It’s not a big deal, but… I should have slept at Nadia’s house after all…

Alejandro, who seemed to know nothing about Rozelia’s inner thoughts, spoke with a satisfied smile as if he had completed his tasks.

“Well, I’ve delivered the message, so I’ll be on my way.”

Rozelia nodded, watching Alejandro disappear down the corridor with a sense of helplessness.

Still in the state of Rozelia, it had only been a few hours since she engaged in such acts with him in his study.

Rozelia, feeling irritated by her body’s reactions, which responded to him like a tamed puppy, wanted nothing more than to ignore his summons, sleep as if dead, and be left alone. However, Rozelia couldn’t escape the unyielding steps and found herself heading towards his study.

Damn it, I have to go when called as a servant. What a hassle.

Rozelia stood in front of Klaus’s study, sighed deeply, and knocked on the door.

“It’s Antonio. I heard you called.”

“Come in.”

At the sound that seemed to indicate he had been waiting, Rozelia took a deep breath, opened the study door, and entered.

Unlike the usual scene where he would be seated at his desk surrounded by documents, Klaus was sitting on the sofa, leaning over a glass of alcohol.

Looking at him strangely, Rozelia hesitated, and Klaus gestured for her to come closer.

“Have you met Johannes?”

“No, I haven’t had a chance to see him yet.”

“I see… Since there was a big incident today, it might be better for you to take it easy.”

The melancholic tone in Klaus’s voice made Rozelia’s gaze strangely turn towards him in confusion.

“Antonio.”

For a moment, while pondering the oddity of Klaus appearing gloomy today, Rozelia stiffened as he asked a question.

“Is the person you mentioned as Rozelia’s suitor… Marquis Yukiliod?”

How did his thoughts reach that point? It seemed absurd and unbelievable, but upon reflection, it felt like a plausible conjecture.

She had deliberately mentioned that she and her suitor were distant, and the time she claimed to be with her suitor coincided with the visit of the Raphelios envoy.

In a way, it might be the most suitable opponent to divert the Marquis’s attention, someone who couldn’t be easily meddled with.

To remove the Marquis’s interest, the opponent had to be someone he couldn’t easily interfere with, and such a person didn’t exist within the Empire.

Well, there was the Crown Prince, but she wanted to avoid him, and on the other hand, Marquis Yukiliod, the representative of the Raphelios Empire and the envoy of the envoy, was a perfect figure with no flaws in ability, appearance, or position, and the Marquis couldn’t recklessly meddle with him.

Lost in such thoughts, Rozelia found herself involuntarily opening her mouth.

“Yes, that’s right. He is Rozelia’s suitor.”

At Antonio’s words, Klaus’s expression hardened stiffly.
Even though it was already a somewhat anticipated fact, hearing it directly made Rozelia feel an indescribable discomfort in her chest, and she couldn’t articulate her words properly.

Klaus, who had a gaze directed at Antonio, wore a bitter expression. “Is that so…”

Rozelia felt uneasy with Klaus’s expression, unexpectedly feeling discomfort in her heart. It didn’t feel good to be telling a lie that the person involved was unaware of.

Moreover, Klaus’s unexpected expression… As Rozelia was lost in a feeling of wavering emotions and lowered her head, Klaus spoke with a heavily laden voice.

“Today, Rozelia was almost attacked.”

It was a well-known fact.

But from Klaus’s perspective, it seemed that Antonio, Rozelia’s brother, wouldn’t know about it.

While Rozelia was contemplating what answer to give, Klaus spoke before her.

“I apologize.”

“What?”

Rozelia’s gaze was puzzled at Klaus’s sudden apology.

“I should have expected them to be lurking near the mansion.”

Could it be that he thought Rozelia was in trouble because he called her to the mansion? Rozelia had never thought about it, so she awkwardly countered his words.

“We can’t monitor everyone outside the mansion. As long as I’m safe, there’s no need to worry too much.”

Although her words seemed to be comforting, Klaus still looked pitiful like a rain-soaked puppy.

“To Marquis Yukiliod… No, I should properly apologize later.”

That great Duke Valtasar looked so deflated.

It was an exaggerated lie to confirm their relationship, but… Was it too much?

With a gesture for her to leave, Rozelia had to leave the study with a heavier heart.

As usual, dressed as Antonio, Rozelia visited Viscount Bernas and cheerfully entered the room where the Viscount was.

“Grandfather, I’m here.”

“…”

The Viscount, who sat on the sofa with a somewhat displeased expression, glanced at her and casually turned his head away.

Could it be that he’s annoyed because I didn’t come for a while?

“Are you feeling a bit better today, Grandfather?”

“When I’m old, I should just die.”

Rozelia couldn’t help but laugh at the seemingly grumpy words from the Viscount, whose appearance seemed toughened.