109. Another Woman of the Bloodline

“Viscount?”

Bellog’s puzzled voice barely registered in Roselia’s mind as she hastily excused herself and stepped forward.

“Just a moment!”

She could feel Asif and Bellog’s curious gazes on her, but she didn’t stop—she pushed through the crowd, running toward where she had seen the woman.

Yet no matter how much she searched, all she saw were merchants and bustling customers. The woman had vanished.

Johannes had told her—she was the only known female of the Raphelios bloodline.

That was precisely why she could not be exposed to the concubine faction.

But if there was another woman exuding the same scent as her…

Roselia stood frozen, her mind in turmoil.

Asif, who had approached silently, studied her expression with concern.

“Antonio, what’s wrong?”

His casual use of her alias startled her back to reality. She suddenly noticed both Asif and Bellog watching her with worry.

Forcing a smile, she shook her head.

“It’s nothing. I thought I saw someone I knew, but I must have been mistaken.”

At her explanation, Asif and Bellog didn’t question her further.

Only Roselia turned back once more, staring at the empty space where the woman had disappeared, her mind still clouded with unease.

Evening at the Marquess of Euciliod’s Estate
During dinner, Johannes, who had been calmly eating, suddenly stiffened at her words.

“A woman of the Raphelios bloodline?”

His brows furrowed deeply, as if she had just said something unthinkable.

Roselia nodded.

“Yes. I want to know if there’s another woman of the bloodline besides me.”

Johannes studied her seriously before answering.

“The only remaining bloodlines in Raphelios are House Euciliod, House Beaud, and the Bailey Barony, which is a distant branch of Euciliod. Apart from the marquess’s house, the other two families have no known daughters.”

“What if they had been hidden?”

Johannes shook his head firmly.

“Both House Beaud and the Bailey Barony are aligned with the Empress’s faction. Given that our family once lost a daughter of the bloodline, if another had existed, they would have openly protected her, not hidden her.”

Roselia knew he was referring to her—the lost daughter of Euciliod.

She stared at the table in thought before cautiously asking again.

“Then… is there any chance another bloodline exists?”

Johannes frowned, but knowing Roselia’s nature, he understood that she wouldn’t ask such a question without reason.

“Realistically speaking, it’s highly unlikely. However…”

He hesitated for a moment before speaking with finality.

“Twenty years ago, another house of the bloodline did exist.”

Roselia’s eyes widened at the unexpected revelation.

“Another house?”

“The House of Lionel. They were even stronger than Euciliod. However, they were executed under imperial decree on accusations of treason. The third generation of the house was wiped out, including distant branches.”

Johannes’s words sent a chill through her.

“Executed?”

“Yes. House Lionel was once considered more powerful than Euciliod. However, they were suspected of rebellion, and the imperial family ordered their complete eradication.”

Roselia’s hands clenched unconsciously.

“What if… someone survived?”

Johannes shook his head firmly.

“There were no female bloodline members in House Lionel.”

His dismissive tone made it clear he believed there was no room for doubt. But Roselia wasn’t so sure.

Noticing her persistent questions, Johannes studied her carefully before asking in a measured tone.

“Roselia. What’s this really about?”

Meeting his gaze, Roselia finally spoke.

“Today, at Pelton Port… I encountered a woman exuding the scent.”

Johannes blinked, then chuckled lightly.

“Couldn’t it have been perfume or fragrance? And the bloodline scent isn’t detectable to members of the same sex.”

“Which is exactly why I’m certain it was the bloodline’s scent,” Roselia countered. “Because I didn’t smell it. But the men around me did.”

Johannes’s smile faded.

His fingers tapped his chin thoughtfully, his expression turning serious.

“Hmm… That alone isn’t enough to assume she was of the bloodline. There could have been another scent in the air that you didn’t notice.”

Despite his logical reasoning, Roselia wasn’t convinced.

Johannes, however, merely picked up his utensils again.

“And more importantly, if such a woman existed in Raphelios, it’s highly unlikely the imperial family or the noble houses wouldn’t have discovered her. Let’s finish dinner before the food gets cold.”

Johannes resumed eating with a composed expression, but Roselia’s mind remained restless.

If a woman of the bloodline had been living unnoticed within Raphelios, how had no one found her?

And more importantly—who was she?

But…

What if she was a late bloomer like Roselia?

Roselia herself had lived unaware of her scent until recently.

If this woman had also awakened late, it would explain why no one had discovered another woman of the bloodline until now.

Unlike her, Roselia had Johannes to guide her through her awakening and teach her how to suppress her scent.

But if that woman had gone through her awakening alone, without the protection of a noble house…

Memories of the pain caused by the scent overwhelmed her—unwanted advances from men, the suffocating feeling of being hunted.

She recalled Denver’s lecherous behavior, her so-called older brother Antonio burying his nose into her neck like a starving beast.

At least she had the protection of a ducal house.

But that woman? She must have struggled in the back alleys like Nadia…

The mere thought of it was terrifying.

Roselia’s resolve hardened.

She had to consider the imperial family and the Marquess of Euciliod’s faction—but if this woman was truly one of the bloodline, Roselia could not ignore her.

Johannes could be right. She could be mistaken.

But Roselia needed to meet the woman herself and confirm it.

The problem?

She had no idea who the woman was or where she lived.

Her only lead was that she had encountered her twice now—both times at Pelton Port.

“Do you really think we can find her just by wandering around?”

Eva, Roselia’s personal maid and bodyguard, looked around doubtfully.

Roselia smiled at her.

“She was here before, and she seems to frequent the port. That means she either lives or works nearby.”

At her words, Eva clapped her hands in realization.

“As expected of young master! You’re so smart!”

If Klaus had heard that, he’d have laughed.

Roselia chuckled awkwardly and resumed scanning the crowd.

If only she or Eva could detect the scent. Maybe she should have brought Prince Asif along—his sense of smell seemed oddly sharp.

Just as that thought crossed her mind, she shook her head, amused at herself.

And then—

“Oh? Young ma—no, young master! Over there! Isn’t that the woman?”

Eva, who lacked perception in most things but had excellent eyesight, pointed across the crowd.

Sure enough, among the bustling figures, the familiar woman was moving hurriedly, clutching a paper bag to her chest.

“Should I go grab her?”

Eva’s fists clenched as if preparing for a battlefield arrest.

Roselia nearly choked.

“She’s not a criminal, Eva.”

“Oh… right. Then what do we do?”

“We approach her and talk.”

With that, Roselia led Eva toward the woman.

The woman had pulled a coin from her pocket and was staring at something hesitantly.

She wants to buy fruit.

She stood in front of the fruit stall, debating intensely.

Then, just as she was about to make a decision, she turned her head—

And froze.

Her entire body tensed when she saw Eva and Roselia approaching.

Why does she look scared?

Just as Roselia took another step forward—

The woman suddenly bolted.

“…Huh?”

Eva blinked dumbfoundedly, reaching out instinctively.

“She’s running! What do we do?”

Roselia had no idea why the woman had fled, but one thing was certain—she couldn’t lose her now.

Her expression turned firm.

“After her, Eva.”

At her command, Eva instantly sprang into action, launching forward at full speed.

Roselia chased after them, weaving through the crowded streets.

The woman turned back mid-sprint and gasped in horror upon seeing Eva rapidly closing in.

“Hiiiik!”

Panicked, she veered into an alley.

Eva didn’t hesitate and followed her in.

By the time Roselia caught up, her breath ragged, she found herself in the empty alleyway.

She had lost them.

As she steadied her breathing, another figure suddenly rushed into the alley.

Startled, Roselia turned—

And saw Klaus.

His normally composed face was rigid, his chest rising and falling from exertion.

“Antonio…!”

Roselia stared at him, wide-eyed.

Did he run here?

And more importantly—why did he look so serious?

Klaus quickly scanned the alley before fixing his sharp gaze on her.

“What happened? Were you being chased?”

He thought she was the one running for her life.

Roselia stared at him in disbelief before letting out a breathless chuckle.

“I wasn’t being chased.”

Klaus frowned.

“Then?”

His expression remained skeptical, clearly unconvinced.

Roselia was about to explain when—

A rustling noise echoed from deeper in the alley.

Klaus immediately grabbed Roselia’s wrist and yanked her into his arms.

Her eyes widened in shock.

With one arm wrapped securely around her, Klaus reached for his sword, his entire body tense as he glared toward the sound’s source.

But—

It was just a stray cat lazily walking past.

Roselia barely stopped herself from laughing.

She looked up at Klaus, her amusement barely concealed.

“Your instincts aren’t what they used to be.”

At her teasing remark, Klaus scowled.

“Are you sure nothing’s wrong?”

His warm gaze lingered on her, filled with concern.

And that was when Roselia realized—

She was still in his arms.

For a fleeting second, she almost mistook this moment for the past—when they had once been lovers.

Realizing this, she quickly pulled away, forcing her expression to remain neutral.

But just as she did, Klaus’s gaze sharpened, shifting toward the end of the alley.

“What is that scent?”

 

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