Chapter 4
4
“A, actually, it was a pressure interview. You passed.”
He wasn’t someone who would easily yield to my change of heart. Let’s just say what he wants to hear for now and think about it later.
“Alright.”
Polite yet arrogant, humble yet exuding a sense of ease as if he were above me.
Dante strode closer with his long legs and offered a handshake.
“Please take care of me.”
Hesitating, I took his hand, and the tendons on his wrist stood out blue beneath his shirt sleeve. My hand, enveloped in his firm grip, looked dainty.
“I should be saying that to you…”
He released my hand, which he had been holding tightly, and stepped back. His fingers lightly tickled the back of my hand as they brushed past.
A sweet yet smoky scent lingered at the tip of my nose. It was a sensual fragrance, a blend of cedarwood and musk.
This man smells good.
“Um, what kind of perfume do you use?”
That wasn’t what I meant to say. The words twisted themselves.
“Soap.”
Dante, who was rolling up his sleeves, replied simply.
“Ah… so you don’t wear perfume…”
So it’s his natural scent…
As I muttered to myself, lost in admiration, he asked in his uniquely low and polite voice.
“Mia Fortuna, what shall we start with?”
Goodness, he called me Mia Fortuna with that haughty face.
No, that’s not the point right now. First, I need to fire this man. I decided to become a cold and ruthless person after experiencing the bitterness of the world.
No matter how fragrant and handsome he is, he’s a cruel man who will kill royals and nobles and destroy the empire.
He’s like a flower with poison.
I’m a commoner, so I won’t be his target in the future, but what if his plans are exposed and the Security Bureau comes to arrest him?
Our handsome housekeeper will escape and live well on his own, but I’ll be caught and burned alive for sure. They might burn the place he escaped to and force me to reside in an iron maiden.
“Mr. Dyke.”
“Call me by my name.”
“Dante? Are you perhaps a noble? Why are you trying to be a housekeeper?”
How could a Duke become a commoner’s housekeeper? I was worried and scared about what kind of disaster he might cause.
“Please, call me comfortably.”
How can I call you more comfortably than this? Hey, you, call me like this?
“Even if your current house is uncomfortable because of the servants’ eyes, you must have another house under your own name.”
You could build a house in a remote place where no one can come and clean freely, right? It’s suspicious that you applied to a mansion with ominous rumors in the first place.
I’ve hit the nail on the head, so he won’t be able to refute it, right?
But contrary to my expectations, he sighed and shook his head.
“That’s no fun. There would be nothing to clean.”
“Ah…”
In the end, I was the one who couldn’t refute him.
“So, you’re feeling emptiness in a life where you have everything and trying to find new fun by deviating…?”
“It’s not just that.”
“You don’t have any political ambitions, do you? Politicians sometimes deliberately try to show a commoner-like image, right? That doesn’t work these days. You can tell at a glance.”
I was indirectly asking if he was going to turn the empire upside down with a revolution later.
At the repeated questioning, his blue eyes narrowed slightly.
“That’s not it either. And wasn’t the interview over?”
He seemed reluctant to answer for some reason. It seemed like there was something he couldn’t say, but I couldn’t ask any more. I felt like I would get hurt if I knew.
“Yes, it’s over…”
Maybe he’s trying to hide here after causing a big commotion and running away. I decided to intimidate him.
“Actually, there’s a non-human presence in this house? This is a haunted house where ghosts appear.”
I lowered my voice ominously like a narration in a horror program, but he didn’t seem to care at all.
“It doesn’t matter to me. Mia Fortuna is living safely, isn’t she?”
Is that really the case? If I hire that man, I might be safe for a while.
He added to me, who still didn’t let go of my suspicious gaze.
“You can fire me if you don’t like my work. That’s a reasonable reason.”
Yes, that’s it. He seems to be a human with common sense, so I’ll find all sorts of faults like Mr. Mathias and say that I don’t like everything and fire him. Then he’ll acknowledge the difference in our values and leave willingly.
“That’s exactly what I mean. Even if you’re a noble, I have no choice but to fire you as an employer if you don’t do it properly.”
I spoke like a strict and solemn Supreme Court justice.
At that, Dante, who was unfolding an ivory apron, smiled.
“Actually, I’m good at housework, but I’m also good at other things.”
As he strode closer, the faint fragrance became stronger again.
Kneeling on one knee, he untied my loosely tied shoelaces and retied them. His touch was delicate and caring. He slightly raised his eyes and looked at me.
Sea-like eyes that reflected my expression as it was.
That man has a great face. It’s a great restaurant. I was mesmerized and suddenly came to my senses.
I had never understood the female leads in novels who fell for the male lead’s face. When looking at a person, one should value the heart more than the appearance.
But after seeing an absolute beauty in person, I realized that it was a very difficult thing to do. I couldn’t sympathize because I only saw it in writing.
“Ahem. Can I ask you to do other things besides the assigned tasks? Very difficult and tiring things, I mean.”
I put one hand on my waist and deliberately spoke spitefully.
I won’t fall for the excellent face, body, scent, and atmosphere that satisfy the five senses.
If I don’t harden my heart, I’ll find myself being caught instead of that man and shouting, ‘That rebellion was all my plan, you beggars!’
He stood up straight, released the remaining shirt sleeve buttons, and smiled with his eyes.
“I’m willing to do night work too.”
A somewhat relaxed and languid voice tickled my ears. I was breathless.
“What did you say? This isn’t that kind of place.”
Actually, it’s the main branch.
The corrupt devil inside me said. This is an irresistible force beyond my control.
I shook my head vigorously to shake off the wicked thoughts.
Get a grip, Mia Fortuna! That man is the future cruel rebel commander. Don’t fall for his charms!
“I meant overtime.”
What, that’s what he meant?
He had set fire to my tender and weak heart, but he had a very nonchalant face.
“You don’t have to go that far.”
I answered coyly to hide my disappointment.
Dante turned to look at me and loosened his lips into a smile.
“As expected, you’re a kind person.”
But it would be troublesome if I gave that man the impression of being a good employer. I’m a ruthless and cold person who will kick you out.
“No? I was notorious for being a vicious employer. I’m still on the blacklist of employment agencies.”
I made the scariest face I could. Then he slowly nodded.
“Aha.”
Are you scared? So tell me yourself that you won’t work here.
“I used to keep my eyes wide open here and monitor the work. I nagged endlessly and found fault with trivial things. Everyone got stress-induced gastritis and quit.”
I glanced at Mathias. This was a sad ending adaptation of my true story of being tormented by that damn germaphobe.
But even with my threatening words, Dante didn’t seem to care much.
“Yes, I’ll do well.”
“And if you show any suspicious behavior (plotting a rebellion), I’ll fire you. If you make a mistake, I’ll whip you…”
“Mia Fortuna's tastes are unique. I’m willing to accommodate them. It doesn’t seem like it would hurt much either.”
Why am I the only weird one? I felt like I was getting worse the more I talked, so I shut my mouth tightly.
Then his gaze, which had been pulling at his tie and loosening it, was directed towards my neck.
“The necklace suits you well. Did you receive it as a gift?”
Dante’s blue eyes, looking at my red gemstone necklace, narrowed slightly.
This is something my father left behind, and it’s also my grandfather’s heirloom. I lifted the necklace and answered.
“Ah, this is my father’s. It’s also a memento.”
As soon as I finished speaking, Dante’s fingers, which had been adjusting his tie, stopped. He slowly raised his gaze, which had been fixed on the necklace, and met my eyes.
“Your father, has he passed away?”
His tone was somewhat surprised.
I shook my head.
“I don’t know. I heard he disappeared leaving only this behind. My grandfather gave it to me before he passed away, so it’s also my grandfather’s heirloom.”
He seemed like he wanted to ask something more, but he quietly closed his mouth.
I wonder how much it’s worth, but he can’t bring himself to ask. Or is he planning to steal it while looking for an opportunity? He seems a little greedy.
Dante, who finally took his eyes off me, said.
“I’ll start working right away.”
“Go ahead.”
I took the opportunity to fully admire his figure under the guise of surveillance.
But that was only for a moment. Apart from the fact that the sight of him wearing an apron over a shirt that highlighted his sturdy physique and doing housework was sexy and artistic, I felt uncomfortable because I had never asked anyone to do work before.
Scratching my head, I picked up a duster, and he stopped me.
“This is my job, so please relax.”
It was like saying, ‘Relaxing is helping.’
Ah, I’m a bad employer.
“I wasn’t trying to help you.”
“Yes, I’ll tell you first if I need help.”
I acted like a tsundere, and he went back to doing his job.
This man went around every corner of the house and found dust and stains that I didn’t even know about.
“It seems like this hasn’t been cleaned for at least 100 years.”
He held up a rag that had turned black.
It’s definitely full of hundred-year-old dust. I awkwardly rubbed the back of my neck.
Dante was a cleaning expert, different from me from the start. Every corner touched by the hands of a pro sparkled.
It didn’t turn out like that when I did it. Is he perhaps an Ability User specializing in cleaning?
Meanwhile, Mathias, who had turned translucent, got up from the sofa and watched him silently. He had a slightly moved face.
‘You’re the first man to satisfy me.’
I brought in a mastermind as a housekeeper
