Edited…

17. An Irritating Presence

“What…?”

With a full display of discomfort, he got up and approached Roselia.

Since she realized that the situation had already gone this far, Roselia didn’t step back, trying to maintain her composure.

Approaching Roselia, Klaus uttered with a sneering gaze as if throwing out his words, “What do you know after barely being here for just over a month?”

“Because I haven’t been here long, don’t you think I am more apt to judge more objectively than anyone else here?”

Looking at Roselia who responded firmly without a word, Klaus spat out words as if amazed, “You think, you know why I’m so tied up with work and money?”

“Although I may not know the Duke’s circumstances, I know this much. For the sake of your relationship with Claucet, the important thing now isn’t money.”

In the face of Roselia’s audacious denial of everything he had worked for, anger finally arose in his eyes.

“Damn it, Antonio.”

As he swiftly approached and grabbed Roselia’s collar, she faced him with a tense jaw and a firm expression.

“Do not mess with my nerves right now. My head is about to explode. No one but you dares to say such things to me here.”

Of course, it would be like that. That’s how Klaus was brought up. He was part of the Duke’s household after all. Klaus would have grown up with everyone conceding for him.

Loneliness and solitude hidden within that arrogance and sharpness. Klaus, who was accustomed to such unfulfilled emotions, built walls and confined himself. He didn’t allow anyone else to approach his way, let alone his sister. For the first time, Roselia felt a little sorry for him but felt more for the young Claucet.

“If replacing anything with money is the Duke’s way, then why haven’t you done the same to Her Highness the Princess?”

Blaming him for trying to fill the void with money and gifts while hovering around the Princess, Roselia’s words were filled with mockery.

“Damn it! Her Highness the Princess already has plenty of money! All I can do is comfort her loneliness and solitude!”

Looking at the worked up Klaus calmly, Roselia said just one sentence.

“You see the loneliness and solitude of the Princess, but can’t you see the loneliness and solitude of your younger sister?”

“What…?”

For a moment, his blue eyes froze.

Klaus remained speechless for a while.

Roselia, who seemed to have found a chink in the Duke’s armour, looked at him intently and said, “Did you really think the Lady doesn’t care at all?”

“…”

No, seriously, how could he worry about the Princess like that and not understand his own sister’s feelings?

As Roselia looked at him incredulously, Klaus muttered quietly.

“I always provided her with everything I could without lacking anything. I thought that was the best I could do.”

How could he even think that was enough?

Roselia sighed and shook her head.

“After the Duke and Duchess passed away, only the two of you remained. For the Lady, now only her brother, the Duke remains. How lonely had she been at such a young age?”

While the exact timing of the Duke losing his parents wasn’t explained in the original, it was mentioned that it was before he reached adulthood.

Now, Claucet was about to come of age, so it must have been at least 10 years ago; and Claucet, who is now 15, lost her parents at a much younger age.

Thinking like that made Claucet seem even more pitiful.

During the time when one would receive a lot of parental love, she grew up under the shelter of a cold-blooded brother who only knew and cared about money.

It was understandable why she was closer to the nanny, Melda, than the Duke.

“Even though the Lady doesn’t say anything, she must be upset.”

In response to Roselia’s nagging-like words, Klaus, who seemed to have a complicated mood as he massaged his forehead, replied coldly.

“Even if you say so, I can’t postpone my schedule just for a mere birthday party. That child will soon come of age, so she’ll understand. Don’t meddle unnecessarily and focus on repaying your debts.”

“But, this isn’t just a simple birthday party; it’s the lady’s debutante ball…!”

“Antonio.”

Unable to say more under the threatening call of her name, Roselia had to bite her lips shut resentfully.

“Don’t make me say it twice. My head is pounding because of you right now, so I’d appreciate it if you left immediately.”

As if about to protest, Roselia hesitated for a moment, then resignedly lowered her head.

“I apologize for taking up your valuable time, Your Grace. Then, I’ll take my leave now.”

With that curt farewell, Roselia left Klaus’s study with a dark expression.

* * *

In the bustling district, at the salon dressing room, Claucet, who was waiting for her dress she ordered, spoke with a blunt expression.

“Don’t worry, Antonio. I wasn’t expecting much anyway.”

While Claucet casually sipped the tea brought in with a nonchalant expression that seemed not to care at all, Roselia couldn’t help but feel a heaviness in her heart.

“Even so, it’s your debutante dress, my lady…”

“Don’t worry If something like this happened once or twice, I would be disappointed too, but now, it’s not even surprising.”

As Claucet said this and confidently lifted her teacup, her demeanor was so mature that Roselia couldn’t help but sadly smile.

Suddenly, the Madame of the dressing room entered with Claucet’s completed dress.

“My lady~ Have you been waiting long? Here is the cyan blue dress you ordered~ As you can see, we emphasized a refreshing and cool feeling by appropriately incorporating sapphire, diamonds, and aquamarine jewels.”

The excited Madame began to explain about the dress in detail.

“Especially this part, inspired by your blue eyes, we used these deep blue sapphires as highlights…”

As the Madame’s explanation continued, Claucet, who had been listening with a bored expression, finally interrupted.

“More importantly, I need to have an evening suit for my servant fitted. Can it be done in 3 days?”

“Indeed, my lady prefers cyan blue over cobalt blue…What? Yes?”

The Madame, who was earnestly explaining the dress, interjected with a puzzled expression.

Claucet, with an arrogant expression, replied sharply.

“I need an evening suit for the noble’s gathering in a week.”

“Even so, 3 days is too…”

“I only deal with this dressing room for my attire, you know that from the noble’s estate, right?”

“4 days! Please give me 4 days!”

As the determined Madame responded forcefully, Claucet nodded domineeringly.

Instantly realizing the urgency, the flustered Madame began to call in the assistants to the dressing room.

In an instant, surrounded by several women, Roselia had to take on measurements with a bewildered expression.

As Claucet looked at the array of dresses on the nearby display shelves, she grinned ominously.

“Madam, I’ll give you more time, so please make two of the gowns.”

“Yes? Then… two of the same evening gown?”

In response to the Madame’s question, Claucet gestured for her to come closer and whispered in her ear.

“Really? Are you serious?”

“Stop with the nonsense and get it ready. I’ll have Melda prepare the next outfit.”

“Yes, of course…”

The Madame wore a face as if she were about to cry, but soon turned resolutely and began to instruct the assistants with a determined expression.

The assistants, with faces as if they had been struck by lightning in a clear sky, were in a state of confusion and flurry.

Roselia, who was simultaneously held by attendants, had put on a tired expression.

Fortunately, they didn’t try to undress Roselia.

Detailed measurements were handed over by Melda, and it seemed to pass without any major issues.

Claucet’s expression coming out of the dressing room was full of excitement.

On the other hand, Roselia followed behind Claucet with a tired expression, as if she had spent three sleepless nights.

“I’m looking forward to it. Aren’t you? Hehe….”

Men’s ceremonial attire was nothing new, really.

In stark contrast to Claucet’s excited response, Roselia seemed quite exhausted.

That’s when an uncomfortable situation happened.

As they walked towards the carriage waiting, they heard a voice pretending to know Claucet.

“Lady Claucet.”

The gazes of Claucet and Roselia naturally turned in the direction of the voice.

There stood Jucide, the young Lady of Belmont, whom they had seen at the tea party hosted by Count Herden before, along with a man who seemed to be a domestico.

Jucide’s expression didn’t seem particularly pleasant.

After arrogantly looking at Claucet, she blushed as soon as she met Roselia’s eyes.

Oh… even you too…?

Seeing Jucide’s reaction, which was similar to that of other young ladies who admired Roselia, the domestico standing beside her frowned deeply.

Roselia couldn’t help but feel awkward under the intimidating gaze of the domestico.

“Aren’t you Lady Jucide of Viscount Belmont? What brings you here?”

“Oh, didn’t you know? I’m also a regular here in this salon.”

In an instant, Claucet’s expression crumpled.

“Lady Jucide, didn’t you usually use the dressing rooms in the downtown area?”

“Well, I felt like the clothes here suited me better, so I changed my mind.”

As Jucide replied, she, like Claucet, had her hair done up.

Was that all?

Not only was Jucide wearing the design of the same sapphire necklace that Claucet had been wearing frequently lately, but although her eyes were also similar to Claucet’s bluish ones, unlike Claucet’s clear and deep sapphire-like eyes, hers were closer to a bluish-gray.

Only then did Roselia, who had somewhat guessed the situation, raise her brows.

This girl, Jucide, seemed to be jealous of Claucet but also seemed to imitate everything that Claucet did.

“Oh, did I mention this? Didn’t my brother recently say he would take me to the Raphaelios Empire? Oh dear I can’t recall who I told; I’m so busy with various party invitations these days.”

“I see….”

“Ah, can I accompany my brother to the Lady’s Debutante Banquet this time?”

“Of course…I would be grateful if the Viscount could come and grace the occasion with his presence…”

“Is the Duke not attending this event either?”

“…”

“Still, even if the Duke is busy, he’ll surely attend the Lady’s debutante ball. Just the thought of seeing the Duke makes me nervous already.”

Roselia sighed softly as she sensed the situation turning sour.

It seemed that while she couldn’t defeat Claucet with the topic of Claucet’s appearance or charm, she felt superior using the subject of Claucet’s weakness, her ‘brother.’

Having grasped the situation, Roselia politely addressed Claucet.

“Lady, the carriage is waiting, please hurry.”

“Huh? Oh….”

Finally breaking away from Jucide’s boasting, Claucet breathed out and spoke.

“Lady Jucide, then I’ll go ahead. I’ll send you an invitation, so let’s meet at the debutante party.”

As Claucet spoke and proceeded to step away, Jucide interjected.

“It would be better if Antonio brought the invitation to me, wouldn’t it…?”

In that moment, both Claucet’s and Roselia’s gazes turned towards Jucide.

Why should it be me?

While Roselia wore a baffled expression, Claucet, showing much more hostility than before, glared at Jucid.

“I don’t usually entrust such tasks to Antonio though, do I?”