“Are you feeling better now?”

“Thank you…”

Even with his concerned question, Roselia’s expression remained lost in thought.

Klaus sighed heavily and spoke again.

“I will investigate more about the Duke. So, don’t worry too much.”

“…”

Suddenly, the office door opened, and Alejandro walked in.

Without any notice, he opened the door and entered. Klaus frowned at his sudden appearance.

“What’s going on?”

“I have something to tell you about the woman Nadia you mentioned for surveillance.”

Upon hearing the familiar name, Roselia finally raised her head, her forehead wrinkled.

“Was Nadia also under surveillance?”
In response to the cold inquiry from Roselia, Klaus sighed awkwardly and spoke.

“You and Roselia were just being observed within the action radius.”

At that moment, Alejandro, who had grown colder, urgently spoke as he alternately looked at the two.

“Um… That woman, Nadia, has passed away.”

“What??”

Klaus, once again wearing a surprised expression, asked in disbelief.

On the opposite side, Roselia, perhaps thinking she had misunderstood, responded with a puzzled expression.

“What… What are you talking about? Passed away…?”

“I think it would be better for you to go and see for yourself.”

Concerned, Klaus, looking at the frozen Roselia, spoke with a stern tone.

“You stay here. I’ll go first and tell you.”

Only then did Roselia seem to regain some composure and lifted her head.

“I… I will go too. I need to see it with my own eyes.”

Arriving in front of Nadia’s house, Roselia, with her face covered by a cloth, found Nadia lying down and approached her in disbelief.

Around Nadia, there were doctors prepared for any possible situation, an undertaker ready for the funeral, and men who appeared to be Klaus’s attendants lined up.
Klaus, carefully observing Roselia’s state as she lay with a vacant expression while staring at Nadia, asked cautiously, “Are you okay…?”

“Why… What happened?”

It was unbelievable. Just a few days ago, they had a conversation with Nadia—drinking tea, laughing, chatting, and admiring the drawings she created.

As Roselia remained motionless, Klaus, concerned, glanced at Alejandro with a fixed gaze and inquired, “What’s the cause?”

“The doctor said it’s acute pneumonia. The disease had progressed too far, beyond the reach of medication.”

Seemingly confirming the inevitability of Nadia’s death, attendants, following the undertaker’s instructions, began moving the body.

Witnessing Roselia’s stunned expression, Klaus furrowed his brow and cautiously took her wrist, leading her to a carriage.

Looking at Roselia, who sat emotionlessly in the carriage like a lifeless doll, Klaus softly muttered, “Stay here. I’ll be back soon.”

After Klaus spoke, closing the carriage door, tears streamed down Roselia’s cheeks.

She thought she could change things… She thought she had altered Nadia’s fate, but it wasn’t the case. Instead, events from the original story seemed to have been accelerated because of her.

Because of her… Because of her…

At that moment, Roselia, worried about external circumstances, hastily organized herself, and Klaus, who returned after a while, opened and boarded the carriage.

In his hands were a new dress and a letter.

Examining Roselia’s face, he noticed she was crying, so he quietly placed the dress on a nearby chair.

“The dress seems to be left for Roselia as a gift.”

It was ironic; the dress he had saved money meticulously to buy turned out to be his own. Klaus couldn’t help but let out a bitter laugh.

Observing her expression, Klaus cautiously spoke, “The letter seems to be addressed to you… Do you want to read it?”

Nodding slightly, Roselia, with trembling hands, accepted the letter.

As she unfolded the letter, she concentrated, attempting to hold back the welling tears. In order not to let the tears fall, Roselia bit her lip with all her strength.

“Please don’t be too sad. I’m actually relieved.

Still, I’m glad I met you and was able to draw until the end without needing any favors.

I remember when I imitated you, wearing a wig and walking down the bustling streets. I never knew I would get to wear such luxurious clothes and walk those sparkling streets.

It was brief, but I was so happy. Thank you, Roselia.

And the man who resembles you that you brought with you, he seems like a good person.

Honestly, I still prefer Duke Valteza, though…”
Reading Nadia’s letter as if she were speaking right in front of her, a faint smile emerged on Roselia’s lips. Alongside those lips, a single tear that had been held back rolled down and clung to her cheek.

“I wanted to make more memories with you, but it seems the doctor is useless or maybe a quack. It’s okay though; I have no lingering attachments or regrets. Thanks to you, I feel like I’m doing everything I wanted to do. Thank you, my first and last friend.”

As Roselia read the final words, tears finally streamed down her reddened eyes. With her face contorted, tears flowed endlessly.

“P.S., Straighten up, Roselia. Didn’t I say? You look the most beautiful when you smile.”

“Sob… Hu… Huk… Hic… Hwee… Waaah!”

Seeing her collapse and sob uncontrollably, Klaus felt a pang in his chest. Roselia seemed to forget he was there, wailing as if on the verge of fainting.

“All because of me… Because of me…”

Watching her cry seemingly without regaining her composure, Klaus’s heart ached. Unable to contain her properly, Roselia wept uncontrollably, as if forgetting he was there.

“Everything… Everyone is going to die… You and me…”

Already partially losing her senses, Roselia, embraced by Klaus, struggled and sobbed.

“Everyone is going to die… All… All…”

“Snap out of it, Antonio!”

In the midst of her tear-soaked state, Klaus’s chest tore apart at the sight of her not regaining her senses. Roselia, as if resenting him, mercilessly struck his chest while squirming.

It looked dangerously precarious as she gasped and sobbed. Fearing she might pass out, Klaus hugged her with all his strength.

Then, still writhing, her hot lips met his, seemingly attempting to console her.