103. How dare you lay a hand on them?

“It will take some time since I need to send a letter to Rugbeljet.”

Roselia smiled lightly, as if asking for his patience.

Bellog, who had been staring at her in a daze, soon regained his composure and nodded firmly.

“Very well, Viscount Bernas. I will place my trust in you. Let’s arrange a meeting as soon as possible.”

Seeing him extend his hand without hesitation, Roselia smiled and shook it firmly.

“I will hand over Zahart’s painting at the meeting.”

“You’re really giving me that painting for free?”

At Bellog’s doubtful question, Roselia smiled meaningfully.

“Strictly speaking, it’s not free. Consider it a down payment for the partnership we’re about to embark on.”

Bellog briefly looked puzzled at the weight behind her words, but he quickly brushed aside his thoughts and gave her hand a firm shake.

At this point, the idea that he had met someone far more valuable than Prince Alphonse of Raphelios took precedence over any other concerns.

“Good. I’m staying here at the Valtazar Hotel, so you can contact me here. I’ll be waiting for your message.”

With a satisfied smile, Bellog offered her a polite bow before disappearing into the crowd.

Watching him go, Roselia smirked triumphantly.

With this, she had successfully cut off Alphonse’s path to securing Mule’s support against Aaron.

He had just kicked away a golden opportunity without even realizing it.

Thinking about how Alphonse had sat back and let his noble lackeys mock Aaron, Roselia felt a deep sense of satisfaction.

At that moment, she felt someone’s gaze on her.

Turning her head slightly, she met Alphonse’s eyes from across the hall.

He had been mingling with the nobles but was now staring at her intently.

It seemed he was puzzled by how Bellog, who had been trying to gain his favor just moments ago, had suddenly engaged in a pleasant conversation with her.

Roselia grinned at him, her expression full of mischief.

Let’s see how long it takes for you to realize what you’ve lost.

Just then, a champagne glass was suddenly extended toward her.

Startled, she turned her gaze toward the person holding it—

Prince Asif, dressed in traditional Benuve attire, stood before her with his usual smirk.

“Ah, I knew you’d attend the hotel banquet. Did you receive the painting well?”

Thanks to Asif’s gift, she had gained an unexpected advantage. So, this time, she sincerely expressed her gratitude.

“Yes, I received it well. Thank you.”

Hearing her unusually serious tone, Asif scratched the back of his head, flashing a slightly awkward smile.

“You don’t have to be so formal. Isn’t this just mutual benefit?”

Glancing toward Alphonse, she noticed his expression had grown even darker.

It seemed that even Asif’s casual familiarity with her was irritating him.

Roselia, fully aware of Alphonse’s gaze, smiled to herself before turning to Asif with a bright, cheerful grin.

“Don’t forget those words—we are in this together.”

Roselia felt more than just satisfaction—she was absolutely thrilled that the Kingdoms of Mule and Benuve, which were originally meant to support Prince Alphonse, were now shifting their interests toward her instead.

Unlike her, however, Asif seemed momentarily stunned by the bright, carefree smile she flashed at him.

He hadn’t expected it.

For a fleeting moment, his heart lurched in his chest, unsettled by the sight of a man—a supposed man—smiling so radiantly.

And then, a commotion broke out.

Princess Tania entered the banquet hall with a noisy entourage.

Desperate to win her favor, the young noblemen flocked to the entrance, leaving Roselia and Asif standing in an unexpectedly open space within the crowd.

Because of this, and thanks to the sheer presence of Asif standing beside her, Roselia became even more noticeable.

It didn’t take long for Tania to spot her.

Weaving through the eager noblemen, she confidently strode toward Roselia, her chin lifted arrogantly.

Then, upon reaching her, Tania’s gaze landed on Asif, and her expression shifted slightly in surprise.

“Uncle?”

Despite being related, they had only met twice before—a mere formality rather than any real familial connection.

Still, Asif greeted her politely, though there was an unmistakable edge of sarcasm in his tone.

“Your Highness, Princess Tania. As expected, you are the brightest jewel of tonight’s banquet.”

The flattery would have pleased any other noblewoman, but Tania knew better.

She was well aware of the strained relationship between Asif and her mother, Consort Sabina.

Her expression immediately darkened as she responded coldly.

“What are you doing here, Uncle?”

It wasn’t the banquet she was questioning—it was why he was standing beside Roselia.

Asif, fully understanding her underlying meaning, smirked and continued smoothly.

“Ah, let me introduce you. This here is my dearest friend, Viscount Bernas.”

“Friend?”

Tania’s eyes narrowed at the word. Her lips twitched slightly, but she quickly composed herself, forcing a calm tone as she turned to Roselia.

“We meet again, Viscount.”

“It is an honor, Your Highness.”

“Where is Duke Valtazar?”

Her abrupt question caught Roselia off guard.

Why is she asking me that?

“I wouldn’t know,” Roselia answered, her expression unreadable.

“You two seemed rather close. Is that not the case?”

The memory of intentionally ignoring Tania with Klaus at the imperial banquet surfaced in Roselia’s mind.

But she remained impassive and simply responded, “We are not.”

At her firm denial, Tania’s posture subtly relaxed, her expression shifting into a smug smile.

“Well, of course. A house like the great Valtazar Duchy wouldn’t associate closely with a mere Viscount’s family. A family like Valtazar should only align with imperial blood, don’t you agree?”

Her words were insulting, but Roselia remained composed.

It was Asif, standing beside her, whose expression visibly hardened.

“Your Highness, that was quite an insensitive remark.”

His tone had lost all playfulness, now edged with sharpness.

But before Asif could escalate things further, Roselia calmly cut in.

“It’s fine.”

Asif’s attempt to stand up for Roselia made Tania scowl in displeasure, her sharp glare now directed at Roselia.

“What exactly did you do to manipulate my uncle?”

Manipulate?

Roselia barely resisted rolling her eyes at the absurdity of the accusation.

Just as she was about to ignore Tania’s words with a sigh, a familiar voice sliced through the tension.

“If you’re talking about Viscount Bernas, then you should know that I am quite close to him.”

All eyes turned toward the source of the voice.

There, gracefully making her way through the noble crowd, was Claucet. She was dressed in an elegant, deep-blue gown that perfectly complemented her regal air.

Her presence alone was enough to shift the entire atmosphere.

Tania, now eyeing Claucet with suspicion, frowned.

“And who might you be?”

“The owner of the hotel you’ve been looking for.”

Even as she spoke to a Raphelios imperial princess, Claucet’s tone remained cool and clipped, cutting off the sentence with deliberate casualness.

Then, she flashed a sharp smirk.

“This hotel is legally registered under my name.”

“…What?”

Tania’s brows furrowed, clearly not expecting such a response.

Sensing her confusion, Claucet merely lifted the hem of her gown slightly, offering a mockingly refined curtsy.

“Allow me to introduce myself properly. I am Claucet de Valtazar, and I share an extremely close bond with Viscount Bernas—one that could be described as sibling-like.

The Claucet de Valtazar.

The moment Tania realized who she was speaking to, her entire demeanor shifted.

“Oh! So you are the Lady Valtazar! What a pleasure to meet you! I am Princess Tania of Raphelios.”

“I am aware.”

“…Excuse me?”

“I said, I already know who you are.”

Claucet’s chilling tone made Tania’s breath hitch.

And then, with perfect poise, Claucet drove the nail deeper.

“More importantly, I heard you making some rather rude remarks about Viscount Bernas just now.

Tell me, is this how Raphelios treats distinguished guests from foreign nations?”

For the first time, humiliation painted Tania’s face.

Her cheeks flushed red, then paled, as she struggled to compose herself.

Just then, a new voice entered the conversation.

“If there was any rudeness, allow me to apologize on her behalf, Lady Valtazar.”

Prince Alphonse, who had been silently observing the confrontation, finally stepped in.

With his usual polished expression, he approached and bowed his head slightly.

Claucet, however, scoffed.

“I wasn’t speaking to you, Your Highness. I was speaking to Princess Tania.”

Even in front of both an imperial prince and princess, Claucet did not lower her head.

Her complete lack of deference made Alphonse’s smile waver, his expression subtly hardening.

“You should be aware,” Alphonse said, his tone dipping in warning, “that your words may have significant consequences in Raphelios.”

Claucet met his gaze unflinchingly and answered with an unshaken voice.

“I only spoke the truth.”

“Tania is Raphelios’ only princess. If you treat her this way, surely you understand that it may strain relations between the Valtazar Duchy and the Imperial Family?”

Even Claucet hesitated for a fraction of a second—because this was no longer a mere insult; it was a direct warning.

Alphonse was threatening her with political repercussions.

However, just as tension reached its peak, a new presence entered the scene.

The crowd parted as a tall man strode forward in an impeccably tailored navy-blue tailcoat.

Klaus.

His icy gaze swept across the room before settling on Alphonse.

“Are you threatening a Valtazar inside the Valtazar Hotel?”

At the cold sharpness in Klaus’s voice, both Alphonse and Tania turned to face him.

Klaus’s eyes were piercing, his tone deadly quiet as he continued.

“Tell me, who exactly is in a position to make threats?”

A chill settled over the room.

Then, Klaus dropped the real hammer.

“If we were to collect the funds that the Valtazar Duchy has loaned to Raphelios, the imperial treasury would be reduced by half.”

His words hit like a blade pressed against Alphonse’s throat.

“Have you already discussed this matter with His Majesty, the Emperor?”

TL/N: Okay ik what you guys are thinking ‘Bernas’ title was Count and here I’m using Viscount ‘well there is a difference in titles in all the kingdoms lol A count is a Viscount.

 

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