He likes men? Is this really the best option?

But the words were already out. Now the only choice was to push this through.

Cross-dressing wasn’t enough—now she had to act like a man who liked men.

Life was exhausting.

“…What?”

The duke blinked at Chloe as if he had just heard something he absolutely shouldn’t have.

“The truth is, I’m not interested in women. To be completely honest, I like men. That’s why I was trying to leave this estate.”

“W-what did you say you like?”

“I’ve admired you for a long time, Your Grace. You’ve never had a woman by your side, nor did it seem like you intended to. I thought… perhaps you might secretly have feelings for me as well. You even gave someone as inexperienced as me a position as your personal attendant.”

The lies flowed effortlessly.

Just as the duke had been fitting everything together based on his own misunderstandings and delusions, she was now seamlessly rearranging everything to match her lies.

Strangely enough, it all fit perfectly.

Even though, as she kept talking, she had the overwhelming urge to slap her own mouth.

“W-what… what?”

The duke stuttered like a broken machine.

“There were even rumors that you preferred men, Your Grace. And you placed my room right next to your office. You even gave me extra money during my leave, telling me to use it as travel expenses. Wouldn’t anyone think they were being treated… specially?”

As she spoke, she became so immersed that her acting felt real, as if she had actually believed all of this. Everything lined up so neatly that there was no room for doubt.

“…What nonsense are you spouting—”

The duke’s face had turned completely pale.

So pale that she started to worry she might have gone too far.

“If I was mistaken, then I apologize. I must have let my feelings grow too much on my own. It’s entirely my fault.”

“Ha!”

The duke seemed at a complete loss for words.

“Yes, that must be it. You were with a woman, after all. You don’t like men like I do. And seeing how you’re trying to find her… I decided to give up on my feelings and leave. I wanted to go before you brought her back. I couldn’t bear to watch it happen from your side…”

“That’s nonsense! Lies! How shameless!”

The duke shouted, his face flushed red. The calm, composed man was nowhere to be seen—he looked almost like a flustered child.

“As for the blonde hair, I truly don’t know anything about it. Could it be a misunderstanding? Or… did someone enter my room without my knowledge?”

“You expect that to make sense?”

There was no way to explain the hair logically. When logic failed, the only option was to overwhelm him before he could think.

“Lately, haven’t you been acting inconsistently toward me? Telling me to come closer one moment, then to stay away the next? Do you have any idea how torturous that was? I had hope, only to be thrown into despair again. You wouldn’t understand that pain.”

Chloe kept rambling, almost impressed by her own unexpected acting talent. It felt like her mouth was moving on its own, completely bypassing her brain.

“You said I had the same scent as the woman you were with, that I reminded you of your mother, and even asked if my mother was beautiful! What exactly were you trying to do?”

“…”

The duke opened his mouth as if to respond, then shut it again.

“Yes. That’s right. I… I… love you, Your Grace.”

She had finally thrown it out.

Love.

Even for a mouth that had been running wild without thought, saying that word was not easy.

To think her first confession would happen like this.

…What a life.

What made it worse was that, even though it was all a lie, her face had flushed bright red as if it were a genuine confession.

She could feel the heat without even looking in a mirror. Of course, it wasn’t from excitement—it was pure embarrassment.

Still, to the duke, it probably looked like something else.

“…What utter nonsense…”

The duke looked completely dazed.

Understandably so.

He wasn’t fond of women to begin with, and now a male attendant was confessing his love to him. Anyone would be horrified.

“That’s why I tried to leave. To give up my feelings. I didn’t want to go, but… I can’t burden the man I love any longer.”

It was strange.

Her sense of self felt like it was dissolving, yet her mouth kept going without issue.

Yes, this is who I am. So panic and throw me out already.

“I apologize for serving you while harboring such improper feelings. But I only ever kept them in my heart—never once did I—”

“It would be best if you took a few steps back. You’re too close.”

Unable to endure the discomfort, the duke waved his hand.

A good reaction.

“I’m sorry for making you uncomfortable. Someone like me should—”

“…Get out.”

Before she could finish, the duke finally said the words she had been waiting for.

Success!

“Leave at once.”

“Yes, of course.”

Afraid he might change his mind, Chloe quickly bowed.

“Farewell, Your Grace.”

She turned immediately.

A breeze came in through the window, almost as if it were seeing her off.

Perhaps because of the intense acting that had left her palms sweating, the wind felt refreshing.

“…Wait!”

The refreshing feeling was instantly replaced by dread.

What now?!

“You!”

“Yes?”

“What do you mean ‘farewell’?”

“…Pardon?”

“I told you to leave this room.”

“…Excuse me?”

“You’re not to take a single step out of this house until I find that woman.”

…What?

Just a moment ago, he looked utterly disgusted.

It sounded like he wanted her out of the house immediately!

“But I said I love—”

“Quiet! Stop spouting nonsense and go back to your room! Until you properly explain that blonde hair, you’re not leaving on your own terms. Bringing a woman into this house violates your employment terms—you’ll take responsibility.”

“…!”

This wasn’t how it was supposed to go. Why had he suddenly changed his mind? She had even gone as far as pretending to like men.

That wasn’t fair.

A male attendant who stayed right next door, coming and going day and night, confesses his love—and this is the reaction? Shouldn’t he be horrified and kick her out immediately?

Why assume it’s a lie? What if it were real?

“Get out of my room. And when I call, come immediately.”

The duke made it clear she wasn’t allowed to run.

Don’t come close, but don’t go far either—what kind of logic was that?

What is wrong with him?!

Chloe wanted to tear her hair out trying to understand him.

Unfortunately, it was a wig.

Klein Riden left the room with a deathly pale face.

Had he always been that pale? Pale, small, and… cute—what?

Insane.

He’s lost his mind. Hugray Wolfaz, you’ve completely lost it.

Cute? The attendant who just confessed to you is cute? This isn’t imprinting—this is a mental illness.

The absurd claims—liking men, loving him—had shocked him so much he nearly let the man he had worked so hard to catch go.

If not for the sudden gust of wind that carried that familiar scent from him, snapping him back to his senses.

He had to find the woman he was imprinted on, and that man was clearly connected to her.

So he absolutely couldn’t let him go.

That’s all it was.

Just for finding the woman.

No other reason. Of course not.

Liking men, loving him—those were blatant lies. Lies to cover up his connection to that woman.

What a brazen bastard.

Reeking of that woman’s scent, yet daring to claim he likes him?

Like him? Impossible. A man liking another man?

But… well, such men do exist in the world. Could it be that he really does like him?

No! What am I even thinking, Hugray Wolfaz?!

Why does it matter what that man’s preferences are?

Hugray’s thoughts looped endlessly, back and forth.

Klein Riden was being kept because of his connection to the imprinted woman, and his confession was nothing but a lie.

And even if it weren’t…

All he had to do was find the woman connected to him.

He kept repeating it to himself, like brainwashing.

Two hours after Chloe shut herself in her room next to the duke’s office, the duke rang the bell.

Out of habit, she rushed to his room.

As if nothing had happened, he calmly told her to prepare tea—completely ignoring the fact that she had tried to quit.

Come to think of it, it was about time for afternoon tea.

<Get out of my room. Come immediately when I call.>

Did that mean she was supposed to keep working?

“Um, Your Grace… does that mean I continue working as your attendant until you find that woman?”

She asked carefully. If she was going to be held here, she needed clarity. Even one day of work deserved pay.

Tap. Tap. Tap.

The duke stared at her, tapping the desk with his finger.

“That might take a while.”

“…Pardon?”

“Finding my woman. Why not just explain the hair? Didn’t you say you needed to go home?”

“I truly don’t know anything about it.”

Tap. Tap. Tap.

“Then keep working as my attendant. Or tell me what you know about the woman.”

It seemed he didn’t believe her confession at all. He still thought she was secretly meeting the woman.

“I don’t know anything about any woman or hair.”

“You’re really not seeing anyone? Look me in the eye and say it.”

“I’m not. As I said earlier, I—”

She met his gaze directly. Since she wasn’t seeing any woman, there was nothing to fear.

“Just bring the tea.”

Though he had seemed ready to press further, the duke unexpectedly looked away first.

…Since when were his ears that red?

His turned face made it obvious—his ears were bright red.