Memories of the countless noble young ladies who yearned for Roselia—while she was disguised as Antonio—and even the psycho-like Jucid flashed through her mind, causing a perplexed smile to pull at her lips. Seeing her troubled expression, Evelionne couldn’t help but let out a soft laugh.
“If someone as delicate as you had been in the Imperial Family, I think I would have felt a little less lonely.”
In the original story, Roselia was meant to enter the palace as a maid to the Crown Princess by the hand of Duke Baltezar. In the process, she would have leaked information about the Crown Princess and the Crown Prince, only to be caught and killed by Esteban…
While she was lost in such bitter thoughts, Evelionne was already spreading out the painting Roselia had brought, staring at it intently.
“The person who painted this… I feel like they must have harbored a heart similar to mine.”
Roselia’s gaze touched the painting with curiosity. Though their situations and circumstances were vastly different, the two women shared common ground. They were women who had lived their lives having forgotten their true selves, surrendering everything, being robbed, and remaining forgotten… And the vast, sunny, beautiful sky—freedom—that the girl named Nadya had longed for.
Roselia smiled gently while looking at the painting.
“I am glad it pleased your Royal Highness. The title of this painting is ‘Freedom’.”
Upon hearing Roselia’s words, Evelionne offered a look of the utmost peace and warmth.
* * *
Roselia’s steps were heavy as she left her audience with the Crown Princess. Once again, the Crown Princess had handed her a check for a staggering 1,000 Berang. Of course, if she used the entire sum to pay off her debt, only 1,000 Berang would remain… but Roselia intended to send 500 Berang for Nadya’s medical expenses.
It might be more than enough just for treatment, but she wanted to be generous so that Nadya could also repair her crumbling home and have a buffer in case a major surgery was required. She suspected Nadya would try to refuse, but she planned to persuade her well and insist on the treatment first.
As for Abelo, the artist of her first work, and his daughter Erlin, their situation had been gradually improving as she frequently delivered the Crown Princess’s sponsorship funds to them. In truth, it had been a matter of mindset; they were now living quite vibrantly and with newfound motivation. On the other hand, since Nadya had to battle a serious illness… Roselia decided to share her own portion, even if it meant taking a longer, more circuitous path. Honestly, considering the original value the paintings should have fetched, this wasn’t really “sharing” at all.
As she passed through the Imperial garden while lost in these thoughts, a shadow blocked her path. When Roselia lifted her eyes with curiosity, she saw the Crown Prince standing there with his hands behind his back. Having just come from spending time with Evelionne, she could hardly harbor any warm feelings toward him. Furrowing her brows, Roselia bowed her head slightly and began to move, intending to walk around him.
However, he shifted to block her path again. What a psycho.
“Do you have some business with me, Your Highness?”
At Roselia’s icy tone, the Crown Prince chuckled, unfazed. “My, you’re quite cold, aren’t you? I just wanted to greet you since I was glad to see you.”
He should be worrying about the Crown Princess instead of wasting time here! Feeling her insides boil, Roselia forced herself to ignore him and turned to leave.
“Since you’ve offered your greeting, I shall be on my way.”
Just as she took a step, Esteban’s voice stopped her in her tracks.
“The fragrance seems to have grown stronger…”
Roselia’s gaze turned back in confusion. Fragrance? Could he possibly be talking about her?
“Fragrance, Your Highness?”
“I told you before. I have a keen eye and am quick to notice things. To be precise, my senses are quite sharp. Sight, touch, taste, hearing, and smell—all of them. It is a trait of the Rugvelzet Imperial bloodline.”
As Roselia looked at him in bewilderment, Esteban stepped forward and leaned his head near her shoulder. Startled by the proximity, she drew back, her face twisted in displeasure. Esteban merely raised both arms, a cryptic smile on his face.
“Do you happen to wear perfume?”
Roselia wondered what kind of nonsense he was spouting, yet she answered involuntarily.
“No…”
“Then it must be your natural scent. It is rare for a person to exude such an intense fragrance as their own body odor.”
So what are you trying to say? That I’m not human? As Roselia glared at him, Esteban smiled.
“But it is not impossible. It is known that some of the Laphelios bloodline emit a fragrance from their bodies.”
Laphelios bloodline? What kind of insane drivel was this? As Roselia stared at him as if he were a con artist, the Crown Prince cleared his throat.
“Do you not know about yourself, by any chance?”
“I don’t know what you are talking about, Your Highness…”
Seeing her disbelief, the Crown Prince frowned.
“Has no one ever mentioned this fragrance to you before?”
“No, they haven’t.”
“Well… I suppose it was faint when we met before. But it has grown stronger now; others will surely recognize it soon.”
Roselia stared at the Crown Prince, dazed.
“Do you not have anyone in your family or ancestors who was of the Laphelios bloodline?”
“…No, I do not.”
According to the original story, that was correct. Roselia had been entrusted to the Hessink Barony when her mother remarried the Baron at age four. Because her mother died of a chronic illness when Roselia was six—before she had even learned to read—there was nothing she could know about her life before she entered the Hessink household. But even so, for a lowly extra maid to be of the Laphelios bloodline…
After pondering for a moment, Roselia shook her head, as if it were absurd.
“It will likely grow stronger as time passes. If you cannot control it, you will often find yourself in awkward situations, so consider this advice from a friend.”
Roselia scowled. Fragrance, her foot! To her own nose, there was no scent at all; she only smelled of sweat from carrying the painting. The Crown Princess had not said a single word about any scent. She was certain that either the Crown Prince’s nose was broken, or he was clearly messing with her.
“Historically, that scent is… No, never mind. Believe it or not, it’s your choice.”
“Yes, Your Highness. Thank you for the advice. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I am quite busy…”
Roselia took the opportunity to move away. Or rather, she tried to, until the Crown Prince thrust his arm out to block her.
As Roselia looked up at him, the Crown Prince’s eyes grew sharper.
“I see you visited the Crown Princess again today.”
His gaze grew frigid the moment he brought up the Crown Princess. Roselia turned her head, appearing blunt.
“It was an errand for the Young Lady.”
“What could a Young Lady who has just finished her debutante possibly have to discuss so much with the Crown Princess? If there is so much to talk about, she should visit in person.”
“…I wouldn’t know. I am not privy to the details.”
With those words, Roselia ducked under his arm, but the Crown Prince grabbed her wrist firmly. A sense of déjà vu washed over her, and she winced.
“Let go of me.”
“I believe I said this before. Next time, you will have to answer my questions properly.”
One moment he’s talking about friendship, and the next, he turns sharp the second the Crown Princess is mentioned. She knew from the original story about his trauma regarding the Marquess Herden and the other nobles, but facing that iciness in person was a different matter entirely.
That was when it happened. Someone stepped out of the imperial building, blocking the space between them. As Roselia looked up at the back of the man who stood like a wall, she heard a familiar voice.
“Release that hand.”
Recognizing the man, Roselia’s eyes widened.
“Duke Baltezar. I am currently in the middle of a confidential conversation, so I would appreciate it if you stepped aside.”
Even at the Crown Prince’s icy tone, Klaus remained unperturbed, answering coldly.
“This is a person of the Duchy. I am the only one who can issue orders to Antonio.”
It was a statement clarifying the master-servant relationship, yet Roselia’s heart suddenly leaped into her throat for no reason. Panicked by the pounding in her chest, she shifted her gaze. The Crown Prince, ignoring her, glared at Klaus.
“It seems you have something to hide.”
“Your Highness is hardly in a position to be interrogating the Crown Princess.”
It was a jab regarding how he had danced with Roselia instead of the Crown Princess at Closette’s debutante. Flabbergasted by Klaus’s audacity, the Crown Prince let out a sharp scoff, released Roselia’s wrist, and irritably swept his bangs back.
“Duke Baltezar. Remember that overstepping your boundaries only invites more suspicion.”
“….”
The Crown Prince turned on his heel and disappeared in a fit of temper. Stiff from the chilling atmosphere, Roselia finally looked at Klaus and carefully bowed her head.
“Thank you for your help, Duke…”
She had offered a polite greeting, but Klaus was still staring in the direction the Crown Prince had vanished. Roselia was about to slip away when his low, gravelly voice stopped her.
“I told you not to loiter around the Crown Princess.”
*Loiter*? If someone heard that, they might think she was the one pestering the Crown Princess. Feeling wronged, Roselia frowned, but she suppressed the urge and spoke calmly.
“That is… I am tied to the Crown Princess by a contractual relationship.”
Klaus’s icy gaze pinned her to the spot.
“Then end that contract.”
“No, I mean… as I said before, how I pay off my debt is my own business…”
“Damn it!”
At the sudden curse that left Klaus’s lips, Roselia stared at him with wide, astonished eyes.