Disguised as a Male Servant in the Duke's House - Chapter 25

A troubled smile appeared on Roselia’s lips as she recalled the numerous noble ladies who were infatuated with her disguised as Antonio, and even the psychotic Jusid.

Ivellionne, observing Roselia’s awkward smile, let out a chuckle.

“If someone as sensitive as you were in the imperial family, it might have been a little less lonely.”

In fact, in the original work, Roselia is brought in as a maid to the Crown Princess by Duke Balthasar.

In the process, she is caught leaking information about the Crown Prince and Princess to Esteban and killed, but…

While Roselia was lost in such bitter thoughts, Ivellionne had already unfolded the painting she had brought and was staring at it intently.

“The person who painted this… I feel like they might have had a similar heart to mine.”

Roselia’s gaze fell curiously on the painting.

Although their situations and circumstances were vastly different, both women had something in common.

Women who lived forgetting their true selves, entrusting and losing everything, forgetting…

And the vast, bright, and beautiful sky that Nadia, who had been like that, wished for, freedom…

Roselia smiled gently as she looked at the painting.

“I’m glad Your Highness the Crown Princess liked it. The title of this painting is ‘Freedom.'”

Hearing Roselia’s words, Ivellionne showed an infinitely serene and warm smile.

Roselia’s steps were heavy as she came out after her audience with the Crown Princess.

This time too, the Crown Princess had given her a check for the enormous sum of 1,000 berangs.

Of course, if she used it all to pay off her debt, she would only have 1,000 berangs of debt left, but…

Roselia was thinking of sending 500 berangs for Nadia’s medical treatment.

It might be more than enough just for treatment, but it was an amount she considered generous, to repair the crumbling house for her health, and in case a major surgery was needed.

Of course, Nadia would probably refuse to accept it… but she planned to persuade her well and urge her to get treatment first.

Well, in the case of Abello, the author of her first work, and his daughter Erlin, their situation was gradually improving as she often delivered the Crown Princess’s sponsorship money.

In fact, for them, it was a matter of determination, and now they were doing very well, full of energy and motivation.

On the other hand, since Nadia needed to treat a serious illness… she was thinking of sharing her portion even if it took a little longer.

In fact, if it was considered as the original price for the painting, it couldn’t even be called sharing.

As she was thinking this while passing through the imperial garden, an unfamiliar shadow blocked her path.

When Roselia raised her gaze in confusion, the Crown Prince was standing there with his hands behind his back.

Having just come from being with Ivellionne, her feelings towards the Crown Prince could not be pleasant.

Frowning unconsciously, Roselia bowed her head slightly and moved to go around him.

However, his action of blocking her path again despite her efforts made Roselia’s expression crumple.

What a psycho Crown Prince!

“Do you have some business with me?”

At Roselia’s cold words, the Crown Prince smiled and spoke as if unconcerned.

“Oh my, I just wanted to say hello because I was glad to see you, but isn’t that too harsh?”

You should be paying attention to the Crown Princess instead of wasting time like this!

Roselia, with her insides boiling, deliberately ignored the Crown Prince and turned to leave again.

“Since you’ve greeted me, I’ll be on my way now.”

As she said this and took a step, Esteban’s indifferent voice stopped her in her tracks.

“The scent seems to have become a bit stronger…”

At that moment, Roselia’s gaze turned back curiously.

Scent? Could he be talking about her?

“Scent?”

“I told you before. I have good eyesight and I’m quick-witted. To be precise, I’m quite sensitive in all my senses. Sight, touch, taste, hearing, smell, all of them. Well, it could be considered a characteristic of the Lugbelzet royal family.”

Suddenly, what’s with this unsolicited self-introduction?

As Roselia looked at him quizzically, Esteban stepped closer and lowered his head near her shoulder.

Startled by the sudden approach, she frowned in displeasure and took a step back.

At this, Esteban raised both hands as if he wasn’t doing anything and smiled meaningfully.

“Do you perhaps wear perfume?”

Roselia wondered what nonsense he was talking about, but reflexively answered.

“No…”

“Then it must be your natural scent, but it’s difficult for a person to emit such an intense fragrance naturally.”

So what are you trying to say? That I’m not human?

As Roselia frowned at him as if he was talking nonsense, Esteban smiled.

“But it’s not entirely non-existent. It’s known that some of the Rapelios bloodline emit fragrance from their bodies.”

Rapelios bloodline? Fragrance?

What nonsense is this?

As Roselia looked at him strangely, as if looking at a con artist, the Crown Prince cleared his throat.

“Could it be that you don’t know much about yourself?”

“I don’t quite understand what Your Highness is saying…”

As disbelief still filled Roselia’s gaze, the Crown Prince frowned as if displeased.

“Has no one ever mentioned the fragrance to you before?”

“No, they haven’t.”

“Well… I suppose when we met before, it was still faint, so those around you might not have noticed. But now that the scent has intensified, people will soon start to notice.”

Roselia stared blankly at the Crown Prince with an expression as if she were listening to a foreign language.

“Perhaps your parents or ancestors were of the Rapelios bloodline?”

“…No, they weren’t.”

That’s how it was in the original work she knew.

More precisely, as she was just an extra maid, her past had never been mentioned in detail.

It was stated that when Roselia was 4 years old, her mother remarried Baron Hesink and entrusted her to the baron’s family.

Roselia’s mother died of a chronic illness when Roselia was 6, before she could even learn to read, so there was nothing known about her past before entering the Hesink baron’s family.

But even so, for a mere extra maid to be of the Rapelios bloodline…

After pondering for a moment, Roselia shook her head as if it was ridiculous to even consider such a thing.

“The scent will probably become stronger as time passes. I’m giving you this advice as a friend because if you can’t control it yourself, you’ll often find yourself in awkward situations.”

Roselia frowned, wondering if the Crown Prince was making fun of her.

Fragrance my foot, to her nose, far from a fragrance, she was on the verge of smelling like sweat from carrying the painting.

Moreover, the Crown Princess, who had been with her until just now, hadn’t mentioned anything about a fragrance either.

She thought that either the Crown Prince’s nose was strange… or he was clearly making fun of her.

“According to records, that scent is… No, never mind. It’s up to you whether to believe it or not.”

“Yes, Your Highness. Thank you for the advice. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m busy…”

Roselia tried to take this opportunity to leave.

Or rather, she would have.

If only the Crown Prince hadn’t suddenly extended his arm in front of her face to block her.

As Roselia raised one eyebrow and looked at him quizzically, the Crown Prince looked down at her with a sharp gaze, unlike before.

“It seems you had an audience with the Crown Princess today as well.”

His gaze had suddenly turned cold as he brought up the topic of the Crown Princess.

Roselia deliberately turned her head away, trying to appear curt.

“It was an errand for the young lady.”

“What could a young lady who has just had her debutante have so much to talk about with the Crown Princess? If there’s so much to discuss, shouldn’t she seek an audience herself?”

“…Well, I don’t know the details either.”

As Roselia said this and tried to quickly duck under the emperor’s arm and pass by, the Crown Prince grabbed her wrist, stopping her.

Feeling a sense of déjà vu, Roselia frowned and glared at the Crown Prince.

“Let go of me.”

“I believe I told you here before. Next time, you’ll have to answer my questions properly.”

What’s with him? Just a moment ago he was talking about being friends, but as soon as the Crown Princess is mentioned, why does he become so sharp?

Of course, she knew about his trauma regarding the Duke of Herden and the nobles through the original work, but it was different to directly face that coldness.

It was then.

Suddenly, someone emerged from the imperial building, interrupting them.

As she stared with wide eyes at the back of the man who was like a huge wall, a familiar voice came from him.

“Please release that hand.”

Only then did Roselia’s eyes widen even more as she realized the man’s identity.

“Duke Balthasar. I’m in the middle of an important conversation, so I’d appreciate it if you left.”

Unintimidated by the Crown Prince’s chilly voice, Klaus responded coldly.

“This person belongs to my household. I’m the only one who can give orders to Antonio.”

Although it was merely a statement clarifying their master-servant relationship, Roselia’s heart suddenly started racing for no reason.

Surprised by the unexpected pounding in her chest, Roselia averted her gaze.

The Crown Prince, paying no attention to her, glared at Klaus and spoke.

“It seems you have something to feel guilty about?”

“Your Highness is in no position to interrogate the Crown Princess.”

It was a rebuke referring to how the Crown Prince had danced with Roselia at Closet’s recent debutante, neglecting the Crown Princess.

At Klaus’s bold words, the Crown Prince exhaled in exasperation, releasing his grip on Roselia’s wrist and nervously running his hand through his bangs.

“Duke Balthasar. You should remember that unnecessary interference raises even more suspicion.”

“…”

With those words, the Crown Prince irritably turned and disappeared.

Roselia, who had been frozen in the tense atmosphere, finally looked at Klaus and carefully bowed her head.

“Thank you for your help, Duke…”

Although she sincerely thanked him for helping her out of a difficult situation, Klaus was still looking in the direction where the Crown Prince had disappeared.

Thinking that he must be in a bad mood because of the Crown Prince, Roselia was about to quietly leave when Klaus’s low voice was heard.

“I told you not to hang around the Crown Princess.”

Hang around… It was a phrase that could make someone misunderstand that she was bothering the Crown Princess.

Roselia frowned, feeling wronged, and was about to protest when she calmed herself and spoke calmly.

“Well… I also have a contractual relationship with the Crown Princess.”

At that, Klaus’s cold gaze finally turned towards Roselia.

“That’s why I’m telling you to end that contractual relationship.”

“No, I mean… As I told you before, how I pay off my debt is my own business…”

“Damn it!”

Roselia stared at Klaus with wide eyes as he suddenly cursed.