Roselia, who had been arguing with Count Bernas, who accused her of being a thief, had to leave the mansion as if she was being driven out.

If it was Count Bernas’s work, I could pay off the remaining debt at once…

It seemed that due to his dementia, his mind was going back and forth, and he had forgotten that he had even painted.

According to the original story, Count Bernas’s paintings would start to gain attention from the Imperial Palace and attract the interest of the Crown Princess only after another year from this time.

One year… I’ll wither and die in the Duke’s mansion before that.

Roselia moved her steps into the Duke’s mansion, thinking about creating an opportunity for Count Bernas to paint earlier than in the original story.

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

Roselia, who had been so absorbed in thoughts about Count Bernas that she hadn’t been paying attention to her surroundings, was startled by the familiar voice and looked up.

There was Klaus, leaning against the entrance of the mansion, staring at her intently.

Calming her startled heart, Roselia met Klaus’s eyes with an unfriendly gaze.

No, does anyone wander around because they want to?

“Don’t I have to pay off the debt that the Duke is pressing for? Does money grow on trees?”

“…When did I press you?”

Who is the one making a fuss about keeping her as a servant and even trying to bring in her younger sister as a maid?

Roselia had a lot to say, but she gave up on explaining and let out a deep sigh.

“I shouldn’t say anything. I came back safely, so don’t scold me too much.”

“How can you say that after what happened to you recently?”

What, are you my father or my elder brother?

Roselia frowned and protested at Klaus’s behavior, which was like treating her as a thoughtless child.

“The sun is still high. Do you think I went out without considering that? Surely you’re not saying I should stay cooped up in the mansion all day?”

“…”

Seeing Klaus’s silence, as if that was exactly what he wanted, Roselia exhaled in exasperation.

Ignoring her reaction, Klaus, who had been staring down at her, continued speaking calmly.

“Where is Roselia staying now?”

Why, if you know where I’m staying, are you going to lock me up in the mansion?

“I’m doing fine, so don’t worry.”

“Those guys might have attached themselves to Roselia. Maybe it would be better if you came to stay in the mansion…”

Hearing Klaus say exactly what she had predicted, Roselia irritably ran her fingers through her hair and retorted.

“Look, Roselia is fine. Why are you so persistently concerned?”

“Because I’m worried.”

Momentarily taken aback by the unexpected words, Roselia stupidly asked again.

“What?”

Unlike Roselia, who was asking with a dumbfounded expression, Klaus spoke clearly with a calm and charming face.

“I said I’m worried.”

“Ah… you were… worried…”

Even though it wasn’t much, the word ‘worried’ seemed so out of place coming from Klaus that it felt strange.

“Am I not allowed to worry?”

Well, that’s not it… but aren’t you the type who doesn’t say such things so casually?

Along with the confused feelings, her heart suddenly started beating faster.

It must be because she was surprised to hear such unexpected words.

Klaus, who had been watching Roselia frozen in bewilderment, stepped towards her, lifting his shoulder from the wall he had been leaning on.

“Since we’re on the subject, I have a request. Even if it’s just once, I’d like to meet Roselia in person…”

Why is this person acting like this today…?

Roselia unconsciously took a step back and asked.

“Why, why?”

“Didn’t I just say it’s because I’m worried?”

So he wants to meet because he’s worried?

And with such an earnest expression, saying ‘even if it’s just once’…

This is a very bad sign. And so is her heart, beating obliviously.

Roselia, with a confused mind, squeezed her eyes shut and blurted out.

“Ro-Roselia can’t meet you right now!”

“Why not?”

If she were to meet him as Roselia now, setting aside the dangerous situation, it felt like something would happen between them.

Even if it were against her will.

Get a hold of yourself, Roselia. Do you want to trigger the death route like this?

Taking a deep breath, she answered in a fluster.

“Well… I’m with an important person right now.”

“Who might that be?”

Really, shouldn’t you have tactfully backed off after this much rejection?

Due to her complicated feelings, Roselia couldn’t think of a proper excuse and ended up blurting out whatever came to mind.

“That’s a family matter!”

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

Klaus had stopped by the Imperial Palace to get budget approval for school construction.

Klaus’s expression was extremely serious as he walked down the well-polished, shiny corridor.

Perhaps the approval wasn’t going well?

While everyone was passing by nervously due to his serious expression, Klaus was lost in extremely troubling thoughts.

An important person…

She said it was a family matter, didn’t she?

Could it be… that the lover Antonio mentioned before has returned?

Is Roselia staying with that lover?

As soon as that thought crossed his mind, he felt strangely displeased and uncomfortable, as if a thorn was stuck in his throat.

“Duke, it’s been a while.”

So lost in thought was he that Klaus didn’t notice the Crown Princess approaching until she was right in front of him. He belatedly realized and bowed his head with a start.

“I greet Your Highness, the Crown Princess.”

“You seem to have a lot on your mind.”

Normally, he would have noticed the Crown Princess even if she was across the corridor.

Not only would he have noticed, but he would have been so attentive—checking if she was uncomfortable anywhere, how she was doing these days, if anyone was giving her trouble—to the point of making the Crown Princess feel awkward.

But now, seeing Klaus so surprisingly distracted, the Crown Princess’s expression turned intrigued.

Not noticing even her expression, Klaus, as ceremonious as ever, continued speaking.

“I heard that you’re coordinating the 3rd agreement with the Rapelios delegation today.”

“Yes, that’s right. I’m on my way to meet the delegation now.”

At the Crown Princess’s words, Klaus finally looked around her surroundings and asked curiously.

“But I don’t see Duke Rubellio, who was supposed to proceed with the agreement together.”

“The Duke said he’s leaving the agreement matter entirely to me.”

Duke Rubellio, the younger brother of the deceased Emperor and the uncle of Crown Prince Esteban.

Although lower in the line of succession than Esteban, he was a great nobleman who received support from many nobles due to his composure and ease that came with years of experience.

“I see. It seems the Duke acknowledges Your Highness as well.”

“Well… I wonder if that’s really the case?”

The Crown Princess responded meaningfully to the words Klaus had said out of mere courtesy, then immediately smiled brightly.

“Well then, I’ll be going ahead.”

The Crown Princess left Klaus behind and moved her steps with a hardened expression.

As it was a meeting with envoys from the Rapelios Empire, she couldn’t show even a hint of weakness.

Moreover, it was a meeting attended by Marquis Yukilliode, known as the pillar of Rapelios and the representative of the delegation with such a famous reputation.

He had arrived at the Imperial Palace the day before yesterday, having departed late due to handling Rapelios affairs, and thus couldn’t attend the welcoming banquet for the delegation.

And finally today, a meeting was set for the agreement between the empires.

The Crown Princess entered the spacious conference room through the door opened by servants, wearing an elegant smile.

“I apologize for keeping you waiting.”

As soon as she entered the conference room with the long table, a pleasant scent brushed the Crown Princess’s nose.

And soon, a pleasing baritone voice was heard.

“Not at all. We have just arrived as well.”

The Crown Princess turned her head towards the pleasant voice along with the faintly lingering scent, and her eyes suddenly widened.

Antonio…?

A handsome young man with fine black hair and emerald green eyes was standing looking at the Crown Princess.

But… something was a bit different.

Certainly, his features and atmosphere were very similar to Antonio’s, but he seemed taller and had a larger frame…

While she was frozen at the sight of the man who was surprisingly similar to Antonio, the mysterious man smiled brightly and spoke in a polite voice.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you for the first time, Your Highness the Crown Princess. I am Johannes von Yukilliode, the representative of the Rapelios delegation.”

He was Marquis Yukilliode, known as the pillar of Rapelios.

The Crown Princess, who had been momentarily frozen, soon smiled composedly.

“So you are the famous Marquis Yukilliode. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

Seeing her quickly regain her composure after showing a brief moment of confusion, Marquis Yukilliode smiled and replied.

“It’s an honor to meet the Crown Princess of Rugbelzet, whose praises I’ve heard so much about.”

When he smiled, his appearance was so incredibly similar to Antonio’s that the Crown Princess’s expression became peculiar again.

Looking at the Marquis’s face with a pensive expression, Ivellionne finally carefully voiced the question she had been holding.

“By any chance, do you have a younger brother, Marquis?”

Looking surprised at the unexpected question from the Crown Princess, the Marquis smiled brightly and answered kindly.

“I don’t have a younger brother… but it would have been nice if I did. These days, even ten hands wouldn’t be enough.”

“I see… No, let’s talk about the agreement.”

It was just a momentary doubt, and the Crown Princess, who had quickly regained her composure, led the meeting skillfully with a fluent smile.

Seeing this, the Marquis also smiled brightly and participated in the conversation leisurely with the expression of a negotiator.

This meeting between Rugbelzet and Rapelios was to discuss the coordination related to opening the Berdan port located in the south of Rugbelzet.

The battle continued between Marquis Yukilliode trying to gain an advantageous high ground with a relaxed smile, and the Crown Princess thoroughly trying to protect the empire’s interests.

About three hours had passed, but the conversation continued to drag on without reaching a definite conclusion.

From the beginning, no one in this conference room thought that the coordination would be finished in a day. That’s why delegations usually stay for at least one to two months for agreement-related discussions.

“Then I’ll see you at the next coordination schedule.”

Receiving the greeting from the snake-like Marquis Yukilliode, the Crown Princess forced her hardened expression into an elegant smile.

“Thank you for your hard work, Marquis. Then, I’ll take my leave.”

Watching the Crown Princess turn around and leave the conference room with dignity, the Marquis smiled brightly.

Indeed, she was said to have excellent negotiation skills even compared to diplomats, and she was a Crown Princess who was flawless and keen on practical benefits.

It wasn’t enough to be noticeable, but even though he had released quite a bit of his pheromone scent, she didn’t even blink an eye. She was truly a woman worthy of praise.

Suddenly, he recalled the words the Crown Princess had first spoken.

She had asked if he had a younger brother…

It was an abrupt question, but he thought it might be one of the techniques to draw out familiarity from the other party to ease the atmosphere before negotiations.

A younger brother… Of course, he did have a younger sister who had gone missing with his mother long ago…

He, who had been searching for them for over a decade, had now almost given up and accepted reality.

The last time he saw that child was when she was a toddler of 3 years old, just learning to walk.

If she’s alive, that child would have been an adult for quite some time now.