Do I like the Duke? Can I handle him? Is it okay?

“You said you’d like me whether I’m a man or a woman, right?”

“That’s right.”

“But whether I’m a man or woman, I’m just a personal servant. A commoner twin from the Liden siblings who grew up in the mountains of Vörgen, one of the personal servants.”

“So?”

“You’re the Duke of Ulpaz.”

“It’s Hugrey. My name is Hugrey, not the Duke of Ulpaz. What’s your name?”

“Whatever my name is, I’m just a personal servant. Do you still like me?”

“Ha! Clyne Liden.”

The Duke laughed as if in disbelief.

Why are you laughing? This is an important issue for me! Because… I think I like you, Duke. I pretended not to, but my heart raced every time you said you liked me. I hated that you were looking for the wrong ‘Chloe’. I was jealous of the ‘Chloe’ you were looking for.

So… I… I like you, Duke.

“Don’t laugh.”

“I didn’t mind if you were a man. Do you think it matters to me now that you’re a personal servant and a commoner?”

“…”

“Whoever you are, whether you’re a man or woman, commoner or noble, human or not, I just want to keep you by my side. If possible, not just being by my side…”

“…?”

“I’d prefer if you became mine.”

Chloe shuddered. His? The Duke’s?

“Completely mine. Your heart, your body, everything.”

“…!”

Chloe couldn’t swallow or even blink.

“You tend not to breathe when you’re surprised.”

The Duke teasingly said to her frozen form.

“Ah! Haa…”

Only after hearing that could Chloe finally exhale.

“If you don’t breathe, my heart might stop beating too, so make sure to breathe well.”

“…!”

Chloe found it difficult to breathe again.

Oh my. How can he say such things? Isn’t it natural to feel breathless when hearing such words from the man you like?

But right at that moment!

Grumble.

At this breathtaking moment, her stomach made a loud noise. While her body was covered in bruises and her head heavily stitched, as this man was making a shocking confession of love to her.

What an inconsiderate stomach.

The Duke abruptly stood up, rang the bell pull, and immediately started walking towards the door.

“Where are you going?”

“To get food.”

“No! I’ll go to the dining room… Ah!”

Chloe winced at the pain in her side as she tried to get out of bed.

“Stay in bed! Don’t move if you want my forgiveness.”

The Duke threatened, suddenly stern and serious. With such a strict expression that it was hard to believe he was the same man who had been whispering breathtaking love moments ago.

“Yes…”

Chloe was realizing the truth in Calcus’s words: .

Even if Calcus didn’t mean it that way, she couldn’t handle either of the two sides the Duke had just shown. Her heart fluttered at his kindness, but this kind man was also her master.

‘Can I handle this man?’

She couldn’t tell. In the end, Chloe gave no answer to his feelings.

The Duke brought a tray to the bed and tried to feed her soup directly. The stern master had once again become the kind man. It was dizzying.

“Duke, I’m truly sorry, but could I eat by myself?”

She wasn’t sure if this was really something to be so sorry about, but she shouldn’t upset the Duke’s mood. She was in a position of needing forgiveness, after all.

“Do you have the strength to hold a spoon with those thin wrists?”

“Pardon?”

Only then did she notice her arm exposed from wrist to elbow as her nightgown had slipped down. Chloe put down the spoon and gently pulled down her sleeve.

“I knew you were weak, but I didn’t know you were this weak. It’s always been hidden under clothes.”

“I’m actually not that weak. Despite appearances, I’m quite strong and my stamina has especially improved lately.”

She had felt her stamina improving a few times since working as a personal servant at the Duke’s mansion compared to when she lived in Vörgen. It might just be her imagination though.

“I’ve never seen a man as weak and frail as you.”

“…”

Why does he keep saying that when he clearly knows I’m not a man?

“Anyway, I have enough strength to hold a spoon, so please go eat your own meal now, Duke.”

“…”

This time the Duke gave no reply. Suddenly, Chloe stared intently at the Duke’s face.

Even when I saw him in Vörgen’s square. Why does his face seem to be getting thinner since that day he was severely ill? His skin looks rough too. It used to be so clear and firm that I wondered if it would feel soft like a baby’s if I touched it.

Come to think of it, I can’t remember seeing the Duke eat properly since he fell ill. He barely ate dinner on the way back to Roizen from Vörgen too. Has he completely lost his appetite since getting sick?

“Duke, are you eating properly?”

“I’m eating adequately.”

“I need to get better quickly. So I can take care of your meals and such. Your face has gotten so haggard.”

“…?”

The Duke slightly narrowed his eyes as he looked at her.

“What’s wrong?”

“You need to get better quickly. But what do you mean my face has gotten haggard?”

“Your soft skin has become rough and your plump cheeks have…! Ah! No, you’re still handsome.”

Chloe, who had been speaking thoughtlessly, lowered her head avoiding eye contact with the Duke. It was clear she was losing her cautiousness towards the Duke more and more. To dare to evaluate his face.

“Clyne.”

“Yes!”

“I’m not becoming haggard because you can’t take care of my meals.”

“No! When did I say you became haggard! You’re still handsome.”

Chloe waved her hands vigorously, vehemently denying the Duke’s words. Not only was he not someone whose looks would deteriorate from losing a bit of weight, but it would be quite troublesome if he interpreted her words that way.

The Duke smiled gently at her words.

Chloe, whose heart was strained, unconsciously placed a hand on her chest.

Right, how could that face be called haggard. What nonsense.

“If you want to see my face that you like, tell me your name.”

“Pardon?”

Chloe, who momentarily didn’t understand what he meant, soon realized the meaning of his words. He wanted her to say herself, that she was ‘Chloe’ not ‘Clyne’, that she was a woman not a man.

As a sign of accepting his feelings.

“I’m asking you to give yourself to me.”

“…!”

Chloe could feel her entire body, not just her face but her ears and neck too, turning red in an instant.

Should she say it was a stronger expression than she had expected? Asking her to give herself to him. How could he say such things?

Are you really the Duke of Ulpaz?

She wanted to run away from this room right now.

“I think that’s the only way my appetite will return. Until then, I don’t think I’ll be able to eat.”

“… Duke.”

It was too shocking to know how to respond. Both his words asking for her and saying he couldn’t eat.

Her eyes hadn’t been wrong. He really had lost his appetite and wasn’t eating. And he would continue to do so unless she gave him her heart.

Is that even possible? No matter how much one person likes another. How can someone lose their appetite just because they haven’t won that person’s heart? And to think that she herself was the owner of the heart he wanted.

“You should eat at least. So you’ll have the strength to think about me.”

She finally found a way to deal with this ‘difficult to handle’ Duke in this shocking situation.

“Duke, I think I could eat if you left.”

She needed to send the Duke away first. If she stayed with him, her heart and head would all turn red, making it impossible to make any proper judgment or even think.

“… Alright. Then, pull the bell pull when you’re done eating.”

As expected, the Duke stood up nonchalantly. Like a personal servant attending to their master, adding that she should pull the bell pull.

Watching the Duke’s back as he left, Chloe shook her head with her mouth wide open.

This really isn’t right…

“Ah, Clyne!”

Chloe quickly closed her mouth as the Duke suddenly turned back.

“I, I like your blonde hair. And how you look without glasses. I can see your face clearly… it’s pretty.”

“…!”

Chloe momentarily wanted to grab the pillow at hand and throw it at the Duke.

Please stop! Why are you doing this to me!

However, aware of her position, Chloe bowed her head instead of throwing the pillow.

“Your crown is pretty too.”

Chloe covered her crown with both hands. Her hands happened to touch where the bandage was attached.

“Be careful. So your pretty crown can heal quickly.”

In the end, Chloe covered her ears.

Soon after, she heard the Duke’s laughter and the sound of the door opening and closing.

Haa… He finally left!

Relieved, Chloe removed her hands from her ears and raised her head to look towards the door.

“Duke!”

The Duke she thought had left was standing in front of the door looking at her.

“But still, your face is the prettiest.”

The Duke delivered his final attack and left the room with a smile.

“That crazy…”

Duke!

She muttered looking at the closed door. The Duke had surely gone mad. For none other than herself.

“Aaaargh!”

What should she do.

Her heart was running like an unbridled horse towards the Duke who was pressing her relentlessly. Towards that crazy person who was asking for both her body and heart. Even though more than half of her was already running towards him. How could she not fall for him when he acts like this.

Is it okay? Is it really okay to like the Duke? Do I dare?

“I’m not crazy. Just hurry up and eat.”

“Eek!”

A strange sound escaped from Chloe’s throat in surprise. It was because of the Duke’s voice, who had made one last comment without leaving, from outside the door.