The Secret the Duke Doesn’t Know
The garden behind the duke’s mansion had a brightness distinct from the main courtyard.
Vines crawled in every direction, and on one side was a large pond.
A bridge stretched across the water, and beyond it stood an outdoor pavilion.
“…Wow.”
As she crossed the bridge, watching the colorful koi swimming in the pond,
Rosalyn came to a halt when she noticed someone sitting in the pavilion ahead.
She squeezed Lona’s hand tightly and took a deep breath.
“Oh my, it’s the Young Duke! What a coincidence.”
“……”
“…I really didn’t know he would be here!”
Lona’s overly stiff tone was deeply suspicious.
She averted her gaze and let out a small, awkward cough.
“Ahem. Shall we go over to the pavilion?”
“……”
“It’d be lovely if you two could get to know each other better!”
In other words, Lona had intentionally led her to the garden.
Of course, Rosalyn wasn’t clueless about Lona’s intentions…
‘Lona doesn’t seem to know that I’m not the Young Duke’s real daughter.’
If she did, she wouldn’t have brought Rosalyn here so readily.
Rosalyn could feel Deon’s gaze from the pavilion as he enjoyed his tea.
She flinched and clung tighter to Lona’s hand.
“It’s okay, Miss Rosalyn. There’s no need to be afraid of the Young Duke.”
“…I’m just… not mentally prepared yet, Lona.”
“Mentally prepared?”
Lona tilted her head.
As if to say, why would that be necessary?
“But you’re the Young Duke’s daughter, Miss Rosalyn. There’s no need to prepare for family.”
As expected, Lona clearly didn’t know what had happened between them.
Unable to explain the situation properly, Rosalyn just fidgeted in place.
Unaware of anything, Lona smiled proudly.
“Whatever happens, I’m sure the Young Duke will welcome you!”
***
A soft breeze stirred.
Rosalyn swallowed hard and glanced at Deon.
‘How did this even happen?’
The two of them, sitting in the pavilion together.
‘It seemed like he was just enjoying his break…’
Now, she felt like she was interrupting.
But she couldn’t blame Lona either.
She was only trying to help them get closer.
Sneaking a glance,
Rosalyn peeked at Deon while sipping juice.
“Well then, I hope you two have a wonderful time. Something urgent just came to mind, so I’ll be off…”
Bertha quietly excused himself.
Rosalyn looked at him desperately, but he didn’t get the hint.
What should I do…
Her eyes darted nervously.
Then, Deon was the one to speak first.
“You were touring the estate with Lona?”
“…Yes.”
Rosalyn nodded carefully.
Another silence followed.
“I’m thinking of assigning you a tutor.”
“…A tutor?”
“You need to know the basic manners, after all.”
Rosalyn’s eyes widened.
She’d heard that nobles learn etiquette from a young age.
But it was said to be extremely expensive.
Of course, for the Arcas Duchy, that would be pocket change…
“I’ll study hard!”
“Before that, there’s something I’d like to check.”
“…?”
“Have you ever learned etiquette before?”
There was a flicker in Deon’s icy blue eyes.
“No.”
Rosalyn shook her head.
She had never once learned such things.
Coming from an orphanage, she never had the chance to receive such costly education.
“I see. And when you were adopted before, did your foster parents ever assign you a tutor?”
“…No.”
Why was he asking this?
She couldn’t figure out his intent.
Deon seemed lost in thought for a moment.
Now and then, his gaze would narrow as he looked at her.
‘Did I do something wrong?’
Her cup of juice was already empty.
The warm spring breeze stirred once more.
Petals fluttered from the trees, landing softly on Rosalyn’s head.
“Oh dear.”
Seeing this, Deon reached out and gently brushed the petals off.
Rosalyn flinched and awkwardly looked up at him.
When their eyes met, Deon paused—then let out a quiet laugh.
Her clear gaze was fixed squarely on his gloves.
“You really are observant.”
“……”
“That’s what I like about you, Rosalyn.”
“…Ah.”
“But would you keep what you just saw a secret? It would be a problem if others found out.”
He whispered softly in her ear, as if they were sharing a secret.
Rosalyn’s eyes widened.
Deon Arcas was rumored to have severe mysophobia.
Gossip columns would often publish stories about him gagging after brushing against people on the street.
And yet…
‘He doesn’t have mysophobia?’
Right now, Deon was revealing to her that it wasn’t true.
Rosalyn’s eyes trembled ever so slightly.
“Even the Duke doesn’t know about this,” he added.
“…Th-Then why are you telling me?”
“Well,”
Deon smiled brightly.
“You’re my daughter, aren’t you?”
He gently patted her head and stood up.
“I’ll see you later, Rosalyn. Ah, I’d be happy if something like today happened again.”
***
After Deon left the pavilion,
Lona came running with an excited look on her face.
“See? The Young Duke really thinks you’re special, Miss Rosalyn!”
“…Lona, it’s not like that.”
“I’ve served the Young Duke for years, and I’ve never seen him touch someone first!”
Rosalyn shyly touched the top of her head.
The warmth still lingered.
‘He patted my head…’
It felt like being praised.
And he even said he’d like to see her again.
That he’d be happy if she came by again…
‘Does that mean I’m allowed to go see him?’
Rosalyn’s delicate brow creased slightly.
Lona tilted her head.
“What’s wrong, Miss Rosalyn? Did something happen during your talk?”
“Mm. The Young Duke said he’d be happy if something like today happened again… But what if I go visit him and end up bothering him?”
Rosalyn shared her worry hesitantly.
Lona gasped and covered her mouth in awe.
“Oh, Miss Rosalyn. Why would you worry about that?”
“Yes?”
“I can always check the Young Duke’s schedule for you. …Or you could invite him yourself!”
“…Invite him?”
“Yes! Next time, try asking if he’d like to have a meal together.”
Rosalyn flinched.
Having a meal with Deon was unimaginable.
And after he asked whether she’d learned etiquette earlier, she started to feel self-conscious.
“Lona.”
“Yes, Miss? Go ahead.”
“Is my posture really that bad?”
“Your posture?”
Lona blinked slowly.
Her red eyes scanned Rosalyn from head to toe.
Now that she looked closely…
“Oh my?”
“…Is it that bad?”
“No, not at all… It’s just, I heard that you’ve been living outside the Ducal house, right?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
To be exact, she’d lived in an orphanage.
Rosalyn nodded, and Lona’s expression deepened in confusion.
“…You might not believe this, but even if it’s a bit rough, you’re sitting exactly according to etiquette. Did you perhaps learn it somewhere before?”
Rosalyn’s eyes went round at those words.
It was the first she’d heard of it.
Because—she truly had never learned etiquette in her life.
***
Meanwhile, Deon sat in his office, deep in thought.
So deep, in fact, that he didn’t hear Bertha calling him.
‘He’s not ignoring me on purpose, is he?’
Deon had a history of doing just that.
Bertha cautiously gauged the mood, then let out an exaggerated cough.
“Ahem! Ahem!”
Deon’s frosty blue eyes turned toward him.
“…Young Duke, did something happen in the garden?”
“Hm. Who knows.”
A vague response.
Bertha began to sweat nervously.
‘Was he upset that his break was interrupted?’
Twice a week, Deon would take time off in the garden.
And today, Rosalyn had shown up during that exact moment.
‘If he hated interruptions, he would’ve told Miss Rosalyn immediately.’
Deon wasn’t known for having great patience, after all.
“Bertha.”
“Yes, sir?”
“Rosalyn displayed proper noble etiquette.”
“…Pardon?”
Bertha lifted his glasses in astonishment.
