As Rogelia looked at Claus with a bewildered expression, Claus calmly added, “With the imperial agreement between Lapellios and Lugbelt, the ports of Felton and Bardan have been opened. Acquiring the hotel in this port is not just for the hotel business.”

Upon Claus’s explanation, Johannes nodded while looking at the teacup.

“Planning to dominate the trade routes.”
“As expected, the Duke, who led the agreement, catches on quickly,” said Claus, looking meaningfully at Rogelia.

“If you’ve invested enough, it’s a decision based on its worth,” Claus added, looking meaningfully at Rogelia.

Although the response was directed towards Johannes, Rogelia, as if she was meant to hear it, avoided his gaze with effort.

Claus, who observed Rogelia intently, casually tilted the teacup in front of him to change the subject.

“More importantly, have you found the family you’re looking for in Lapellios?”

Momentarily tensing her shoulders, Rogelia cautiously glanced at Johannes, trying to gauge the Marquis’s reaction.

When Klaus, who seemed dissatisfied with her reaction, slightly furrowed his eyebrows, Johannes, placing the teacup back on the table, spoke calmly.

“Since you’ll probably go to great lengths to find out, let me inform the Duke.”

In response to Johannes’s meaningful words, Claus made a puzzled expression.

Facing Claus head-on, Johannes decisively opened his mouth.

“Rogelia belongs to the Duke’s family.”

Perceiving something significant in Johannes’s words, Claus displayed a puzzled expression.

“Why can’t Viscount Bernas and everyone else become Rogelia’s guardians?”

Seeming to have misunderstood Johannes’s words, Claus, who had a slightly wrinkled expression, chuckled and continued.

“Didn’t you get it wrong? Rogelia has been part of the Duke’s family from the beginning.”

Only then did the laughter disappear from Claus’s expression.

“She is my younger sister lost 20 years ago.”

For a moment, Claus’s expression shifted from surprise to confusion.

Belatedly, information about the disappearance of the Marquise and the female successor of the Marquis 20 years ago came to his mind.

Now realizing the blunder he had unintentionally revealed to Johannes, Claus muttered to himself.

“This… was unexpected…”

Faced with Claus’s stunned expression, Johannes did not back down and drove the point home.

“Henceforth, I cannot tolerate anyone making rash requests to Rogelia.”

Silent in response to Johannes’s announcement, Claus, who wore a stiff expression, finally cautiously rose when he sensed Johannes’s intention to leave.

“Well then, let’s return to the Marquisate now.”

Seeing Johannes preparing to leave, Rogelia also cautiously rose.

At that moment, as Rogelia, who was about to stand up following the Marquis, Closett gently grabbed her hand.

“Rogelia, would you mind having dinner before leaving?”

Rogelia, confronted with Closett’s feeble request, showed a perplexed expression.

Then, turning her gaze to Claus, Rogelia bit her lip.
There was a reason for bringing Closett along.

Pretending not to notice her gaze, Claus casually sipped his tea.

The meal they ended up sharing was in a lively atmosphere. As Closett chatted excitedly, the skills of the top chef hired from Lapellios were exceptional.

It would have been entirely satisfying if not for Claus’s gaze fixed on her throughout the meal. However, feeling like she might choke, Rogelia carefully stood up, thinking she needed some fresh air.

“I’ll excuse myself to the powder room for a moment.”

Quietly leaving the dining area, Rogelia walked through the quiet corridor. Perhaps due to the hotel not receiving guests yet, the corridor was as empty as one would expect.

While heading towards the powder room, typically located near the reception area, she was suddenly pulled into a narrow corridor.

Rogelia, pulled into the unexpectedly narrow corridor, raised her head with a surprised expression. There, as expected, Claus, a wall-like figure, stood in front of her, blocking her way with a nonchalant expression.

When Rogelia gazed up at him intently, Claus cautiously licked his lips.

“I want to talk privately.”

Ignoring the trembling in one corner of her heart, Rogelia turned her body to escape him.

“There’s nothing we need to discuss privately.”

Trying to exit his embrace, Claus lightly placed his hand on the wall, blocking her path.

His colossal body, mixed in a dream several times, pressed too closely in the narrow corridor.

Her overly honest heart began to pound recklessly, despite her efforts to ignore it.

However, Rogelia bit her lip, determined not to reveal anything on her face.

Claus, acting on his whims, behaving as if he could do anything he pleased, seemed ridiculously irritating.

Rogelia, using the sensory control she recently learned through Johannes to suppress the fragrance emanating from her chest, forcibly held back the fragrance pouring out.

Feeling suffocated, with her breath stuck in her throat, she temporarily blocked the fragrance.

While Rogelia was trying to control the scent by biting her lip until it bled, Claus lowered his head towards her neck.

“Strange.”

Claus, who said so, furrowed his eyebrows in confusion, looking down at her.

“Why isn’t there a fragrance?”

Being someone who would emit fragrance just from contact or conversation with him, Claus asked in puzzlement.

Looking directly into Claus’s intense eyes, Rogelia firmly opened her mouth.

“Because my heart no longer flutters for the Duke.”