121. Daughter of the Marquess of Euciliod

Roselia swallowed dryly and nodded.

As she walked closely beside Klaus, her heart pounded wildly, unsure whether it was fear or tension.

Glancing behind them, Klaus sighed and brushed back his bangs.

“It looks like they gave up.”

At his words, Roselia also stole a glance behind them, then looked up at him with a puzzled expression.

“Who could have sent them?”

“I’m not entirely sure. But…”

Klaus trailed off and turned to face Roselia, his expression growing serious.

“Why didn’t you take a Valtazar carriage? If you had told me or Claucet, we would have gladly arranged one for you.”

At his firm question, Roselia let out a sigh.

“I didn’t want to be a bother. There are plenty of hired carriages in the commercial district anyway…”

She let her words trail off.

“I just didn’t expect someone to openly follow me like this.”

Until now, no one had ever been so blatant in tailing her.

It was as if they wanted her to notice, to startle her.

What were they after?

As Roselia pondered, Klaus, who had been watching her intently, spoke up.

“My carriage is nearby. Let’s head there first.”

After what had just happened, the thought of returning home alone had already left her mind.

Without a word, Roselia nodded, and Klaus led her toward the road where his carriage was waiting.

Once they were inside and seated, Klaus let out a long, restrained sigh, as if finally releasing pent-up tension.

Resting his elbows on his knees, he rubbed his forehead before turning his gaze to Roselia.

“Do you trust me that little?”

“……”

“Roselia… Do I have to plead with you like this? I’m telling you, it’s fine to rely on me if you need to. If you want, I’ll be your bodyguard, your coachman—whatever you need.”

His voice was low, barely suppressing the anger rising from the thought that she could have been in danger.

Roselia, who had been watching him quietly, finally spoke, her tone calm.

“Your Grace can’t be a bodyguard or a coachman.”

She then added bitterly, almost as if reminding herself.

“Because you are the Duke of Valtazar.”

As long as he was the Duke of Valtazar, she couldn’t allow herself to be close to him—not if she wanted to avoid the fate of the original story.

That was what was best for both of them.

Klaus frowned, unable to understand her words, but soon pressed his lips together and turned away.

If he said any more, he might end up saying something he didn’t mean.

Silence filled the carriage as they continued their journey, and before long, they arrived in front of the marquess’ estate.

“Get out.”

At Klaus’s words, Roselia nodded and stepped out—only to freeze in place.

Johannes was waiting at the estate entrance.

“Marquess?”

Roselia’s puzzled voice made Johannes scan her face, and upon confirming she was unharmed, he let out a relieved breath.

“I heard the carriage you left in broke down. The coachman said you must have taken another one, but when you still hadn’t arrived, I started to worry.”

His sharp gaze then shifted toward Klaus.

“Though I didn’t expect you to return in the Duke of Valtazar’s carriage.”

It seemed he believed Klaus was responsible for diverting Roselia from her original path.

Sensing the tension, Roselia hurriedly approached Johannes and gently pushed him inside, forcing an awkward smile.

“There was a situation, so I had no choice but to take the Duke’s carriage. It’s cold outside—let’s go in first.”

As she spoke, she turned back briefly and gave Klaus a short bow.

Klaus stood in front of his carriage, watching the siblings until Roselia safely entered the estate.

Unbeknownst to them, someone else was watching as well.

* * *

The expressions of those seated in the hall for the succession vote were heavy with tension.

Among them were the most prominent nobles of Raphelios, as well as representatives from various nations who held voting rights as part of their delegations.

Unlike the foreign representatives, who were selected to hold voting rights, any noble in Raphelios automatically acquired the right to vote upon reaching adulthood.

Before long, the central hall of the imperial palace was filled with as many people as on the day of the blessing ceremony.

At the very front of the seating reserved for the Empress’s faction sat the Marquess of Euciliod, a man often referred to as the pillar of Raphelios.

Due to her status as a viscount from Rugbeljet, Roselia was not eligible to participate in this meeting.

Johannes, who sat at the front, stared straight ahead, his expression cold and composed.

On the opposite side, nobles aligned with the concubine faction were seated, with Prince Asif, Bellog, and the delegation representatives positioned at the very front.

On the elevated platform in the center of the hall, the Emperor sat alongside the Empress, the imperial concubines, Princes Aaron and Alphonse, and Princess Tania.

Nora, having yet to complete a spiritual wedding with Alphonse, was unable to stand on the platform but had taken a prominent seat at the front of the concubine faction.

As the imperial family made their entrance, everyone in the hall rose from their seats.

With a wave of the Emperor’s hand, the assembly returned to their seats.

“I am grateful that so many nobles of the empire and representatives from other nations have gathered here today to discuss this great matter of Raphelios. I swear before the heavens that I will respect the opinions of all those with voting rights and follow the results of the vote without the slightest personal bias.”

At the Emperor’s declaration, the hall fell into a solemn silence.

After surveying the gathered assembly, the Emperor continued.

“Before we proceed with the vote, if anyone wishes to express their opinion on the matter, I will hear them now.”

Silence reigned once more.

Then, breaking that silence, the Marquess of Euciliod, Johannes—the so-called pillar of Raphelios—rose from his seat.

Though countless gazes fell upon him, he remained utterly unfazed as he began to speak in a composed voice.

“First, I must express my regret that we find ourselves in this situation regarding the coronation of Prince Aaron, the rightful heir to the throne. As the head of the House of Euciliod, which has stood with the imperial family for over 800 years since the founding of Raphelios, I have a question for all of you here.”

Johannes’s gaze swept across the hall.

Beyond the eyes of admiration and reverence, there were also thousands of envious and wary glances aimed at him.

Meeting those gazes with unshaken composure, Johannes continued in an unwavering tone.

“The House of Euciliod, as blood relatives of the imperial family, understands better than anyone the significance of ‘bloodline.’ The bloodline carries the noble souls and extraordinary abilities of our forebears. The bloodline of Raphelios has always aided the imperial house through its unique gifts. And yet, the current situation is baffling. Because a woman of mixed blood has appeared, the rightful heir’s legitimacy is suddenly being called into question. If this is not a case of misplaced priorities, I don’t know what is.”

His sharp gaze turned toward the concubine faction.

“Wouldn’t you agree, Miss Nora?”

Nora, seated at the front in an extravagant dress, visibly flinched, her shoulders stiffening.

She trembled, unable to meet Johannes’s gaze.

Seeing her reaction, Marquess Balken of the concubine faction scowled and shot to his feet.

“Marquess Euciliod, watch your words. Are you threatening the lady of the bloodline?”

A lady of the bloodline?

Johannes’s brow furrowed at Balken’s presumptuous claim that a mere woman with mixed ancestry should be called a true bloodline descendant.

“I merely posed a question to the voters.”

Unlike the agitated Balken, Johannes remained composed, his voice cool and controlled.

Balken, however, scowled, clearly frustrated, before forcing a smirk.

“Perhaps before concerning yourself with another bloodline, you should first worry about the continuation of your own House of Euciliod.”

At the sudden jibe, Johannes’s brow arched in displeasure.

His expression seemed to ask, What do you mean by that?

Balken smirked wider.

“The esteemed Marquess of Euciliod, head of the most venerated bloodline, is known to indulge in rather unconventional tastes. Is it not a concern that your house lacks a proper heir? As a noble of Raphelios, I cannot help but be troubled by the future of the House of Euciliod.”

The hall erupted in murmurs.

Johannes glared at Balken as if he had lost his mind.

Seeing the reaction, Balken smirked mockingly and continued.

“I believe the young viscount you have taken in—what was his name? Viscount Bernas? The pretty youth from Rugbeljet? I heard he has been staying in your residence, barely seen in public…”

Understanding dawned in Johannes’s mind, and his face darkened.

But before he could respond, another voice cut in.

“Marquess Balken, I advise you to refrain from making reckless assumptions.”

The voice belonged to Prince Asif, seated at the head of the foreign delegations.

At the unexpected rebuke, Balken’s expression faltered.

“You would do well not to meddle in imperial affairs, Prince Asif. Even with voting rights, you have no place in dictating the affairs of another empire.”

“What?”

Asif’s expression hardened with irritation.

Balken’s arrogance, bolstered by the support of Empress Gwenhella and Consort Sabina, was reaching absurd levels.

Klaus, observing the situation, also wore a grim expression, clearly displeased.

“Go ahead and clarify, Marquess Euciliod. What exactly is your relationship with Viscount Bernas? If not what people suspect, why have you kept him in your residence for so long?”

The nobles stirred once again.

Sensing the shift in momentum, Balken pressed further.

“I also hear that the House of Euciliod is fully funding the trade venture that the viscount is spearheading. Surely, you can provide an explanation?”

Johannes remained frozen, unable to respond immediately.

At that moment, the doors to the central hall quietly creaked open.

A stream of light filtered in through the open entrance, drawing all eyes to the doorway.

There, a woman in an elegant emerald-green dress embroidered with exquisite gold thread stepped inside.

Click. Click.

With each deliberate step, the woman commanded the hall’s attention.

As she approached the center of the hall, Klaus’s expression hardened.

His face was a complicated mix of shock, confusion, and something almost akin to hurt.

The woman’s every movement captivated the onlookers.

It was her scent.

Roselia had finally unleashed the fragrance she had carefully suppressed for so long.

Johannes, watching her, let out a wry smile.

“I’ll answer that question myself.”

The unfamiliar woman spoke directly to Balken, her gaze sharp and unflinching.

Balken, taken aback, stared at her blankly.

But his stunned expression only deepened at her next words.

“I am Viscount Bernas,” she declared.

“More precisely, I am the long-lost daughter of the House of Euciliod, a descendant of Raphelios’ true bloodline.”

TL/N: AND FKING FINALLY THE CROSS-DRESSING PLOT ENDS HERE YAHOO!!!!!