#23. Such a Fool

Even though she had told him from the start of the request that it wasn’t like that, this guild member had jumped to his own conclusions and even told the elderly couple. She was even more angry because his guess was actually correct.

“Anyway, as soon as the old folks heard that, they got excited saying they were right about the woman being a beast-person. When I asked what they meant, they just trailed off saying it was just their thoughts. I left because it sounded ridiculous. Plus it was noisy with dogs and cats fighting.”

Chloe frowned.

Dogs and cats? Was this guild member perhaps a fraud?

No, he must have done proper investigation since he found the five Chloes. But he came back with absurd claims about her being a beast-person, and strange lies about dogs and cats fighting.

“Did you really visit that inn?”

He might be lying about visiting the inn, pretending he worked hard while only using the information she had provided.

After all, there were no dogs or cats at The Night of the Dog and Cat inn.

He probably just made assumptions based on the inn’s name. Not knowing that she herself had stayed there three times.

She didn’t understand why he would lie about visiting the inn when she hadn’t even requested that level of investigation.

“Look here. How dare you question the information guild like that? I went there personally. Are you doubting me because I relayed the old folks’ nonsense? This is infuriating.”

The guild member’s face turned red as he got angry, making her wonder if she might have been wrong about him lying.

She wanted to argue that there were no dogs or cats at that inn, but she couldn’t say anything since she couldn’t reveal that she had been there.

“You said there were dogs and cats at the inn? Were there both dogs and cats? How many were there?”

She changed her approach instead.

“Look here. I was supposed to find information about the woman. I didn’t know I had to count dogs and cats too.”

See how he avoids answering when asked for exact numbers. Chloe was convinced the guild member was lying.

“Well, I can tell you if you want to know. There were 7 in total. 3 dogs and 4 cats.”

His subsequent answer left her bewildered.

7 animals? 3 dogs and 4 cats? Isn’t it strange to lie in such specific detail?

Even after the guild member left, Chloe’s mind was filled with images of 3 dogs and 4 cats running around chaotically.

Because it didn’t seem like the guild member was lying. And because it was truly strange.

* * *

Despite Chloe’s expectations of enjoying at least one full day of rest, the Duke returned in the afternoon.

She had thought he would return late at night at the earliest, but here he was while the sun was still up.

It was now 3 hours after the guild member had left, and 7 hours since the Duke had departed from his mansion.

Kinden was about 5 hours away from Roizen, where the Duke’s mansion was located, by normal carriage speed.

He returned in 7 hours when the round trip should have taken 10 hours?

Besides her disappointment about her holiday ending, Chloe was somewhat dumbfounded by his unexpectedly early return.

Of course, the Duke and Sir Joyce had ridden horses directly instead of taking a carriage, so it was possible to make the trip quickly.

But to make a 10-hour round trip in 7 hours, she doubted they had proper time to see Miss Chloe in Kinden.

Well, it wasn’t her concern anyway.

That woman wasn’t the Chloe the Duke was looking for anyway.

“Prepare my bath.”

The Duke ordered Chloe, who was standing behind him as he entered his office. His face was rigid and his voice carried fatigue.

“Ah! Yes, yes!”

Chloe, who had been calculating the round-trip time in her head, quickly responded to the Duke’s ominous aura, and only then realized what his order meant.

A bath? Surely he’s not asking me to attend to his bath again?

Though the Duke had started ordering all sorts of services from her, he hadn’t asked her to attend his bath since that first time.

Is he doing this because he’s tired from traveling such a long distance so quickly?

Apart from having no choice but to follow his orders, Chloe tried to understand his instructions while recalling his dark expression. The mood was different from before.

Of course, the thought of seeing the Duke naked still made her face heat up, just like before.

However, since learning of his kindness to her mother last night, she didn’t feel like grumbling about any of his orders or commands.

She was full of desire to repay the Duke’s kindness in any way possible. Since she couldn’t help him find the woman he had slept with, she should at least work hard as his servant!

With that thought, Chloe rushed to the bathroom.

After finishing the bath preparations, Chloe went to the office to escort the Duke.

Knock knock knock.

There was no response from inside.

“Your Grace, I’m coming in.”

Chloe carefully opened the door and entered.

The Duke was sitting at his desk with his elbows propped up, holding his head in both hands. It was a sight she rarely saw.

He looked like someone troubled by worries, and also truly exhausted.

“Your Grace, your bath is ready.”

The Duke still gave no response.

He should get in while the water is warm to relieve his fatigue. Is he very disappointed to learn that Chloe from Kinden wasn’t the Chloe from that night?

To see him so deflated like this… What does he plan to do when he finds the woman he slept with?

She suddenly wondered about the Duke’s true intentions, why he was so desperate to find the woman he had slept with.

Could it be that he fell for me that night? Is that why he’s looking for me?

Ha! What are you saying? Chloe Liden, what nonsense is this?

She quickly realized how ridiculous that was.

The Duke didn’t even know what she looked like, how could he have fallen for her?

It wasn’t just her appearance he didn’t know. The Duke wouldn’t even know her voice. She had only made heavily suppressed meaningless sounds that night.

Thankfully she had enough sense left to not say anything meaningful that night.

She couldn’t help the sounds that escaped involuntarily, but…

Still, those were natural sounds, quite different from the deliberately deep and low voice she consciously used at the Duke’s mansion.

Since moving into the Duke’s mansion, she had gotten so used to speaking in a low tone that her voice had become somewhat hoarse.

Right, falling for me is impossible.

But if he hasn’t fallen for me then… Could it be that the night with me was too good? Was I too… Ha! Good heavens, I must be going crazy. Now I’m even dragging out unconscious selfish thoughts?

Chloe quickly folded away the wings of her delusion.

“Your Grace.”

Chloe called out to the Duke carefully in an even lower voice. Finally, the Duke lifted his head from his large hands and looked at Chloe.

Flinch.

Chloe was so startled she stepped back.

How did a face that used to shine like sunlight become like a solar eclipse!

That’s how dark the Duke’s expression was.

Seeing his dark face brought on a wave of guilt.

He was such a kind person who even saved her mother. Instead of repaying his kindness, she had desperately resisted, pounced on the innocent Duke, and continued lying ever since.

In the end, she might be the one who had reduced the Duke to such a deflated state.

If she hadn’t jumped on the Duke that night, or even if she had but wasn’t disguised as a male servant so she could reveal herself as the woman from that night,

Then the Duke wouldn’t have had to make such a tiring, pointless trip today.

While Chloe gazed at him, feeling sorry for the Duke, he remained silent as their eyes met.

He just stared blankly at her face. That silence intensified her guilt.

“Your Grace, I’m sorry but you must be tired, and I think it would help relieve your fatigue if you bathed before the water gets cold… I’m sorry, but if you’re alright with it now…”

What am I saying?

She kept rambling, repeatedly apologizing.

“What are you so sorry about?”

The Duke finally spoke.

Hah… This was truly strange.

Though she felt like an idiot for repeatedly saying ‘sorry’ without reason, it was fortunate that her idiocy had gotten the Duke to speak.

She had only deceived him, while he had saved her mother, so these feelings of gratitude and guilt must be why she felt this way?

“I’m sorry for seeming to rush you when you’re tired. But I think soaking in warm water would help relieve your fatigue. I’m sorry, but I think it would be best if you went to the bathroom right now. If you’re okay with it now…”

“Hehe.”

“……!”

The Duke laughed. Even making a laughing sound.

Though it was a weak sound, it was still laughter. Chloe felt relieved seeing that laugh spread across his dark face.

If I can make the Duke laugh, I’d gladly act like a fool as much as needed!

“Why do you keep apologizing? Silly.”

As expected, the Duke chuckled again while pointing out her foolishness.

Still, Chloe was happy.

Yes, yes, I don’t mind being silly.

I’m glad you’re laughing. Now please go wash up.

She was excitedly saying various things to the Duke in her mind as she watched him approach her.

Rustle. The Duke playfully messed up her hair with his hand, and then,

“To think I would see such a fool…”

Until he said those words with unclear meaning.

“……!”

What was… that just now?

The trembling that started from where the Duke had ruffled her hair traveled down her nape and instantly froze her entire body.