At the Crown Prince’s question, Klaus frowned.

“What are you trying to say?”

With a clueless expression, Klaus looked at the Crown Prince, who raised the corner of his mouth, forming a meaningful smile.

“No, I just asked because I saw the Raphelios delegation.”

Saying so, the Crown Prince stood up and continued casually.

“Send my regards to Antonio.”

As the Crown Prince smiled and left, Klaus felt oddly uncomfortable. He didn’t like the smile as if there was something he didn’t know about Antonio.

Thinking that he should continue reporting to the Crown Prince in the future, Klaus left the meeting room.

It had been a while since Rozelia visited the palace as Antonio.

She was here to sell an artwork won at a recent art auction to the Crown Princess.

As usual, guided by the palace staff, Rozelia, who arrived at the Crown Princess’s chamber, awkwardly smiled at the welcoming smile of the Crown Princess.

“It’s been a while, Antonio.”

“I hope you’ve been well.”

“I was curious because you’ve been absent for a while, and today you’ve brought a painting.”

Responding to the Crown Princess’s expectant gaze, Rozelia, without a word, unwrapped the packaged painting and placed it on the table.

Looking at the painting with curious eyes, the Crown Princess admired.

“For an unknown artist, the brush strokes are very vivid and distinctive.”

As Rozelia always brought works by unknown artists, the Crown Princess seemed to think that it was another work by an unknown artist that day.

Rozelia cleared her throat and spoke seriously.

“I’ll have to feel the emotions, but this painting is probably the last work of the late artist Antoine Vermundi.”

At Rozelia’s words, the Crown Princess opened her eyes in amazement.

“Are you talking about the genius painter Antoine Vermundi, who died 50 years ago?”

“Yes, that’s correct. Anyway, you can give me the exact amount after the appraisal to see if it’s really Vermundi’s work.”

In response to Rozelia’s confident words, the Crown Princess smiled brightly.

“I trust Antonio’s judgment.”

Having said that, the Crown Princess took out a promissory note from the box on the table and wrote the amount and her signature, as usual.

It was a promissory note for 1,000 verangs.

After handing half of it to the closet and paying off the debts to the Duke with the remaining amount, there would be only 500 verangs left to pay in the future.

If she could complete the work of Viscount Bernas, who would be called the great artist, she could receive at least 2,000 verangs.

With that amount, she could live comfortably, pay off her debts, and maybe even build a mansion with a modest lifestyle.

Of course, the Count needed to wake up quickly for that to happen…

At that moment, the face of the Count, who had been secretly disappointed by his son’s lack of communication, came to Rozelia’s mind.
For someone who was interested in the national situation like Evelianne, I thought she might know something about Viscount Bernas.

“Your Highness, do you happen to know about Viscount Bernas’s visit?”

In response to Rozelia’s question, the Crown Princess smiled and immediately replied.

“Viscount Bernas is an excellent family that contributes to the empire’s exhibitions. I heard that Viscount Bernas is also active as an admiral in the Esquivan Navy. By the way, didn’t Viscount Bernas volunteer to be Antonio’s guardian? That’s really fortunate.”

“Do you happen to have any news about the visit? According to Viscount Bernas, there has been almost no contact for nearly half a year.”

At Rozelia’s request, the Crown Princess, after a moment of thoughtful silence, smiled and responded.

“It’s not that difficult; I’ll find out for you.”

At that moment, a sudden knocking sound was heard towards the door of the chamber.

“Your Highness, the Duke urgently wishes to see you; what should I do?”

At the palace attendant’s words outside the door, the Crown Princess’s eyebrows showed a slight crease.

Wait. If it’s the Duke, isn’t it Duke Rubellio?

Suddenly, without Rozelia realizing, her shoulders tensed.

Not noticing Rozelia’s state, the Crown Princess hesitated for a moment and then conveyed permission to the palace attendant.

And soon, the door to the chamber opened, revealing a sleek middle-aged man with silver hair.

“Your Highness, I greet you.”

“What’s going on, Your Grace?”

“I came to discuss the adjustment of the Raphelios treaty. This is…”

The Duke’s curious gaze scanned Rozelia.

It seemed like the expression when one finally sees the object of curiosity.

“A guest from Duke Baltezar.”

“Did Viscount Bernas volunteer as a guardian?”

He indeed knows about me.

Perhaps he deliberately came to visit, knowing that he had visited the Crown Princess.

While thinking that way, Rozelia’s expression hardened, and the Duke, not noticing Rozelia’s condition, chuckled and replied.

“Haha, there’s no need to be cautious like that. I happened to be attending Viscount Blimonde’s banquet at that time, so I know about it.”