Disguised as a Male Servant in the Duke's House (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 11
Clojet, noticing the change, quickly continued.
“Now that I think of it, didn’t Her Highness Crown Princess Ibellione de Rugbeljet say she had a great interest in paintings?”
“They say she’s been summoning famous artists to the palace quite often lately. Though it seems she hasn’t found any that truly pleased her yet…”
“Antonio recently came across a rather fine piece. If you’re agreeable, shall I show it to Her Highness the Crown Princess?”
Ikelia, who had seemed lost in thought for a moment, smiled brightly.
“Since both Your Highness and the Duke have acknowledged Antonio’s discernment, there’s no harm in making an introduction. I’ll speak to Her Highness myself.”
At this affirmative reply, Clojet curled the corners of her lips into a sly smile and subtly raised a hand behind her back.
Rozelia, who had been tending to Jusid’s hair, instantly recognized Clojet’s discreet thumbs-up signal and gave a knowing smile.
[This is the timeline separator]Rozelia walked down the imperial corridor, clutching a painting wrapped in brown paper, her face flushed with excitement.
Her cheeks were pink, brimming with eager anticipation.
Of course, part of it was the hope of selling the painting at its true value—but there was another reason for her thrill.
The anticipation and joy of finally meeting in person the female lead of her favorite novel—one she’d adored even after rereading the original story ten times!
It had only been three years since she’d transmigrated into the novel.
In the original story, the Crown Princess, who was the female lead, had been remarkably composed, calm, and radiated charisma.
The male lead, the Crown Prince, had misunderstood her reserved nature—but eventually came to regret blaming and resenting her, only realizing his love far too late, in a classic tale of remorseful romance.
In that storyline, she herself had merely been an extra, existing only to add tension before fading away…
But now, things were clearly unfolding in a completely different direction, so there was no need to worry.
…Or was there?
Come to think of it, according to the original novel, there were only about six months left until Rozelia’s death.
Had she truly escaped her doomed fate?
Just as this uncertain doubt flickered in her mind, her steps—guided by a servant—had already brought her to the antechamber of the Crown Princess.
“Your Highness, a servant from the Valtezar Ducal household has arrived.”
At the steward’s dry announcement, a calm voice came from within the room.
“Let them in.”
At the Crown Princess’s reply, the steward wordlessly opened the door and stepped aside, allowing Rozelia to enter.
Rozelia swallowed hard and stepped into the sunlit room.
“Welcome. You’re Antonio, aren’t you? I’ve heard about you from Ikelia.”
A woman with golden hair and violet eyes smiled serenely.
Her smile was neither excessive nor cold—beautiful, refined, and dignified.
Ibellione de Rugbeljet—the Empire’s Crown Princess and the original story’s heroine.
Rozelia, utterly spellbound by Ibellione’s breathtaking beauty, suddenly realized she hadn’t even properly bowed yet and hastily dropped into a low curtsy, flustered.
“Y-Your Highness! This is… this is truly humbling!”
“That’s enough. Raise your head. You’re Clojet’s cherished domestic, correct? To me, Clojet is like a younger sister, just as dear as Ikelia. I was quite curious after hearing her praise you so highly.”
“I-I’m truly honored!”
Seeing Rozelia so stiff with nerves, Ibellione gave a faint, benevolent smile.
“You seem quite busy being both humbled and honored.”
“I-I’m honored…!”
Rozelia, about to repeat the same phrase again, quickly bit her lip and flushed red—prompting Ibellione to offer a rare, genuine smile.
“I heard you had something you wished to show me.”
Deciding it was safer not to speak further, Rozelia immediately unwrapped the painting and placed it carefully on the table.
As Ibellione gazed at the painting laid out before her, a look of surprise flickered across her face.
Staring at it as if entranced, she murmured in admiration,
“Who is the artist who painted this…?”
“A little-known painter named Abello Huntum, Your Highness.”
Upon hearing the name “Abello Huntum,” Ibellione repeated it softly, then spoke in a quietly moved tone,
“The painting… feels so warm. Just by looking at it, I feel I understand the emotions of the woman and the girl within.”
Rozelia smiled back at Ibellione’s heartfelt appreciation.
She felt proud on Abello’s behalf—as if his hard work were finally being rewarded.
“I’ll pay a fair price for this painting.”
With those words, Ibellione opened a box on the table and took out what appeared to be a check. As Rozelia watched her fill in the amount and sign it, her jaw dropped.
O-One thousand Berangs??
In the original story, hadn’t she bought the same painting from Abello for only 500 Berangs…?!
Stunned by the unexpected sum, Rozelia froze in place. Misinterpreting her shock as awe at such a large amount, the Crown Princess grinned.
“This is both payment for the painting and a little bribe for you, Antonio.”
“B-Bribe…?”
At that loaded word, Rozelia gulped and met Ibellione’s gaze. Ibellione, studying her meaningfully, interlaced her fingers on the table and continued calmly,
“It’s a way of saying I’d like to count on you. I’d like to continually support the artist Abello Huntum—ensuring he never lacks for anything in his work. And I’d prefer you, Antonio, handle the disbursement of this patronage.”
“Me…?”
The Crown Princess’s words clearly meant this was a commission—and that she wished to continue sponsoring Abello exclusively through Rozelia.
Caught entirely off guard, Rozelia could only stammer in confusion.
Ibellione, her violet eyes gleaming gracefully, smiled sweetly.
“As you know, my movements aren’t free. I simply trust you more than the palace staff—you already know the artist, after all.”
Indeed, even in the original plot, Ibellione had barely managed to slip out incognito and, by sheer luck, met Abello.
Though flustered, Rozelia reluctantly nodded.
“And starting with this, if you bring more works by other talented unknown artists, I’ll always pay generously. I’m entrusting this to your discernment, Antonio. What do you say?”
Hmm… maybe she could pay off her debt faster than she’d thought?
As soon as money entered the picture, Rozelia’s panic gave way to swift calculation—and unconsciously, a capitalist smile crept onto her face.
“Ovcols!”
“Huh? O-ov cols?”
“It just means you can count on me.”
“Ah! I see! Ovcols!”
Watching Ibellione echo her words with a bright smile, Rozelia’s expression softened into something touched and sincere.
Just then—
The door burst open without warning.
“The Valtezar Ducal household sent a servant, I heard.”
The man who strode in had the same dazzling golden hair and sun-like golden eyes as Ibellione.
Only one person could barge into the Crown Princess’s chamber unannounced.
The male lead of the original novel—a possessive, remorseful hero who spent most of the story making the heroine suffer, only to repent desperately near the end.
And the very man who’d condemned the original Rozelia to the executioner’s block.
Crown Prince Esteban Vandeloup de Rugbeljet.
If Klaus had merely set the stage for Rozelia’s death, Esteban was the one who’d personally delivered the final blow.
Though she’d never lived through it herself, facing the man most directly tied to Rozelia’s fate in the story made her whole body freeze stiff.
Esteban, paying her no mind, shot Ibellione a disdainful glare and sneered,
“What scheme are you plotting now, Crown Princess, that you’d meet the Duke’s servant behind my back?”
Knowing his terrible temperament all too well from the novel, Rozelia swiftly hid the 1,000-Berang check in her sleeve before he could notice.
Worried the painting might be damaged by the Crown Prince’s volatile temper, Ibellione calmly moved it under the table and turned to him with composure.
“Scheme? Your Highness, I was merely exchanging pleasantries regarding Clojet’s well-being.”
“You summoned the Duke’s servant just to hear news of a princess? Do you expect me to believe that?”
Faced with the Crown Prince’s unreasonable accusation, Ibellione’s expression hardened.
“And if I don’t? What exactly are you suspicious of?”
At her cold, steady question, Esteban let out a bitter, mocking smile.
“One never knows. Maybe the two most powerful noble houses—the Marquisate of Herden and the Duchy of Valtezar—are conspiring together to stab me in the back.”
“Your Highness!”
Ibellione, unable to hold back any longer, called out sharply.
Seeing anger flash across her face, Esteban seemed finally satisfied. With a sneer, he stepped forward and seized her wrist.
“Or perhaps, just as my mother hanged herself under noble pressure, you plan to drive me to the same cliff’s edge? Unfortunately for you, I’m not nearly so weak.”
“Your Highness, please…!”
The Crown Princess grimaced in pain as Esteban’s grip tightened on her wrist.
Watching the Crown Prince’s misunderstanding deepen, Rozelia reluctantly stepped forward—
Or rather, tried to.
Before she could take another step, Klaus appeared through the doorway and shoved past her.
Rozelia, shoved aside like an inconvenient obstacle by the abruptly arriving Duke, could only stare at him in disbelief.
Klaus looked furious—though how he’d known to appear here, she couldn’t guess.
“Enough, Your Highness.”
“Oh? Duke Valtezar. They say even ghosts appear if you speak their name—how fitting.”
“Release her hand.”
The Duke, who rarely showed emotion, now clearly displayed unmistakable anger.
Klaus’s open hostility seemed to further provoke the Crown Prince—Esteban’s golden eyes glinted with madness.
“Are you giving me orders now, Duke Klaus de Valtezar?”
It felt like standing in the eye of a thunderstorm.
How had she ended up caught between the novel’s protagonists like this…?
Rozelia could only stand awkwardly in the corner, feeling as useful as a sack of grain left propped against the wall.
“Both of you, stop this at once! If you keep acting like this, Your Highness, I won’t attend the next face-to-face meeting regarding the Rapellios Accord!”
The Rapellios Imperial accords had largely been spearheaded by the Crown Princess herself.
This fact alone proved that, despite his hatred for her, even the Crown Prince respected her diplomatic skill.
With the third Rapellios Accord drawing near, Esteban, though visibly displeased, had no choice but to back down.
“How impressive—a Crown Princess of a nation threatening her own Crown Prince with a diplomatic accord.”
“…”
The Crown Princess sighed deeply as she watched him storm out, his resentment palpable even in silence.
Rozelia exhaled at the same moment—and suddenly, both the Duke and the Crown Princess turned their gazes toward her.
“And what are you doing here?”
Under Klaus’s suspicious glare, Rozelia was momentarily speechless.
Male lead first thought she played hard to get, only to realize she
really disliked him
Short intro:
What she can’t stand the most is the streets full of effeminate men, especially that so-called top beauty whom she avoids at all costs.
Shen Yaoxing looks at Jiang Mingyue, who keeps approaching her with coy shyness.
Shen Yaoxing: Bro, don’t be like this, I’m really about to throw up!
She fears nothing in heaven or earth, except for him getting close to her.
*
At first he thought she was just using the trick of feigning indifference to attract his attention. Later, he learned that she truly despised him.
This dealt a heavy blow to Jiang Mingyue, and he vowed to make her, like everyone else, fall at his feet in worship!
***
Synopsis:
Before transmigrating, Shen Yaoxing only wanted to find a reliable man to spend her life with. Who knew that after transmigrating, she would become a reliable woman herself…
A forced misandrist, highly skilled, and reliable female lead
vs.
An initially aloof and arrogant, later morbid, obsessed male lead
_____
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