Only then did Roselia’s gaze, which had been fixed on the table, turn questioningly towards Johannes.

Johannes’s expression, as he looked at Roselia, seemed somewhat lonely.

Originally, he had no intention of taking her back to her home country, even for the sake of Roselia’s safety. However, the human heart can be cunning, and Johannes found himself wanting to take her with him, feeling a strong desire to be with her, even at the thought of being separated from his younger sister.

As Roselia quietly faced him, Johannes, who had been looking at her, suddenly smiled awkwardly.

“Although they are not real family, there are people here who miss me. I have no intention of going there, abandoning them.”

Upon her gentle rejection, Johannes’s expression darkened.

“I see…”

With a defeated air, Johannes dropped his head, and it seemed he had something to convey as he called her name.

“Roselia…”

The words, “You are my only blood and heir,” hung on Johannes’s lips.

However, he now neither wanted to confuse her nor drag her into the dangerous battlefield of family under the guise of a reunion.

Perhaps… Roselia wished for her to cut off his lingering attachment.

Even if their bodies were distant, his feelings for Roselia would remain unwavering. From afar, all he could wish for her was happiness and safety.

Johannes swallowed the words that had risen in his throat and smiled bitterly.

“If you happen to change your mind, please contact me anytime.”

At that moment, a familiar voice was heard at the entrance of the reception room.

“There won’t be such a thing.”

Leaning against the entrance with folded arms, Klaus, with a defiant look, gazed arrogantly at them.

“Roselia’s home is now this Duchy.”

Though Klaus spoke with courtesy, was it because he knew that Johannes intended to take Roselia away?

There was a sense of hostility in Klaus’s gaze.

Roselia looked at Klaus, who had approached her side, and he, with a leisurely and threatening look like a leopard facing intruders, spoke as he observed Johannes.

“It’s time for farewell greetings, Viscount Yuceliod.”

Though he spoke with apparent courtesy, Klaus’s eyes were filled with resentment.

Roselia, who was looking at Klaus with a troubled expression, awkwardly smiled and turned her gaze towards Johannes.

“While it may be farewell here, let’s meet again next time if the opportunity arises.”

In response to Roselia’s words, Klaus furrowed his brow and looked down at her.

Roselia, without saying a word, gave Klaus a signal, and he looked down at her with a frown.

Without further ado, Roselia stood up.

Seeing this, Johannes also smiled bitterly and rose from his seat.

“I’ve held you back for too long. I will take my leave now.”

Lastly, looking intently at Klaus, he left with a parting word.

“Duke, please take good care of Lady Roselia.”
Klaus’s brow furrowed unhappily at Johannes, who spoke as if anything Roselia said was important.

“The Duke won’t pay any attention, but it seems like you’re likely to.”

At Klaus’s confident words, Johannes, who had smiled in response, soon nodded respectfully.

As Johannes quietly left the reception room, Roselia couldn’t take her eyes off him for a while.

Although not a rational emotion, Roselia had formed a considerable intimacy with Duke Yuceliod.

Perhaps it was because she had received a lot of help from the Duke during that time…

The fact that she could no longer see the Duke felt strangely empty in a corner of her heart.

As Roselia watched Johannes move away for a while, Klaus, as if jealous, embraced her.

Wrapping her waist, Klaus buried his nose in her neck, and he looked noticeably displeased.

“Enough. Roselia.”

Always mature and gruff, Klaus unexpectedly behaved like a jealous child. In response to this, Roselia couldn’t help but smile and gently stroked his hair.

“Are you jealous?”

At Roselia’s question, mixed with laughter, he slowly raised his head.

Then, holding Roselia’s chin, he smiled with a hint of bitterness.

“Yeah…”

It was a smile with a tingling feeling in some corner of his heart.

Leaning on Klaus’s broad chest with her head, Roselia sighed contentedly.

Turning her away, Klaus, who held her, spoke with a stern voice.

“Just to make it clear. Don’t even think about running away from me, even in your dreams.”

With his meaningful words, Roselia chuckled and wrapped her arms around his neck.

“As long as the Duke doesn’t abandon me first, there won’t be such a thing.”

Klaus’s mouth curled up into a satisfied smile at Roselia’s words.

“There won’t be such a thing as you mentioned. That’s good then.”

Unconsciously turning Roselia around, Klaus gently held her chin and pressed his lips against hers.

Unlike his gruff words, the sensation was as soft as a feather, causing Roselia’s eyebrows to tremble as she slowly closed her eyes.

Roselia, as usual, was gazing absentmindedly at the sight of Count Vernas and Closet painting.

Closet, who glanced at her like that, opened his mouth while adding paint to the sketch of Canaria.

“Viscount Yuceliod is returning to Raphelios?”