Before being discovered as a woman in disguise and as “Chloe” from that one night, she needed to leave this house while the duke still thought of her as a man.

Of course, having only worked for 3 months, she was in a situation where she had to pay back 9 months’ worth of the year’s salary she had received in advance. But it was still far better than paying a penalty fee or facing punishment.

For now, she had no idea how to get the money, but that was something to think about later.

She immediately started heading back to the duke’s room that she had just fled from earlier.

Having made her decision, there was no reason or time to dawdle.

Knock knock.

“Your Grace, it’s Clyne.”

“Come in.”

As soon as the duke answered, Chloe entered his room.

“What is it?”

The duke asked without looking at her, writing something.

“Your Grace, I’m afraid I have to tell you something I deeply regret.”

“Speak.”

The duke still wasn’t looking at her.

“I thought it would be right to tell you first as your personal attendant, before informing the butler.”

The duke stopped moving his quill and finally raised his head to look at her.

“Why are you beating around the bush and wasting time? If you have something to say, say it quickly and leave.”

His tone seemed to carry a chill.

Why does the duke’s temperature towards me swing between winter and summer every time I enter the room?

Yesterday he chased me out like I had an infectious disease, but didn’t he just ask me trivial things earlier as if he was being ‘kind’?

And now it’s like a cold bath full of ice again.

Since the night of the incident, the duke’s mood tended to change drastically, to the point where it was hard to keep up.

Still, the cold attitude was more comfortable than sudden friendliness.

“Your Grace, I’m sorry to say this when you’ve only employed me for three months, but I’m afraid I’ll have to quit my job.”

“…What?”

“My mother continues to be unwell, so it seems I’ll need to take care of her. I’ll discuss with Mr. Wilson about repaying the salary I received in advance for medical expenses.”

“…Is that so?”

“Yes!”

“…”

She thought he would say he understood, but there was no further response from the duke.

Well, it had only been three months since she was hired.

It was an unavoidable choice for her, but she did feel ashamed.

“Um… I’m sure there are many other servants who could fill the role of personal attendant, but if you say you need me to fill the gap for a few days, I’ll work until then.”

She just needed to leave the duke’s mansion before Joyce and the Information Guild found out about her.

“You received your salary in advance for medical expenses?”

The duke finally spoke again.

Surprisingly, the topic was about the salary.

The duke seemed completely unaware that Chloe had received her salary in advance.

“Yes, I’ll pay it back gradually, if not immediately.”

“…I see, do that. I suppose you’d be quite worried if your mother is unwell.”

“Ah, yes.”

At last, with the duke’s permission, Chloe felt her stiff neck and shoulders relax slightly.

She even had the composure to add another greeting.

“Thank you. And I’m truly sorry for quitting so suddenly.”

“Then you may go. Um… coordinate with the butler about when you’ll leave.”

“Yes. I understand.”

Chloe bowed deeply and left the room.

She didn’t realize that the duke’s gaze was persistently following the back of her head.

[This is the timeline separator]

Thud.

With the sound of the door closing completely, Hugrey snapped back to his senses and frowned at the ink stain left on the letter paper.

It seemed he had been unknowingly pressing the quill he was holding firmly against the paper.

“I’ll have to rewrite this.”

He muttered with a slightly furrowed brow.

He had been in the middle of writing a letter to cancel the marriage talks with the Tilbeth family, who had their domain in the Kingdom of Tigrium.

The Tilbeth family…

Long ago, the upper predator beastkin fought fierce territorial battles, and as a result, the lion and tiger beastkin, who were unable to determine superiority until the end, divided the continent and established countries.

They ruled not only humans but also lower predator and prey animal beastkin.

However, upper predator beastkin like wolves, hawks, and snakes did not fall under their rule.

They simply coexisted independently, staying in their territories within the two divided countries.

It was an old agreement to acknowledge the hegemony of the lions and tigers, who were the final victors, but not allow interference.

If the Ulpaz Duchy was the one who fought to the end with the lion beastkin in Elaion to maintain their independence, then the Tilbeth County played that role in Tigrium.

In other words, Ulpaz and Tilbeth could be considered the main pillars of the wolf beastkin. That’s why they were also the families that most frequently united to produce alphas.

That’s why it was considered obvious not only to himself but to the entire wolf beastkin community that he, an alpha, would imprint on a wolf beastkin woman from the Tilbeth family.

But he unexpectedly imprinted on a human woman.

Since the imprinting that had already happened couldn’t be undone, he had no choice but to nullify the marriage talks with Reina Tilbeth, who had wolf beastkin blood flowing in her veins.

He put the quill back in the pen stand and crumpled up the stained letter paper.

But after taking out a new sheet of paper, he hesitated to put it down on the desk and crumpled up the blank new paper once again.

Quitting? So suddenly? As he pleases?

How many months has he worked to give such an abrupt notice without any prior warning?

The displeasure he had barely suppressed burst out, tearing off the mask of composure.

And not because of the twisted imprinting, but because of one personal attendant.

His usual self was not an employer who would get angry at a servant quitting their job to care for their sick mother.

That’s why he had barely managed to contain this rising irritation and bewilderment and acted sensibly.

As always, like a rational and logical being.

He had acted so appropriately, so why was he so angry?

Because of his Tigrium language ability, his salary would have been set high from the start.

And he even received that high salary in advance!

He was specially placed as a personal attendant because of his Tigrium language ability, but he was more clumsy and passive in serving than anyone else.

Moreover, he’s leaving without using that language ability even once! After all, marriage with the young lady of the Tilbeth family was off the table, and there was no need for an interpreter. In fact, now that communication with Reina Tilbeth was no longer necessary, the logical and cold conclusion should be that it doesn’t matter who serves as the personal attendant instead of that guy.

But still…

How vexing, and… vexing indeed!

In this unsettled situation where he even imprinted, that guy decides to leave his position as he pleases?

Is he not considering his master’s uncomfortable state of mind at all?

He was forcing unreasonable thoughts even while knowing that Clyne Liden was completely unaware of his imprinting.

That’s right. He had even considered that guy’s unusual vacation circumstances.

But now, not content with just that vacation, he’s abandoning him and submitting his resignation.

That vexing, fragrant guy.

“…!”

Suddenly, his eyes widened.

Abandoning him? Does it make sense for a mere servant to abandon their master?

“I’ve gone mad. I’m really not in my right mind.”

To feel abandoned by a mere personal attendant saying they’re quitting their job, he was clearly mentally unstable since the imprinting.

He closed his eyes and started taking deep breaths.

He was not normal right now. He needed to calm his excitement.

This inexplicable impatience, anxiety, and displeasure.

All of this must be due to the imprinting.

So he had to believe that everything would be resolved once he found the imprinting target.

Chloe.

If only he could find her.

[This is the timeline separator]

“Since you put up a guarantor when receiving the advance payment, it doesn’t seem like there will be a big problem.”

Wilson said, looking at the documents.

It was the identity guarantee document of Calcus, whom Chloe had put up as a guarantor when moving into the duke’s mansion.

The butler was displeased about the sudden resignation, but since the duke had given permission, he said she could leave as early as tomorrow without any further comment. Now she just needed to resolve the issue of the advanced salary well.

“Yes. Calcus Tacan, he’s a friend.”

“Hmm… Calcus Tacan, this person’s identity was guaranteed by the Lord of Buergen.”

“Yes.”

Not just anyone could receive an advance on their salary.

Chloe had put up Calcus as her guarantor, and since Calcus worked as a servant for the Lord of Buergen, the Lord of Buergen had provided the identity guarantee for Calcus.

A guarantee from a commoner with nothing to their name would be meaningless, but the Lord of Buergen was certainly reliable.

In fact, she had been a bit curious about how Calcus had managed to get an identity guarantee from the Lord of Buergen.

It’s not common for employers to provide such things.

Anyway, Calcus had brought the identity guarantee confirmation document, and thanks to that, Chloe was able to receive her salary in advance.

She didn’t want to put Calcus, to whom she already owed so much, in the position of guarantor as well, but there was no other way.

“The address here is still Buergen? You live in the same area as your guarantor.”

Wilson, having resolved his main concern about the salary issue, went back to checking the basic personal information.

It was the job application document that Chloe’s twin brother Clyne had sent by mail to apply for a job at the duke’s household.

Since Clyne had written it, Chloe herself had never actually seen the document.

“Yes. We’re neighborhood friends. I’ll send money as soon as I find a job back home.”

Thinking of Calcus made her heart heavy.

What should she say if asked why she had to quit after only three months?

“I see. But remember, the longer the date is postponed, the more interest will accrue. I don’t want to be harsh, but this is simply the regulation.”

“Yes! Of course!”

Checking that it was time to serve afternoon tea, Chloe bowed to Wilson and hurried towards the duke’s office.

In the duke’s office, only the teacups that Chloe was handling while brewing tea were making clattering sounds.

The duke, seemingly displeased about something, was sitting at his desk with his arms crossed, staring intently at Chloe.

The room was always quiet, but today, with him watching like that, the duke’s silence felt especially burdensome and the noise from the teacups seemed particularly loud.

“So, have you finished talking? Until when did you decide to work?”

Just as his wordless gaze was becoming unbearably uncomfortable, the duke finally spoke.

Chloe gripped the teacup she was holding tightly.

It was to prevent accidentally dropping it due to being too nervous.

“I’ll work until today and leave by tomorrow.”

“Tomorrow…”

“Yes.”

“…”

The duke closed his mouth again.

But his persistent gaze continued to be fixed on her.

Somehow, it was a silence where even swallowing saliva felt uncomfortable and breathing freely was difficult.

“Should I bring the tea to your desk? Or should I leave it here on the table?”

Just tell me to leave it on the table and get out quickly. Tell me not to come close. That’s what you did last time!

“Leave it there.”

Phew…

That was a relief.

At least until the duke abruptly stood up from his seat, adding under his breath, “I’ll come over there.”