It was clear that if she was caught by the Duke like this, there would be no way out this time.

Feeling a threat to her life, Roselia unconsciously took a step back.

The Crown Prince, who had been watching the scene with an amused smile as if watching an interesting play, seemed to feel a bit of conscience and blocked the Duke’s path.

“Duke Balthazar, it doesn’t seem like you came here to dance with me.”

“Step aside.”

At Klaus’s threatening voice, the Crown Prince continued with a sneer.

“My, approaching so menacingly might scare the lady.”

“I don’t think this is something for Your Highness to hear.”

It was a reproachful remark towards the Crown Prince who was neglecting the Crown Princess and getting distracted.

Esteban’s face also began to harden at Klaus’s disrespectful gaze.

“Do you realize how insolent your tone is right now?”

“…”

Sparks seemed to fly between the two.

While Esteban and Klaus were engaged in an invisible battle of nerves, Roselia quietly backed away.

Noticing her belatedly, Klaus glared at her with fierce eyes.

“Hey!”

As soon as she heard Klaus’s voice, Roselia turned around and darted through the crowd.

She could hear the startled Klaus cursing and chasing after her.

Damn it! He looks like he’ll wring my neck if he catches me!

Hearing the sound of his fierce pursuit, Roselia ran towards the sparsely populated garden.

It was the most suitable place to hide, as there were many bushes and trees.

Since it was also nighttime, if she hid well, she could easily shake off the Duke.

So Roselia, who had rushed into the garden, quickly hid herself among the bushes.

As she crouched down and held her breath, she saw Klaus, who had rushed in, pass by the bush where she was hiding.

After waiting for a while, Roselia, who had let out a sigh of relief, carefully emerged from the bushes, thinking it was safe enough.

As she turned around, brushing off the leaves stuck to the pretty dress Closet had prepared for her, someone suddenly grabbed her wrist.

Startled, Roselia’s gaze turned behind her.

There stood Klaus, breathing heavily, holding her wrist and glaring at her with his dark blue eyes.

“You have quite a talent for running away.”

A dry gulp went down Roselia’s throat.

“Is this the third time now? That you’ve run away from me.”

Klaus’s hand approached Roselia’s face, which had stiffened completely.

While Roselia closed her eyes tightly at his sudden action, his hand slowly removed the eye mask that had been covering her eyes.

As the mask came off, Roselia’s green eyes sparkled in the moonlight under the dark night sky.

Staring down at her intently, Klaus muttered her name in a low voice.

“Roselia.”

At the sound of his voice clearly calling her name, Roselia’s gaze wavered.

She thought how his blue-tinged black hair and dark blue eyes, illuminated by the moonlight, matched the dark night sky so well.

Perhaps it was a thought born from the desire to escape this situation, faced with a suddenly hard-to-accept reality.

“Roselia de Hesink.”

As if to grip her wandering mind, Klaus called her name once more.

Finally coming to her senses, Roselia faced Klaus with a tense expression.

Looking at those confident eyes, it seemed there was no room for denial.

Ignoring the trembling of her eyes from tension, Roselia tried to speak calmly.

“I think you’ve mistaken me for someone else.”

At her curt words, Klaus twisted one corner of his mouth upwards.

“What did I mistake? That you’re not the woman I saw at the tavern that day? Or when we met in Algrishia village? Or are you trying to say that you’re not Roselia?”

“If I say none of the above… you wouldn’t believe me, would you…?”

Asked in an almost resigned tone, Klaus hardened his expression coldly and drove the nail in.

“After I lost you that day, I investigated the Hesink baronial family again. Your death certificate. Upon closer inspection, it turned out to be fake.”

Roselia’s Adam’s apple bobbed nervously without her realizing it.

Watching this, Klaus smiled slightly and tilted his head leisurely.

“Well… I should blame the incompetent civil servants who eat up the country’s taxes without doing their jobs properly… but at least one thing is certain – Antonio deceived me.”

For a moment, Roselia’s gaze wavered as she looked at Klaus.

Could it be…?

He seemed certain that the woman before him was Roselia, but he didn’t seem to think that the Antonio he knew was the same person as Roselia.

It was rather fortunate.

Her ultimate goal was to not catch his eye as a woman, so if he didn’t know her identity while she was Antonio, things might pass without much issue.

As Roselia was organizing her thoughts, Klaus, who had been staring at her, continued speaking.

“Have you been in contact with Antonio all this time?”

Roselia hesitated for a moment, choosing her words carefully.

She had to make up a story that was as natural and unsuspicious as possible.

If she gave even the slightest hint to this black panther-like man, her neck would be bitten off immediately…

“I met him occasionally where I was staying. Please don’t say anything to Antonio. My brother… he only did it out of concern for me.”

At Roselia’s pitiful act, Klaus smiled crookedly.

“So, that’s the kind of place you’ve been hiding from my eyes?”

He was clearly referring to the tavern where they had encountered each other.

It seemed he believed she was working in that industry, given both the location and her attire at the time, which left no room for excuse.

Roselia was about to make an excuse but then changed her mind.

If she denied it here, she would have to explain why she was at the tavern in such attire, and rather than making excuses for excuses, she thought it better to just let it slide.

“It doesn’t matter what you think. I just want you to know that I’m doing my part in paying off the ducal family’s debt in my own way.”

For a moment, a twisted sneer appeared on his face, which had frowned as if displeased.

“Doing your part, you say… Is that how you met the Crown Prince too?”

What nonsense is this now?

Does he think I served the Crown Prince in such a place?

Even if that were the case, what business is it of his?

Although she felt dumbfounded and even irritated, she didn’t feel the need to clear up the misunderstanding.

“Think what you will.”

At her nonchalant words, Klaus’s brows furrowed.

The image of the Crown Prince and her seemingly kissing at the ballroom suddenly came to mind, making him feel even more unpleasant.

But he tried to maintain his composure and changed the subject.

“But… how did you get into the ducal mansion’s banquet hall? Only nobles invited by Closet should be able to enter here.”

Roselia was momentarily at a loss for words, rolling her eyes before calmly answering.

“I had a connection with Lady Closet and was able to receive an invitation.”

“An invitation from Closet? You…?”

Roselia felt a little sorry for Closet, but she said it believing that Closet would take her side no matter what excuse she made.

“I happened to meet her in the bustling district, and when she found out I was Antonio’s sister, she took good care of me in various ways.”

It was a somewhat plausible reason, as everyone in the mansion knew that Antonio was serving as Closet’s il domestico and was in her favor.

While Klaus was lost in thought, Roselia judged that nothing good would come from staying in his sight any longer and subtly took a step back.

Then Klaus, who had leisurely crossed his arms, looked down at her like a satiated beast and quietly continued.

“Where do you think you’re going?”

“Pardon…? Ah, it seemed like you were done with me, so I was quietly withdrawing…”

“Who said you could.”

At Klaus’s firm voice, a cold sweat ran down Roselia’s spine.

Klaus, who had approached much closer than the two steps she had retreated with just two steps of his own, looked down at her with a threatening gaze.

“The debt is in the name of the Hesink baronial family, so it’s unfair to only have Antonio pay it off.”

“Um… I’ve been doing my part to pay off the debt as well…”

It was somewhat true, as Antonio was herself, and Roselia was also herself.

But Klaus, unsatisfied with her answer, looked at her coldly and continued.

“Now that you’ve been found out like this, wouldn’t it be more convenient for both of us if you came to the ducal mansion to pay off the debt?”

At that moment, Roselia’s Adam’s apple bobbed once again.

Good heavens… Is he telling me to play two roles in one within the ducal mansion?

I’m already on the verge of passing out from fear as it is?

Feeling a chill run down her spine, Roselia smiled as calmly as she could.

“I can’t live in crowded places, bumping into people.”

“Isn’t the place you’re living now just as crowded with people bumping into each other? It seems like working as a maid in the ducal mansion would be much more comfortable than living in such a place.”

Roselia frowned at his tone, which seemed certain that she was working in a tavern.

“I’ll decide what’s more comfortable for me. If you’re worried I might run away without paying the debt, don’t worry. The next time I settle the debt, I’ll come to see you directly instead of Antonio.”

Looking at her confident gaze, Klaus couldn’t help but think of Antonio and let out a hollow laugh.

Are they siblings even if they’re not blood-related?

Staring intently at Roselia, who was looking back at him with an unwavering gaze, Klaus decided to take a step back.

She wasn’t avoiding paying the debt, and regardless of how much she was involved, the accumulated debt was being gradually reduced, so he thought there was no need to forcibly hold onto someone who was so reluctant.

“Alright, then I’ll wait for the next debt settlement.”

With those words, Klaus stepped back with a relaxed smile, and Roselia, after glancing around cautiously, quickly turned and left the garden.

Her heart was pounding fiercely, feeling as if he might chase after her and catch her even now.

Glancing back repeatedly towards where Klaus had been, Roselia quietly melted into the shadows inside the mansion.

Klaus’s dark blue eyes remained fixed on her back for a while, until she disappeared into the light of the mansion.