Disguised as a Male Servant in the Duke's House (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 8

  1. Home
  2. Disguised as a Male Servant in the Duke's House (Completed Main Story)
  3. Chapter 8
Prev
Next

Truly, Rozelia considered it a stroke of immense fortune that she had managed to extract a generous twenty verangs from Klaus, and she smoothed her attire as reflected in the window.

By the window stood a mature woman, elegantly draped in a dress, her emerald-green eyes glinting prettily.

The ivory-colored dress, fluttering just below her knees, was cinched at the waist with a brown leather vest—a silhouette that vividly revealed the curves she’d long concealed beneath dull suits.

Every step she took drew the furtive gazes of village youths trailing after her.

The outfit had cost a staggering 150 grangs. The local tailor must have recognized her as an outsider and overcharged her, but she had no time to haggle over such things.

Her hair was no longer the long, jet-black tresses of before; instead, sunlit golden locks cascaded down to her waist.

Recalling that the heroine Ibellione had golden hair, she had splurged on a wig just in case. Thanks to its adhesive—guaranteed never to slip off, thanks to powdered mana crystals—it looked remarkably natural and complemented her green eyes beautifully.

Of course, it couldn’t compare to her own rich, lustrous black hair… but as long as she resembled the heroine closely enough to stir Abello’s emotions, this would suffice.

The only difference between herself and the heroine was their gender.

Abello’s haggard appearance, the untidy house and garden, and especially the sight of a young girl—clearly in need of a mother’s care—sitting alone, unkempt and forlorn…

She suspected Abello’s wife might have parted from the family under tragic circumstances. And if Abello still harbored deep longing for his late wife… he’d likely be vulnerable to a woman who reminded him of her.

Keeping this in mind, Rozelia had changed her attire—not exactly cross-dressing, but adopting the heroine’s outfit as reference.

Gazing at her reflection in the window, Rozelia confidently stepped forward, her golden hair fluttering as her gem-like green eyes sparkled.

Returning once more to Abello’s house, Rozelia knocked firmly on the door, her expression resolute.

“Who is it…?”

Expecting that same man again, Abello opened the door irritably—but froze in wide-eyed surprise upon seeing an unfamiliar woman.

“Wh-who are you…?”

“I’m Antonio’s younger sister—the one who visited earlier.”

“Oh… I see. What brings you here…?”

“We’d like to buy your painting.”

As soon as Rozelia replied as if she’d been waiting for this, Abello clamped his lips shut again. After a long, silent moment staring at the floor, he finally spoke.

“As I said before, that painting…”

“Mama!”

At that moment, a little girl who’d been playing with a rag doll inside came running out.

The child suddenly buried herself in Rozelia’s skirts, leaving both Rozelia and Abello flustered.

“Erlin! She’s not your mother! I’m sorry—she’s still so young…”

“No, it’s quite all right.”

Rozelia bent down to meet the child’s eyes and offered a gentle smile.

“Do I look like your mama?”

Erlin, hearing this, stared wide-eyed at Rozelia’s face.

“Well… no? My mama’s eyes are sky-blue…”

Seeing the girl’s dejected expression, Rozelia felt inexplicably guilty.

“Oh dear, don’t you like my eyes, then?”

“It’s not that… you’re just not my mama… hiiing…”

Tears welled up suddenly in the child’s eyes, and Rozelia was taken aback.

Flustered and unsure what to do, Rozelia watched as Abello pulled Erlin into his arms and spoke with an awkward expression.

“I’m sorry… it hasn’t been long since her mother passed…”

“What’s ‘passed,’ Papa?”

Despite tears and snot streaming down her face, the girl—clearly eager for any mention of her mother—turned to Abello with a question, leaving him visibly uncomfortable.

“It means Mama went far away.”

“Then when will Mama come back? Can’t we just not ‘pass’ her?”

Both Abello and Rozelia looked at the child with troubled eyes, hesitant to speak further.

“If Erlin waits nicely, will Mama come back?”

When Abello remained silent, the girl’s tears spilled over as she asked again with brimming eyes.

Watching this, Abello’s heart seemed to break; he embraced Erlin tightly and finally let his own tears fall.

Now seated across from Abello at his humble dining table, Rozelia observed his somber face.

Erlin, as if she’d never cried, was sitting on the floor again, playing with her rag doll.

Abello watched her with pity and spoke bitterly.

“I’ve shown you a sight you shouldn’t have seen.”

“No, it’s understandable. This must still be difficult for you.”

Trending

Hearing the genuine concern in Rozelia’s voice, Abello lowered his head, ashamed.

Just then, Erlin—who’d been playing with her doll—suddenly stood up as if remembering something and ran toward Rozelia holding an object.

She brought a straw hat woven from reeds and shyly offered it with a bashful smile.

“This is pretty!”

“Yes, it is! Is it yours, Erlin?”

“No, it’s Mama’s! Look! That’s Mama over there! Isn’t she pretty?”

Erlin pointed toward a painting propped against the wall.

In the painting, a golden-haired woman wearing a straw hat smiled happily amidst a rose garden, beside a little girl who resembled her closely.

Only then did Rozelia understand why Abello had sold the painting to the heroine.

Just as she’d suspected, Abello had projected his late wife onto the golden-haired woman in the painting.

To Abello and Erlin, that painting was like a photograph—a precious memory of wife and mother…

Her heart grew heavy for no reason.

“That painting is my last work. I tore up all my other paintings, but I couldn’t bring myself to destroy that one.”

“…”

Don’t make me feel sorry for you! I came here to buy that painting!

While Rozelia wrestled with this inner turmoil, Abello—who’d been gazing wistfully at the painting—suddenly spoke with firm resolve.

“You said you wanted to buy that painting, didn’t you?”

“Huh? Yes… I did, but…”

“I’ll sell it.”

“What?”

Abello’s sudden change of heart left Rozelia flustered.

“But… even so, that painting is important to you and Erlin…”

“I’ve been selfish. I was so lost in my wife’s shadow that I forgot about Erlin.”

His gaze returned to his daughter.

Erlin, now wearing her mother’s straw hat, stood before a cracked mirror, proudly admiring her reflection.

Though the broken mirror couldn’t show her properly, the child’s innocent face betrayed no awareness of its flaw or inadequacy. That sight seemed to pierce Abello’s heart even deeper, and he spoke decisively.

“For Erlin’s sake, I’ll sell the painting. I believe her mother would have wanted this too.”

“Are you sure?”

“I need to pull myself together for my daughter… If I’d stayed trapped in this house, I’d never have moved on from that painting. I should thank you, miss.”

His bitter smile carried a vague sorrow, and Rozelia nodded calmly, though her heart ached.

“Would fifteen verangs be acceptable?”

“That’s more than enough—far too generous. My paintings weren’t even worth fifty grangs before.”

“No, Abello. Your work simply hasn’t been recognized yet—it’s truly excellent.”

This was the truth.

In the original story, after being discovered by the Crown Princess, Abello rose to fame. Starting with that first piece, he sold several more paintings to her and eventually received imperial patronage, flourishing as an artist.

Of course, now she herself had triggered that first opportunity… but she had no intention of altering what came afterward.

Rozelia planned to sell this painting to the imperial court at a high price—and would make sure to mention the artist’s name. Naturally, the Crown Princess—enchanted by Abello’s work—would seek him out and support him generously.

Smiling gently, Rozelia pulled fifteen verangs from her pocket and handed them to Abello.

Puzzled by her meaningful smile, Abello simply accepted the coins carefully.

Thus, clutching the painting Abello had meticulously wrapped for her, Rozelia stepped out of the house.

“Come visit again, big sister!”

With Erlin’s bright farewell smile imprinted in her mind, Rozelia walked away feeling as though a weight had been lifted.

Fortunately, after paying for the painting, exactly one verang remained—enough to catch a carriage bound for the ducal domain.

Though carriages weren’t lined up here as frequently as in the city, there were still a few running between the capital and the duchy, so flagging one down wouldn’t be a problem for her return.

Spotting a carriage approaching in the distance, Rozelia hurried toward it, desperate to stop it.

If she missed this one, there was no telling when the next would come—she’d planned to change clothes inside the carriage anyway.

But in her haste, her eyes fixed straight ahead, she failed to notice a man stepping out from the side—and crashed right into him.

“Oh! I’m so sorry! I was in a rush and…”

Breathless, Rozelia looked up at the man she’d collided with—and froze, her breath catching in her throat.

The tall man in a tailored charcoal-gray suit frowned in displeasure as he smoothed the lapel on the side she’d bumped into.

ads

His face was far too familiar, and Rozelia stared blankly, as if reality had slipped away.

“It’s fine.”

Even his curt, dismissive tone was painfully familiar.

And as if to confirm her dread, a familiar voice rang out from afar.

“Your Grace! The site for the school is this way!”

It was Alejandro’s voice.

And the man before her eyes…

Duke Klaus de Valtezar… of all places, why here?!

And of all appearances, why like this?!

The moment she fully registered it was Klaus, her heart began pounding violently. Fear that he might recognize her dried her mouth and clenched her fists tightly.

“My lady?”

Seeing his collision partner standing speechless and dazed, Klaus finally lowered his gaze to examine her face.

Almost reflexively, Rozelia lifted the painting to hide her face.

The sudden movement nearly caused Klaus to smack his face against the frame, and he jerked back with a scowl.

Most Commented This Week
Prev
Next

YOUR COMMENT

1. Please write comments in English.
2. Inline comments are now available. Tap the end of any line in a chapter to share your thoughts instantly.