104. A Fox Tucking Its Tail

At Klaus’s words, Alphonse’s face stiffened before twisting into an expression of clear displeasure.

However, as Klaus had pointed out, it was the Raphelios Imperial Family that stood to lose the most by antagonizing the Valtazar Duchy.

Thus, Alphonse redirected his anger toward Princess Tania, the one who had caused the unnecessary conflict.

Sensing the shift in Alphonse’s mood, Tania’s forehead glistened with sweat as she glanced at Klaus with an indignant expression.

“How excessive. All I did was exchange a few words with Viscount Bernas, and yet both Lady Valtazar and Duke Valtazar act as if I’ve committed a grave offense.”

For a moment, Klaus’s gaze turned absolutely lethal.

“You should remember this, Princess—an insult to Viscount Bernas is an insult to the House of Valtazar.”

His words were sharp and final, carrying a weight of undeniable authority.

Tania flinched, her body stiffening at the intensity of his tone.

“Why would you go that far…?”

Klaus spoke evenly, but the meaning behind his words was undeniable.

“Because Viscount Bernas and the House of Valtazar share a very close bond.”

As if to reinforce his statement, Claucet chimed in.

“Didn’t you hear me earlier? Antonio and I are practically siblings.”

Even though Claucet’s tone was laced with condescension, Tania merely bit her lip, unable to offer a single retort.

Instead, her gaze slid toward Alphonse, seeking some form of support.

Yet, Alphonse’s expression remained unreadable.

But Tania, who had spent her life watching him closely, could recognize the subtle hints in his gaze.

His face may have been neutral, but she knew the truth.

He was furious.

He was completely irritated by the situation.

Realizing there was nothing to gain from pressing further, Tania begrudgingly lifted the hem of her dress and spoke through gritted teeth.

“I have acted rudely, Viscount Bernas. Please, forgive my indiscretion.”

Her fingers trembled as they clutched the fabric, revealing just how humiliating this moment was for her.

Not missing a single detail, Roselia let out a slow sigh before responding with calm detachment.

“It’s quite alright, Your Highness. There is no need for you to bow your head to me.”

Rather than easing the tension, Roselia’s words only deepened Tania’s humiliation.

Her shoulders stiffened, her face paling slightly.

At that moment, Alphonse took a smooth step forward, wearing a perfectly measured smile.

“It seems Tania is still inexperienced and has made an unfortunate mistake.

To avoid further inconvenience, we shall take our leave. Please, enjoy the rest of your evening.”

His voice was polite, but the way he subtly glanced at Tania was unmistakable.

He was ordering her to withdraw.

Barely holding back her rage, Tania clenched her jaw, bowed stiffly, and turned away.

Roselia exhaled deeply as she watched the imperial siblings walk off.

Just as she allowed herself a moment of relief, an unwelcome voice intruded into the conversation.

“Already making enemies within the Imperial Family?”

Klaus had spoken in a detached tone, but Roselia immediately narrowed her eyes.

“Enemies? Who said I was making enemies?”

And whose fault do you think this is?!

If Klaus hadn’t been hovering around her, Princess Tania’s irritation would have passed quickly.

But because of Klaus’s obvious favoritism, Roselia had become the unfortunate target of Tania’s jealousy.

She shot a glare at Klaus, who simply stood there with his usual calm, unreadable expression.

He acts like it’s none of his concern… How infuriating.

At that moment, Asif suddenly stepped between them.

“On behalf of the Royal House of Benuve, allow me to offer an apology.”

Surprisingly, his tone was serious, a stark contrast to his usual carefree manner.

“Viscount Bernas, if you were offended, I sincerely apologize.

It seems the princess has inherited every bit of her mother Sabina’s arrogance.”

Asif’s slightly furrowed brows suggested that even he hadn’t expected Tania to be so insufferable.

Feeling a bit awkward, Roselia forced a small smile.

“It’s fine. I was expecting something like this anyway.”

Though, to be fair, things only escalated because Klaus had stepped in to defend her…

Then, beside her, Klaus suddenly scowled, his brows drawing together in irritation.

“That aside… Why are you here, Prince?”

Klaus’s sharp gaze locked onto Asif.

“I don’t recall sending an invitation to you.”

Roselia blinked, surprised.

She turned to Asif, who, despite the tension in the air, simply grinned shamelessly and shrugged.

“A noble from the Benuve diplomatic mission received an invitation.

But since my dear friend was feeling exhausted, I came in his place.”

His completely nonchalant tone only made Klaus’s expression darken further.

Asif, however, simply crossed his arms and flashed a relaxed smirk.

While the two men engaged in an inexplicable silent battle, Roselia let out a deep sigh and glanced around the room.

With a duke, a princess, a prince, and now even a Benuve prince gathered around her, it was inevitable that the entire banquet hall’s attention was drawn to them.

Realizing she had already become the center of gossip, Roselia let out a deep sigh and spoke as if resigning herself to fate.

“Thanks to the two of you, my plan to quietly leave has been completely ruined. I’ll be taking my leave now.”

The first to respond was Claucet.

“Already? You’re not leaving just because of that bratty princess, are you?”

“I’ve already accomplished what I came here to do.”

Truthfully, simply securing a connection with Marquis Bellog had been a massive success.

However, Claucet, thinking she was leaving because of Klaus, looked a little disappointed and added quickly—

“I’ll tell Klaus to go away. Just stay a little longer, alright?”

Roselia had unintentionally ended up distancing herself from Claucet while avoiding Klaus, which made her feel slightly guilty.

Smiling reluctantly, she softened her tone in response.

“I’ll invite you to the Marquess’ estate later. But just you, Lady Claucet.”

Her words were pointed—Klaus was not included in the invitation.

As expected, Klaus’s brows creased slightly.

Not missing the moment, Asif let out a small chuckle, clearly amused.

Annoyed, Roselia immediately turned her sights on him next.

“And Prince Asif, from now on, do not show up at the Marquess’ estate unannounced. Ever.”

Without waiting for a response, she turned and left the banquet hall confidently, leaving behind two utterly stunned men.

* * *

Roselia, accompanied by her personal maid Eva, had arrived at Kelton Port.

Before her scheduled meeting with Marquis Bellog, she intended to observe and investigate the Benuve merchant fleet that had recently docked.

Benuve, a desert kingdom, had a unique culture, producing many exquisite, exotic artworks and crafts that were rare in the Empire.

Meanwhile, Mule, an isolated nation blessed with stunning natural landscapes, had become a hub for artists and writers, renowned for its fine paintings and cultural exports.

If she could establish direct trade routes between Benuve and Mule, bypassing Raphelios entirely, the profit margins would be extraordinary.

Furthermore, Kelton Port was under the jurisdiction of the Marquess of Euciliod, meaning Roselia could use her family’s influence to facilitate trade without much difficulty.

There would be imperial resistance, of course—but if Prince Aaron became Crown Prince, she could eventually neutralize those obstacles.

As Roselia wandered through the bustling marketplace, taking in the energetic scene, a small smile unknowingly played on her lips.

Just then, amidst the lively chatter of merchants, a sharp scream pierced the air.

The sound was quickly drowned out by the noise of the crowd, but Roselia immediately snapped to attention, scanning her surroundings for the source.

Her gaze landed on a narrow alleyway—easily overlooked if one wasn’t paying attention.

There, a frail-looking silver-haired woman stood trembling, surrounded by a group of rough-looking men.

Roselia’s expression darkened.

For a moment, she was reminded of Nadia—the same vulnerability, the same fear in her eyes.

As Roselia stared intensely toward the alley, Eva, who had followed her gaze, suddenly gasped.

“You’re not thinking of stepping in, are you?”

“We can’t just ignore it. If nothing else, we should alert the people nearby.”

Roselia was about to step forward, but Eva grabbed her arm.

“Those men are notorious thugs in Kelton Port. No one will intervene.”

Roselia hesitated for a moment—but seeing the woman trembling helplessly, she hardened her resolve.

Even if no one else would step in, she couldn’t just turn away.

Eva sighed, realizing her lady’s determination, and reluctantly asked:

“You truly wish to help her?”

Mistaking Eva’s concern as mere worry for her safety, Roselia smiled reassuringly.

“Don’t worry. If I yell for the city guards, they might—”

Before she could finish, she turned her head—

And Eva was gone.

Surprised, Roselia barely had a moment to process before a loud crash erupted from the alley.

The sound of fists meeting flesh, bodies collapsing, and objects shattering filled the air.

Roselia turned toward the commotion—and froze.

There, in the alleyway, Eva’s maid uniform fluttered as she effortlessly took down the men.

She kicked one thug across the alley, flipped another onto the ground, and sent a third crashing into a pile of crates.

In mere seconds, Eva had single-handedly dismantled the entire group.

“…Eva?”

Roselia, utterly stunned, stared blankly.

Her petite, lively maid, who barely reached her shoulders, was now tossing fully grown men around like rag dolls.

The remaining thugs, bloodied and bruised, scrambled to pick up their unconscious companions and fled for their lives.

Eva, dusting off her uniform, clicked her tongue and turned to the fallen woman.

“You’re lucky,” she muttered. “Our young master—ah, I mean, the Viscount—has a kind personality.”

The silver-haired woman jerked in shock before hastily bowing her head.

“Th-thank you!”

Still in a daze, Roselia stepped forward with a blank expression.

“Eva… What the hell was that…?”

“Oh? I never told you?” Eva tilted her head innocently, as if she had just forgotten to mention something trivial.

“Our family has served the Marquess’ household for generations. To protect them, we are trained in swordsmanship, staff combat, and hand-to-hand fighting.”

She said it so casually that Roselia lost the ability to respond.

Just then, the silver-haired woman, having realized Roselia was Eva’s master, bowed deeply.

“Th-thank you for helping me, Young Master.”

Roselia, still disoriented, examined the woman carefully.

“You’re not hurt, are you?”

“I’m fine. Thank you again… I should be going now.”

Hurriedly, the woman turned and rushed away, vanishing into the streets.

As Roselia watched her flee with hunched shoulders, Eva murmured:

“Judging by her clothing… she was probably a brothel worker.”

The words immediately brought back memories of Nadia.

Roselia had thought she had become numb to such things, but…

Her chest ached.

And then—

A familiar voice whispered beside her, sending a chilling gust of wind against her skin.

“What exactly are you doing here?”

 

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