These days, the villa is bustling with activity.
In reality, the number of people has only increased by two: the Duke and Leopard, but having one more maid and a guest of high status makes a big difference.
We can never just throw together a meal, and laundry must be done at least twice a day.
Especially since Leopard has recently taken up the hobby of dressing, the laundry has increased dramatically.
I bear some responsibility for this.
Originally, he only wore shabby clothes, but because of me, he has developed an interest in women’s clothing…
“Ha ha ha ha ha!”
“Grrrrrr…!”
“Here you go. It’s food.”
Moreover, I have to take care of the foxes that Tia brought, which has only doubled the workload.
I was worried about needing to put on a leash if they wandered around too much, but there was no need for that.
They seem to be as sharp as their high intelligence, usually playing in the wide garden without stepping on or tearing at a single flower, and when guests arrive, they quietly retreat inside and stay still like mice.
They handle their waste well in the restroom designated by Tia, and when it’s meal time, they don’t fight amongst themselves or make a mess…
I was surprisingly taken aback by how well-behaved they are.
“Oh, it’s so hot.”
“What do you mean pizza on a day like today…?”
In the kitchen around noon.
Sounds of groaning were escaping here and there.
In the past, this would have been of no concern to me, but now…
“Ugh! It’s so hot I could die, really!”
I’m sweating profusely in front of the oven.
Does he remember that I said I got goosebumps and was scared just by having the Duke beside me?
The Duke decided to stay at the villa and has not returned me to my maid duties for quite some time.
Of course, he hasn’t appointed another maid either.
Could this be some kind of consideration?
Still, on such a tough day like today, I sometimes miss the cool and comfortable seat next to the Duke.
“Leopard is probably still asleep…”
Although it’s already past noon, the guest room is quiet.
If I wake him up to eat, Leopard will probably get annoyed and go back under the covers.
It seems he spends more than half the day sleeping.
So now I have to go tell the Duke that lunch is ready.
“Sir…?”
Peeking my head in through the open bedroom door, I found the Duke dressed in a suit and tying his tie.
But his expression in the mirror looked a bit uncomfortable; he seems to be struggling with the tie.
I sighed deeply and approached him, grabbing the tie.
“The knot is wrong.”
“Hahaha. Thank you. I wasn’t intending to ask Miss Julia for help.”
“Really? Aren’t you someone who usually doesn’t like ties?”
“Hmm…”
The Duke looked down at me with a sly smile.
He had intentionally left the door half open and was waiting for me to arrive while straining.
When I caught sight of his shameful expression, I couldn’t help but let out a laugh.
“Are you going to meet an important person? Even wearing the tie you never used to wear.”
“Of course. They are precious.”
“Where are you going today?”
“Why? Do you want to come along?”
“…”
“Haha. Just joking.”
When I glared silently at him, the Duke burst into laughter.
Now that I think about it, the Duke has been going out quite frequently these days.
Is there something important happening?
Of course, that has nothing to do with me.
I’m merely expressing my curiosity by asking.
“I’m going to talk about marriage.”
“Oh, I see. Marriage… Huh? Wait, marriage?!”
“Oh dear.”
Startled, I yanked the tie, pulling the Duke down to my eye level, and he still wore that shameless expression.
Marriage talk.
Why so suddenly…?
“Why? Are you angry because marriage is being discussed?”
“N-no? Not at all?”
In that moment,
I realized I was overreacting, and I let go of the tie.
The Duke slowly raised his head and looked at me, trying to suppress his laughter as he smirked.
I was so annoyed.
The Duke, who is famously uninterested in women, speaks of marriage, and I was just taken aback for a moment.
He seems to think I’m surprised for another reason.
Damn it, my cheeks are burning.
“Don’t worry. The only person I truly love is you.”
“W-what are you saying… And can you please stop confessing out of the blue? It’s really burdensome.”
“No. I will keep doing it. If you dislike even listening to my confession, you can quit and leave. I won’t hold you back.”
“…”
What a mischievous brat.
There’s no way I can leave.
Thanks to Tia, I’ve been able to live without any big issues, with the stature of Dragania behind me.
And the Duke said he would stay by my side to atone for his sins, but looking at what he’s been doing lately, it hardly seems like he’s atoning.
Or maybe, in some sense, offering to accept me as his wife could be the ultimate form of atonement, but I can’t accept that as atonement.
After all, I’m a man.
There’s no way I can marry the Duke.
So, I’ve consistently rejected his sudden confessions…
“Who is the other party?”
“What?”
“The marriage… who is the other party?”
Even so, this is too much.
Just because I pushed him away a few times, he’s looking for another woman?
That’s lacking persistence.
You never know.
If I were to confront him a bit more stubbornly, I might open my heart…
Of course, that’s not likely.
“Miss Julia. You have a scary look in your eyes.”
“What’s scary? Just tell me quickly.”
“It’s Grand Duchess Anastasia.”
“Hm…”
So it’s her.
The Emperor’s first daughter.
Currently governing the principality and receiving overwhelming support as the next candidate for empress.
So she’s getting married, after all.
But why is she targeting the Duke of all people?
I don’t understand.
What reason could the Emperor’s daughter have to join hands with a Duke who is at odds with the Emperor?
I really don’t like it.
“This marriage talk is just a courtesy between families. It won’t come to fruition.”
“So you’re still going on a date, right?”
“Um? Well, I suppose we will. It’s just for show, though.”
“Still, it’s happening. Then let’s change your tie. You’re not going to a funeral; a dull color is not good for a date. But it can’t be too flashy either. Let’s see…”
I tossed aside the tie and turned around to pick another one from the drawer.
The truth is, I just couldn’t manage my expression, so I turned my back to the Duke…
But whatever.
The tie the Duke chose is indeed pathetic.
rummaging through the drawer full of ties, I found myself not knowing what to pick.
My head was too complicated for a simple tie to catch my eye.
Why is my chest so tight?
The jerk who raped and toyed with me is now talking about marriage with another woman.
What reason do I have to be this anxious?
I was annoyed at myself for not even understanding my own feelings.
‘Why am I really like this…?’
I don’t want to marry the Duke, but I also don’t want him to be cozy with another woman.
What is this ridiculous feeling?
Is this what women who manage their relationships feel like?
I hate to admit it, but I discovered that I was terribly selfish.
I had no intention of forgiving the Duke for however he tried to atone.
I merely wanted to feel satisfaction watching the Duke around me, feeling sorry and tormented by guilt.
How many years will it take for me to be satisfied?
Perhaps it could be decades.
The problem is, while my lifespan is infinite, the Duke’s is not.
While it’s true the Duke has sinned, that doesn’t mean he has to suffer at my selfish whim for his entire life.
If I truly want the Duke to receive a just punishment, I could simply turn him into the authorities.
It’s time for a decision.
Either report the Duke and lock him in a cage.
Or let him go so he can pursue another woman.
Or I could accept the Duke…
“Miss Julia.”
“Hik!”
A warm hand suddenly gripped my shoulder from behind.
Starting with a gentle call to my name, the grip was slow and not too tight, showing a measure of consideration.
However, that didn’t mean I wasn’t surprised.
It seemed the Duke was startled too, as he quickly withdrew his hand from my shoulder.
“I really have no relationship with Grand Duchess Anastasia. Please believe me.”
“I know…”
“I’m completely devoted. Of course, considering the sins I’ve committed, having this kind of heart may be a great sin, but my feelings won’t change. Please trust me…”
“Ah! It’s not that I don’t trust you! Just take this!”
I snapped in anger.
How dare a servant talk back to his master.
I shoved the tie into the Duke’s chest and quickly walked away.
It was a bright color that suited the smiling Duke well but wasn’t too flashy.
The Duke didn’t try to stop me as I left.
Tears welled up in my eyes.
I don’t know what to do.
I don’t know what the answer is.
No, before that, I don’t even really understand how I feel.
.
.
.
“What’s scary? Just tell me quickly.”
“It’s Grand Duchess Anastasia.”
“Hm…”
Outside the slightly opened door.
Leopard was leaning against the wall with a twisted expression.
Each time a joyful snort came from inside, it became increasingly unbearable.
I no longer wanted to hear it.
Leopard stopped eavesdropping and left the villa.
A sudden gust of wind blew against him, and when he uncovered his eyes with his hand, Sailor appeared in front of him.
Leopard naturally walked beside him and muttered.
“I think I might do it again. I can’t just watch.”
“Don’t.”
“No, I have to.”
“Give it up. Ever since you made that mess, the restrictions on strategic weapons have tightened, so it’s even harder to get them now.”
He’s causing trouble again.
Sailor sighed deeply.
Has he learned nothing after the last attack failed?
“Not strategic weapons. There’s something bigger.”
Leopard tapped his head and said.
The implication was clear.
He meant he was going to expose all the truth.
Sailor’s eyes widened when he realized it.
“Don’t talk nonsense. You’re going to make Julia happy, right? Is this really how you make her happy? Do you think if you tell her all the truth, she’ll thank you and bow to you for ensuring her right to know?”
“…”
“Julia isn’t as strong as you think. The moment she learns the truth, she’ll collapse. Do you want to see that Julia?”
“…”
At Sailor’s pointed words, Leopard finally shut his mouth.
It was true.
If he truly cared for Julia, he had to hide the truth thoroughly.
Leopard was starting to acknowledge.
He was hating and being jealous of the Duke as much as he loved Julia, or perhaps even more.
