Saying that, Roselia entered the mansion, heading towards the kitchen. At that moment, a gruff voice that held her ankle sounded.
“Antonio, sir.”

It was Butler Jeffrey.

Roselia, without realizing it, tensed her shoulders and looked at Jeffrey.

“Yes, Mr. Butler.”

Jeffrey approached Roselia slowly, confirming that there were no other servants around, and then opened his mouth heavily.

“Do you happen to know the rumors circulating around the Duke these days?”

Understanding what he was talking about, Roselia lowered her head, feeling like a criminal.

“Ah… Yes…”

“I’ve never dared to interfere with what the Duke does. I’ve always followed him, trusting and obeying him, as he is like a sharp knife that doesn’t tolerate any rumors that could tarnish the Duke’s reputation. It seems Antonio is an exception.”

Roselia’s face stiffened as she guessed his implication.

“So, please. Please, be cautious. The Duke is the only Duke leading the Rugbeltz Estate. Only a few hundred of his followers believe and follow him, not to mention the thousands or tens of thousands involved in his business.”

Roselia’s mouth tightened. The concern the butler had for her in her male state was somewhat expected.

But would the situation have been different if she were a woman?

Feeling burdened by the possibility that Klaus and her relationship might be viewed as inappropriate, Roselia could not lift her head before the butler.

????????????

At that moment, when Roselia, unable to lift her head, was frozen before the butler, a familiar voice cut through the air between them.

“Jeffrey, who told you to make such unnecessary meddling?

It was Klaus, who seemed to have returned from an outside task, standing like a giant wall at the entrance of the mansion, bathed in light.

“Duke…!”

With debt in his posture, Klaus approached them step by step.

“I’ll handle my affairs.”

In response to his cold words, the butler, with a puzzled expression, struggled to open his mouth.

“But there are already rumors spreading inside the mansion!”

“Unfavorable rumors?”

Klaus, who had approached them unnoticed, revealed his expression.

With a displeased look, Klaus raised his eyebrows and, with an arrogant and dignified expression, looked down at the butler.

“Are you saying I like Antonio?”

At Klaus’s very direct words, Roselia was so surprised that she gasped.

Jeffrey called Klaus with a perplexed expression.

“Duke!”

Just as Klaus’s carriage arrived, gathering the servants for a welcoming party.

Hearing Klaus’s declaration, the servants began to murmur to each other.
In contrast to the bewildered reaction of the servants, Klaus scanned the surroundings with an indifferent expression.

“Everyone here, remember every detail without missing a single word.”

At his cold tone, the murmuring in the surroundings instantly ceased.

“Antonio is no longer a servant of the Duke’s estate. So, treat him with the utmost courtesy as a guest of the Duke. As for how I think of him and how I treat him, that’s my personal matter. I hope there won’t be any unnecessary rumors circulating from the Duke’s estate.”

Once again, his declaration caused a stir in the surroundings.

Claus, who sharply glanced at those around him, drove the point home.

“If, by any chance, today’s conversation finds its way to Antonio’s ears, remember that I won’t stay silent as the Duke’s master.”

Under his chilling gaze, the servants once again sealed their lips.

Amidst them, Claus, who observed the stunned Roselia, soon grabbed her wrist and walked away confidently.

Roselia, in surprise, called out to Claus.

“Duke!”

Grasping her more firmly than intended, Claus was startled and released her hand.

“Oh, my apologies. Did it hurt?”

“No, that’s not it. What on earth are you thinking?”

“What do you mean?”

In response to his blunt question, Roselia spoke with frustration.

“The servants might think of me as a man.”

“Is their opinion important? As long as it’s not us.”

“Then I might as well disclose that I’m a woman.”