29. An Unintended Overnight Stay

At Esteban’s sharp question, Klaus responded with a calm and indifferent expression.

“I’m talking about profit and loss. In Raphelios, hundreds and thousands of talented individuals emerge every year through their education system, and the institutions and organizations they join generate astronomical profits.”

Klaus’s explanation made not only the Crown Prince but also the Crown Princess widen their eyes in surprise.

“That’s why everyone in Raphelios wants to get involved in building schools. The returns far exceed the costs.”

Finishing his explanation, Klaus confidently looked at the Crown Prince with a leisurely smile.

“I’m making an investment. For those who will benefit me in the future.”

The Crown Prince, who had been frozen in place, suddenly burst into laughter.

The sudden sound of his laughter left the Crown Princess, Roselia, and even Claucet wide-eyed in astonishment.

“Ah… as expected of the Duke of Valtazar… you have a knack for sniffing out money and people. Fine, I think I’ll join you in this venture.”

The Crown Prince’s unexpected declaration made Klaus furrow his brow.

“Your approval of the documents is more than enough help…”

“No, what I mean is that the royal family will invest as well.”

Klaus, already overflowing with money, saw little benefit in financial investment from the royal family. As he pondered how to decline politely, the Crown Prince simplified the matter for him.

“Of course, even if our financial investment is just a drop in the bucket compared to the Duke’s capital, my proposal is to designate the school established by the Duke as a national academy.”

Klaus’s eyes widened at the Crown Prince’s proposal.

The Crown Princess was equally surprised by the unexpected offer.

If the school were built solely with the Duke’s capital, it would remain a private academy. However, if the Crown Prince involved the royal family and allocated part of the empire’s budget, the situation changed entirely.

As with all facilities, the status difference between private and national institutions was significant.

The school’s prestige and influence would be considerably enhanced, making Klaus seriously consider the proposal.

Watching Klaus contemplate, the Crown Prince made a final offer.

“There’s one condition.”

Klaus looked at the Crown Prince curiously.

The Crown Prince glanced at Roselia briefly before giving Klaus a meaningful smile.

“I want to receive progress reports on the school construction. Not directly from the Duke, but through Antonio, the Duke’s servant.”

Roselia nearly stood up in shock but managed to restrain herself.

What on earth is this absurd situation? she thought, glaring at the Crown Prince, who ignored her gaze with ease.

At this table, the only ones aware of her true identity were Claucet and the Crown Prince.

Despite knowing her true identity, the Crown Prince’s nonchalant mention of Antonio made it clear he had ulterior motives. Roselia, filled with anxiety, looked desperately at Klaus.

Despite the obvious benefits of the proposal, Klaus appeared deep in thought.

“Since he often visits the palace to see the Crown Princess, why not meet with me as well?”

“Does it have to be Antonio?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

In response to Klaus’s persistent questioning, the Crown Prince smiled broadly.

“Because I like him.”

Everyone’s expressions froze for a moment.

Each person seemed to have different thoughts, but one thing was clear.

The Crown Prince’s statement was quite shocking.

The Crown Princess seemed stunned by the Crown Prince’s sudden remark, thinking he had taken a liking to Roselia. Claucet, on the other hand, was fearful that the Crown Prince might have figured out Roselia’s true identity.

Klaus, maintaining his cold expression, silently stared at the Crown Prince.

The silence around the table was suddenly broken by Claucet’s hiccup.

Roselia glanced worriedly at Claucet, who muttered with a pale face.

“I think I’m going to be sick…”

* * *

In the carriage, Klaus and Roselia sat side by side.

The Crown Princess had suggested that Klaus take Roselia with him, leading Roselia to reluctantly board the carriage, feeling like she was being led to the slaughterhouse.

Claucet had already left earlier in another carriage, feeling unwell from the meal.

As Roselia sat in the uncomfortable silence, nervously glancing around, Klaus asked in a low voice.

“Where is your home?”

“What?”

“To take you home, I need to know where it is.”

Roselia broke into a cold sweat, flustered.

Klaus, unaware that Roselia was Antonio, looked at her curiously.

“Just drop me off at the duke’s estate; I’ll find my way from there.”

She tried to sound as composed as possible, but Klaus’s expression darkened.

“Are you planning to walk home from the estate at this late hour?”

“It’s… fine…”

As Roselia awkwardly trailed off, Klaus frowned in displeasure.

“After what happened last time, you still say that?”

Roselia fell silent, remembering the time she was chased by thugs in the back alley.

In her awkward silence, she reluctantly told Klaus the address of Nadia’s house in the back alley.

The carriage, now heading towards Nadia’s house, rattled as it sped along.

While Roselia was resigned, Klaus gazed out the window, deep in thought.

He had ultimately accepted the Crown Prince’s proposal.

Though he had calculated that it would be beneficial, it took him some time to verbalize his acceptance, leaving him feeling conflicted.

Why was he so uneasy about something as simple as assigning a servant?

Klaus remembered Antonio’s terrified expression when he rescued him from the water.

Unlike his usual guarded demeanor, Antonio looked like a frightened puppy, evoking a protective instinct Klaus didn’t understand.

Perhaps, in his desire to avoid these confusing feelings, he had accepted the Crown Prince’s proposal.

Sighing deeply, Klaus glanced at Roselia, who was looking out the opposite window with a worried expression, reminding him of Antonio.

Klaus couldn’t help but smile self-deprecatingly.

He had also had an awkward encounter with her recently.

Thinking about the absurdity of his previous suggestion to her, Klaus concluded that something about the Hesingk siblings made him lose his composure.

“The incident that happened…”

At Klaus’s sudden voice, Roselia turned her gaze from the window, looking puzzled.

“I apologize once again.”

“The incident?”

Roselia’s mind raced to recall which incident he was referring to.

The time she cried after he rescued her from the lake?

No, that was when she was Antonio.

The last encounter with Roselia…

Recalling the incident, Roselia’s expression stiffened awkwardly.

“Oh… that incident…”

Awkwardly touching her neck, Roselia spoke hesitantly.

“You already apologized right away, and I wasn’t exactly polite myself…”

Awkward silence filled the carriage once more.

As they sat awkwardly across from each other, the carriage thankfully arrived at its destination on time.

Klaus exited first and courteously helped Roselia down, then glanced at the dilapidated house.

“Is this… where you stay?”

His face instinctively frowned as he looked at the half-collapsed roof.

Roselia quickly stepped in front of him, forcing a smile.

“Yes, well, as you can see, it’s a bit run-down, so inviting you in would be difficult.”

“Can someone… actually live here?”

“Of course! I’m getting along just fine! Now, you should go.”

Almost pushing him back into the carriage, Klaus reluctantly departed, still casting a worried, disapproving glance at Roselia.

As the carriage drove away, Roselia’s shoulders slumped.

“It looks like I’ll have to impose on Nadia for the night…”

* * *

Returning to the duke’s mansion, Klaus halted his steps as he headed towards his office.

Antonio’s room, on the opposite side of the hallway, caught his eye.

He recalled the bandages he saw under Antonio’s shirt when he rescued him from the lake.

It seemed Antonio had fallen into the lake before his injuries had fully healed…

Worrying that the wounds might have worsened or caused other health issues, Klaus shook his head, surprised at his own concern.

He was just a debtor, nothing more than one of the many servants in the mansion.

An annoyingly bothersome servant…

Klaus stood there for a while, conflicted, before his feet involuntarily began to move toward Antonio’s room.

Standing in front of the door, Klaus hesitated, almost reproaching himself for his actions.

Eventually, he sighed deeply, rationalizing that as an employer, he had a duty to check on his servant’s health, and knocked on the door.

Knock knock-

But after a long pause, no sound came from the other side.

Puzzled, Klaus knocked again.

Knock knock knock-

Still no response.

Frowning, Klaus cautiously opened the door and called out.

“Antonio.”

The room remained silent. Klaus hesitated before stepping inside.

The room was dark, with no sign of recent occupancy.

For someone not to be in their room at this late hour…

Klaus let out a disbelieving chuckle.

“Ha… is this an overnight stay?”

* * *

Meanwhile, at Nadia’s house, Roselia sighed as she explained the situation.

“Nadia, I’m sorry to impose on you like this.”

Nadia, a skilled painter and Roselia’s close friend, shook her head with a smile.

“Don’t worry about it. You’re always welcome here.”

Roselia sat down, feeling a bit more at ease.

“Thanks, Nadia. I owe you one.”

Nadia waved her hand dismissively.

“You owe me nothing. Just make yourself at home.”

Roselia smiled, feeling grateful for her friend’s hospitality. Despite the unexpected overnight stay, she felt a sense of relief and comfort in Nadia’s familiar company.