Even though I had said from the beginning that it wasn’t like that, this guild member arbitrarily jumped to conclusions and even told the old people. I was angrier because the guild member’s guess was true.

“Anyway, as soon as the old folks heard that story, they were pleased, saying that the woman was indeed a beast person. When I asked what on earth they meant, they just trailed off, saying it was only their thoughts. I thought it was nonsense too, so I just left. My head was buzzing with the dogs and cats fighting.”

Chloe frowned.

Dogs and cats? Is this guild member perhaps a fraud?

No, it must be right that he investigated, since he found the five Chloes. But he came back with absurd talk about her being a beast person, and told strange lies about dogs and cats fighting.

“Did you really visit that inn?”

She might have only investigated with the information I provided, and lied about visiting the inn to pretend she worked hard.

There were no dogs or cats at that inn called The Night of Dogs and Cats.

She probably just guessed based on the inn’s name. Not knowing that the woman who made the request had stayed at that inn three times.

I didn’t even specifically request her to go to the inn to investigate, so I didn’t understand why she would tell such lies.

“Look here. How dare you say such things, doubting our information guild? I went there myself. Are you doubting me because I relayed the nonsense of the old people? Ah, this is infuriating.”

The guild member’s face turned red with anger, making me wonder if it might not have been a lie after all.

I wanted to refute that there were no dogs or cats at that inn, but I couldn’t say anything because I couldn’t reveal that I had been to the inn.

“You said there were dogs and cats at that inn, right? Were there both dogs and cats? How many were there?”

Instead, I changed the way I asked.

“Look here. What I agreed to find out was information about the woman. I didn’t know I had to count the number of dogs and cats too.”

See how she avoids answering when asked for an exact number. Chloe was convinced that the guild member was lying.

“Well, if you want to know, it’s not like I can’t tell you. There were 7 in total. 3 dogs and 4 cats.”

But the guild member’s subsequent answer left her perplexed.

7 animals? 3 dogs and 4 cats? Isn’t it too strange to lie so specifically?

Even after the guild member left, Chloe’s mind was filled with images of 3 dogs and 4 cats running around chaotically.

It didn’t seem like the guild member was lying after all. And that was really strange.

Contrary to Chloe’s expectation that she could enjoy at least one full day of rest, the Duke returned in the afternoon.

She thought he would return late at night at the earliest, but he came back while the sun was still up.

It was now 3 hours after the guild member had left, and 7 hours since the Duke had departed from the mansion.

Kinden was usually about 5 hours away from Roizen, where the Duke’s mansion was located, by carriage.

He returned in 7 hours on a round trip that should have taken 10 hours?

Not only was she disappointed that her day off had ended, but Chloe was also somewhat dumbfounded by the unexpectedly early return.

Of course, it was possible to make a quick trip since the Duke and Lord Joyce rode horses directly instead of taking a carriage.

But to make a round trip of 10 hours in just 7 hours, she doubted if they had proper time to see the Chloe in Kinden.

Well, it wasn’t her concern anyway.

After all, that woman wasn’t the Chloe the Duke was looking for.

“Prepare the bath water.”

The Duke, entering his office, ordered Chloe who was standing behind him. His face was stiff, and his voice carried fatigue.

“Ah! Yes, yes!”

Chloe, who had been mentally calculating the round-trip time, quickly responded to the Duke’s ominous aura, and only then realized what his order meant.

Bath water? Does he mean to have me attend to his bath again?

Although the Duke had started ordering all sorts of services, he hadn’t ordered bath attendance since that first time.

Is he doing this because he’s tired from traveling such a long distance so quickly?

Apart from having to follow orders, Chloe tried to understand the Duke’s instructions, recalling his dark face. The mood was different from before.

Of course, the thought of seeing the Duke’s naked body still made her face heat up, just like before.

However, after learning about the Duke’s kindness to her mother last night, she didn’t feel like grumbling about any of the Duke’s instructions or orders.

She was full of desire to repay the Duke’s kindness in any way possible. Since she couldn’t help find the woman he had slept with, she would at least work hard as a servant!

With that thought, Chloe quickly ran to the bathroom.

After finishing the bath preparations, Chloe went to the office to escort the Duke.

Knock knock knock.

There was no answer from inside the room.

“Your Grace, I’m coming in.”

Chloe carefully opened the door and entered.

The Duke was sitting with his elbows on the desk, holding his head in both hands. It was a sight she rarely saw.

He looked like someone with worries, and also seemed really tired.

“Your Grace, the bath is ready.”

The Duke still gave no answer.

He should get into the tub while the water is warm to relieve fatigue. Is he very disappointed to learn that the Chloe in Kinden wasn’t the Chloe from that night?

To see him so deflated like this… What does he intend to do when he finds the woman he slept with?

Why is he trying so hard to find the woman he slept with? Suddenly, she became curious about the Duke’s true intentions.

Could it be that he fell for me that night? Is that why he’s looking for me?

Ha! What am I saying? Chloe Liden, what nonsense are you thinking?

She quickly realized how absurd that was.

The Duke doesn’t even know her face, how could he fall for her?

It wasn’t just her appearance he didn’t know. The Duke wouldn’t recognize her voice either. All she had made were muffled, meaningless sounds.

At least she had some sense left that night, as she didn’t say anything meaningful.

She couldn’t help the involuntary sounds that escaped her though.

But those were natural, unaffected sounds, quite different from the deliberately deep and low voice she always used at the Duke’s mansion.

Since moving into the Duke’s mansion, she had gotten so used to speaking in a low tone that her voice had become naturally husky.

Right, the idea of him falling for me is nonsense.

But if it’s not that… Could it be that he enjoyed our night together too much? Was I too… Ha! Heavens, I’ve gone mad. Am I now digging up subconscious desires?

Chloe quickly folded away the wings of her delusions.

“Your Grace.”

Chloe called out to the Duke carefully, lowering her voice even more. At last, the Duke lifted his head from his large hands and looked at Chloe.

Startled.

Chloe couldn’t help but take a step back in surprise.

How did that face, once like sunshine, become so like a solar eclipse!

The Duke’s face was that dark.

Seeing his gloomy expression, guilt washed over her.

He was such a kind person who even saved her mother. Yet she had desperately resisted him, pounced on the pure Duke, and had been lying ever since.

In the end, it might be her who had reduced the Duke to this deflated state.

If she hadn’t thrown herself at the Duke that night, or if she hadn’t been disguised as a male servant and could have revealed herself as the woman from that night.

If so, the Duke wouldn’t have had to make this tiring, futile trip today.

While Chloe gazed at the Duke, feeling sorry for him, he remained silent, his eyes locked with hers.

He just stared blankly at her face. That silence amplified her guilt.

“Your Grace, I’m sorry to bother you when you must be tired, but I think bathing before the water cools would help relieve your fatigue… I’m sorry, but if it’s alright with you, now…”

What am I saying?

She kept repeating “I’m sorry” and rambling incoherently.

“What are you so sorry about?”

The Duke finally spoke.

Haa… It was such a strange thing.

She felt like an idiot for repeating “I’m sorry” so senselessly, but thankfully, that idiocy had gotten the Duke to speak.

She had only deceived him, yet she felt grateful and sorry because he had saved her mother, right?

“I’m sorry for seeming to rush you when you’re tired. But I think soaking in warm water would help relieve your fatigue. I’m sorry, but I think it would be best if you went to the bathroom right now. If it’s alright with you, now…”

“Heheh.”

“…!”

The Duke laughed. He even made a laughing sound.

Although it was a weak sound, it was still laughter. Chloe felt relieved to see that smile spread across his gloomy face.

If I can make Your Grace laugh, I’d gladly act like this much of a fool!

“What are you so sorry about? Silly.”

As expected, the Duke pointed out her foolishness and chuckled once more.

Still, Chloe was glad.

Yes, yes, I don’t mind being silly.

I’m glad you’re laughing. Now, please go wash up.

She was excitedly saying various things to the Duke in her mind as she watched him approach her.

Rustle. The Duke playfully messed up her hair with his hand, and then,

“To think I would… for such a silly kid…”

Until he said something incomprehensible.

“…!”

What was… that just now?

The trembling that started from the hair the Duke had ruffled traveled down the nape of her neck, instantly freezing Chloe’s entire body.