And as she approached to tie the knot at the end of the bandages, his hand suddenly became hot as he grabbed hers.

“It’s getting hard to endure any longer…”

Surprised, Roselia’s face flushed as she looked at him.

As if suppressing something, he, with a firm gaze, held her hand and kissed her lips that his fingertips had touched.

“Roselia… I hope you understand this.”

Looking directly into her eyes, he caressed her lips that his fingertips had touched.
“In case you get scared and run away, I want you to know how patient I am.”

Saying so, his lips touched the inside of her wrist.

She shivered as if her entire body had been electrified.

Staring at her as if penetrating her, Klaus muttered quietly.

“You just need to give permission, Roselia.”

With his lips against the inside of her wrist, Klaus looked up at her expectantly, waiting for her response.

Roselia’s chest tingled under his gaze.

“I… ”

Frowning and nibbling on her lips, Klaus, thinking her expression was a rejection, lifted his head with a bitter face.

“I guess it’s not time yet?”

Having said that, he released the hand he held, and a reasonless emptiness engulfed her.

Unconsciously, he had distanced himself and was approaching the terrace, opening the window.

Wait, is it ending here?

She, who had already tasted his sweetness through several kisses, found herself disappointed in her longing.

And suddenly, Roselia, surprised at her own reaction, blinked her eyes.

What am I thinking?

“Roselia, as I mentioned before, I won’t dislike you.”

A suppressed voice emanated from Klaus, who was standing with his back turned while opening the terrace window.

“I’ll wait until you come closer.”

Saying so, Klaus turned his head and smiled warmly at her.

In his ever-cold, yet unexpectedly tender smile, Roselia’s heart fluttered.

Roselia turned away and quickly left the room.

Excitedly, pressing her hand against the throbbing heart, Roselia closed her eyes.

You’re going to get hurt. If you like him, you’ll both end up hurting each other.

Remember what happened to the original Roselia, who loved the duke, and what happened to the duke after Roselia died.

But still, in a corner of her heart, other questions kept forcing their way up.

Aren’t the original Klaus and the current Klaus different…?

Suppressing the emotions trying to burst out of her chest, Roselia moved away from Klaus’s room with quick steps.

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

Count Bernas had recovered considerably and returned to the mansion after being discharged.

Contrary to the past, when the mansion was left neglected, servants were now hired and several were bustling around.

Though the count’s physical condition had deteriorated, his mental state seemed clearer than before, much to Roselia’s relief.

Roselia, who had received the count’s help during the royal trial, reflected on her past actions of keeping her distance due to the original work and sought out the count.

“Grandfather, are you really okay?”

Roselia looked worriedly at the mansion where servants were bustling around, appearing unfamiliar.

“Do I still look sick to your eyes?”
“Still, wouldn’t it be better for you to stay in the hospital a bit longer?”

Seeing the count’s appearance, which seemed more uncomfortable than before, Roselia asked with concern, and the count responded gruffly.

“Whether I die or go crazy, I’ll do it in my own home.”

“No, why would you die, or why would you go crazy?”

Startled by his words, Roselia asked with a disgusted expression, and the count turned his gaze to the book he was holding with a blunt expression.

Looking at the count in that way, Roselia’s expression became calm.

Since he had hired a dedicated doctor for dementia and some servants in the count’s mansion, it should be fine.

At that moment, the count, who quietly closed the book, spoke bluntly.

“Rather than that, go and bring the easel that Closet prepared.”

“Easel?”

Inquisitively looking at Roselia, the count replied bluntly.

“Stop talking nonsense and just bring it.”

With a smirk on her face, Roselia brought the easel and canvas that Closet had prepared in the count’s mansion.

Opening the easel, the count, without sketching anything, began to apply the paint brought by the servant with a brush.

Watching the count start drawing the scenery in an instant, Roselia opened her mouth in amazement.

She had forgotten that he knew how to draw, and seeing him draw so naturally was surprising.

She wondered if all his memories had returned.

Meanwhile, a sudden memory flashed in Roselia’s mind of Abel’s painting being intermediated to the Crown Prince, and the amount of money received for it.

Although she had forgotten due to being imprisoned as a scapegoat that day, she now had a sum of 1,000 verangs.

After repaying the remaining 500 verangs to the Duke, it would leave her with a surplus.

This amount would be enough to save and endure for at least a decade after leaving the mansion.

Paying off the debt to the Duke would also put an end to the complex relationship with the Duke.

It was the moment she had been longing for, but strangely, her heart felt heavy.

Thinking that she couldn’t see him anymore, a corner of her heart seemed to ache.

Am I crazy? What am I thinking…

As she rolled her eyes in confusion, Klaus’s words suddenly echoed in her mind.

‘I’ll put my life on the line.’

The man who appeared at the trial, claiming he would put his life on the line for her.

‘If you were wrong there, I would have drawn my sword against the royal family.’

The words that if she had been wrong, he would have drawn his sword against the royal family…

Thump, thump…

Her heart suddenly began to beat.

‘Just give permission, Roselia.’

‘I won’t dislike you.’

‘I’ll wait until you come closer.’

Thump, thump…

As those words he spoke one after another came to her mind, her heart began to beat like crazy.