Disguised as a Male Servant in the Duke's House - Chapter 22

Roselia, who had returned to being Antonio, was in Closet’s room discussing the aftermath of the debutante ball

Closet, after knowing she was a woman, acted even more comfortably as if she had gained a sister

While enjoying light refreshments in Closet’s room after the successful conclusion of the banquet, Closet asked with her eyes shining brightly

“By the way, how do you know His Highness the Crown Prince?”

“Um… rather than knowing him… I should say we’ve only seen each other’s faces.”

“You’ve only seen each other’s faces, but His Highness asked you to dance?”

“I know…”

In fact, the Crown Prince would have danced with any woman in the ballroom, even if it wasn’t her

His only goal was to distort the expression of the Crown Princess

Though it seemed he ultimately failed to achieve that goal

“Then did you meet His Highness the Crown Prince when you were a woman?”

They had met when she was disguised as a servant, but feeling that telling would only invite more questions, Roselia awkwardly laughed it off

“Well, yes…”

“His Highness… Even if you’re pretty, still, with Her Highness the Crown Princess right there.”

It was precisely because the Crown Princess was there that he had ostentatiously asked for a dance

It was difficult to explain the complicated circumstances of adults to the still young Closet, so she quickly gave up

However, without a moment’s respite, Closet’s other questions poured out

“Ah, right. Klaus was chasing after you fiercely like he was hunting prey. Did he find out?”

Should she say he found out, or that he didn’t…

“That’s… a bit difficult to explain… Ultimately, the Duke doesn’t know that I’m Roselia.”

“He’s really quite dull in these matters…”

Seeing Closet shake her head and click her tongue, Roselia put on a deliberately serious expression due to needless anxiety

“You’ll keep it a secret from the Duke, right?”

“Of course! Unless Roselia tells him directly, I’ll keep it secret until I die. Ah, wait… What should I call you from now on? Roselia? Antonio?”

“Please call me Antonio as usual so as not to arouse suspicion.”

“Alright, Antonio.”

Closet smiled brightly, seemingly excited about having a secret with Roselia

Watching her, Roselia smiled with a sigh as if looking at a younger sibling and slowly got up

“It’s getting late, so I’ll return to my room now.”

“Okay! Be careful of Klaus on your way! That guy moves around without making a sound.”

Roselia chuckled at Closet’s actions, rubbing her arms as if telling a ghost story

Roselia knew well that even while saying such things, Closet had opened her heart a bit to Klaus who attended today’s debutante ball

After bowing politely to Closet and stepping out the door, Roselia walked down the dark corridor

The servants, exhausted from wrapping up today’s banquet, seemed to have already retired to their rooms

Then, as she quietly walked down the somewhat eerie corridor, a familiar yet chilling voice reached her ears

“I see you’re coming out of Closet’s room.”

Klaus, in casual attire as if he had just come out of the study, was staring at her intently from within the darkness

Though startled enough to scream, Roselia maintained her composure as much as possible and spoke calmly

“Yes… The young lady seemed still excited from the debutante ball and couldn’t settle down.”

After saying that, Roselia bowed her head slightly and walked past him

At that moment, his low voice, cast downwards, caught Roselia’s ankle

“I didn’t get to say this earlier at the banquet because it was so hectic, but…”

Uncharacteristically trailing off, Roselia turned to look at him, feeling extremely tense

Staring at her intently, Klaus lowered his gaze as if embarrassed and muttered softly

“Thank you for various things. For helping with Closet’s debutante preparations. For telling me what’s important to Closet…”

Hearing unexpected words from his mouth, Roselia stared at him with wide eyes, wondering if she had heard wrong

It seemed Klaus himself found it unfamiliar to say such things, as he quickly composed his expression and changed the subject with his usual cold demeanor

“You suddenly disappeared in the middle of the banquet, where did you go?”

In fact, during that time she was already there as Roselia right in front of him, but unable to reveal this, the flustered Roselia rolled her eyes before quickly answering

“Ah… They said they were suddenly short-handed. Since I’m also a servant of the Duke’s household, I helped out for a while.”

“Is that so? Well… It did seem like more guests attended than we had budgeted for.”

He nodded as if understanding once his thoughts turned to financial matters

“Roselia de Hesink also attended the banquet as a guest… Did you know?”

Suddenly, Roselia’s shoulders stiffened involuntarily

Despite his leisurely tone, Klaus’s gaze on Roselia was shining like that of a victor before negotiations

Roselia tried not to show her surprise as she calmly met his gaze

“Yes, I knew.”

Looking into her still upright green eyes, Klaus tilted his head as if surprised

“Really? When did you hide your sister from me, and yet you just watched when she walked into the tiger’s den on her own?”

“Because I don’t have the right to stop that child’s choices.”

At Roselia’s confident words, Klaus, who had been staring at her intently, slightly curled up the corners of his mouth

“One thing is certain.”

Roselia’s gaze met Klaus’s eyes questioningly

His navy blue eyes shone like they did when he had gained an advantageous position

“That you lied to me.”

Under his persistent gaze, Roselia’s eyes slightly shifted to the side

“You even lied using a death certificate.”

Though she couldn’t take back her words, leaving the reins to Klaus like this would be unacceptable, so Roselia hurriedly continued

“I had no choice then. I couldn’t trust what kind of person you were, Your Grace.”

At Roselia’s calm response, Klaus slowly stroked his chin

“Fine. I won’t probe into past matters any further.”

Klaus, who seemed lost in thought for a moment, looked down at her with a cold expression

“Instead, it would be better for her to come to the Duke’s residence. Didn’t you say before that it would be better for your sister to stay at the Duke’s residence than to live out in the harsh world?”

Damn it, to think he would remember the excuse she had given when he inquired about Roselia’s life or death

Roselia forced a smile while breaking out in a cold sweat

“Well… That was certainly my opinion, but my sister’s wishes are more important in this matter.”

Frowning one eyebrow at her answer, he opened his mouth coldly

“Do you know where your sister is staying now?”

It seemed he had brought this up to confirm his belief that she was staying at a tavern

Though their circumstances were different, he might have been concerned as someone in a similar position with a younger sister

“Yes, I know. But there’s no need to worry. I heard she’s not doing such harsh work as you might think, just serving and running errands.”

“Even so, isn’t it a bit much to let her stay in such a place?”

No, if her real brother and she herself are fine with it, why are you interfering like this?

Does he want to keep two hostages for debt repayment?

Frowning, Roselia continued coldly, as if driving in a nail

“That too is that child’s choice. I trust my sister. So I hope Your Grace will trust her as well. My sister and I will absolutely repay the money.”

At Roselia’s cold response, Klaus simply stood there with his lips tightly shut

Soon, Roselia bowed her head proudly before him and walked past him down the corridor with determination

Watching her for a while, Klaus brushed up his bangs with a self-deprecating smile

“I worried needlessly, unlike myself.”

He was confused, as nothing went according to his plans whenever he got involved with the Hesink siblings

Roselia once again dressed as a woman and headed for the back alley for her previously failed meeting with Nadia

A tavern located in a secluded alley of Balthazar’s duchy

Last time she had visited as a customer and been turned away, then came back dressed as a woman but fled due to Klaus

Just as she was heading towards the alley with firm resolve to buy Nadia’s painting today, a sudden commotion erupted on the street

“Stop right there!”

“You little vermin!”

Along with the men’s rough shouts, the sound of someone running frantically echoed through the alley

When Roselia looked questioningly into the alley, she saw Nadia running with her frail body, about to collapse, being chased by three or four men

Before Roselia could think, Nadia, who was fleeing from the men, stumbled and fell to the ground due to her weak legs

“Kyaa!”

Unable to get up properly due to the impact of the fall, Nadia’s eyes were filled with fear

Roselia could no longer stand by and rushed to Nadia to support her

By then, the men who had approached closely surrounded Roselia and Nadia

“Who’s this woman?”

“Judging by how she’s lurking in this alley, probably in a similar situation, I guess.”

“Since it’s come to this, let’s sell them both.”

Overhearing the conversation of the men smiling lecherously, Roselia quickly searched her memory

This conversation, she definitely remembered similar lines from the original novel

The situation when the female protagonist saved Nadia who was being chased by men

At that time, Nadia was caught by the men and beaten, and the protagonist saved her belatedly

But that situation in the original was supposed to happen more than two months later…

Could it be that the original content had changed due to her intervention in the story…?

Such thoughts were brief, as Roselia gritted her teeth while supporting Nadia as the men gradually closed in

The female lead, the Crown Princess, had a hidden knight guard, but there was no way a mere extra maid like her would have such protection

“There’s nothing good for either of us if you resist, so just stay still.”

At the words of the large man with a lecherous smile, Nadia next to Roselia spoke in a heavy voice

“I’m sorry, miss. Because of me…”

By then, one of the slender men among them had sauntered over

“This woman looks much livelier than that sick woman, doesn’t she?”

As he said that, reaching out his hand towards her hair, Roselia grabbed his wrist firmly