“A Guide to Interpreting Men’s Language and Adult Dating Methods?”

It was a plan with a clear purpose in its title. I turned the first page, looking at Rublion’s handwriting filled with sincerity.

Not only common theories but also practical coping methods were written. Quite interested in the concept of men’s language, I stood still and read the child’s plan.

As I examined it carefully, my hand unconsciously tightened. The edge of the plan wrinkled slightly.

“Do you like it?”

“Yes, it’s a collection of useful information. Thank you.”

“Hehe, I’m glad you like it, ma’am.”

I read the page describing adult dating methods. Then, gently patting the kid’s head, I asked.

“By the way, who did you ask about this?”

“The knights and maids.”

“I see, I wonder exactly who taught you this?”

I will find out who spilled words about flirting methods and love hotels to a ten-year-old child and slap their mouth.

“Who taught me is a secret. I’m a man of my word, you know.”

Seeing the kid puff out his chest with a satisfied expression, I thought I should find out by any means necessary.

After returning to my room and resting briefly, I had dinner with Rublion, minus the Duke who wasn’t finished with work yet. Throughout the meal, I asked who taught him about dating methods, but the kid never opened his mouth.

With only more curiosities left after that time ended, I was holding the hand of the kid who said he wanted to play in my room before going, heading up to the second floor.

At the end of the corridor, a maid, servant, and even the butler came out and bowed upon seeing Rublion and me. Then they filed out in an orderly manner.

“The Duke must be back!”

The kid let go of my hand and ran downstairs. I hesitated for a moment, then decided to follow Rublion.

Through the open doors of the mansion, I could see the vast garden and main gate. There, the Duke, looking as small as a finger, was walking towards the mansion.

I pondered for a moment, watching Viscount Tyrell busily saying something by his side and the coachman hurriedly running to the back door of the mansion after putting the horses in the stable.

‘He won’t misunderstand, will he?’

It was like the behavior of a wife coming out to greet her husband returning from work. But I thought that if I ignored him and went straight to my room out of fear of misunderstanding, even though I heard he was coming, that would really be against etiquette.

Of course, I also felt that the kid wouldn’t let go of my hand even if I said I’d go up first.

While I was thinking about this and that, the Duke had already come close.

“Welcome back, Your Grace!”

At Rublion’s shout, he turned his gaze from the serious conversation with Viscount Tyrell towards the kid. Then our eyes met.

‘Ah, was he surprised?’

It wasn’t my intention, but seeing his fresh reaction made me feel awkward too.

The Duke placed his hand on the kid’s head. After ruffling it a few times, he looked at me and said,

“The young lady is here too.”

“Yes, I was heading to my room after dinner when I heard you were coming.”

“Hmm.”

I explained the situation diligently to emphasize how I happened to be here. The Duke nodded once, then resumed his conversation with Viscount Tyrell.

‘I want to talk about agave fiber.’

The conversation with the secretary was getting quite long. I quietly watched him as he finally returned with unfinished work and was barely taking off his outer clothes.

‘…Maybe it’s better to talk tomorrow?’

He stood in the middle of the lobby, still having a serious conversation with the secretary without even going to his room.

“Now that we’ve greeted him, shall we go up?”

I thought it would be better to leave so the Duke and secretary could talk comfortably. But the kid looked at me and shook his head.

The conversation showed no signs of ending. The maids and servants stood like statues, hands politely folded, not moving until their master left.

Amidst his busy schedule, the Duke took off his jacket and held it out. The kid quietly let go of my hand and nudged my arm.

Thinking that meant he wanted me to take it instead, I accepted the coat the Duke was offering.

Soon his fedora came over too. I stood there blankly holding the Duke’s jacket, fedora, and tie.

“This won’t do. Let’s talk again tomorrow.”

It seems the conversation with the secretary had finally ended. I looked over the maids who were still bowing without moving, then said,

“Your Grace, could you spare me a moment before retiring?”

At my words, the Duke turned around in his now more comfortable attire. Then with his characteristically expressionless face and widened eyes, he asked,

“Why are you holding those?”

I tilted my head and answered,

“Because you gave them to me, Your Grace.”

In Artenbach, entrusting one’s clothes to someone of the opposite sex meant flirting, and his ears were burning red like fire from unintentionally giving me his clothes.

“…I didn’t give them to you with any other meaning. I thought of course a maid would take them.”

“Yes.”

“So I hope there won’t be any other misunderstandings.”

“Yes.”

I looked at the butler who was smiling warmly at us. He quickly hid his smile and approached, saying,

“I apologize. I was momentarily distracted and didn’t notice.”

The butler held out both hands to me. I passed the Duke’s clothes to him and said,

“I know you’re busy, but could you spare me a moment? I won’t take long.”

“In that case, later…”

As the Duke opened his mouth to answer, the butler suddenly jumped in and interrupted,

“The water isn’t fully heated yet. So please continue your conversation, and I’ll inform you when the bath is ready.”

The butler’s slightly lowered gaze was fixed on the kid. At the same time, Rublion said with a big yawn,

“Yawn, I’m tired so I need to rest a bit.”

The kid’s scheme was clear as day, suddenly saying he was tired when just moments ago he had been excitedly running around saying he’d play in my room before leaving. The butler was in on it too.

“Your Grace, I will escort you to your room.”

“Yes, please do.”

The butler and the kid held hands nonchalantly, as if they had prepared a script in advance.

“Ma’am, we’ll play next time.”

The kid smiled brightly. I nodded in response.

“Go to the study, young lady.”

“Yes, Your Grace.”

The Duke spoke while watching the butler taking Rublion up to the second floor. I thought to myself as I observed the maids waiting for the right moment to disperse.

‘It seems they want to connect the Duke and me by any means.’

Surely, everyone had turned their heads and pretended not to notice when the Duke handed me his clothes. It appeared the kid had a hand in this.

I could be certain that not only the butler, but everyone in this mansion was helping with the kid’s scheme.

The Duke must be the only one who doesn’t realize that tiny head is plotting such adorable mischief, right?

Reminding myself that the kid was overlooking the most important fact, I muttered internally to the back of the Duke striding ahead of me.

‘No matter how I look at him, he doesn’t appear to be a man.’

Having arrived at the study with the Duke, I decided to get straight to the point.

“Do you know about the agave fiber produced in the southern region of the Western country?”

The Duke, seated across from me, nodded and replied.

“It’s tough and durable, mainly used for making ropes. Why do you ask?”

“Is it possible for you to import that fiber? I can decide whether to accept a request based on your answer.”

“Is this for Black Swan?”

“Yes.”

He hesitated for a moment before speaking.

“The more agave fiber we import, the more we lose, so we don’t deal with it. But if you need it, I can arrange it.”

“So you can import it?”

“Yes.”

I asked about the price of the fiber distributed locally and the price at which Tid sells it when it enters the Empire.

The difference was quite significant, so the additional costs would probably be more than the fiber price itself, but I intended to just act as an intermediary if the client was willing to bear even those costs. After all, the choice was up to the client.

“I’ll talk to the client and let you know. Thank you.”

“There’s no need for thanks.”

The Duke tapped his fingers on the table. Then, clearing his throat with a ‘hmm’, he said,

“In return, there’s something I’d like to ask you.”

“Yes, please go ahead.”

I was about to stand up but sat back down. Of course, I had only slightly raised my hips, so it wasn’t noticeable.

“May I ask what perfume you use? It doesn’t seem to be one sold on the market.”

“Perfume? I don’t use perfume…”

I raised my hand to my nose and sniffed.

“Is that so? Every time, you have a scent that’s like lemon but also sweet like dissolved sugar. I was thinking it might be good to commercialize it if you don’t mind.”

“Ah, if you mean that, it’s from the soap.”

I lowered my hand and said.

“I have sensitive skin, so I’ve been making my own soap since I was young. Would you like to try one?”

“Hmm, if you don’t mind.”

“Please wait a moment.”

I stood up and went to my room. Then I took a randomly cut piece of soap from a box in my wardrobe drawer, wrapped it in paper, and returned to the study.

“Since it’s what I use, it’s not particularly pretty as I just cut it roughly.”

“That’s fine.”

“And with this size, you can use it about ten times.”

I held out the paper bundle containing the soap to him. At that moment, the butler came to the study, saying that the bath preparations were complete.

As I watched the Duke slowly rising from his seat, I stood up as well. There was no reason to guard an empty study.

“Ah, I forgot to say this.”

The Duke, who was about to leave, suddenly turned around.

“Thank you. I’ll use it well.”

I spoke honestly, meaning for him not to feel burdened.

“I have plenty since it’s soap I use only for myself. So if you need more, just let me know.”

The Duke nodded slightly, almost imperceptibly. Then he disappeared outside the study with the butler.