Accusing her of being a thief, Count Bernas, yelling, and grappling with Roselia, she had to leave the mansion as if being chased away.

If it were Count Bernas’s work, she could quickly reduce the remaining debt…

However, it seemed he had forgotten even the fact that he drew due to his dementia.

Following the original storyline, it would take at least a year from now for Count Bernas’s paintings to gain attention at the Imperial Court and attract the interest of the Crown Princess.

A year… I might wither away at the Duke’s mansion before that.

Roselia pondered on creating an opportunity for Count Bernas to draw earlier than in the original story as she walked into the Duke’s mansion.

“I told you not to wander outside for a while.”

Distracted by her thoughts about Count Bernas, Roselia was startled when she heard a familiar voice and looked up.

There, leaning against the entrance to the mansion, Klaus was glaring at her.

Having calmed her surprised heart, Roselia met Klaus’s eyes with an indifferent gaze.

No one wants to wander around just for the sake of it.

“Aren’t you supposed to repay the Duke’s debts? Does money sprout from the ground?”

“When did I agree to that?”

Who’s causing a commotion, grabbing her as a maid, and even treating her younger sister like a servant? Roselia had much to say but gave up explaining, letting out a deep sigh.

“You should hold your tongue. You’ve just returned home without any trouble, so don’t say anything unnecessary.”

“Is that what you say after such an incident not long ago?”

No, is he my father, or my brother?

Reacting to Klaus’s actions, treating her like a mischievous child, Roselia protested with a disgruntled expression.

“It’s still midday. Do you expect me to be stuck in the mansion all day? You didn’t mean that, right?”

“…,”

With no response as if he wanted that, Klaus, who was staring at her intently, finally spoke nonchalantly.

“Where is Roselia staying now?”

Why? Is he planning to confine her to the mansion if he knows where she stays?

“I’m doing well; don’t worry.”

“They might have attached themselves to Roselia. It seems they came into the mansion and stayed…”

Reacting to Klaus’s accurately predicted words, Roselia replied irritably, shaking her head.

“Well, Roselia is fine. Why are you so persistent?”

“Because I’m worried.”

Reacting to the unexpected words that came out suddenly, Roselia wondered if she misheard.

“What?”

With a calm and charming face, unlike Roselia, who asked with a bewildered expression, Klaus spoke calmly.

“I said I’m worried.”

“Ah… you’re worried…”
Even though it was a trivial matter, Klaus, who didn’t seem to fit the word ‘worried,’ made such a statement, making her feel strange.

“Shouldn’t I worry about such things?”

Well, no… But aren’t you the type of person who casually says such things?

With a confusing feeling, her heart suddenly started beating faster for no apparent reason.

It was probably because she heard such an unexpected word.

Staring at the bewildered Roselia, Klaus, who had been looking at her stiffly, approached her, abandoning the shoulders leaning against the wall.

“Since it came up, please let me make a request. Just once, I’d like to meet Roselia in person…”

Why is he acting like this today…?

Unaware of her, Roselia involuntarily took a step back and asked in confusion.

“Why, why?”

“I said I was worried a little while ago.”

So he wants to meet her because he’s worried?

Especially with such an urgent expression, saying ‘just once’…

This is not a good sign. Her heart, recklessly pounding without consideration, also indicates that.

In a state of confusion, Roselia closed her eyes tightly and shouted.

“I, I can’t meet you right now!”

“Why?”

If she meets him like this, not only will it be a dangerous situation, but something might happen between them.

Even if it means betraying her will.

Get a grip, Roselia. Do you want to follow the death route like this?

Taking a deep breath, she answered unexpectedly.

“Th-that’s because she’s with an important person right now.”

“Who is that?”

No, if she had just refused properly, wouldn’t it be time for him to withdraw?

Unable to think of a proper excuse due to her complicated emotions, Roselia finally blurted out whatever came to her mind.

“It’s a family problem for us!”

Leaving those words behind, Roselia disappeared into the mansion as if fleeing, and Klaus had to stand there watching for a long time.

Klaus visited the royal palace to get approval for the school construction budget.

Walking on the polished and bouncy corridor, Klaus’s expression was exceedingly serious.

Was the approval not going well?

As everyone passed by, noting his serious expression, Klaus was deeply immersed in a disturbing concern.

An important person…

She mentioned it was a family problem, right?

Could it be… Has the person Antonio mentioned before returned?

Is Roselia with that person?

Thinking such thoughts, he felt strangely uncomfortable and uneasy.

“Count, it’s been a while.”