‘Crazy…’

Every time, it felt like he was being swayed by that tiny woman. Caden hoped this feeling was just an illusion caused by his lack of sleep.

“…Enough. 24/7, year-round. Have you already forgotten the terms of the contract?”

“No way! I’m fulfilling the terms of the contract more faithfully than anyone else. Isn’t it true that I stay alone in the main building every night, prepared to run to you whenever you call?”

“Is that so? Then is this your idea of doing your best?”

“…Pardon?”

“Your so-called determination—I don’t see it. Show me through your actions. I don’t believe a single word you say.”

“But I didn’t even—”

“If you have time to argue, you’d better start packing.”

“…!”

From the beginning, Emma didn’t have the option to refuse.

“Aren’t you the one who hates unnecessary waste of time and manpower the most? This isn’t the image of the perfect secretary Cornell praised so much.”

“Well, that’s true! But I’ve never been to a hunting ground before. It’s only because I don’t want to inconvenience you, Your Grace. There’s no other reason!”

“So, what you’re saying is, it’s all for the sake of the man you love with all your heart, is that it?”

Hidden within his pitch-black eyes was unmistakable mischief. Emma could only respond with an awkward smile.

“Cornell said something when he saw the contract. That 24/7 year-round work—was it even reasonable? He couldn’t tell if I was hiring a secretary or a slave. And, well, he’s not wrong. Since you signed the contract, you’re practically a slave bound to me.”

“…!”

What kind of nonsense was that?

Wasn’t it the year 5023 of the Sweld Empire? She wanted to argue that while the terms of the contract were like that, treating a secretary as a slave was unacceptable. But there was no denying Caden’s words.

Emma had no right to refuse her superior’s orders.

“So. What’s your answer?”

“Of course, I’ll go! It’s only natural for me to accompany Your Grace wherever you go. In fact, I was already worried about how empty the manor would feel without you tomorrow and how long the day would be.”

Since refusal wasn’t an option to begin with, Emma eventually surrendered.

“Good.”

Only then did a satisfied smile appear on Caden’s lips. Emma couldn’t help but admire the beautifully curved line of his lips.

“…Ah.”

At that moment, a gentle hand touched the top of Emma’s head. It was a large, intimidating hand that could crush her head with a single grip. Yet, it tenderly stroked her hair. Emma froze like a statue made of salt.

‘Is he flirting with me or what? No, why is he doing something he’s never done before…!’

The only part of her body that could move was her eyes.

After stroking her hair a few times, Caden’s hand returned to its place. Emma’s gaze naturally followed the hand, as if she regretted its departure.

It was almost as if she felt disappointed.

“Click. Like a dog.”

“…Pardon?”

Emma’s eyes widened at the sudden insult. Then, Caden’s lips parted, and laughter spilled out.

‘He’s laughing?’

She couldn’t say, “I’m offended,” but she was indeed upset. Currently, Caden’s attitude toward Emma was close to friendly. However, the problem was that this friendliness was different from the kind shown to an equal.

‘Am I a child? Or a pet, maybe…?’

Emma’s pink lips puffed up slightly, as if her feelings were hurt. Seeing that, Caden burst into laughter again.

“No, it’s just… your expression just now. It was like a dog whose bone had been taken away.”

“…”

So what if he’s handsome, rich, and a duke? Does that make him untouchable?!

‘Well, maybe it does. That’s probably why he says whatever he wants!’

Her crazy superior was, as always, a disaster when it came to his words.

‘Even if he says the same thing, does he need to say it like that? A dog? Really?’

Emma swallowed her complaints, not wanting Caden to notice.

‘He’s determined to take me with him no matter what. I don’t even have the right to refuse.’

She waited for him to leave, but her plans to avoid him as much as possible starting with this hunt had completely fallen apart.

‘Going to the hunting ground means…!’

It meant she would have to follow him 24/7, acting the part of a “woman in love.”

‘Wait. Why is someone who’s never taken a woman on a hunt insisting on taking me? Is this a trap? Is he testing whether what I said was true?’

If it were Caden, it was entirely possible. All sorts of doubts and possibilities began to cloud Emma’s mind.

‘What if he really is testing me?’

Just imagining spending a night at the hunting ground made her dizzy. She would probably have to stick even closer to Caden than she did at the manor.

She wasn’t confident she could handle it.

Thump. Thump. Thump.

‘What’s wrong with my heart?’

Her clueless heart was beating faster and faster. Feeling her rising heartbeat, Emma tried to calm herself down.

‘If it’s come to this, I’ll do it properly!’

She decided to become the ultimate clingy nuisance and make Caden sick of her.

‘Settling down with one woman? I’ll make those words disappear, Your Grace.’

Emma began meticulously organizing her action plan. Only a perfect plan and bold execution would lead to success.

‘There’s no need to think negatively. After all, this is my first outing, my first trip!’

Thinking of it that way, a small sense of anticipation began to bloom in her heart.

Emma had never been on a proper trip in her life. During annual school trips, she always worked, and a luxurious graduation trip was, of course, out of the question.

Even if it was just accompanying him on a hunt, it was still a night spent away from home, so it wasn’t much different from a trip.

‘It’s technically a business trip, but it’s still a trip! I’ll have to ask Mr. Cornell later if there’s an extra allowance for this.’

Thinking of the extra pay brightened her previously gloomy mood.

‘What is she thinking… Tsk.’

Watching Emma’s constantly changing expressions, Caden clicked his tongue. It was surprisingly entertaining to deal with his quirky, cheeky secretary.

That was why he had impulsively made the suggestion.

‘Spending time with her will reveal what’s inside that tiny head of hers.’

With her cheeks slightly flushed and a faint smile on her lips, Emma stood there. Her vibrant green eyes sparkled like pebbles in a river under the midday sun.

‘She looks like a squirrel storing food in its cheeks.’

A faint smile appeared on Caden’s lips as he gazed at Emma.

And so, Emma Brown’s first trip began. It was a fearful but exciting first step.

—

To accompany Caden, Emma dressed as a man. Having tried various part-time jobs that sometimes required her to dress this way, it wasn’t particularly awkward. However, the fact that the borrowed clothes belonged to a thirteen-year-old boy was a bit much.

—Tom’s clothes are perfect! I can tell just by looking. Billy’s wouldn’t fit at all! He’s already seventeen this year!

Marella had been right.

The clothes of Tom, the thirteen-year-old apprentice servant, fit Emma like they were tailor-made. After grumbling a bit while checking her outfit, Emma tucked her long, flowing brown hair under a hat.

When she stepped into the yard with her bag held confidently in her arms, she was met with an unexpected sight.

“Gasp…!”

She knew it was ridiculous, but it was an uncontrollable reaction. Caden, who had been talking to Cornell, turned his gaze to her at the sound she made.

‘Why does he have to look like that…?’

Emma couldn’t understand.

Caden was dressed plainly, without a single decoration. Yet, dressed entirely in black from head to toe, he was so captivating that no woman could take her eyes off him.

‘If there’s a god of war, he must look like that…’

She wasn’t even religious, but she was convinced.

Step. Step. Step.

Emma, her mouth slightly agape, stared blankly as that god-like figure approached her. Unfortunately, her “god” wore a somewhat disgruntled expression.

‘What’s the problem now? Why again?!’

Though a scream echoed in her heart, Emma forced herself to maintain a calm expression.

“Honestly… What is this look?”

Caden’s index finger tilted Emma’s chin upward. With her chin raised to its limit, she had no choice but to endure Caden’s gaze boring into her face.

Every time his sharp eyes scanned her face, it felt like tiny pricks of pain. She forced a servile smile, hoping to defuse the situation. But as always, no smile was returned.

‘Seriously, this man…!’

She didn’t expect praise, but did he have to look at her with such disdain?

“This is my outfit to perfectly assist Your Grace. Don’t I look like a seasoned squire? I can’t exactly let my dress flutter around at the hunting ground, can I?”

Perhaps sensing the defiance in her eyes, Caden’s gaze narrowed.