Roselia had to leave the mansion as if she were being chased, having narrowly escaped a confrontation with Count Bernas, who continued to badger her, calling her a thief. If only she had a piece of his work in her possession, she could have paid off her remaining debt in one fell swoop. It seemed that due to his dementia, his mind flickered in and out, and he had even forgotten that he was the one who had painted it. According to the original work, Count Bernas’s paintings wouldn’t gain favor in the Imperial court or catch the Crown Princess’s attention for at least another year. A year… she would have withered away and died in the Duke’s mansion long before then. Roselia walked toward the mansion, turning over strategies in her mind to force Count Bernas to paint sooner than the plot dictated.
“I thought I told you not to wander outside for the time being.”
Absorbed in thoughts of Count Bernas, Roselia was startled by the familiar voice. She looked up, realizing too late that she had failed to notice her surroundings. Klaus stood leaning against the mansion’s entrance, staring at her intently. After calming her pounding heart, Roselia met his gaze with a sour expression. Really, did she go out because she wanted to?
“Don’t I have to pay off the debt you’re constantly hounding me for? Do you think money grows on trees?”
“…When did I hound you?”
Who was it that kept her trapped as a servant and made such a fuss about whether or not her younger sister should work as a maid? Roselia had plenty to say, but she gave up on explaining and let out a heavy sigh.
“Let’s just drop it. I’ve returned home without any trouble, so don’t give me such a hard time.”
“Can you really say that after what happened to you recently?”
Is he my father or my brother? Seeing Klaus’s behavior—as if he were dealing with a naive child—Roselia scrunched up her face and protested.
“The sun is still high in the sky. Do you think I would have walked around without considering that? Surely you aren’t telling me to stay cooped up in the mansion all day, are you?”
“…”
Klaus didn’t answer, and given his expression, it was exactly what he wanted. Roselia let out a scoff of disbelief. Ignoring her reaction, Klaus stared down at her and continued in a calm tone.
“Where is Roselia staying right now?”
Why? So you can lock her up in the mansion if you find out where she is?
“She is doing well, so please don’t worry.”
“Those fellows might have latched onto Roselia. It would be better if she came to stay in the mansion…”
Hearing Klaus say exactly what she had predicted without a single error, Roselia ruffled her hair in irritation.
“Look, I told you Roselia is fine. Why on earth are you being so persistent?”
“Because I’m worried.”
The sudden, unexpected words caught her off guard. Roselia wondered if she had misheard and asked back stupidly.
“Yes?”
Unlike Roselia, who blinked at him in a daze, Klaus spoke clearly with a calm and charming face.
“I said I was worried.”
“Ah… you were… worried…”
Even though it wasn’t a major revelation, the sensation was strange, perhaps because Klaus, who didn’t match the word ‘worry’ at all, had said such a thing.
“Am I not allowed to worry about such things?”
That’s not it, but… you aren’t the type to say things like that so casually, are you? A sense of confusion settled over her, and her heart suddenly began to beat faster. It must have been the shock of hearing such unexpected words. Watching Roselia stand frozen in embarrassment, Klaus pushed off the wall and approached her.
“Since we’re on the subject, I have a request. Even if it’s just once, I’d like to meet Roselia in person…”
Why is he acting like this today…? Roselia stepped back without realizing it and blurted out,
“Why, why is that?”
“Didn’t I just tell you? Because I’m worried.”
He wants to meet her because he’s worried? And with that earnest expression, saying ‘even just once’… This was a very bad sign. Her heart, which was beating wildly without a hint of tact, certainly didn’t help. In a state of total confusion, Roselia squeezed her eyes shut and blurted out,
“Ro, Roselia cannot meet you right now!”
“Why?”
If she met him while currently acting as Roselia, putting aside the danger of her position, it felt like something inevitable would happen between them—something that betrayed her own will. Pull yourself together, Roselia. Do you want to reach the death route this quickly? Taking a deep breath, she replied awkwardly.
“She… she is with someone important.”
“Who is that?”
Seriously, shouldn’t he take the hint and back off? Complicated feelings swirling in her chest, Roselia couldn’t think of a proper excuse and shouted whatever came to mind.
“That is a matter for our family to deal with!”
Klaus was left standing there for a long while, watching Roselia as she disappeared into the mansion as if running away.
***
Klaus was at the Imperial palace to receive approval for the budget related to the school construction. His expression as he walked down the polished, gleaming hallway was deeply serious. Had the approval process not gone well? Just as people were passing by, shrinking away from his severe aura, Klaus was lost in a troubling dilemma.
Someone important… A family matter? Could it be… that the lover Antonio had mentioned before had returned? Is Roselia with that lover? At that thought, he felt a sudden, sharp unpleasantness, as if a thorn were stuck in his throat.
“Duke, it’s been a while.”
He had been so lost in thought that he didn’t even realize the Crown Princess had approached until she was right in front of him. He gave a start before bowing his head.
“I greet Your Royal Highness, the Crown Princess.”
“You seem to have many worries.”
Usually, he would have noticed the Crown Princess even from across the hallway. He would have fussed over her—asking if she had any discomfort, if she was doing well, if anyone was bothering her. The Crown Princess had always been the one left in an awkward position because of his intensity. However, the Crown Princess now wore an intrigued expression, seeing Klaus so uncharacteristically distracted. He proceeded with the customary formalities, still oblivious to her scrutiny.
“I heard that the third agreement with the Laphelios delegation is being coordinated today.”
“Yes, that’s right. As a matter of fact, I am on my way to meet the delegation now.”
At her words, Klaus looked around and asked curiously, “However, I do not see Archduke Rubelio, who was to conduct the agreement with you.”
“The Archduke said he would entrust the matter of the agreement entirely to me.”
Archduke Rubelio was the younger brother of the late Emperor and the uncle of Crown Prince Esteban. Though his rank in the line of succession was lower, he was a great noble who held the support of many due to his seasoned expertise and composure.
“I see. It seems the Archduke acknowledges Your Royal Highness as well.”
“Hmm… I wonder… is that really the case?”
To the comment he had made out of mere courtesy, the Crown Princess replied with something profound, then smiled brightly.
“Then, I shall head off first.”
The Crown Princess left Klaus behind and walked on with a hardened expression. Since this was a meeting with the envoys from the Laphelios Empire, she couldn’t show even the slightest opening. Furthermore, it was a meeting attended by the famous head of the delegation, the man called the pillar of Laphelios: Marquess Eucheliode. He hadn’t been able to attend the welcome banquet because he had been delayed handling affairs in Laphelios, but he had entered the Imperial court a few days ago. Today, finally, the meeting for the inter-imperial agreement had been set.
The Crown Princess walked into the large conference room as the servants opened the doors, wearing an elegant smile.
“Thank you for waiting.”
As soon as she entered, a pleasant scent grazed the tip of her nose. Soon, a mellow voice followed.
“Not at all. We have only just arrived ourselves.”
The Crown Princess turned her head, and her eyes widened. Antonio…? A handsome young man with fine black hair and emerald-green eyes stood looking at her. However, he was a little different. His features and atmosphere were very similar, but perhaps he was a bit taller and had a larger frame…? As she stood frozen, the mysterious man smiled brightly and spoke in a respectful tone.
“I greet you for the first time, Your Royal Highness. I am Johannes Von Eucheliode, the representative of the Laphelios delegation.”
He was the Marquess Eucheliode. The Crown Princess, momentarily stunned, soon smiled resolutely.
“So you are the famous Marquess Eucheliode. It is a pleasure to meet you.”
At her composed recovery, the Marquess smiled. “It is an honor to meet the Crown Princess of Rugvelzet, of whom I have heard such high praise.”
As he smiled, his resemblance to Antonio was almost eerie. Evelionne, who had been studying the Marquess’s face with a pensive expression, finally let out the question she had been holding inside.
“But by any chance, do you have a younger brother?”
The Marquess’s eyes widened as if the question were unexpected, but he smiled kindly.
“I do not have a younger brother… but it would have been nice if I did. These days, I don’t have enough hands even if I had ten.”
“I see… never mind. Shall we then discuss the agreement?”
The suspicion lasted only a moment. Recovering her composure, the Crown Princess led the meeting skillfully. Seeing that, the Marquess smiled, joining the conversation with the poise of a seasoned negotiator. The agreement between Rugvelzet and Laphelios concerned the coordination regarding the opening of Verdan Port in the south. A tug-of-war continued between the Marquess, who sought an advantageous position with an easy smile, and the Crown Princess, who thoroughly aimed to protect the Empire’s practical interests.
Three hours passed, yet the discussion dragged on sluggishly, and no clear conclusion was reached. No one in the room expected the coordination to end in a single day; it was standard for delegations to stay for a month or two for such complex agreements.
“Then, I shall see you at the next coordination schedule.”
Receiving the greeting from the slippery Marquess Eucheliode, the Crown Princess forced her stiffened expression into an elegant smile.
“You have worked hard, Marquess. Then, I shall take my leave.”
Watching the Crown Princess turn and exit, the Marquess smiled. Indeed, her negotiating skills were superior; she was sharp, practical, and had no openings. Even if it hadn’t been noticeable, he had released quite a bit of his pheromone scent, and she hadn’t even blinked—she was truly a woman worthy of praise.
Suddenly, the first thing the Crown Princess had said came to mind. Did she ask if I had a younger brother…? It was an abrupt question. A younger brother… of course, he did have a younger sister who had gone missing with their mother long ago. Having spent over a decade searching for them, he had almost accepted reality. Was it when he had last seen the child, when she was a three-year-old toddler toddling around? If she were alive, she would have long since become an adult.