Even with Klaus’s stern inquiry, the Duke, maintaining a relaxed smile, shrugged his shoulders casually.

“What are you talking about? If it’s Antonio, isn’t he a Marquis’s servant? Why would a Marquis’s servant come to a Duke’s residence?”

In response to the Duke’s expected reaction, Klaus frowned, took something from inside his jacket, and tossed it onto the table as if throwing it away.

It was a badge obtained from the criminals who tried to kidnap Roselia in front of the Marquis’s mansion and the badge that Clemence Zajac, who had been active in Rugbella, possessed.

Without responding, the Duke silently gazed at Klaus, who twisted his lips, and sharply questioned.

“Do you recognize this badge?”

In response to Klaus’s persistent questioning, the Duke, with a relaxed expression, only looked at Klaus.

Unable to endure any longer, Klaus slammed the table and uttered his words like a growl.

“Where are you hiding Antonio? If it’s not me or His Highness the Crown Prince that you are restraining, release the unrelated person.”

After saying so, Klaus, with a snarl, glared at the Duke.

“Otherwise, I won’t just stand still anymore.”

In response to Klaus’s warning, the Duke finally straightened up, leaned in close, and brought his face near Klaus’s.

“Marquis Valtesar.”

As the Duke brought his face close, a smile had appeared on his lips.

“It seems you’ve stepped on the wrong fuse.”

“Are you still jesting with such arrogance?”

Unable to endure Klaus’s taunting, he stood up abruptly, and the Duke, resting his back on the sofa with ease, spoke.

“Antonio, or rather that woman, isn’t here.”
The Duke, who seemed to have long figured out Antonio’s identity, twisted his lips and raised an eyebrow as he referred to her as ‘that woman.’

“I heard that he’s on his way to Raphelios with Marquis Yukilliod.”

At the Duke’s smirk, Klaus furrowed his brow.

“Raphelios…”

“A bit late, Marquis. No, it seems like you’re ten steps behind. Hehe… If I cross over to Raphelios by my own feet, it seems I won’t need to intervene.”

Without even listening to the Duke’s words until the end, Klaus abruptly stood up and rushed out of the mansion, leaving the Duke’s question unanswered.

To cross over to Raphelios, they needed to pass through the border gate, so the destination wasn’t hard to guess.

Roselia, lost in thought, stared out of the carriage window.

If Klaus finds out that she left, he’ll probably be furious.

Will he shake in betrayal at her departure?

Since they were bound by a debt relationship, she wasn’t sure if he would be as sentimental as she thought.

Perhaps… his feelings for her deepened as he tried to save the Crown Prince.

Whatever it was, this direction was the right path for him and herself.

As her heart fluttered again, Roselia bit her lip and forced herself to erase the thoughts.

Suddenly, with a loud neighing, the carriage came to a rough stop as she, lost in thought, stumbled forward. Johannes, sitting in front, lightly caught her as she staggered.

Startled, Roselia returned to her seat, and Johannes, observing her disoriented state, frowned and shouted outside.

“What’s going on?”

“Someone is blocking the front of the carriage!”

Upon the knight’s words, Johannes, with a frown, got off the carriage.

As the man on the horse blocking the path got closer, Johannes, looking puzzled at the man, soon squinted his eyes familiarly.

“Marquis Valtesar…?”

Klaus, who seemed to have rushed continuously, barely stood, panting heavily.

Confirming Johannes, he dismounted from the horse and approached the carriage.

“Could it be… you rushed here without resting?”

Unbelievable, even with Johannes’s disbelieving voice, Klaus, without answering, walked towards the carriage without hesitation.

As Klaus, who had stopped in front of the carriage, hesitated no more and forcefully opened the carriage door.

Upon opening the door, the surprised Roselia, with eyes wide like a startled rabbit, looked up at him.

“Marquis…?”

In a face that combined surprise and confusion, Klaus, frowning, opened his mouth firmly.

“Get off.”

Even with his cold tone, Roselia pretended not to hear and turned her head.

Ignoring her, Klaus, his frown deepening, grabbed her wrist without hesitation.
Observing his oppressive actions, Johannes, who had been watching from a distance, approached with a frown.

“What are you doing! Marquis!”

In response to Johannes’s reproachful voice, Klaus glared fiercely at him and growled.

“Step aside. Didn’t you understand what I said last time?”

The response came not from Johannes but from Roselia.

“I said I’m going.”

“What…?”

Klaus turned to Roselia with an expression of disbelief.

“I said I’m leaving.”

Shocked by Roselia’s words, Klaus, who had unconsciously released her wrist, muttered in confusion.

“Why…”

Even with the greatly shaken Marquis, Roselia coldly gazed at him, firmly fixing her eyes on him without a hint of warmth.

Despite the visibly perturbed Duke, Roselia, with a chilling gaze, stared at him as Klaus, seemingly taken aback, finally spoke belatedly.

“Why… is it because I went to save the Crown Princess? To me, she’s not just a woman but like family. It’s not that kind of meaning…”

Despite Klaus’s bewildered expression, Roselia cut him off, opening her mouth resolutely.

“I won’t return to being the Duchess.”

In the face of Klaus’s unexpected fervent voice, Roselia spoke with an even more icy tone.

“I won’t leave unless you do, Your Grace.”

And looking into his trembling pupils, she drove the final wedge.

“You left first.”