Sensing danger, Emma quickly stepped back.

“I’m sorry, but I can’t take off my glasses! They’re like my eyes. They’re custom-made, and I can’t get another pair like them. Besides, without them, I can’t see anything right in front of me. They’re precious to me, so I acted without thinking…”

“A country bumpkin who looks like a swollen fish dares to strike her superior? This is the first time I’ve had such a secretary.”

When her qualifications as a secretary were brought up, Emma became desperate.

“Your Grace, this is unfair! I only…”

“…Ha.”

Caden ran his hand through his hair in frustration, his face twisted in annoyance. He waved his hand dismissively, a clear signal for her to stop talking.

‘I can’t let myself get fired like this!’

The thought of her loan balance flashed through her mind. If she were fired now, her whole family might end up on the streets.

At this point, it didn’t matter whether her superior was a bloodthirsty murderer or a complete psychopath. The only thought dominating Emma’s mind was, ‘If I get fired, I’m dead.’

“It was truly a mistake! I won’t make such a mistake again. So please, have mercy…”

“Enough. Get out.”

“…Pardon?”

Emma’s response made Caden frown openly. He hated repetition and pointless questions.

“I said, stop babbling and get out. Or are you planning to freeload in my house?”

“…Ah.”

“Don’t make me repeat myself.”

Realizing what he meant, Emma’s face lit up with relief. Thankfully, she wasn’t fired.

“Yes, Your Grace! I’ll go prepare breakfast right away—ugh!”

As she turned to escape, a large hand grabbed the back of her neck, stopping her in her tracks.

Emma cautiously turned around to see Caden smiling brightly. His face was refreshingly cheerful, without a hint of shadow.

“Wait.”

“…Yes?”

“You forgot something.”

“Is there something else you’d like me to do…?”

Her careful question was met with an unwelcome answer.

“You can leave, but not before receiving your punishment.”

“…!”

Caden smiled like a blooming flower, his expression radiant.

“You dare raise your hand against your superior? Such impudence from someone so small.”

Though his lips held a bright smile, his eyes were cold. Emma quickly clasped her hands together and bowed deeply in apology.

“I-I’ve committed an unforgivable sin! Your Grace! Please forgive me. It was a mistake. Please…”

Her face was so desperate, as if she might burst into tears at any moment, that Caden’s lips curled into a crooked smile.

“Indeed, insubordination is a grave sin. Since it’s your first offense, I’ll forgive you.”

“Thank you, Your Grace!”

Emma felt a brief wave of relief, thinking her desperate acting had worked. But it was short-lived…

“You should be grateful that I’m letting you off without firing you. But there will still be consequences.”

“…!”

As soon as he finished speaking, a loud ‘smack’ echoed through the room.

For a moment, a flash of light passed before Emma’s eyes.

She couldn’t even scream, instead clutching her forehead in pain. Groans escaped her lips as she writhed silently.

Then, a voice filled with disbelief reached her ears.

“What, are you crying?”

Emma raised her tear-filled eyes to meet Caden’s gaze. His expression was one of disdain, as if asking how she could cry over something so trivial.

‘A flick on the forehead? That wasn’t a flick—it was a weapon!’

The pain was so intense she wanted to collapse and sob, but she couldn’t afford to do that.

“…I’m not crying.”

“Then take them off.”

“Take what off…?”

“Those hideous things. Your glasses.”

For a moment, Emma forgot the pain and instinctively stepped back.

“I told you, I’m not crying! And please, leave my glasses alone. They’re like my second pair of eyes. I absolutely can’t take them off! Anyway, we’ve both hit each other now, so we’re even, right?”

“You… You’re unbelievable.”

Just moments ago, she had been on the verge of tears, and now she was acting so bold.

“In that case, since we’ve settled the score, may I leave now? I wouldn’t want Your Grace’s breakfast to be delayed.”

“…Do as you please.”

Perhaps because he had slept well for the first time in a while, the mention of breakfast immediately reminded Caden of his appetite.

“Well…”

“What now?”

Despite saying she would leave, Emma hesitated, her words dragging on. Annoyed, Caden responded curtly.

“About last night… The woman…”

“Ah.”

Something seemed to occur to Caden, and he nodded.

“A courtesan came by last night. When the bill comes, pay her generously. Make it more than the usual rate.”

“…!”

Caden’s sharp gaze scrutinized Emma’s expression. After observing her for a moment, he slowly opened his mouth.

“If you’re my secretary, you should handle things like this smoothly. It’s something that will happen often, don’t you think?”

“Is that so? I’ll remember to pay her more than the usual rate.”

When Emma gave a compliant answer, Caden nodded in satisfaction.

“She was satisfactory.”

“…!”

“She was surprisingly passionate for someone so small. Quite impressive for a country bumpkin.”

“…!”

“If she wants to come again, let her know she’s welcome.”

“Understood, Your Grace.”

Emma wasn’t sure how she managed to respond and bow before leaving Caden’s bedroom in a hurry.

Her heart was pounding wildly.

‘He really doesn’t recognize me!’

It was an incredible relief.

She decided to pretend last night never happened and focus on her duties as a secretary. But for some reason, her heart continued to race uncontrollably.

―She was surprisingly passionate for someone so small. Quite impressive for a country bumpkin.

When Caden said those words, his eyes had softened.

Perhaps it was because of the faint smile in his curved gaze.

Even as Emma went downstairs to check on breakfast and prepare Caden’s outfit, her heart continued to beat rapidly.

—

After that, life at the Duke’s estate went more smoothly than expected. Emma excelled in her secretary duties thanks to her exceptional information-gathering skills, meticulous planning, diligence, and quick wits.

The person most delighted by Emma’s miraculous performance was the butler, Cornell, along with the other staff.

The Duke no longer overturned bathwater or trays, threw clothes around, or demanded that bedding be discarded in fits of irritation.

In the three months since Emma had been hired, not a single staff member had been fired. No one had lost their job, nor had anyone mysteriously disappeared in the middle of the night.

The staff began referring to this phenomenon as the “Emma Brown Effect.”

Everything flowed smoothly, and a peace previously unseen at Blackwood Castle settled in. As a result, the butler Cornell, the head maid Marella, and the maid Vivian, among others, became devoted supporters of Emma Brown.

“We must never let the secretary leave!”

A tacit alliance formed among the staff. Their determination soon manifested as visible acts of kindness.

But the joy of this radiant spring was short-lived. A dark cloud began to loom over Blackwood.

Ironically, the one who brought about this change was none other than the new secretary, Emma Brown.

—

The events of the past three months flashed before Emma’s eyes in an instant.

‘I managed to get through the first night somehow, but I can’t believe this is happening again.’

Things had gone so smoothly that it seemed suspicious, and now disaster had struck.

She had spent the night with her superior. And it had been intense!

That alone might have been manageable, but the aftermath was the real problem.

She had tried to preemptively resign, but her resignation was flatly rejected. Worse, Caden had ordered her to find the woman he had spent last night with.

‘I can’t just say, “It was me, Your Grace.” Should I pretend to look for her?’

The problem was that Caden wasn’t the type to accept half-hearted efforts.

‘What am I supposed to do?!’

While she was hesitating, unable to figure out what to do, Caden’s voice interrupted her thoughts.

“Why are you still standing there?”

“…!”

Caden frowned as he looked at Emma, clearly annoyed.

“Well…”

“What now?”

Caden’s tone was gruff, clearly picking a fight.

“About last night… The woman…”

“Yes. I told you to find her immediately. You don’t have time to dawdle.”

“Do we really need to find her? It’s not like she’s the only courtesan…”

“Are you defying me?”

“…!”

Emma’s eyes widened in shock, and Caden let out a small laugh. Her expression reminded him of poorly kneaded bread dough—amusing and oddly endearing.

‘How could I find her endearing?’

Startled by his own thoughts, Caden frowned.

“Your Grace? It’s not defiance; I’m just concerned. What are you planning to do with her? Surely, you’re not thinking of keeping her at Blackwood…”

“Yes. If possible, I’d like her to stay.”

“…!”

“What’s your answer?”

Sensing the danger, Emma instinctively raised her voice.

“But Your Grace! Spending a night with someone is one thing, but keeping her here is entirely different. You’re not even married yet. I don’t think this is appropriate! It could tarnish the noble reputation of the Duke…”

It was her last desperate attempt to persuade him.

Caden scoffed and dismissed her words.

“My reputation? Which one? Murderer? Or the rumor that I’m a centuries-old vampire? Ah, or was it that I drink the blood of the living?”

“Well, that’s…”

“Adding one more rumor about me being a womanizer won’t change much, will it?”

It wouldn’t.

Irritation began to cloud Caden’s face. Realizing the danger, Emma decided to retreat.

“Understood, Your Grace.”

She wasn’t even sure how she managed to respond and bow. Emma fled the office as if running for her life.

Her heart pounded furiously.

Her rejected resignation had already been torn to shreds, and it was only a matter of time before her secret was exposed.

‘What should I do now?’

She began biting her fingertips, a habit that only appeared when she was extremely anxious—something even her family didn’t know about.

‘I have to get out of here somehow!’

If her secret were discovered, her life would be at risk.

Paying off her debt was important, but that was only possible if she stayed alive.

Even if she tried to explain that she hadn’t meant to deceive him, Caden wouldn’t listen. Before anything could happen, she had to quit her job as his secretary.

If he wouldn’t accept her resignation, there was only one option left: she had to make him fire her.

‘He said he hates clingy women, didn’t he?’

Emma resolved to become the clingiest woman imaginable—the kind Caden despised most.