119. The Delegation from Zelos

Back at the Marquess’s estate, Roselia sat across from Johannes, discussing the latest developments in the trading company project.

“As expected, Prince Alphonse extended his reach even to Marquis Bellog and Duke Valtazar,” Johannes said grimly.

Roselia responded in a meaningful tone.

“But Marquis Bellog, Prince Asif, and Duke Valtazar have all stated that they will not cooperate with Prince Alphonse.”

Johannes, looking slightly surprised, soon softened into a smile.

“You’re better at persuading people than I am, Roselia.”

At his praise, Roselia flushed slightly in embarrassment.

“It’s only because I have House Euciliod behind me. If I had tried to mediate this deal without their name, things wouldn’t have gone nearly as smoothly.”

At her humble remark, Johannes gave her a knowing smile.

“Is that really so?”

Roselia blinked at his intense gaze, but he simply smiled proudly at her.

“With Prince Alphonse and the concubine faction growing stronger, associating with House Euciliod is actually a risky move.

And yet, they still chose to trust you.”

Roselia hesitated, unable to refute his words.

Seeing her reaction, Johannes’s expression darkened as he spoke again.

“But this is enough. You’ve done your part by securing the trading company’s future.

From now on, leave the rest to me.”

Roselia knew exactly what he meant.

With Nora’s sudden emergence, the surest way to counter Prince Alphonse was to introduce a noblewoman of imperial lineage from the Empress’s faction.

And the most legitimate and noble bloodline belonged to House Euciliod’s lost daughter—Roselia herself.

Her public emergence could completely overturn the precarious power struggle.

But that very same influence would also make her the prime target for the concubine faction’s attacks.

Roselia bit her lip, unable to respond immediately.

Johannes furrowed his brows and pressed her for an answer.

“Roselia.”

After a long moment of thought, she finally met his gaze, speaking calmly yet firmly.

“Marquess, do you truly believe that Prince Aaron can safely ascend as Crown Prince in this situation?”

Johannes fell silent.

“You once told me that once Prince Aaron is secure as Crown Prince and the imperial court is stable, only then would I reveal my identity.”

At her quiet words, Johannes’s gaze lowered slightly.

Roselia continued, her voice resolute.

“But what if he never becomes Crown Prince?

Then isn’t that promise completely meaningless?”

Johannes looked visibly shaken by her direct statement.

“That’s…”

“If Prince Alphonse takes the throne, he won’t simply let Prince Aaron live as a potential rival.

And once that happens, House Euciliod—one of the Empress’s strongest pillars—will become his next target.

By then, it will already be too late.”

Johannes knew this in his head.

But accepting it was another matter.

“If Prince Aaron falls, both House Euciliod and I will lose our standing.

So instead of waiting for disaster, I believe we should take the risk and make our move.”

Johannes lowered his gaze, his face dark with conflict.

Roselia silently watched him, waiting, until he finally spoke.

“…I’m afraid.”

His voice was heavy, laced with memories from twenty years ago.

“I’m afraid of losing my family again—just like I did back then.”

His distant gaze, lost in the past, made Roselia’s heart ache.

Slowly, she stepped forward and placed her hand over his clenched fist.

Then, in a strong, unwavering voice, she declared:

“We are no longer the children we were twenty years ago.”

At her firm and resolute words, Johannes lifted his gaze to meet hers.

Seeing the determination in her eyes, he let out a deep sigh—and unknowingly smiled.

“I’ll… think about it a little more.”

To the outside world, Johannes was always confident and unwavering in front of the nobles.

Yet, when it came to her, he became defensive and hesitant, unable to bear the thought of risking her.

Roselia smiled bitterly.

Convincing Johannes would take a little more time.

* * *

Roselia was enjoying a peaceful tea time in the drawing room with Claucet, who had come to visit the Marquess’s estate.

Having already grown close to Claucet, Eva had taken a seat beside them, chattering away.

“I can’t believe the enthronement ceremony got canceled because of the Blessing Ceremony scandal… Has anything like this ever happened in the last 200 years?”

There had been one case, about 200 years ago, where an enthronement was called off during the Blessing Ceremony.

At the time, it was revealed that the Crown Prince, who was thought to be the rightful heir, was actually an illegitimate child—born from an affair between the Empress and another man.

“To think I got to witness such a dramatic spectacle firsthand! Unbelievable. But seriously, what’s the big deal about an imperial-blooded woman that it could cancel an enthronement?”

At Claucet’s incredulous tone, Eva shook her head.

“You’re saying that because you don’t know much about Raphelios’s history.

In the past, Raphelios Bloodline Nobles were considered more important than the imperial lineage itself.”

“Then why haven’t they ever taken the throne?”

“Back then, the Bloodline Nobles had something called the Elder Council, and they made a sacred pact—never to covet the throne.”

Of course, despite that pact, Raphelios’s entire history was deeply entwined with Bloodline Nobles.

Most emperors had taken Bloodline women as consorts, after all.

Yet strangely, no imperial heir had ever been born with Bloodline abilities.

Perhaps that was why the imperial family feared and desired Bloodline Nobles at the same time.

“I just feel bad for the young prince,” Claucet muttered. “It’s obvious he’s being dragged into a battle of political power between the adults…”

In the original story, Prince Aaron ultimately lost to Prince Alphonse and met an untimely, mysterious death.

But as long as Roselia remained with House Euciliod, she wouldn’t let that happen.

As she pondered deeply, Claucet shifted the topic.

“By the way, the Zelos delegation—the ones who never showed up to the Blessing Ceremony—seems to have arrived recently.”

“Really?”

Eva’s eyes sparkled with excitement.

“They say Zelos warriors start learning the sword from the time they can walk. Do they really look that strong?”

Eva, who was deeply interested in combat, asked eagerly.

Claucet simply shrugged.

“Dunno. I only heard they’re staying at our hotel—haven’t seen them myself yet.”

So their absence from the Blessing Ceremony must have been due to delays in their arrival.

Roselia suddenly recalled the group of ragged fugitives from Zelos she had seen earlier.

They had been posing as envoys to get by… Hopefully, they wouldn’t run into the real delegation.

As Roselia was lost in thought, Eva curiously asked,

“By the way, I heard Zelos has noble bloodlines with special abilities too. Is that true?”

“They say some of them can see the future, but there are only rumors—no way to know for sure.”

Just as the Rugbeljet imperial family had heightened senses, and Raphelios’s Bloodline Nobles carried a distinct scent, it seemed Zelos also had families with inherited abilities.

Come to think of it, the Benuve royal family was rumored to be able to read people’s hearts…

Though seeing Asif, Roselia wasn’t so sure about that.

Tuning out the two girls’ conversation about the Zelos delegation, Roselia sank back into her thoughts about the enthronement.

* * *

That day, Roselia visited Valtazar Hotel once again to meet Marquis Bellog, but as she stepped into the lobby, a familiar figure caught her eye.

A man with long black hair.

It was the Zelos fugitive she had helped before.

Unlike the last time, he was now immaculately dressed, almost unrecognizable—but his distinctive presence made it easy for her to recognize him at a glance.

He must have recognized her as well, as he was already walking toward her.

Roselia had planned to walk past him, but as soon as he blocked her path, she blinked in surprise.

“We meet again.”

Dressed neatly in Raphelios-style clothing, the man stood before her.

Roselia glanced him up and down before responding flatly.

“Looks like your situation has improved since last time.”

Her pointed gaze—as if asking whether he had found a job—made the man chuckle.

Reaching into his inner pocket, he pulled something out and held it toward her.

It was a 100 Berang note—the money she had paid for his lodging.

“This is the debt I owe you.”

Roselia stared at the money in his hand before letting out a small smile and shaking her head.

“You don’t have to pay me back. You’ll need spare money if you plan to stay here—keep it.”

As she turned away to leave, the man, startled, grabbed her wrist.

“Take it. I can’t live with debt.”

“It’s really fine.”

She wondered if he was just putting on a show of male pride, but when she firmly refused, the man’s brows furrowed.

Then, without another word, he forced the money into her hand, his grip tightening around hers.

Roselia’s expression froze in shock.

At that moment, the man’s gaze changed—his eyes widened sharply, as if he had just seen something shocking.

And then—

Suddenly, Klaus appeared, grabbing the Zelos man’s wrist in a tight, unyielding grip.

Both Roselia and the man turned to Klaus, startled by his abrupt presence.

Klaus’s brows furrowed deeply as he looked down at the man, who was still holding Roselia’s hand despite the pressure on his wrist.

“No matter how much of a guest you are, we don’t tolerate disgraceful behavior in this hotel.

I suggest you let go of that hand.”

 

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