124. Raphelios Social Debut

Under Klaus’s piercing gaze, Roselia found herself instinctively averting her eyes.

He had people he needed to protect in his duchy. She had people she loved that she needed to protect as well.

If she wanted to save them, those who were destined to die in the original story could not follow its predetermined path.

She had seen it happen before—every time she got too deeply involved, events tied to the original storyline accelerated.

She had once told Klaus about their impending deaths, but even then, he hadn’t believed her.

He wouldn’t believe her now either.

So instead, she chose her words carefully.

“We have different paths we need to take,” she said.

Klaus furrowed his brows at her response.

“If our paths are different,” he said, “then I’ll follow yours.”

Roselia’s eyes widened in shock.

She hadn’t expected him to say something like that.

It wasn’t like him at all.

Her heart pounded strangely.

Every time she stepped back, he stepped forward—three steps closer, unwavering, relentless.

His eyes held her in place, and he continued.

“If you want, I’ll put you at the very top of Raphelios society. I have the money, and I have the power.”

His confidence was overwhelming, almost reckless, leaving Roselia momentarily dazed.

She forced herself to look away, gripping onto her faltering emotions.

“You can’t stay here forever,” she said, her voice cooling.

“You need to return to Rugbeljet.”

Klaus exhaled harshly and raked a hand through his hair.

“If that’s the issue, I’ll become a servant in House Euciliod if that’s what it takes. Would that satisfy you?”

Roselia stared at him, dumbfounded.

The Duke of Valtazar… a servant in the Marquess’s household?

That was absurd.

Why would a man like him ever need to stoop so low?

“There are people waiting for you in Rugbeljet,” she reminded him.

At her words, Klaus flinched slightly, as if something had just struck him.

He ran a hand through his hair again and let out a deep sigh.

“If you’re talking about the Crown Princess… you can trust me on that. Losing you made me realize it painfully—Evelione is nothing more than a friend to me. And if I have to choose, I’d rather give up my friendship with her than lose you again.”

Roselia froze.

That was not the answer she had been expecting.

She had been speaking about the people in his duchy—his household, his responsibilities—yet Klaus had immediately assumed she was worried about his connection to the Crown Princess.

And his response…

It was shocking.

She knew how deep Klaus’s entanglement with Crown Princess Evelione had been in the original story—the twisted mix of love and resentment he had harbored for her.

To hear him dismiss it so easily left Roselia speechless.

“So just take my hand, Roselia,” he murmured.

“That’s all I need.”

His voice, the raw emotion in his expression—it was enough to make her chest tighten painfully.

She felt the swell of emotions rise, but she swallowed them down.

It was too frightening…

The closer she got to him, the more she feared losing him.

The more he stepped forward, the more she knew the people she loved would get hurt.

She bowed her head, hiding the turmoil in her face.

“Go back,” she whispered.

Then, before she could waver any further, she turned and fled into the estate.

Klaus remained standing there for a long time, replaying the unreadable look on her face over and over again.

* * *

Roselia sipped her tea, trying to ignore the unfamiliar sensation of wearing a dress, which still felt awkward to her.

Beside her, Eva was excitedly sorting through the towering stack of invitations on the table.

“A tea party invitation from Count Hamilton’s household. This one is for Baroness Sisley’s birthday banquet. Oh my! Even an invitation from Count Langley’s estate! I heard it’s nearly impossible to receive one of these!”

Unlike Eva, who was practically buzzing with excitement, Roselia remained indifferent, as if the conversation had nothing to do with her.

Johannes, watching her reaction, lifted his teacup and spoke.

“Attending a social gathering could be beneficial. If you remain hidden in the estate, the nobles who love gossip will only let rumors spiral further.”

Roselia nodded.

She had already planned to attend an event or two to make her presence known.

She just hadn’t expected this many invitations, making the decision a bit overwhelming.

“What about Baroness Sisley’s birthday banquet?” Johannes suggested.

“It’s close to the capital, and her family is both well-connected and highly regarded. Many nobles are expected to attend. Plus, the young lady is around your age—it’ll be easy to build connections.”

Roselia had initially considered that option as well.

Lady Sisley was sociable and well-mannered, someone who could serve as a bridge to meeting other noble families.

However, as she scanned the numerous invitations, she changed her mind.

“I think I’ll attend Count Langley’s banquet instead.”

Johannes’s eyes widened in surprise.

“Count Langley’s estate…?”

Behind his shocked expression was clear concern.

“It’s true that attending his banquet is one of the best ways to establish yourself in noble society,” Johannes admitted.

“But his wife is notoriously difficult. That worries me.”

Roselia understood exactly what he meant.

Countess Langley was a major figure in the Raphelios social scene—once a dominant force, though she no longer made appearances at public events.

Instead, she hosted exclusive gatherings at her own estate.

Despite her advanced age of over sixty, her influence remained formidable.

Receiving an invitation to her banquet alone was enough to make one’s name known in high society.

However, her temperament was equally infamous.

If she didn’t like a guest, she would openly humiliate them—or even expel them from the event.

Moreover, the Langley household was a neutral noble faction, belonging neither to the Empress’s camp nor the concubine faction.

Johannes’s concern was understandable.

But that was precisely why Roselia had chosen this particular banquet.

“If you attend Count Langley’s banquet…” Johannes hesitated. “I may not be able to accompany you.”

His voice was filled with apprehension.

Roselia simply smiled.

The date of the banquet coincided with the day Johannes was scheduled to visit the Empress.

“Don’t worry. I’m not a child—I can attend a banquet on my own,” she assured him.

Seeing her confident smile, Johannes sighed in reluctant acceptance.

“Understood. But promise me, if anything happens, you’ll tell me immediately.”

“And what? You’ll abandon your audience with the Empress and come running?”

“Her Majesty would gladly grant me leave if it were for you,” Johannes replied, his tone entirely serious.

His sincerity made Roselia chuckle.

“Alright, alright. I’ll tell you if something happens.”

Finally satisfied, Johannes gave her a small, relieved smile.

Eva, watching their exchange, looked on with a warm, contented expression.

* * *

The Langley Count’s banquet was an outdoor event held in the garden.

With its vibrant flowers tended by the countess herself and a garden meticulously maintained by skilled gardeners, the venue had the enchanting atmosphere of a forest where fairies might dwell.

Asif had reluctantly attended the banquet due to his advisor’s insistence that it was an absolute must.

It suddenly made him wonder—would Antonio be attending as well?

Ah, no, he should call them Roselia now.

He was curious—would she appear dressed as a man, or as a woman?

Now that her identity as a woman had been revealed, it would be difficult for her to show up as Antonio again…

A strange sense of disappointment crept in.

After all, the person he had known was Antonio, not Roselia.

Just as he was lost in thought, murmurs began to spread from one side of the garden.

“Is that truly the young lady of House Euciliod?”

“The daughter of the Marquess, the one who was thought to be dead?”

“I heard she lived in Rugbeljet… and that she had been disguising herself as a man all this time…”

“Oh my, how appalling! Dressing as a man?”

The gossiping noblewomen fell silent in an instant.

Roselia had entered, draped in a pristine white gown, exuding unwavering confidence.

The gown, which Eva had painstakingly prepared, was breathtaking.

A flowing Raphelios-style dress, it draped elegantly along her figure, predominantly white with emerald accents.

With accessories that matched the green of her eyes, she looked as though a goddess of the forest had descended upon them.

Moreover, she had deliberately chosen not to suppress her pheromonal scent.

Those around her, overwhelmed by her presence, could only stare blankly.

Asif was no exception.

He had turned his head absentmindedly, only to be completely entranced by the sight before him.

That’s Antonio?

“My goodness, what a pleasure to meet you, Lady Euciliod! I am Elisha of the Baron Hamilton household.”

“And I am Lowell, the third daughter of the Viscount Hillimond family.”

Unlike their previous gossiping, the noblewomen eagerly approached Roselia, eager to make connections.

Of course, the nobles aligned with the concubine faction remained visibly displeased, scrutinizing her from a distance.

Roselia, unfazed, scanned her surroundings with composure.

“Where is Countess Langley? I would like to greet her first.”

Just as she was searching for the countess while surrounded by noblewomen trying to win her favor, a sharp voice cut through the garden.

“You won’t be able to meet the countess, Lady Euciliod.”

Roselia’s brows furrowed at the all-too-familiar voice.

Turning her head, she saw Princess Tania standing there with her arms crossed, looking down at her arrogantly.

Beside her stood Nora, looking visibly uneasy.

Roselia frowned at the sight of the princess treating Nora like a mere attendant.

“What do you mean?”

“Perhaps you were lucky enough to receive an invitation, but do you really think Countess Langley would want to meet someone like you, who spent years disgracefully parading around as a man? Should I call you Lady Euciliod? Or would Viscount Bernas be more appropriate?”

It was clear that Tania was still irritated by the deception.

In fact, now that Roselia was openly a woman, the princess seemed even more hostile than before.

“That is for Countess Langley to decide,” Roselia replied coolly.

“Unless, of course, Your Highness is acting as her representative?”

Her words—reducing an imperial princess to the role of a mere countess’s attendant—made Tania’s face flush with rage.

Just as Asif was about to intervene, another voice—bright and unfitting for the tense atmosphere—cut in.

“Why is everyone gathering here? This doesn’t feel like a welcoming crowd.”

At the unexpected interruption, everyone turned toward the voice.

Standing there in a striking sapphire-blue dress was Claucet, accompanied by Klaus, impeccably dressed in a formal tailcoat.

At the sight of the Duke and Lady of House Valtazar, the nobles instinctively parted ways, like the sea being split in two.

Leisurely making her way forward, Claucet glanced at the speechless princess before linking arms with Roselia.

“See? I told you that you look much better in a dress, Roselia. Don’t you think so, Klaus?”

Her words were a clear declaration—House Valtazar had already known about Roselia’s disguise all along.

Klaus, his lips curling into a captivating smirk, extended his hand toward Roselia.

A gesture requesting the customary hand-kiss.

Roselia, catching the way Tania stiffened in irritation, calmly placed her hand in his.

Klaus bowed, pressing a kiss to the back of her hand, and finally responded to Claucet’s question.

“Of course.”