“Let’s go with the first one.”

The tie that the Marquis of Eaton and the Count of Dimitri would gossip about behind his back.

“…Yes, Your Grace.”

With an exaggeratedly bright smile, Hailey walked over to the wardrobe. When she returned, Tayton stood and stretched out his arms. A silent command for her to remove his robe.

The casualness of his gesture made Hailey reflexively untie the front of the robe—only to freeze in shock.

“!?”

He was wearing nothing but his undergarments beneath the robe.

Completely unbothered, he stood before her, baring his body with not an ounce of shame.

Hailey, frozen like ice, let her gaze slowly travel down his form.

Though he had appeared relatively lean when dressed, his body was far more muscular than she had expected. His entire frame was solid, the body of someone who had trained consistently.

She hadn’t imagined that beneath those layers of fabric lay such an impressive physique. Her eyes traced his broad shoulders, well-defined chest, sculpted abs, and powerful thighs.

Thighs so thick they wouldn’t fit within the grasp of both her hands.

“What are you doing? Hurry up and hand me my clothes—”

Tayton, glancing up carelessly, narrowed his silver eyes behind the mask.

Ah.

His lips moved soundlessly, his gaze flickering with amusement. It was the first time he had ever seen her flustered.

A smirk tugged at his lips as he sneered.

“Is there a diamond on my thigh, Miss Hailey?”

“Ah.”

Realizing what he meant, Hailey let out a small, embarrassed sound. Her pupils wavered.

“…My apologies. I didn’t know where else to look…”

“For someone unsure of where to look, your eyes certainly wandered to the most private places. And with such a greedy gaze, no less.”

Greedy, my foot.

“Would you like to touch?”

Like hell she would.

Of course, if he begged her to, she wouldn’t necessarily refuse…

“But I must say, it’s unfortunate that I can’t grant your wishes. As I mentioned earlier, I have no interest in unchaste women. I can assure you that the day I so much as touch Miss Hailey, even by accident, will never come.”

At last, Hailey lowered her head, averting her gaze.

It wasn’t out of embarrassment.

It wasn’t out of flustered confusion.

And it certainly wasn’t because she was upset.

…No, perhaps she was embarrassed, flustered, and upset after all.

Her mind was so blank she couldn’t think properly.

Seeing her reaction, Tayton, who had been wearing a look of irritation all this time, finally seemed satisfied. He muttered to himself in a blunt tone.

“You read those trashy romance novels without batting an eye, yet now you want to act like a proper lady? Don’t you think it’s a little late for that?”

“…….”

Hailey squeezed her eyes shut and took a deep breath.

Her round shoulders lifted slightly, then slumped down.

Dear unknown goddess, today I will charge at that foul-tempered duke and meet my end. If you have any mercy left for me, please grant me a third chance. I swear I won’t even complain if you pour a bucket of sour lemon juice over my head.

Muttering her prayers under her breath, Hailey soon opened her eyes with a serene expression. She offered the shirt in her hands with a bright smile.

“I will assist you in getting dressed.”

The duke’s gaze twisted with displeasure at how quickly Hailey regained her composure. He had hoped she would run out of the room in tears.

Unfortunately, it seemed that wasn’t going to happen.

Ignoring the duke’s piercing gaze on her cheek, Hailey fastened the pearl cufflinks on his sleeves. His cold voice dropped from above her head.

“But tell me.”

“Yes, Your Grace?”

Hailey responded in a polite tone, as if determined not to make any further mistakes. The duke’s lips twisted into a crooked smirk.

“Are you expecting me to dine in this outfit?”

“Ah.”

Hailey’s busy hands halted abruptly. Her eyes flashed with a hint of embarrassment.

Dress codes.

Nobles had different attire depending on the time, place, and occasion. Just as one wouldn’t wear indoor loungewear outside, one wouldn’t dine in outdoor attire.

Every time she realized that what was obvious to others wasn’t obvious to her, Hailey felt a strange sense of alienation. It was as if she didn’t belong anywhere, like a foreigner wandering through unfamiliar lands.

“To make such a basic mistake, it seems Baron Salmonn’s household education was utterly lacking. Or perhaps Hailey Salmon simply isn’t very bright.”

Tayton sneered, as if he had been waiting for a chance to criticize her.

Family should be off-limits, though.

Suppressing a sigh, Hailey lowered her head without resistance.

“My apologies. I must have been nervous since it’s my first time. I will assist you in changing into your indoor attire.”

“They say if the head is slow, the body suffers. But now, I have to suffer as well.”

Then why didn’t you mention it earlier? Instead of waiting until after you were fully dressed?

Skillfully concealing her thoughts, Hailey apologized once more.

“…I’m sorry.”

A short while later, Tayton, now dressed in his indoor attire, left the bedroom. Lifting her dress slightly to avoid stepping on the hem, Hailey followed the duke cautiously down the central staircase.

Thud. Thud.

Each time the duke took a step, his cane pressed firmly into the carpet, leaving round indentations that disappeared just as quickly.

Hailey couldn’t take her eyes off him, worried that he might stumble on the stairs. The precarious image of his swaying figure on the steps last night flickered in her mind.

However, her concern was unfounded. Tayton descended the staircase effortlessly.

The maids who had gathered on the first floor were nowhere to be seen. Perhaps they had scattered upon hearing the sound of his cane.

Hailey thought they resembled mice hiding in the kitchen—creatures that scurried away the moment they sensed someone’s presence.

As if he were a plague victim…

She gazed at the duke’s back as he walked several steps ahead of her. His posture was impeccable as he strode across the empty crimson hall.

It was as if he had been alone from the moment he was born, standing at the center of solitude. No one stood by his side, and no one walked beside him.

He drifted alone, like an isolated island, unaware that what he carried was loneliness.

Hailey suddenly shook her head.

How long had it been since meddling in someone else’s business got her killed? And now she was concerning herself with another person again? With a personality worse than a plague victim’s, of course people avoided him. She would, too.

The duke headed straight for the morning room. As she moved to follow him inside, Hailey noticed Anna walking down the corridor and paused.

Anna carried a tray with a teapot, teacup, milk, and honey. She hesitated before stopping in front of the morning room, staring at Hailey.

Hailey stepped aside, making room for her. She even pushed the door open a little wider, gesturing for her to go inside.

Anna, wearing a troubled expression, instead extended the tray to Hailey.

“This is the tea for His Grace.”

“The duke is inside. As you know.”

So take it in before it gets cold, she meant. Anna’s face looked even more conflicted.

After staring at the morning room for a moment, Anna turned back to Hailey.

“But Madam Mastis always served His Grace’s tea…”

“But Madam Mastis is currently bedridden. I believe she’s too ill to even move?”

Am I wrong?

Hailey raised an eyebrow in silent inquiry. Anna’s face instantly turned pale.

She glared at Hailey with a distinctly aggrieved expression. Her voice, small and sharp, shot out.

“You woke His Grace in Jessie’s place earlier.”

“Yes, I did.”

“So, the tea service as well—”

“But you’re not Jessie, are you?”

“!”

Anna’s eyes widened. Stunned, she gaped at Hailey before her expression twisted in frustration.

Anna finally realized that it had been Hailey’s kindness. It wasn’t because she had been intimidated by Catherine’s presence, nor was it an attempt to win favor with the maids of the mansion.

It had been, quite literally, a consideration for Jessie.

At the same time, Anna also noticed that the recipient of Hailey’s kindness was not everyone. In other words, Hailey would not go out of her way for Anna.

Anna glanced around the morning room. She saw the back of the masked duke. The tea was gradually cooling.

If she delayed any longer, she would be struck by a bolt from the blue. Perhaps, like Joy, she would be mercilessly berated and thrown out.

Yet her body, rigid with tension, refused to move. According to rumors, beneath the duke’s mask lay flesh rotting away due to a curse. She had even heard a story of a maid turning to stone after making eye contact with him.

Anna’s fingertips trembled like quivering aspen leaves. Her legs felt weak. The rattling of the teacup was deafening.

At this rate, she would either let the tea go cold or spill the teacup—either way, the result would be the same: she would be cast out of the mansion.

Duke Gunner was not the type to overlook a maid’s mistake. Perhaps she, too, would incur his wrath and be turned into a cold, lifeless statue.

Anna swallowed dryly, her face pale as a sheet. Hailey gestured for her to hurry inside.

“The duke is waiting. If you ask me, he doesn’t seem like a particularly patient man.”

“Ugh.”

Biting her lip, Anna looked at her. With tears brimming in her eyes, she finally bowed her head to Hailey.

“Please, Miss Hailey… I beg you.”