When Klaus glared at Jucid with a chilling intensity that showed no mercy for her status, Jucid finally fled the scene, looking as if she were about to burst into tears. With the Duke himself intervening, she would surely lack the courage to appear before Roselia or Closette again.
While Closette gazed at Klaus with a stunned expression, Roselia felt a complex surge of emotions. A part of her was undeniably grateful, yet an encroaching sense of unease soured the relief. Could it be… that the kiss from earlier had actually piqued his interest? If so, it was a development she certainly didn’t welcome. She had gone to such lengths to escape the original plot; she could not allow herself to be swayed by a mere kiss.
Steeling her heart, Roselia bowed to Klaus as he turned toward her.
“Thank you for your help. However, this was something I could have handled myself. There was no need for you to fabricate a story on my account.”
Klaus furrowed his brow at her clinical, distancing tone.
“I don’t believe it was a fabrication. You and Antonio are registered to the Duchy estate, are you not? Though, of course, you continue to stubbornly refuse to move in.”
After staring at him blankly, taken aback by his composure, Roselia bowed again.
“Regardless, I am grateful. Now, if you’ll excuse me.”
As Roselia turned to leave, Closette hurriedly followed. Under the weight of Klaus’s lingering gaze, Roselia felt as though she were being pulled into an undertow; she could think of nothing but the need to escape him immediately. Klaus merely watched her retreating back with an unreadable expression, making no move to stop her.
“Roselia? Are you alright?”
At Closette’s worried question, Roselia replied with a faint, tight smile.
“I’m tired. Let’s head back.”
“Yes, of course. I’ll have a servant call for the carriage. Just wait a moment.”
Only after Closette had walked away in search of a servant did Roselia exhale deeply, scanning her surroundings. Fortunately, it seemed Klaus had not followed. Perhaps he, too, was grappling with a complicated state of mind. To think that they—the two who used to snarl at each other as if they would rather devour one another—would end up sparking like that… Was the attraction between man and woman, as depicted in the original work, truly inescapable, no matter how much she denied or avoided it?
While she waited, a familiar voice drifted over to her.
“You certainly know how to run away.”
Caught off guard, Roselia jumped and turned to see the Crown Prince leaning against a corridor column, his arms crossed. As her face stiffened, he let out a deflated, hollow laugh.
“You look at me as if I’ve committed an unforgivable sin.”
“Please, just stay quietly by the Crown Princess’s side. That is the way to make everyone’s life easier.”
The corners of the Crown Prince’s mouth twisted.
“Would it really? Perhaps it would be easier for Evelionne if I weren’t there at all.”
*If you know that, then do better! Stop acting so strangely!*
Contrary to her inner turmoil, Roselia remained silent. As if reading her mind, the Crown Prince sneered and straightened his posture.
“For the sake of our history, I’ll give you one piece of advice. It’s inevitable that you’re tied to the Duke’s estate, but… it would be best if you didn’t get too deeply involved with the man himself.”
What in the world was this nonsense? Of course, she had no intention of getting close to the Duke, but why would the Crown Prince offer such a warning?
“Because I wouldn’t want to be the one to strike you down myself.”
With those final words, he turned and vanished back into the banquet hall. *Strike me down?* She couldn’t fathom his meaning. Then, the original plot surfaced in her mind: the story of a Duke who would rise in rebellion over Evelionne, and a Crown Prince who would suppress the rebels to reclaim her love. She had believed the rebellion was about national survival and imperial interference—a larger, more complex tapestry. Could it be… that the original plot was still in effect? So much had changed, surely…
“Roselia! The carriage is here!”
Pulled from her thoughts by Closette’s voice, Roselia pushed her worries aside and began to walk, unaware that someone watched her from a second-floor balcony. Swirling a wine glass leisurely, a middle-aged man with silver hair observed her departure and murmured in a low voice.
“This is getting interesting.”
* * *
Enjoying a peaceful tea time with Closette while in the guise of Antonio, Roselia smiled as she listened to her friend’s chatter. The storm of the imperial banquet felt as distant as a dream. As her thoughts touched upon the Crown Prince’s unpredictable interest, Jucid’s hostility, and the incident with the Duke on the balcony, Roselia shook her head vigorously.
While Closette watched her curiously, Melda arrived with the weekly socialite magazine.
“The magazine arrived earlier than expected today. Would you like to see it?”
At Melda’s inquiry, Closette eagerly reached out. Even if one had no interest in high society, the rumors were perfect for passing the time. However, as Closette began to read, her eyes widened. Her mouth fell agape, and she gasped, finally calling out to Roselia.
“Uh… well… Antonio. I think you need to see this…”
Roselia’s gaze turned toward her with suspicion. Closette was still unable to tear her eyes from the paper. Wondering what could possibly be of interest, Roselia stepped toward her, read the lines on the page, and was so shocked she snatched the magazine away.
*‘The seductress who captivated the Crown Prince and Duke Baltezar. What is her true identity?’*
“What on earth is this…”
Staring down at the paper in a daze, Roselia quickly read the text below the sensational headline.
*『A Crown Prince who has eyes only for someone other than the Crown Princess? Many will remember the recent masquerade ball hosted by the young lady of Baltezar. Do you recall the mysterious woman who was requested for the first dance by the Crown Prince? It is presumed that she is the lover of Duke Baltezar. The proof? Duke Baltezar, famous for never dancing in high society, danced with this woman of the hour at the recent Laphelios welcoming banquet. According to reports, the Duke revealed at the banquet that she is a guest staying at the Duke’s estate. I, the author, assert that she is likely no mere guest. There is even talk that her true identity is that of a woman who sells her favors in the back alleys. Since only those involved know the truth, I shall refrain from saying more. Regardless of her family or origin, one thing is certain: she has melted the heart of the famously cold Duke Baltezar and even managed to bewitch the Crown Prince. Having manipulated the two greatest men of the Rugvelzet Empire, she is truly a seductress of the century. One cannot help but pity the Crown Princess, who spends her days in the imperial palace wrangling with the Prime Minister. – Under the Silent Sunset, by Rugvella』*
Rugvella… She was a journalist who handled the rumors of high society. The only reason she could criticize the Crown Prince and the Duke so blatantly was that she operated under a pseudonym while strictly hiding her identity. Otherwise, she would have been arrested for lèse-majesté long ago. In fact, it wasn’t even certain if the author was a woman; the name was merely a feminine-sounding affectation.
It was deeply ironic that she, who contributed to all kinds of scandal, used a pen name similar to ‘Rugvelzet.’ She had chosen Roselia as her target for this week’s issue. While the article was intended to disparage the Crown Prince and the Duke, Roselia, caught in the middle, was taking the brunt of the hit.
Her hands trembling, Roselia scanned the rest of the magazine. Unable to contain herself, she stormed out of the parlor.
“Antonio?”
She heard the sound of a startled Closette, but, fuming with anger, Roselia clutched the crumpled magazine and headed straight for Klaus’s office. She threw the door open without knocking, and Klaus looked up with a furrowed brow.
“What is the meaning of this?”
Roselia slammed the magazine down in front of him.
*Thud!*
Klaus looked down at the paper she had unceremoniously dropped onto his documents, his face darkening with irritation. He looked up, his gaze locking with hers.
“What are you trying to do?”
Roselia looked at Klaus with a fierce, determined gaze and opened her mouth.
“You knew.”
“Knew what?”
“About the gossip article regarding me. You could have easily stopped it before it was circulated.”
“…….”
Though she didn’t know who the journalist Rugvella was, the printing shops capable of producing a weekly magazine were limited. Rugvella cleverly switched publishers to circulate her gossip, but the printing houses were finite; if he had wanted to stop it, he could have blocked the issue before it reached the city. The Baltezar Duchy had fast information and significant influence—he could have at least paid off the print shop to burn all copies. Yet, the fact that the magazine was in circulation meant that Klaus had allowed the story to spread.
“You don’t think I wouldn’t know, do you?”
At Roselia’s sharp remark, Klaus sighed deeply, brought his interlaced fingers to his lips, and spoke in a low voice.