Elfriede’s speech that day had significant implications. Clever Muzel instantly understood the meaning and even provided a solution.

If only he could turn back time, go back to that time when he didn’t confess to Muzel.

Back to that moment when he knew nothing, harboring only vague emotions.

Then Klaus and Muzel could spend a little more intimate time together.
The teatime atmosphere was almost as cold as ice.

Elfriede spoke to Klaus with a face that seemed like she could cry at any moment.

“Your Highness seems quite tired today. It seems appropriate for me to leave now and allow Your Highness to rest in peace.”

Klaus did not object, even with empty words. The atmosphere urged him to leave quickly.

Elfriede, with a face turned pale, barely managed to give a slight bow before hastily leaving the greenhouse.

Alone, Klaus finally lifted the teacup.

“…….”

It was daunting to think about how to face Muzel from now on.

The next morning, as Klaus headed from his bedroom to his office, he heard a murmuring conversation in his ears.

“……!”

Even though he didn’t want to, he couldn’t help but know. It was Muzel’s voice and another man’s voice.

His chest sank.

Unlike when she faced him yesterday, Muzel’s voice was now bright, even mixed with laughter.

Klaus felt his vision darken. Could he ever see Muzel laughing again?

He walked up to the office door and confirmed who the person was with Muzel.

His heart felt cold.

“Greetings to His Highness, the glorious Crown Prince of the Empire.”

It was the imperial guard, Roots.

A vivid scene flashed in Klaus’s mind.

The day he decided to confess to Muzel and went to find the servant’s residence, the scene of Roots and Muzel conversing cheerfully as they walked the night street.

Jealousy flared up uncontrollably, without a chance for logical thinking.

With conflicting emotions of resentment and tenderness, Klaus walked into the office. Muzel casually greeted him with an indifferent face.

“…….”

Even though he found Roots distasteful, at the same time, there was a poignant tenderness.

Therefore, he couldn’t look straight at his face.

If he were to meet Muzel’s blue eyes, he would undoubtedly lose his composure again.

There were so many things Klaus wanted to ask Muzel.

Did she reject my confession because she loves Roots? Is Roots better than me? Is she planning to confess her love to Roots later?

The surroundings became pitch dark, and Klaus felt dizzy. Flames ignited in his chest.

What did the two of them just talk about? Oh yes, it seemed like they were suggesting going for a drink together.

How were they before? Right, Roots brought the drunken Muzel last time.

“Well, then, I will retrieve the information about last year’s hunting competition from the palace’s records.”

Although he was in the middle of official duties, Klaus didn’t hear a single word of Muzel’s statement.

Was the reason for rejecting me because of Roots? What is it that I lack compared to Roots?

As soon as the court officials and Muzel left the office, Klaus covered his face with both hands.

“Ah….”
A painful groan escaped. He wanted to tear his chest apart and rip out his heart.

How could he escape this agony?

He couldn’t live like this any longer. It was as if he would die any moment from the excruciating pain, and he wondered how he could endure it.

For the first time, Klaus learned what jealousy was.

“Should I die?”

He couldn’t bear the thought of losing Muzel to someone like Roots, even if it meant death.

He gritted his teeth.

Let’s talk about it again. Even if he faced rejection from Muzel once more, it wouldn’t be more agonizing than it is now.

The reason for his intense suffering was that he couldn’t comprehend why Muzel rejected him.

Certainly, there must be another reason. There had to be something he hadn’t been able to talk about.

“Yeah. I can’t retreat like this.”

Klaus murmured in a low voice.

Neither more nor less, just one more time.

Tonight, let’s talk to Muzel.