Disguised as a Male Servant in the Duke's House (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 10
Only then did she realize she was a servant, and flustered, she hastily took his shirt.
Seeing her stand there blankly holding the shirt, he pointed impatiently toward one end of the sofa—there lay a comfortable linen shirt he had taken out earlier.
“Me… me do it?”
“Do you think I’d call for another servant when there’s one right in front of me?”
Intimidated by his suddenly stern expression, she had no choice but to take the shirt from the sofa and approach him, half-naked as he was.
The moment she slipped his shirt onto his outstretched arm—a habitual gesture—he felt her fingertips brush against his bare skin.
Rozelia pretended composure, pressing her lips together tightly as she pulled the shirt up to his shoulders.
Just as she finished threading both arms through and stepped forward to fasten the buttons—
“Since you don’t seem inclined to speak of your business first, I’ll ask first instead.”
Trying not to reveal her trembling fingers, Rozelia focused on fastening the buttons slowly from the bottom up.
“Is Rozelia truly dead?”
Instantly, her hand—halfway up the row of buttons—jerked to a halt.
Rozelia’s face, gazing forward, froze.
Could it be… that the Duke had guessed her true identity?
His bare chest, half-exposed through the unbuttoned shirt, loomed ominously in the cool shadows of the night, appearing even more menacing.
Slowly, Rozelia lifted her eyes from his chest until they met his.
His cold navy-blue eyes, like the night sky itself, pierced right through her.
“I’ll ask once more. Is Rozelia de Hessink truly dead?”
Rozelia swallowed hard and deliberately put on a blunt expression.
“I don’t understand what you mean….”
Though her heart pounded wildly, her voice came out remarkably calm. She felt oddly proud of herself for standing so composedly under his sharp, probing gaze.
Klaus watched her intently for a moment before continuing leisurely.
“I mean exactly what I said. Is Rozelia truly dead?”
Was he testing her…?
Back in Algrisha village—had he actually seen everything clearly, though she’d assumed he hadn’t gotten a good look?
Her palms grew sweaty around the button she held, threatening to drop it. Yet Rozelia maintained her façade of calm and continued slowly fastening his buttons.
“You’re going too far with your jokes.”
At that moment, Klaus abruptly seized Rozelia’s wrist as she fastened his shirt buttons.
“Do I look like I’m joking?”
His firm grip instinctively made her frown, but she tried her best not to show panic and instead met his gaze even more boldly.
Because she’d leaned in so closely to button his shirt, their ragged breaths mingled right before each other’s faces.
“I don’t know why you’d ask such a thing, but that’s hardly something you should say to a brother who’s lost his sister.”
Annoyed by her defiant stare, Klaus released Rozelia’s wrist and, sitting sideways on the sofa, swept his bangs back.
“If your sister is truly dead, I owe you an apology—but if this whole thing is an act, I might just applaud you.”
“…”
“Antonio de Hessink.”
A chill seeped into Klaus’s voice as he clearly enunciated her name.
“You’d better answer properly. If you’ve faked your sister’s death out of some petty familial affection and spirited her away, the consequences for me won’t be trivial.”
What was he talking about now? Could it be…?
Staring wide-eyed at Klaus, Rozelia suddenly realized what he meant—and silently gulped in shock.
Apparently… he didn’t suspect she was Rozelia herself, but rather believed she’d hidden her younger sister away.
Perhaps he’d mistaken the familiar feeling he sensed from the woman in Algrisha village as some vague sibling resemblance.
Though absurd, she almost felt relieved.
Yet she couldn’t possibly admit to abducting her sister, so she kept her poker face and replied flatly.
“You’re being unreasonable. If she were truly alive, would I really have left her alone to struggle in such a harsh outside world? Even as a maid, she’d be far better off living in the Duke’s mansion.”
It made perfect sense. The treatment and living conditions for servants in the Duke’s household far surpassed those of ordinary commoners. In fact, many commoners queued up for interviews just to work there. No matter how noble one’s blood, once fallen from status, life became no different from that of any commoner.
Unless pride alone kept someone clinging to their former nobility, becoming a servant in the Duke’s mansion was a hundred times better than starving in back alleys.
“Whatever you think you saw, that girl and I aren’t blood-related siblings. Our appearances aren’t even that similar.”
Faced with Rozelia’s unwavering gaze, Klaus’s intensity faltered slightly.
Upon reflection, he couldn’t even clearly recall that woman’s face.
So why had he been so adamant in pressing Antonio? If they truly were strangers with no blood relation, suspecting them based merely on similar eye color or aura was irrational.
Clearly, that strange fragrance—now faint yet distinct—emanating from Antonio was clouding his judgment, just as it had from that woman.
Even now, alone together in the room, the elusive, unfamiliar scent subtly irritated his nerves. His senses grew unnaturally sharp, and a headache began to pulse.
Finally, Klaus rubbed his temples and spoke irritably.
“I apologize. I admit I pushed you over something uncertain.”
Relieved by his straightforward apology, Rozelia silently exhaled in relief.
But noticing his discomfort, she studied Klaus curiously. He seemed bothered by her gaze and waved his hand dismissively as he stood up.
“I’m rather tired today. You may go.”
Taking his dismissal as her cue, Rozelia bowed silently and left the room without a word.
Only once outside did she feel the taut string of tension within her finally snap, leaving her legs trembling.
Though she realized too late she hadn’t managed to ask the question she’d come for, she decided it was enough just to have survived such a perilous situation—nearly as dangerous as a matter of life and death.
[This is the timeline separator]Unexpectedly, the opportunity arrived as if it had been waiting.
The Marquis Herden’s tea party, where she would accompany Clojet as her domestic servant.
Why hadn’t she thought of this sooner?
The Herden Marquisate was Crown Princess Ibellione’s birth family. And Ikelia, the young lady of the house whom she was to meet today, was the younger sister of Crown Princess Ibellione.
This meant she could approach the Crown Princess herself—without needing the Duke’s help—by seizing this chance.
Among the dozen or so young noblewomen gathered at the Marquis’s tea party, Rozelia stood quietly behind them, constantly watching Ikelia for the right moment.
Because this tea party was held at the Crown Princess’s birth home, it was larger than usual, and several noble ladies had brought their domestic servants along, just like Clojet.
Behind the tea tables, handsome young men—like Rozelia—stood at a distance waiting on their mistresses, exchanging wary glances and sizing each other up.
Naturally, most of those glances were directed at Rozelia.
But Rozelia paid no mind to such trivial rivalries among servants. She was too busy scheming how to bring up the topic of paintings with Lady Ikelia.
“Oh my, the domestic servants are quite handsome. It’s a bit embarrassing to say, but among them, Princess Clojet’s servant is especially…”
“The most handsome, right?”
Clojet, seizing the moment, answered proudly and even shrugged her shoulders with delight.
Watching secretly from behind, Rozelia had to bite back an amused smile.
“Yes, amidst the rough and blunt men of Lugbeljet, he’s a rare example of delicate beauty.”
Well, of course—I’m a woman after all…
Silently murmuring to herself, Rozelia gave Ikelia a bright, friendly smile.
Predictably, Ikelia’s cheeks flushed as she covered her mouth and smiled happily.
“Hmph! A real man should be sturdy and masculine. Someone so delicate can hardly manage even simple servant duties properly!”
It was a young lady seated opposite Clojet who spoke.
Wasn’t she from the Belmont Marquisate? Her name was Jusid, if she recalled correctly.
Something about this “Delmont juice” or whatever had been picking petty fights since earlier, putting Rozelia in a bad mood. But Clojet, apparently used to Jusid’s provocations, didn’t even bother reacting.
Since her mistress stayed silent, Rozelia saw no reason to intervene and kept quiet.
Jusid, however, interpreted this silence as outright dismissal and flushed with humiliation.
“Now that I think of it, Princess Clojet—you’ve tied your hair up today? I’ve seen several other ladies with similar updos as well. It looks neat and refreshing. Is this the latest trend?”
When Lady Ikelia complimented Clojet’s hairstyle, Clojet instantly brightened and eagerly replied.
“Yes! Antonio did this for me. He also styled Lady Merlin’s hair in an updo before, and apparently it’s become quite popular among the young ladies since then.”
“Oh my, how meticulous!”
As Lady Ikelia praised her, Jusid, who had been silently sitting nearby, snorted dismissively.
Rozelia watched Jusid carefully, then approached with a gentle smile.
“Would it be too forward of me to offer to style your hair as well, Lady Jusid?”
“What?”
Making enemies in high society served no purpose. It was always better to cultivate good relations with influential figures and gather as much information as possible.
And especially given Lady Ikelia’s status as a Marquis’s daughter…
Most of the attendees were debutantes who had only recently entered society or were about to—so winning them over was easier than child’s play.
After all, Rozelia herself was a woman—and before being reincarnated into this novel, she’d been an office worker enduring the harsh hierarchy of senior female colleagues.
“If I may be so bold, Lady Jusid, your facial structure would truly stand out with an updo.”
“R-really?”
People who often criticized others or picked fights were usually starved for affection or attention. Rozelia handled Jusid like a skilled trainer enticing a monkey with treats.
“Absolutely. You have a youthful appearance, so an updo would give you a more mature aura.”
“Well then… I suppose…”
Before long, Jusid had naturally handed her hair over to Rozelia, her face flushed and demeanor unusually docile.
Watching this, Ikelia leaned toward Clojet and whispered quietly.
“It’s amazing how she managed to tame Lady Jusid so completely.”
Though Clojet had been frowning disapprovingly at Rozelia’s flattery, she seized the opportunity when she saw Ikelia’s positive reaction and carefully spoke up.
“Right? She’s my domestic servant, but she’s incredibly perceptive and capable. Plus, her aesthetic sense is so exceptional I’m often genuinely surprised!”
Clojet delivered Rozelia’s requested lines effortlessly, even adding an exaggerated look of admiration. Intrigued, Ikelia asked curiously.
“Exceptional aesthetic sense?”
“Yes! She has a truly unique eye for artworks—even the Duke himself acknowledges it. And since she was once nobility herself, there’s little risk of her being impolite to the Crown Princess.”
When Clojet even invoked Klaus’s name—knowing full well Rozelia disliked it—Ikelia’s eyes sparkled with keen interest.
Ex-husband Wants Reconciliation
One-line summary: Chasing the wife to the crematorium (making an effort to attract someone who has become indifferent), the female lead doesn’t look back, the second male lead takes the position.
Intro:
To repay the kindness of the older generation, Su Mu crossed into a female-dominated world and became a live-in daughter-in-law of the Yan family, single-handedly saving the Yan family from fire and water.
But her husband, Yan Jiyue, the eldest son of the Yan family, treated her with sarcasm and never showed her a good face.
It wasn’t until after Su Mu’s death that this pampered and arrogant young master shed a few fake tears and pretended to want to die for love.
This life’s kindness was enough. If there was a next life, she would definitely kick Yan Jiyue away.
Who knew that the heavens would be so kind as to allow her to be reborn, returning to the time when she had just married into the Yan family.
Su Mu glanced at the Yan eldest son, who still spoke coldly to her, and threw a divorce letter in front of him.
“Let’s divorce!”
***
Yan Jiyue never imagined that he would be reborn. He happily went to find Su Mu, wanting to make up for the mistakes he had made in his ignorant youth.
Wasn’t the reason the heavens allowed him to be reborn to let him reconcile with Su Mu?
But when he pushed open the door to Su Mu’s room, the person lying on the bed was another man.
Su Mu’s personal attendant, Xie Yi.
Yan Jiyue hated him so much that his teeth itched. In front of Su Mu, Xie Yi was a gentle and considerate whisperer of sweet nothings, but in reality, he was vicious-hearted and deliberately sabotaged their husband and wife relationship.
In the previous life, it was he who secretly hid in Su Mu’s coffin and committed suicide, stealing a step ahead of him to be buried with Su Mu.
Yan Jiyue’s eyes were filled with hatred as he cursed, “What kind of thing are you? Your background is lowly, what right do you have to occupy Su Mu?”
Xie Yi looked at the sleeping Su Mu and no longer pretended to be a whisperer of sweet nothings.
He proudly stuck out his belly, “I have the right because my belly is capable of giving the Wife-master a daughter.”
***
Yan Jiyue was consumed with jealousy. He spread rumors that Xie Yi had once been branded with the mark of a “harlot” on his chest.
But on the night Xie Yi cut off the flesh bearing that mark, Su Mu suddenly realized something was amiss.
“How did you know the exact moment I was poisoned? And why did you show up a month early?”
Xie Yi remained silent, blood from his wound soaking through his robes. His sapphire eyes brimmed with anguish – or was it just a flawless act?
Between a once-arrogant husband now seeking redemption, and a gentle soul willing to die for her – who truly held the darkest secrets? And could it be that Su Mu and Yan Jiyue weren’t the only ones given a second chance at life…?
[Reading Guide]
1. True divorce, chasing the wife to the crematorium, the female lead doesn’t look back, the male lead is Xie Yi.
2. The ex-husband did not cheat, he just realized too late and didn’t realize that he liked the female lead.
_____
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