind of business talk did he want to share with her?

Pulling her along, Klaus entered the study, suddenly pressing her against the wall and trapping her in his arms.

“Mi-Milord?”

As she showed a slightly frightened expression, Klaus, who had softened his expression, exhaled deeply.

Then, as if escaping from a suffocating space, he inhaled her scent deeply, murmuring.

“What should I do? Even for a moment, if you’re not by my side, I feel like I’m going crazy…”

Under the warm breath touching her neck, Roselia’s face flushed.

Because of his firm arms and legs that seemed to pin her against the wall, she couldn’t move.

In the moment when the air suddenly became cold, Roselia’s mind became hazy. At that moment, an alien voice that shouldn’t have been heard in that space reached her ears.

“Uh… um…”

The air, which had heated up with their body temperature, instantly became cold.

Startled, Roselia looked toward the direction of the sound, and there she saw Alejandro standing awkwardly in the corner of the study.

Unlike the flustered Roselia, Klaus, with a slightly turned head, only opened his mouth uncomfortably.

“Why are you here?”

In his cold voice, Alejandro, unable to find a place to look, awkwardly replied.

“You called for me, my lord…”
Finally recalling that he had summoned Alejandro earlier for the construction of the school building, Klaus let out a deep sigh.

“Now, I’m a bit busy, so let’s talk again in the afternoon, Alejandro.”

As if scolding the clueless Alejandro, Klaus forcefully pronounced his name, causing Alejandro to be flustered and bow his head.

“Uh… Yes, then, in the afternoon…”

Come to think of it, Alejandro probably still thought of her as a man…

In a moment of embarrassment and shame beyond description, Roselia hastily interrupted Alejandro.

“No! I’ll leave!”

Upon Roselia’s response, Klaus furrowed his brow.

Despite Alejandro being there, Roselia managed to escape from Klaus’s embrace, hurriedly distancing herself.

“Well, you two take care of your business. Haha…”

Saying so, Roselia’s face, retreating as if fleeing, was full of spirit.

Goodness, even if they decided to be in a relationship, doing something like that so openly in a male disguise…

Perhaps she needed to talk to Klaus about this aspect, she thought, and swiftly walked down the corridor as if no one were watching.

⭐️⭐️⭐️

Aside from Klaus’s small study, the Duke’s mansion had a huge library that rivaled the royal library.

Having received permission to enter the Duke’s library from Klaus, Roselia entered to gather information.

Originally, her goal was to repay Klaus’s debt and live quietly in a secluded rural place unrelated to the original work. However, much had changed since she decided to be with him.

As long as she stayed by his side, the Duke’s family, who would attempt to use her, would not stop their machinations. Moreover, the chances of standing out in the Rafaelos Imperial family, alongside the famous Duke Valtezar, were higher.

Nevertheless, she didn’t want to regret choosing Klaus, as it was her decision, as the Earl Vernas had said…

She needed information about the Duke’s family, which had attempted to kill her, when the secret of her lineage might be revealed, and information about the Rafaelos Imperial family, who might target her anytime.

As she searched for books on the history and genealogy of Rugbelzet and Rafaelos for a while, a giant hand touched the bookshelf beside her.

“What book are you looking for?”

Startled, Roselia turned her head and, to her surprise, found Klaus standing behind her, making a wry expression.

“I’m looking for the history of Rugbelzet and the Rafaelos Empire.”

In an instant, Klaus’s giant hand touched the bookshelf on the other side of her.

Before she knew it, she found herself looking up at Klaus, who had encased her in his arms.

“Earlier, you managed to escape quite well.”