Johannes’ expression suddenly became serious and hardened.

It was 20 years ago that the carriage was attacked by thugs and his mother and Cecilia went missing.

In that chaotic situation, he was fortunately able to survive by being trapped in the overturned carriage.

When the marquis’ soldiers came to rescue them belatedly, his mother and Cecilia had already disappeared with the thugs.

If they had disappeared 20 years ago and spent about a year wandering and hiding before coming to Lugbelzet…

The timing roughly matched up.

Perhaps Roselia was dyeing her hair to hide her identity from someone…

If so, the part about not having black hair also made some sense.

As the pieces of information started fitting together, his heart began to race wildly.

“What about Roselia’s mother?”

Rognan continued gruffly, puzzled by his superior’s seemingly urgent expression.

“It’s said she passed away 18 years ago.”

Johannes’ expression hardened for a moment.

Feeling as if his wildly beating heart had dropped to the floor, Johannes let out a hollow laugh and rubbed his face.

“I see…”

Was it too late…

His mother had originally been suffering from a chronic illness. She had been treated with medicine at the marquis’ household, but if she couldn’t obtain the medicine, the disease would likely have worsened.

Why didn’t mother return to the marquis’ household even though she was alive?

Perhaps… was she still being pursued by someone even in that situation?

Is that why she needed a false identity to hide her true self and protect Cecilia?

There was nothing he could be certain of.

Unless he went back to the past and met his mother…

Perhaps even Roselia’s identity was just a conjecture that he had pieced together in the way he hoped it to be.

But one thing was clear.

He couldn’t just stand by and watch her, who might be Cecilia.

Johannes, his expression hardened, looked at Rognan with a suddenly calm demeanor.

“Who was the mastermind behind the thugs who tried to kidnap her?”

“Actually, I couldn’t find any notable information. However…”

Saying that, Rognan took something out from his inner pocket and held it out.

“I found this on the person who seemed to be the leader of those guys.”

What Rognan held out was a badge engraved with a black rose and a snake.

Unlike the badges usually worn on the chest engraved with family or group emblems, the badge Rognan presented was small and discreet, about the size of a fingernail.

Almost like a small mark left by those reluctant to reveal their existence to recognize each other.

“Do you know what emblem this is?”

“It’s not the emblem of a noble family.”

Being well-versed in the emblems of Lugbelzet’s nobles, they could immediately tell that the badge’s emblem was not that of a noble family.

“I suppose not, they wouldn’t use a family emblem for shady business.”

Johannes’ eyes darkened as he said this.

“Perhaps… Duke Balthazar, who deals in money lending to noble families, might know about the emblem on the badge.”

Johannes knew that the Balthazar Duke family, while outwardly investing in and constructing public facilities like schools, libraries, and hospitals, was engaged in money lending to nobles behind the scenes. Their influence extended not only to nobles but also to the imperial family and other countries.

Such a duke would likely have a high chance of knowing information about underground groups in Lugbelzet.

Having thought that far, Johannes muttered in a low voice.

“I need to meet Duke Balthazar.”

Two men sat side by side in silence in Klaus’ guest reception room.

The reception room where Klaus and the man sat facing each other was a private space with lower lighting and a more solemn atmosphere than the bright reception room that Closet usually frequented.

“I thought you’d be busy, but you agreed faster than I expected.”

Johannes, sitting across from Klaus, was the first to break the ice. Klaus soon followed up with a gruff response.

“I just happened to have some free time.”

Unlike the cool atmosphere of Klaus, Johannes exuded a relaxed and upright demeanor.

But contrary to his relaxed atmosphere, his eyes were so straight and dignified that they overwhelmed Klaus, leaving no openings.

It felt like facing a giant tree.

‘I can see why he’s called the pillar of Rapelios.’

With that thought, Klaus’ brow suddenly furrowed as he remembered Roselia who had boarded his carriage.

“That day… was Roselia… alright?”

At Klaus’ question, Johannes slowly scanned Klaus’ expression.

A man who binds Roselia with debt.

A cold-blooded person who can use people as tools for his own benefit.

It couldn’t be pleasant to have Roselia, who might be his younger sister, involved with such a person.

Especially since even Roselia seemed to be avoiding him, there was no way he could view him favorably…

“She returned home safely, so there’s no need to worry.”

At Johannes’ voice, which had unknowingly become sharp, Klaus continued stiffly.

“About that day… I apologize once again.”

“…”

Honestly, Johannes had forgotten about Klaus’ attack on him that day.

But he hadn’t expected such a polite apology, so Johannes’ lips tightened.

Klaus, misunderstanding his silence, furrowed his brow and tried to calmly add:

“I committed a rudeness without knowing your relationship with Roselia.”

At that moment, one of Johannes’ eyebrows raised.

Relationship? What had Roselia told Klaus about him?

“I heard you were old lovers.”

Johannes almost spat out his tea as he was tilting the cup.

Did Roselia lie to the duke about him being her lover?

Why?

Though questions arose, Johannes decided to go along with her story for now, thinking she must have her reasons.

“Ah, yes…”

While Johannes didn’t know what Roselia was up to, he was more curious about her true feelings than feeling displeased or troubled.

If she really was Cecilia…

Perhaps she instinctively felt something towards him too? Of course, she was too young to remember his face or memories…

Recalling the small and precious Cecilia, Johannes unknowingly smiled warmly.

“It’s been a long time since I’ve seen her. But I’ve been counting the days until we meet again.”

Johannes was thinking of Cecilia as he said this, but Klaus seemed to interpret it differently, unknowingly furrowing his brow.

“Anyway, what did you want to see me about?”

At Klaus’ cold words, Johannes, finally recalling his purpose, carefully took something out of his breast pocket and placed it on the table.

It was the badge with the black rose and snake emblem that he had received from Rognan.

“This badge was found on the thug who suddenly attacked Roselia the other day. Do you recognize this emblem?”

Klaus picked up the badge and examined the emblem closely.

“It’s not the emblem of a noble family.”

After saying that, Klaus looked at Johannes seriously.

“Judging by the fact that they deliberately didn’t engrave a name, it’s likely an organization operating in secret.”

“Could you look into it for me? As a foreigner, there are limits to my investigation.”

Even though he was called the pillar of Rapelios, Marquis Yukilliod’s influence in a foreign country would inevitably be less than in his home country.

Moreover, Duke Balthazar would be more suitable for investigating information on this side.

“I was already investigating separately. I’ll gratefully accept this item.”

Klaus stared at Johannes with a cold expression and put the badge in his inner pocket.

It seemed like an action drawing a line, as if he was the one who could be of help to Roselia in this investigation.

At the duke’s unexpectedly cute aspect, Johannes smiled leisurely, seemingly unaffected.

“Antonio. Get ready to go out!”

As Closet appeared with an excited voice, all dressed up, Roselia, dressed as a servant, asked curiously.

“What’s the matter?”

“We’ve been invited to Count Blimond’s party.”

Seeing Closet’s excited appearance, Roselia, who wasn’t in the mood to attend a party, opened her mouth awkwardly.

“Couldn’t you go alone?”

At Roselia’s deflated voice, Closet wagged her finger with a pretend stern expression.

“This party isn’t just an ordinary party. The party is just a formal name, the main event is an art auction.”

Saying that, Closet smiled meaningfully.

“You never know, a hidden masterpiece might come up for auction.”

“Let’s go.”

At Closet’s words, Roselia immediately grabbed her outing bag and headed towards the door. Closet followed, curling up the corners of her mouth as if she knew this would happen.

The auction at Count Blimond’s party focused on charity rather than dealing with expensive big-name works, so mostly unremarkable works by unknown artists were lined up.

Just as Roselia was getting bored, thinking none of the works she remembered were appearing, a notable piece of art came up for auction.

It was a landscape painting of ladies enjoying a picnic. This work, which was thought to be by an unknown artist at the time, would later become a masterpiece worth thousands of berangs when it was revealed to be the last work of a famous deceased artist.

Though her memory was hazy, Roselia immediately noticed the heart-shaped tree that was emphasized in the original work. She quickly tapped Closet’s arm and whispered in her ear.

“Yes, I hope this work also finds a good owner. We’ll start the bidding at 1 berang.”

Before the host could finish his introductory speech, Closet, who had received a tip about the work from Roselia, raised her hand.

“10 berangs!”

“Oh, a bold bid of 10 berangs.”

At that moment, a red-haired woman sitting in the back quietly raised her hand, covering her mouth with a fan.

“15 berangs.”

Roselia and Closet looked at the woman at the same time.

Though she was covering her mouth with a fan, Roselia could tell.

The woman was the one who had visited Klaus before, dressed to show off her ample bosom.

Then, not to be outdone, Closet raised her hand and shouted.

“30 berangs!”

“35 berangs.”

“60 berangs!”

As the situation turned into a competition between the two, the red-haired woman, Viscountess Clément, glared unpleasantly at Closet.

It seemed that the servant next to her, who looked like an il domestico, was continuously whispering encouragement in her ear.

Then, the Viscountess Clément’s expression suddenly crumpled as she examined the servant.

Wait, isn’t that servant the one who was said to be Roselia’s brother?