“Tell me, were you kicked out of your house?”

At Nadia’s blunt question, Roselia, who was getting ready to leave, gave an awkward laugh.

“Ah, yes… Well… It turned out that way.”

Nadia, observing the evident discomfort in Roselia’s voice, leaned on her chin with a mysterious expression.

“I thought you were dumped by a man when you suddenly showed up last night.”

“What??”

“Why? It’s about that age, isn’t it?”

At Roselia’s startled reaction, Nadia’s lips curled up in amusement.

“It’s not like that.”

Suddenly reminded of Klaus and feeling a pang of guilt, Roselia avoided Nadia’s gaze.

Then, Nadia, with a meaningful smile and narrowed eyes, remarked.

“Well, it’s the prime time for such things.”

“I’m telling you, it’s not like that.”

As Roselia was being dismissive, she suddenly stopped her motion upon noticing a medicine bottle on the table.

Realizing Roselia was looking at the medicine bottle, Nadia leisurely approached the table, casually tapped the bottle, and began speaking comfortably.

“I used the funds from selling my paintings – actually, it was a generous donation from a wealthy patron who admired my talent. So, I’ve bought medicine and received proper treatment. Don’t worry.”

Relieved by Nadia’s straightforward words, Roselia felt a bit more at ease.

“That’s good to hear. When I receive the next donation, I’ll bring it to you.”

Nadia replied with a light smile.

“You don’t have to come just for the donation.”

“Huh?”

“Come over often, I get bored.”

Charmed by Nadia’s carefree smile, Roselia found herself smiling back.

“Yes, I’ll visit again.”

With those words, Roselia stepped out onto the still dark streets and opened the door.

Fortunately, she spotted a moving carriage approaching from a distance.

Lucky to catch an early carriage, Roselia quickly changed her clothes inside it.

Having grown accustomed to being Antonio, she always carried men’s clothing in a small bag.

The coachman looked bewildered as a woman boarded but a man alighted, but Roselia, unconcerned, quietly entered the Ducal mansion.

Carefully avoiding the maids and servants already preparing for the morning, she made her way to her room.

It was a perfectly executed infiltration.

Breathing a sigh of relief as she entered her room, she began to unbutton her crumpled shirt to change into tidier clothes.

“Back already, I see.”

Startled by the sudden voice, Roselia inhaled sharply and whirled around.

There was Klaus, leisurely sitting on a single sofa.

“Duke…?”

Responding to Roselia’s incredulous look, Klaus slowly stood up, hands clasped behind his back.

“Where have you been?”

Where else? You dropped me off at Nadia’s house, so I stayed there.

Roselia bit back the words that almost slipped out and coolly replied.

“That’s my personal business.”

Surprised by such a retort, Klaus let out a disbelieving huff.

“Personal business?”

So, meeting a secret lover and staying out all night?

Klaus’s expression twisted unpleasantly for a moment.

“What kind of personal business requires staying out overnight?”

Feeling unfairly accused, Roselia replied as respectfully and rationally as she could.

“As far as I know, even an employer doesn’t have the right to intrude into an employee’s personal life.”

That damn right. Just like her brother, Roselia was making similar arguments. Klaus’s lips twisted into a wry smile.
“I have a duty as an employer to manage and protect my employees. So, I think I have the right to ask this much.”

It seemed Klaus wouldn’t leave until he got a proper answer. Roselia, tired from an uncomfortable sleep in a strange place, sighed deeply and resignedly opened her mouth.

“I met a friend.”

“Which friend?”

Frustrated by Klaus’s persistent questioning, Roselia’s face crumpled.

“What does it matter to you who it was?”

“A man or a woman?”

Klaus himself was taken aback by his own question. What difference does it make if it’s a man or a woman? Which would he prefer to hear?

Caught in a whirlwind of confused thoughts, Klaus was flustered for a moment. Meanwhile, Roselia sighed deeply and replied.

“A woman.”

Roselia was honest in saying it was a woman, referring to Nadia. However, Klaus’s expression turned shockingly surprised.

Roselia looked at him quizzically, and Klaus coughed awkwardly, avoiding her gaze.

“A woman, I see… Alright…”

Roselia’s eyebrows furrowed. Should she have said it was a man?

Just as she was contemplating this, Klaus, who had been lost in thought, suddenly hardened his expression and looked at her coldly.

“No matter what your personal business is, as a servant of the Ducal mansion, it shouldn’t interfere with your duties, should it?”

Roselia, taken aback, furrowed her brow and replied.

“It’s not even working hours yet.”

The official working hours for the servants started at 7 am, so it was still early.

Klaus cleared his throat, noticeably disturbed by the faint scent lingering in the room.

Did she wear perfume after meeting a woman?

As these thoughts crossed his mind, he grew increasingly displeased.

“Did you spray some perfume?”