As Rozelia crossed the road to catch a carriage to the mansion, a carriage passed by her side for a moment. Inside the carriage, Yucelioth Viscount, who was absentmindedly looking out the window, noticed a very similar-looking dark-haired man and exclaimed.
“Hold on!”

The carriage of Viscount Yucelioth, heading towards the Valtezard Duchy from the capital where he had been, abruptly stopped at his command.

“What’s the matter, Viscount?”

His aide asked with confusion, but Johannes, who was looking out the window again, only furrowed his brow and swept his bangs aside.

“Sorry, seems like I saw something pointless. Let’s continue.”

A man resembling himself. Not a doppelganger…

Perhaps because of the nonsense the Crown Prince said. At that time, even the Crown Prince’s face looked like that of a doppelganger.

Johannes, who seemed lost in thought for a moment, let out a wry laugh and leaned on his hand.

He looks quite tired. Judging from how bothered he is by unnecessary talk.

Rozelia clutched the hem of the emerald-green dress gifted by Closet, biting her lip in front of the mansion.

Yes, as Mr. Abel said, I need to confront it myself to draw a clear line.

With such determination, Rozelia slowly entered the mansion.

Unbeknownst to her, there were eyes in the shadows watching her retreating figure.

Now accustomed to the guidance of the butler Geoffrey, Rozelia headed for Klaus’s office.

In fact, she could go there blindfolded by now, but pretending to be a guest, Rozelia obediently followed the butler’s guidance to reach the office door.

“Milord, Miss Rozelia has arrived.”

Although there was no audible response, Geoffrey, without hesitation, opened the office door and gestured for her to enter.

Rozelia, seeming nervous, swallowed a dry spit and, passing Geoffrey, stepped into the office.

As usual, Klaus was at his desk, sorting through piled-up documents.

What was different this time was that, upon hearing Rozelia’s footsteps, Klaus, instead of immediately putting down the documents as before, stared intently at her.

Ignoring his gaze with an effort, Rozelia spoke bluntly.

“You were looking for me.”

Under Klaus’s scrutinizing gaze from head to toe, Rozelia, feeling awkward, cleared her throat.

Only then did Klaus, who met her eyes, mutter in a low voice.

“Seems like there are no injuries; that’s fortunate.”

Whether he truly thought it was fortunate or not, Klaus’s voice, murmuring like that, sounded oddly affectionate. Rozelia, trying to remain composed, cut in.

“Yes, as you can see, I’m perfectly fine. There’s no need for the Duke to worry.”

Klaus’s eyebrow furrowed slightly, as if Rozelia’s words bothered him.

“Where exactly have you been until now?”

“It’s a bit difficult to explain.”
Contrary to his intention to calmly converse with Rozelia, Klaus felt an unsettling sensation in his chest as her tone seemed to hit him like a wall. Unlike the composed and worried Rozelia he had anticipated, her demeanor turned blunt, even cold.

“Were you with that man?”

Finally, the question that had echoed in Klaus’s mind dozens, hundreds of times burst out.

Taken aback by his unexpected question, Rozelia furrowed her brows and replied, “Yes?”

“That man named Jeongin.”

Only then did Rozelia, realizing what Klaus might be misunderstanding, let out a bitter laugh.

Finding Rozelia mocking, Klaus frowned and turned his head as if dismissing the matter.

“Who I’m with is none of the Duke’s concern.”

Having said that, Rozelia looked at Klaus with apparent discomfort, driving her point home. “Don’t tail me like a detective.”

Damn it, he wouldn’t look at Rozelia that way even when facing Lugbella, who had intentions towards her.

Klaus’s mood became increasingly uncomfortable, as if he had become a puppet of circumstances.

Are my concerns and interests unpleasant to her, or is she really okay with that man?

The feeling that had gone astray from the initial mindset prompted Klaus to spill unfiltered words.

“Does that man have the ability to protect you?”

What is this man talking about?

So far, he treated the prince like an annoying fly. Moreover, without considering the other party’s intentions and even tailing her, what is he investigating?

Rozelia, who became even more uncomfortable than at the beginning, struggled to find the right words.

“Whether he has the ability or not doesn’t matter. I’m with him because I want to.”

“Damn it, Rozelia.”

Upon hearing the word ‘want,’ Klaus abruptly stood up and approached her step by step.

Ignoring her surprised feelings, Rozelia stood tall, determined not to yield as she faced him.

Approaching her until they were nose to nose, Klaus, with his breath even closing the distance, looked down at her and uttered words almost as if he was spitting them out.

“What did we share that day?”

Although Rozelia immediately realized what he was talking about, she kept a composed demeanor, avoiding eye contact to conceal her trembling gaze.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”