As Klaus’s lips interlocked with hers, Roselia’s movements abruptly halted, as if it were a lie.

Roselia, who had widened her eyes in surprise, soon closed them tightly, her eye area turning red.

If only she could forget this reality, anything would have been fine.

And, as always, his kiss helped clear her mind. Klaus felt a tingling sensation in his chest at Roselia’s clinging reaction, wrapping his arms around her as she clung onto him as if he were a lifeline. The small stature that barely took up space shook with sorrow and fear, evoking an indescribable sense of pity and tenderness throughout his body.

Unlike the gentle kiss that settled like a feather on the lakeside, this one was different. The salty and warm liquid that intruded into their lips intensified Klaus’s yearning and made his chest ache even more.

Despite her discomfort with his massive build, Roselia’s desperate struggles to live, clinging to him, tightened Klaus’s chest even more.

How long did they desire and cling to each other like this?

In the brief silence that settled between the two as they separated, accompanied by their rough breathing, Klaus suddenly heard a signal from outside the carriage.

“Your Excellency, it’s Alejandro.”

Although Roselia, who had startled, seemed to withdraw from Klaus, he remained calm, not releasing his grip on her as he nonchalantly responded to Alejandro outside.

“What’s the matter?”

While Klaus answered Alejandro outside the carriage, his gaze remained on Roselia. Only then did Roselia’s mind seem to snap back, realizing what she had just done.

What had she done exactly…!

She was not Roselia now but Antonio.

However, even if she accepted that, why did the Duke kiss her first?

As her thoughts became chaotic, Alejandro’s calm voice came through.

“What should we do with Miss Nadia’s paintings inside the house?”

As Klaus hesitated, Roselia, who had just regained her senses, quickly left his embrace and opened the carriage door.

“Excuse me.”

Klaus’s eyebrow twitched involuntarily at Roselia’s action, as she slipped away from his arms like a water strider.

On the other hand, Alejandro, with a bewildered expression, watched as Roselia came down, and then he glanced at the Duke.

“I want to see the last paintings Nadia drew.”

Upon Roselia’s words, Alejandro subtly looked at the Duke. The Duke, who had been silently staring at Roselia’s face, finally sighed and nodded quietly.

Ignoring the exhausted legs and the reddened eye area, Roselia calmly entered Nadia’s house, where everything looked the same as before, except for Nadia’s absence.

Trying to ignore the tingling sensation at the end of her heart, Roselia closed her eyes tightly.
And soon, Alejandro turned his gaze slowly toward the direction he was pointing. The warehouse, which was filled with odds and ends and trash until recently. As Rozelia stepped into the dimly lit warehouse, she stiffened as soon as she entered. Instead of garbage and miscellaneous items, numerous paintings adorned the wall. Paintings ranged from the dazzling sky with a blooming rainbow, the sky where butterflies played, to the sky where blue birds freely flew… Paintings of countless skies adorned the room in various sizes. And those numerous skies connected to form a giant sky, causing Rozelia’s lips to tremble. Although she tried not to cry in front of Nadia’s paintings… Similarly, Klaus, who had been staring blankly at the paintings, murmured in a low voice, “Look, Antonio. If it weren’t for you, Nadia wouldn’t have painted this sky.” Smiles were drawn on Rozelia’s lips as she looked at the numerous paintings not present in the original work. Soon, a tear slid down over the smile. Gazing at the most beautiful and valuable legacy left by Nadia, Rozelia stood there boundlessly. ⭐⭐⭐ Inside the carriage heading to the mansion, no one readily opened their mouths. As the carriage arrived at the Duke’s mansion in silence, Rozelia was the first to open the carriage door and step down. Klaus’s gaze, following her down, was filled with concern for Rozelia’s back. At that moment, Rozelia, appearing as if she might stagger, toppled to the side like a limp doll. And Klaus, who had been attentively observing her, quickly caught her. “Antonio!” Astonished, Klaus called her, but Rozelia, with closed eyes, was shivering roughly, her chest heaving. “All because of me… because of me…” Klaus felt a pang in his chest watching her cry as if he were the target of her resentment. Thrashing in his arms, Rozelia’s hot lips were met by Klaus’s.

Inside the carriage heading to the mansion, no one readily opened their mouths. So, in silence, when the carriage arrived at the Duke’s mansion, Rozelia was the first to open the carriage door and step down. Klaus, following behind, looked at Rozelia’s back with a worried expression.

At that moment, Rozelia, seeming to stagger for a moment, toppled to the side like a limp doll. Klaus, who had been attentively watching her, quickly caught her.

“Antonio!”