With a fierce look in his eyes indicating he would not go easy on her just because she was a woman, Klaus glared at Jusid, causing her to finally leave with a face that looked like she might cry.

Since even the Duke had intervened, Jusid probably won’t be able to show her face in front of Closet and herself again.

While Closet looked at Klaus with an unexpected gaze, Roselia’s feelings became complicated.

One part of her heart was clearly grateful and happy, but another part’s anxiety grew even larger.

Could it be… that he had developed feelings for her because of the kiss earlier…

If that was how things were developing, it would not be a welcome situation.

She had gone through so much hardship to deviate from the original story, it would be unacceptable to waver just because of one kiss.

Roselia put on a resolute expression as if steeling herself, and bowed her head to Klaus as he turned towards her.

“Thank you for your help. But it was something I could have resolved on my own. There was no need for you to make up stories on my account.”

Klaus frowned at Roselia’s words that seemed to be keeping her distance.

“I don’t think it was made up. Isn’t it true that both Antonio and you are currently affiliated with the Duke’s residence? Of course, you are still stubbornly refusing to officially join.”

Roselia stared blankly at Klaus for a moment at his matter-of-fact words, then quickly bowed her head.

“Whatever the case, thank you. I’ll be going now.”

As Roselia said that and turned to leave Klaus, Closet hurriedly followed behind her.

Looking into Klaus’s eyes made her feel like she was being drawn in without realizing it, so she could only think about getting away from him quickly.

Klaus just watched her retreating figure with a complicated gaze, without making any rash moves to stop her.

“Roselia? Are you okay?”

Roselia smiled brightly in response to Closet’s worried question as she stuck close to her side.

“I’m tired, let’s go back quickly.”

“Okay, I’ll have a servant call for a carriage, so wait here for a moment.”

Only after Closet disappeared in the opposite direction to find a servant did Roselia let out a deep sigh and look around.

Fortunately, it seemed Klaus had not followed them out.

Perhaps he was also feeling conflicted in his own way.

Who would have thought that those two who were at each other’s throats would spark in that way…

Is the attraction between a man and woman that was present from the original story still unavoidable no matter how much one denies it and tries to avoid it?

As she was thinking that while waiting for Closet, a familiar voice was heard.

“You ran away quite skillfully.”

Startled since she had let her guard down, Roselia turned her head to see the Crown Prince leaning against a pillar in the corridor leading outside the banquet hall with his arms crossed.

As Roselia’s face hardened, the Crown Prince let out an empty laugh as if deflated.

“You look at me like I’ve committed a mortal sin against you.”

“Please just stay quietly by the Crown Princess’s side. That’s the way to make everyone comfortable.”

The corners of the Crown Prince’s mouth twisted upwards at Roselia’s words.

“Is that really so? Perhaps Ivellionne would be more comfortable if I wasn’t around?”

You know better, so act accordingly!

Don’t do such weird things!

Contrary to her inner thoughts, Roselia remained silent.

As if seeing through her true intentions, the Crown Prince sneered and straightened up.

“I’ll give you one piece of advice, for old times’ sake. You may be unavoidably tied to the Duke’s residence, but… it would be better not to get too deeply involved with the Duke.”

What nonsense is this now?

Of course, she had no intention of getting close to the Duke even if someone asked her to, but why was the Crown Prince giving such advice?

“I don’t want to have to take you down with my own hands.”

With those final words, the Crown Prince turned and disappeared back into the banquet hall.

Not wanting to take her down… She couldn’t understand what intentions the Crown Prince had in saying those words.

Suddenly, the development of the original story flashed through Roselia’s mind.

The story of the Duke starting a rebellion over Ivellionne, and Crown Prince Esteban suppressing the rebel forces and regaining Ivellionne’s love…

Of course, the rebellion wasn’t simply a matter involving only Ivellionne. Although Ivellionne was the spark, the rebellion began based on larger issues extending to the nation’s survival and interference from other empires.

Could it be… that that development was still valid?

So much should have changed…

“Roselia! I called for a carriage!”

Snapped out of her reverie by Closet’s voice suddenly calling her, Roselia pushed the thoughts away and moved her feet.

Unbeknownst to her, someone was watching her from the balcony on the second floor.

A middle-aged man with silver hair leisurely swirled his wine glass as he watched Roselia walking away and murmured softly.

“This is getting interesting.”

As Roselia, in her Antonio persona, was enjoying a peaceful teatime with Closet, she smiled gently while listening to Closet’s chatter.

The tumultuous events of the recent royal banquet felt like a distant dream.

The unpredictable attention from the Crown Prince, Jusid’s hostility, and even the incident with the Duke on the balcony…

When her thoughts reached that point, Roselia shook her head vigorously.

As Closet looked at her quizzically, Melda brought in the weekly society magazine as usual.

“The weekly magazine arrived earlier than expected today. Would you like to see it?”

At Melda’s question, Closet eagerly held out her hand. Even if she wasn’t interested in high society, the various rumors and gossip circulating were good for passing time.

However, as Closet received the magazine from Melda’s hand and began reading the paper, her eyes widened.

She gaped like a fish out of water for a moment before finally calling out to Roselia.

“Um… Uh… Antonio. I think you need to see this…”

Roselia turned her gaze quizzically towards Closet.

Closet was still unable to take her eyes off the paper, her mouth hanging open.

What could there possibly be in society gossip that she needed to see?

Wondering about this, Roselia approached Closet’s side and, upon reading the words written on the paper, snatched the weekly magazine in shock.

‘The temptress who has bewitched the Crown Prince and Duke Baltezar. Who is she?’

“What on earth is this…”

Roselia stared down at the paper in a daze before quickly reading through the provocative headline.

『Is the Crown Prince straying from the Crown Princess?

Many will remember the recent masked ball of the Baltezar Duchy.

Do you recall the mysterious lady the Crown Prince asked for the first dance?

It is speculated that she is the lover of Duke Baltezar.

As evidence, Duke Baltezar, who is famously known for not dancing at social events, danced with the woman in question at the recent Raperios welcome banquet.

According to reports, the Duke apparently stated at the banquet that she was a guest staying at the Duke’s residence.

This writer boldly conjectures that the woman staying at the Duke’s residence is not a mere guest.

There are even rumors that she is a woman who sells her smiles in back alleys. Since only those directly involved know for certain, I will refrain from saying more on this matter.

While it is unknown which family she belongs to or where she comes from, one thing is clear – she has managed to melt the famously cold Duke Baltezar and even bewitch the Crown Prince into losing his senses.

She can be called a great temptress for having the two greatest men of the Lugbelzet Empire wrapped around her finger.

One can’t help but feel sorry for the Crown Princess, who is likely still arguing with the ministers at the palace today.

– Rugbella, under the quiet sunset』

Rugbella… She was a journalist who dealt with society rumors and gossip.

The reason she could so brazenly criticize the Crown Prince and the Duke was because she thoroughly concealed her identity and status, working only under a pseudonym.

If that weren’t the case, she would have long since been arrested for insulting the royal family.

Even without that, there must be countless nobles who want her dead after being exposed by her dazzling eloquence.

In fact, it’s not even certain if she is actually a woman.

She’s referred to as ‘she’ only because the pen name she always leaves at the end of her gossip columns is close to a woman’s name.

It was quite ironic that while contributing to all sorts of gossip and rumors about the royal family and high society, her pen name ‘Rugbella’ was similar to ‘Lugbelzet’.

And now, this Rugbella had made Roselia the target of her latest gossip.

To be precise, it was an article criticizing the Crown Prince and the Duke, but she was the one caught in the middle taking all the damage.

Scanning through the weekly magazine with trembling hands, Roselia could no longer contain herself and stormed out of the reception room.

“Antonio?”

She heard Closet’s startled voice calling out, but thoroughly angered, she headed straight for Klaus’s office with the crumpled magazine in hand.

Without even knocking, she flung open the door, causing Klaus to furrow his brow as he looked at her.

“What’s the matter?”

Roselia slammed down the weekly magazine paper in front of Klaus.

Thwack-!!

He frowned as he looked at the paper unceremoniously dropped on top of the documents he had been reviewing.

Then Klaus raised his gaze to look at Roselia.

“What are you trying to do?”

Roselia looked at Klaus with determined eyes and opened her mouth.

“You knew about this, didn’t you?”

“Knew about what?”

“The gossip article about Roselia. You could have stopped it before the article circulated.”

“…”

While it’s impossible to know who the journalist Rugbella is, the printing houses capable of producing the weekly magazine are limited.

Although Rugbella cunningly changed newspapers to write her gossip articles, making it impossible to predict which specific newspaper, the printing houses are limited, so if they had wanted to stop it, they could have prevented the weekly magazine from circulating in the city.

Especially for the Baltezar Duchy, known for its quick information and strong influence.

At the very least, they could have bribed the printing house and burned all of today’s weekly magazines.

But the fact that the weekly magazine was now circulating meant that Klaus had allowed this article to spread.

“You didn’t think I wouldn’t know, did you?”

Klaus let out a deep sigh at Roselia’s sharp words and spoke softly, bringing his interlocked hands to his mouth.