“Oh! I’m sorry!”

“No need to apologize. You’ll have plenty of time to explore in the future, so get used to it.”

As she lived with the Marquisate, Roselia learned that her mother, Uckilliod Marquis’s lady, was the empress’s sister.

As sisters from a Baron’s family, the elder sister became the Lady of Uckilliod Marquis, and the younger became a lady in the royal family.

Nervously, dressed not in servant attire but in sophisticated men’s clothing, Roselia followed behind the Marquis.

“Wait here for a moment.”

Johannes, who had suddenly stopped walking, apologized to her and entered the splendid entrance.
Today, I heard that Her Majesty the Empress and, if possible, His Highness the Crown Prince will be attending.

Roselia, lost in thought, stared blankly at a beautiful portrait of a woman hanging in the corridor.

These days, she’s been learning how to control her fragrance from Johannes. But what if I can’t control my scent, and the Crown Prince falls for me?

At that moment, Roselia turned her head in surprise at the gaze of someone looking at her.

There, a young boy who looked about ten was staring at her with a suspicious expression.

“Who are you? Why is your face turning red while looking at the Empress’s picture?”

Only then did Roselia, who realized she had been staring blankly, become flustered.

By the way, who is that little boy? Considering that he’s in the palace, the probability of him being of noble blood seems high, but whether he’s the Empress’s son or a son of a concubine is uncertain.

First, judging by his attire, he seems like a Crown Prince. Hurriedly, Roselia lowered her head.

“I greet His Highness the Crown Prince.”

“You forgot to mention your name earlier.”

“What?”

“You forgot to mention my name.”

Acknowledging the sharp observation of a child, Roselia had to smile in embarrassment.

“Ah… that…”

Just when Roselia was feeling embarrassed, fortunately, Johannes appeared like a savior.

“Allow me to introduce His Highness Prince Aaron.”

Perceiving her awkward expression, Johannes first greeted the Prince and then Roselia, who, feeling relieved, bowed her head alongside him.

Seeing the two of them, Johannes, as if finding them cute, smiled gently and spoke.

“You two have already met. It was about time for greetings, and it worked out well.”

“Does the Marquis know her?”

“Yes, Your Highness. This is Antonio de Bernas, Baronet from Rugbelzet.”

For a moment, Aaron’s eyes sparkled.

“From Rugbelzet?”

Knowing that Aaron was interested in Rugbelzet, Johannes smiled and casually continued.

“Yes, she came from Rugbelzet. Well then, would Your Highness join us on our visit to the audience chamber to meet Her Majesty the Empress?”

At Johannes’s suggestion, Aaron had a palpable expression of interest but responded nonchalantly.

“Hmm, I have some work to finish, so let’s do that next time.”

The sight of the little boy, who barely reached her waist, solemnly speaking made Roselia struggle to hold back her laughter.

Johannes, noticing Aaron’s familiar behavior, smiled gently and bowed his head.

“Understood.”

“The Baronet should come and visit another time.”

As Aaron solemnly gave his farewell, Roselia, fighting the urge to find him adorable, bowed her head.

Looking down arrogantly at her, Aaron walked away with measured steps.

As Roselia, reminded of Erline, Aaron’s contemporary in Rugbelzet, gazed at his back, she tried to act like an adult, but Aaron’s efforts to appear grown-up were comical.
And soon, Roselia entered the audience chamber, following Johannes, where the Empress was said to be waiting.

As she opened the door to the audience chamber and stepped inside, a mature middle-aged woman looked at her kindly.

Although she seemed a bit older to be Aaron’s mother, it was only natural since she was the younger sister of the Viscountess. Perhaps Aaron’s birth was a late addition to the family.

The Empress, after confirming Johannes and Roselia with a dignified nod, extended her hand slowly towards her.

“Come here…”

Approaching the Empress with a bewildered expression, Roselia hesitated and then was momentarily stunned by the Empress’s cautious handshake.

“You’ve been through a lot, Roselia.”

Startled by the Empress’s words, Roselia looked at the Viscountess with surprised eyes.

Seeing Roselia’s surprised expression, the Viscountess nodded calmly, as if she already knew the truth, bringing some relief to Roselia.

Soon, the Empress’s gentle voice reached Roselia’s ears, and her gaze wavered as she looked at the Empress.

“Welcome back to your hometown.”

She wondered if this is how it would have felt if her real mother were alive.

Only then did the reality of finding her family, a feeling she hadn’t experienced in the past two weeks, suddenly hit her.

Feeling a tingling sensation at the tip of her nose, Roselia, too, smiled broadly while looking at the Empress.

On the way back to the Viscount’s residence, Johannes mentioned that he would show her the port in Rugbelzet.

Looking out the window of the carriage at the bustling port, Roselia was fascinated when she noticed a solitary mansion towering among the crowded buildings.

“What is that giant mansion?”

Usually, mansions of that size would be located on the outskirts with extensive gardens, but this mansion stood tall like a castle in the middle of the city.

“It was originally used as a hotel, but I heard it recently changed owners.”

“Wow… I’ve never seen such a massive hotel before.”

“Rapellios has active exchanges with other countries. Many tourists and those with commercial purposes tend to visit.”

“I see.”

As Roselia casually looked out of the carriage window, she was struck by a familiar face in front of the hotel.

“Wait! Please stop the carriage!”

This time, she wasn’t mistaken. Definitely!

Getting off the carriage, Roselia approached the woman she had recognized without hesitation.

“Closette?”

Startled and holding shopping bags filled with souvenirs, Closette, who looked like a maid in front of the hotel, turned around in surprise.

“Oh, I shouldn’t be caught already…”

Caught… at that moment.

Servants standing by the elegant hotel entrance all bowed in unison towards someone.

Soon, a man in a well-fitted suit emerged from the grand mansion and walked towards her.
“I was planning to come and greet you soon. It seems we’ve met already.”

Claus, the only duke in Rugbelzet and the owner of the Valtesar Duchy, approached her with a polite yet indifferent expression.

“I’ve also ventured into the hotel business in Valtesar, you know. So, I’ll be staying here for a while. Count on me.”

With those words, Claus, charmingly lifting the corner of his mouth, continued speaking.

“Neighbors.”

(End of Part 1)