It wasn’t even remotely important enough to summon him to the office personally.

But Cedric was currently in a distorted state of judgment.

To the extent that he wanted to pressurize the servant with even unnecessary questions, such petty thoughts.

Thud.

As if signaling that there was nothing more to see, Cedric closed the file and raised his head to scrutinize the servant again.

In Cedric’s usual eyes, he was an ordinary person who might have passed by unnoticed. No, he was actually close to ordinary.

However, now, to Cedric, who wore jealousy like glasses, he appeared to be an exceptionally handsome man.
His quaint impression transformed into a fresh boyish charm, and the red freckles on both cheeks became charming points that emphasized his vitality and health.

“Rebecca said my taste has changed. Now, do I like a guy with such an image…?”

As that thought crossed my mind, the servant standing in front of me became even more unpleasant to look at.

Cedric, who was glaring at the servant with vigilant eyes, secretly ground his teeth.

“You, it would be better for you to move to the townhouse in the capital.”

“Yes? Your Excellency, why…!”

At that moment, the servant realized the meaning of being reassigned to a townhouse where the Twins family did not stay. Among the servants, this meant ‘demotion.’

“I-I did anything wrong! So… So please let me stay only within the ducal castle, Your Excellency!”

The gatekeeper servant’s expression became even more desperate.

But seeing him like that, Cedric only stiffened his jaw more.

“Why shouldn’t it be somewhere else?”

“W-Well, naturally…”

“Do you have someone you want to keep an eye on and want to stay close to?”

“Y-Yes? Keep an eye on someone? What are you talking about…?”

At that moment, Rebecca’s face came to my mind, and Cedric unconsciously ground his teeth again.

“How dare you try to take her away from me…”

Cedric’s menacing tone suddenly stopped.

The words ‘trying to take Rebecca away from me’ almost slipped out as a curse.

Surprised by his own thoughts, Cedric fell silent for a while.

“Why am I so desperate like this?”

For quite some time. A faint golden light gradually appeared on his forehead.

It was because of the image of Rebecca, who had lost her sanity and rampaged in the past, that suddenly flashed in his mind.

“Do you dare try to take the Duchess away from me? Who are you to be by Cedric’s side every time!”

Cedric, filled with boiling jealousy, an insatiable possessiveness that couldn’t be suppressed by reason.

And the intense obsession that came with it.

Cedric couldn’t deny that the past Rebecca and his current self resembled each other like a decalcomania.

“…”

He shook his head in confusion, and his lips emitted a light sigh.

“Enough, go back now.”

Upon hearing that, the servant’s eyes sparkled as if relieved.

“Um, really? Are you really going to let me stay within the ducal castle, Your Excellency?”

Cedric’s gaze, at that moment, turned colder before gradually settling down again.

“…Yes.”

The servant bowed repeatedly.

“Thank you! Thank you, Your Excellency!”

What was there to be thankful for being dragged here without reason and even subjected to unnecessary inquiries?
Even though he knew he had done nothing wrong, Cedric felt an inexplicable bitterness again.

“All right, leave before I change my mind.”

Cedric’s eyes, which had been enduring, became sharp again.

Upon hearing that, as if the servant was afraid that Cedric’s heart might change, he quickly retreated.

How long had it been since the gatekeeper servant left?

Cedric, who had been standing there for a while, finally leaned weakly against the desk in his office.

Silence lingered for a long time.

“Riman.”

At Cedric’s call, the aide approached him.

“Change the affiliation of that servant to the Light Mansion.”

“Yes? But, Your Excellency…”

The aide, with a bewildered look, blinked his eyes.

“Assigning to the Light Mansion is not a demotion… It’s practically a promotion, isn’t it?”

Just a little while ago, Cedric had the momentum to demote the servant, and if that didn’t work, he seemed ready to dismiss him immediately.

Although he didn’t know why, Cedric thought that if the Duke himself was directly involved in the affiliation of a mere servant, the guy must have committed a tremendous crime.

‘But suddenly… a promotion to the Light Mansion servant?’

Even though he was a veteran aide, Riman found it difficult to understand the current situation.

However, Cedric, answering as if it were obvious, said.

“It doesn’t matter. As long as it’s not the Dark Mansion, anywhere is fine.”

From his face as he answered like that, there was somehow an anxious feeling.

Lost in thought, he tapped his long index finger on his temple a couple of times and looked at the aide again.

“The number of knights guarding the entrance of the castle must have been increased, right?”

“Yes, as you ordered, we thoroughly check not only those entering but also those leaving the castle.”

“There must be no loopholes. Even during shift changes, security must be impeccable.”

“Yes, of course.”

Cedric glanced over the documents detailing Rebecca’s schedule again before speaking.

“Especially if the Duchess goes out without being on the schedule, report to me immediately.”

In Cedric’s forceful words, there was once again a strong determination in his eyes.

“Under no circumstances should Rebecca be sent outside the castle without my permission.”