65. A kiss stained with tears

Fortunately, they arrived at Hayville Hospital in Klaus’s carriage without delay.

The doctor, recognizing the Duke, rushed out to attend to them. After a long examination, he concluded that the Count had likely fainted and hit his head severely during the fall.

The doctor assured them that his life was not in immediate danger, but that his condition needed to be closely monitored. Roselia felt a chill sweep down to her toes.

A sudden memory from the original story flitted through her mind.

In the story, Count Bernas, despite his dementia, continued to create masterpieces in his lucid moments, only to eventually deteriorate further and be placed in a nursing home. There, he spent his final days in solitude, passing away alone.

Could it be… that her interference with the storyline had accelerated this outcome?

Trying to calm her anxiety, Roselia spoke to the doctor.

“The Count has been struggling with dementia. Could his condition have worsened?”

“It’s possible,” the doctor replied. “Given both the physical and emotional trauma he experienced.”

Roselia exhaled heavily, her guilt intensifying.

As if sensing her thoughts, Klaus stepped closer and murmured softly.

“It’s not your fault, Antonio.”

She couldn’t shake the feeling that if she hadn’t met the Count, this might not have happened. But wallowing in guilt wouldn’t solve anything; she needed answers.

“Why would the death notice for the young Count be resent from Eskivan?”

Klaus frowned. “I had Alejandro look into it, and it turns out that the Count’s estate requested it be resent.”

“Grandfather did? But that doesn’t make any sense!”

“Exactly. A man who didn’t even know about the notice couldn’t have requested it himself.”

Klaus’s face hardened as he spoke.

“One thing’s clear—Count Bernas mentioned something he wanted to show me today.”

Roselia looked at him in confusion. Klaus met her gaze, his tone cold and precise.

“I suspect someone who doesn’t want that item revealed orchestrated this.”

“Who could that be?”

“…That’s what I intend to find out.”

Though he had his suspicions.

The timing of their conversation about Count Bernas and Grand Duke Rubelio lingered in his mind. There was no proof yet, only intuition. But he had no intention of involving Antonio in his conjectures.

He needed to end this quietly, with his own hands.

* * *

“It was fortunate we placed a shadow on Count Bernas.”

“How did that blasted old man get his hands on that vial? I thought I told the maid to use it on the Emperor and destroy the vial.”

Grand Duke Rubelio sneered, his face twisted in anger.

That vial had contained a poison brought in from Raphelios—a slow, undetectable toxin. It showed no outward symptoms when used in small amounts, but after one full dose, the victim would succumb to sudden heart failure.

He had bribed an imperial maid to administer the poison to the Emperor and had even eliminated the maid to prevent any loose ends.

But to think that the foolish maid had left evidence behind…

Rubelio flung the vial into the blazing hearth against the wall of his study.

Crash!

With a sharp, crystalline sound, the glass shattered against the fire’s interior wall, disintegrating into the flames.

He ground his teeth, his expression one of deep annoyance.

“If this gets mishandled, the past might get dredged up.”

What began as a simple ploy to use Roselia to sow discord between the Duke and the Crown Prince was spiraling out of control. It seemed everything stemmed from her.

“Perhaps it’s time to deal with her.”

“The Count, Your Grace?” his shadowed companion asked.

“Yes, both the Count and the servant.”

“No need to worry about the Count. His mind is already deteriorating, and this recent event will likely make it worse.”

Calming down slightly, Rubelio nodded at his advisor’s steady tone.

“Then at least handle that woman.”

The shadowed man, bowing deeply, replied, “The Duke’s guards are on high alert.”

“What about that wretch claiming to be the real Antonio?”

“We’re pressing him as planned.”

Rubelio leaned back into the sofa, crossing his legs as he regained his composure.

“We’ll just have to wait for that fool to fulfill his role, and for the Duke to cast her aside…”

* * *

In the Duke’s office, silence hung between Klaus and Roselia as they sat across from each other.

Klaus, watching Roselia as she absently stared down at her teacup, finally spoke.

“Are you feeling any better?”

“Thank you…” she replied softly, though her expression remained distant.

Seeing her deep in thought, Klaus sighed.

“I’ll investigate further regarding the Count. Try not to worry too much.”

“…”

Just then, the office door swung open, and Alejandro entered without warning.

Klaus’s brows furrowed at his sudden appearance.

“What is it?”

“I have news regarding the woman you asked me to watch—Nadia.”

Hearing the familiar name, Roselia looked up, frowning.

“You were keeping an eye on Nadia?”

Klaus let out a reluctant sigh at her questioning tone.

“It was simply precautionary, considering how often she’s in your and Roselia’s vicinity.”

Before the tension between them could rise further, Alejandro interjected.

“Actually… Nadia has been found dead.”

“What?”

Klaus’s expression hardened, and Roselia, unable to believe what she’d heard, stared blankly at Alejandro.

“What… what do you mean, dead?”

“I think it’s best if you see for yourselves.”

Seeing Roselia’s dazed expression, Klaus spoke in a steady, commanding tone.

“You stay here. I’ll go and return with answers.”

Roselia shook her head, regaining her composure.

“No… I’m coming too. I need to see it with my own eyes.”

* * *

Roselia approached Nadia’s body, her steps faltering as she took in the sight of her friend lying motionless, her face shrouded by a cloth.

Around Nadia were the doctor, an undertaker preparing for her funeral, and several of Klaus’s trusted men, all stationed as a precaution.

Klaus, watching Roselia’s devastated expression as she stared at Nadia, spoke gently.

“Are you alright…?”

“Why… why did this happen…?”

She couldn’t believe it. Just days ago, she had laughed with Nadia, sipped tea together, admired her paintings…

As Roselia stood there, numb and silent, Klaus, noticing her distress, turned his steely gaze to Alejandro.

“What was the cause?”

“The doctor said it was acute pneumonia. The illness progressed so quickly that no medicine could stop it,” Alejandro explained solemnly.

At that confirmation, the undertaker’s men began moving Nadia’s body. Roselia watched in a daze, her mind blank as Klaus took her wrist gently, guiding her back to the carriage.

Once inside, Roselia sat as still as a doll, devoid of expression. Klaus closed the carriage door, speaking quietly as he looked at her.

“Stay here. I’ll be back soon.”

The door shut, and as soon as she was alone, silent tears began trailing down Roselia’s cheeks.

She thought she could change things…

She thought she had saved Nadia from the fate that awaited her in the original story…

But she was wrong. Instead, it felt as if her interference had only hastened the tragedy.

It’s all my fault… it’s because of me…

Klaus, having swiftly dealt with the arrangements outside, opened the carriage door and climbed back in. He carried a letter and a new dress—something he had found among Nadia’s belongings.

As he sat across from her, he placed the dress on the opposite seat, noticing the tears still glistening on her face.

“She left this dress for you. Seems she saved up to buy it.”

Roselia let out a hollow laugh. Nadia had spent her last savings on something as simple as a dress for her.

Klaus observed her expression and spoke gently.

“She left a letter for you as well. Do you want to read it?”

Roselia nodded, taking the letter with trembling hands. She steadied herself, swallowing back her tears as she opened it, determined to read Nadia’s final words.

『Don’t be too sad. I actually feel at peace.

I’m just glad that in the end, I got to meet you, to paint without holding back.

Remember when I tried to mimic you by wearing that wig and strolling down the main street?

I never thought I’d wear such fancy clothes or walk down that glittering path in my life.

Even if it was brief, I was so happy. Thank you, Roselia.

And that man who looks like you, the one you brought… he seems like a good person.

Though, honestly, I think I still like Duke Baltezar more…』

As if Nadia were speaking right beside her, Roselia couldn’t help but smile faintly. But the tears she’d been holding back finally spilled over, tracing lines down her cheeks.

『I wish we could have made more memories together, but it seems the doctor’s medicine isn’t working anymore.

It’s alright, though. I have no regrets.

Thanks to you, I feel like I did everything I wanted.

Thank you, my first and last friend.』

As Roselia read the final line, her eyes flooded with tears, her face contorting in sorrow as she wept openly.

『P.S. Don’t frown, Roselia. I told you, you’re the most beautiful when you’re smiling.』

“Sniff… sob… sniff…!”

Her body collapsed forward as she cried uncontrollably, her shoulders shaking with each gasp.

Klaus’s chest tightened as he watched her. She was completely overwhelmed, her sobs filled with grief and guilt, oblivious to his presence.

“It’s all my fault… all because of me…”

Seeing her in such a state tore at him.

Roselia was unable to even support herself as she cried, and Klaus, unable to stand it any longer, pulled her into his arms.

Holding her tightly, he murmured in a voice as broken as her own.

“It’s not because of you, Antonio.”

“We’re all… going to die… you, me… everyone…”

Half-mad with grief, Roselia clung to him, struggling against his embrace.

“We’re all going to die… all of us…”

“Get a hold of yourself, Antonio!”

Her tear-streaked face, her broken voice—it all shattered him.

She began pounding his chest, as if he were somehow to blame, her breaths coming in choked, desperate gasps, her body trembling with each exhaled sob.

Unable to bear it any longer, Klaus held her tighter.

Then, as her frantic struggles continued, he lowered his lips to hers, pressing a firm, desperate kiss against her tear-streaked mouth.
TL/N: This is so sad all the people fl loved are dead. The Author should’nt have killed Nadia tho she was innocent in all of this