Rihana's eyes widened, she hadn't missed it.'Wait... look at this man?'Suddenly, like a splash of cold water, her mind cleared, regaining rationality. She had studied emotions and expressions in her past life, after all.The excitement in Killian's eyes didn't suggest anticipation of a night with a woman, but rather a distinct sense of satisfaction. It was the feeling of accomplishment someone has when they've already achieved their goal.Ah, she had a hunch about what this man was up to.'Is he aiming for the shortest record, I wonder?'It seemed like he planned to make her fall madly in love with him in a single day. The acting of the man she'd been captivated by at first sight was rather convincing—nearly enough to fool her.'For a non-professional, he's quite impressive, but he shouldn't have the nerve to present himself before me.'It looked like she'd have to set an example as an expert."Your Grace, thank you for revealing your secret in such a complicated way. I will reveal mine as well."Her voice dropped about an octave."In truth, I am a cross-dressing man. I have reasons I cannot disclose."Rihana gently moved Killian's hand from her cheek, then added:"My real name is Ryan. I like blonde women."Killian's face turned pale with shock.'Of course. He's touched another man all day, so he must be feeling quite self-conscious.'Rihana taunted Killian with a pitying smile, poking at his ego."Hehehe! It feels good to let that out.""...""Can I get up now? It's uncomfortable to keep looking up."Killian, still speechless, simply nodded."Shall I bring you some tea? You look like you could use it."Rihana thought that the tea recommended for mental stability in *Introduction to Tea Blending for Professional Maids* might help.After she brought the tea, Killian still didn't speak or even look at her. For Rihana, the remaining task for the day was simply to enjoy some peace in the maid's room.On the other hand, the confusion was entirely the responsibility of the black-haired man in the opposite room.It took him an entire night to recover from the shock."I couldn't focus on work."He now had another reason to fire this woman—or should he say, this cross-dressed man?"Tomorrow, I must..."And so, with the duke's firm resolution and Rihana's light touch, their first night concluded.***Rihana, who had no idea about Killian's restless night, greeted the morning cheerfully.'Perhaps this time, I can avoid getting tangled up with the male lead and let the story progress without me?'Of course, there was still no confirmation that Killian was the male lead, but if he was, there was no doubt. With his face, he had to be.Moreover, his name was Killian. It would be difficult for him not to fit the typical mold of a male lead.There were doubts about his personality, but if she focused on his face alone... well, some details are best left unsaid.With a satisfied expression, Rihana left the isolation tower."Miss Rihana! Well done!"Bastian, who had been waiting outside the door, greeted her. The people with him seemed to be the Duke's staff."Yes, thank you."Rihana approached them hesitantly, and one of them suddenly extended his hand."I'm the Duke's secretary. Please call me Kim.""Nice to meet you... Kim—I mean, Secretary Kim."Secretary Kim?Even if she didn't know the creator of this world, they must have found it exhausting to come up with names."Hello, I'm Allen. Nice to meet you. You'll be seeing us often from now on."Next to greet her was the man in silk robes standing beside Kim. From his neat hair to his fair skin, he seemed to come from a respectable household.While Rihana didn't know much about noble etiquette, she decided to act according to her memories as the cherished daughter of an Eastern etiquette family."Nice to meet you, Mr. Allen," Rihana replied, a bit awkwardly."It seems busy here.""Our friend here is naturally reserved. We're the ones who stay busy. Shall we go?"Bastian began leading the way, explaining details about the Duke's residence."I'll show you the place where Miss Rihana will stay during the day. You can rest there anytime during the day."Whether Rihana was listening or not, Bastian kept talking."For meals, you can use the Maid's Dining Hall. You can request meals from the maid's chef anytime, but it's best to establish a routine... Are you listening?"She wasn't.Rihana was too busy watching Allen, who was entering the isolation tower."Why is he going into that dangerous place alone?" she asked."Ah, Mr. Allen? He's a magic sorcerer. The Duke's magic doesn't go haywire around him.""Oh, so Mr. Allen is why the Duke can lead a normal life during the day?""Yes, Mr. Allen is the only magic sorcerer in our country..."Bastian continued explaining about Allen, who seemed to be the original source of much exposition, but Rihana only absorbed about half of it since she didn't know much about magic."Roughly translated, is Mr. Allen like a human talisman?"Someone who could suppress the Duke's magic for twelve hours?"Ah, we're here. This is where Miss Rihana will stay."With Bastian's chatty nature, they reached their destination quickly.The main building was impressively grand.Rihana couldn't take her eyes off the decorations on the exterior until the door opened and she stepped inside."Wow... It's dazzlingly splendid."Bastian beamed with pride."Indeed. Besides the central Genoviv Hall of the Magic Company, water is the most important resource."As Rihana entered the main hall, she gasped in admiration, her attention fully captured.The interior was just as magnificent as the exterior.Bastian was pleased to see her admiring gaze. It seemed he had contributed to this grandeur in some way."The main building of the Duke's residence is filled with invaluable items. If you put it in perspective, it's even superior to the Royal Museum.""So, these are like cultural treasures?" Rihana gestured to one of the frames on the wall."Exactly. One of the most valuable paintings in the world, acquired under the Duke's name."As Bastian spoke proudly, Rihana's gaze wandered from painting to painting, silently savoring her appreciation.'If only I were a bit better at painting,' she thought.If she could sell her art under the name of Leonardo da Vinci, she could make a fortune! Unfortunately, her talent was more suited to abstract art, and this world hadn't yet embraced modern styles.Sadly, even with a famous name, she'd remain a hopeless artist.As Rihana let go of her wistful thoughts, Bastian noticed her gaze and took it upon himself to act as a docent."That painting was made by an unknown provincial artist five years ago. Do you know where he is now?"He'd become a master.Beside him stood the statue of a philosopher, and another painting depicted the last days of the Kingdom of Calcade.Bastian's explanations continued up to the fourth floor, where Rihana's room awaited.But as they reached the fourth floor, Bastian fell silent.In contrast, Rihana's mouth dropped open in astonishment.At the end of the corridor, amid the many artworks in the building, the most striking piece—a statue of a grotesque figure—stood bathed in sunlight."...Is that a sculpture by the medieval master Alexandre Kapoukin, acquired from the Astra Auction?"At Rihana's whisper, Bastian's face turned as yellow as a faded cucumber."...There are rumors it might be a masterpiece by the Duchess Charlotte Drosch, who used to be an artist."Want To Read Ahead?👇Table of Contents For Advance Chapters -Standard Membership (3$/month)👉Advanced 3 ChaptersGold Membership (6$/month)👉Advanced 7 ChaptersElite Membership (8$/month)👉Advanced 12 ChaptersMore Translated Novels And Audiobooks Visit - 👉 patreon.com/Eternal_Translations