75. Are You Trying to Drive Me Crazy?

At Klaus’s words, Roselia instinctively turned her gaze toward Johannes.

Surprisingly, despite Klaus addressing her as “Roselia” while she was still in Antonio’s guise, Johannes remained composed, showing no sign of surprise.

As Roselia stared at him in confusion, Johannes stepped between her and Klaus.

“Why don’t we speak first, Your Grace?”

Johannes’s calm demeanor as he shielded Roselia only deepened Klaus’s scowl.

“Did you know?” Klaus asked, his voice tight with suspicion.

When Johannes simply looked at him without answering, Klaus’s voice dropped further, laden with suppressed tension.

“I asked if you knew Antonio was Roselia.”

Even faced with Klaus’s sharp tone, Johannes’s expression remained serene as he glanced at Roselia. It seemed clear now that her disguise as Antonio had been uncovered by the duke.

Letting out a small sigh, Johannes finally spoke, his tone calm and measured.

“Raphelios bloodlines can distinguish one another by scent.”

“…What?”

“Huh?”

Both Klaus and Roselia stared at him in stunned silence, their wide eyes mirroring each other.

Seeing their bewilderment, Johannes offered a faint, rueful smile.

“Well, now that we’re all here, why don’t we discuss this over tea?” he suggested smoothly.

Before long, Klaus sat at the table with a displeased expression, while Roselia, still reeling from the revelation, took a seat opposite him. Johannes, seated with his usual poise, began speaking.

“The scent of a Raphelios bloodline is akin to a potent pheromone that can be overwhelming, particularly to the opposite sex. For a bloodline sensitive to scent, ignoring such an intense fragrance is nearly impossible.”

Roselia’s face flushed as she realized how obliviously she must have acted before him, utterly unaware of the power her scent carried.

‘He must’ve known from the start. How pathetic I must have looked to him…’

Her face burned as the realization dawned on her, but Johannes continued with a faint smile as though he hadn’t noticed her embarrassment.

“The pheromone scent of a female bloodline is several times stronger than that of a male’s. Historically, female members of the Raphelios lineage have often been at the center of political upheaval and wars due to this trait. Roselia, as a female of the bloodline, exudes a scent far stronger than mine.”

Klaus, recalling the night Roselia’s scent had driven him into a fevered state, murmured under his breath.

“So that’s why… the scent during her blooming…”

Johannes’s expression stiffened at Klaus’s words.

“Wait… Did you ignore my warning and enter her room during the blooming?” Johannes’s voice was sharp, a stark contrast to his usual calm demeanor.

Klaus, feeling a twinge of guilt, cleared his throat awkwardly.

“The situation was urgent at the time. I didn’t have a choice.”

Johannes’s frown deepened, his disapproval evident. “You should consider yourself fortunate that the outcome wasn’t far worse.”

At Klaus’s remark, Roselia couldn’t help but glance toward Johannes.

However, contrary to her expectations, Johannes didn’t seem surprised that Klaus had called her “Roselia” while she was still pretending to be Antonio. His expression remained calm and unbothered.

As she alternated her gaze between the two men, Johannes stepped forward, positioning himself between Roselia and Klaus.

“Why don’t you and I talk first, Your Grace?”

Klaus scowled, clearly displeased by Johannes’s intervention.

“Did you already know?”

Johannes’s silence was telling. Klaus’s voice dropped further, colder and sharper.

“I’m asking if you knew Antonio was Roselia.”

Despite Klaus’s tense demeanor, Johannes kept his composure and glanced briefly at Roselia. It seemed clear to him that Roselia’s disguise had been uncovered.

With a small sigh, Johannes began to explain. “The Raphelios bloodline recognizes each other by scent.”

“…What?”

“Huh?”

Both Klaus and Roselia stared at Johannes, their confusion evident.

Johannes offered a faint smile.

Now that we’re all here, why don’t we have a proper conversation over tea?”

* * *

Klaus sat at the table with a displeased expression, while Roselia, still feeling unsettled, hesitated across from him. Johannes, sitting calmly, continued.

“The scent of the Raphelios bloodline is a potent pheromone, especially effective on the opposite sex. It’s nearly impossible for someone sensitive to such scents to ignore it.”

Roselia’s face flushed. She thought back to her time with Johannes, realizing how unaware she had been of her own scent.

‘He must have known all along… How ridiculous I must have seemed.’

Johannes smiled lightly, almost as if sensing her embarrassment.

“For females of the bloodline, the pheromone scent is several times stronger than that of males. This is why women of the Raphelios lineage have often been central to political upheavals and wars throughout history. Roselia’s scent, as a woman of the bloodline, is far stronger than mine.”

Klaus’s expression darkened as he recalled the night he’d been overwhelmed by her scent during her blooming. He muttered under his breath, “So that’s why… that scent…”

Johannes’s smile disappeared, his expression turning serious.

“You didn’t enter her room during her blooming, did you?” Johannes asked, his voice icy.

Klaus coughed awkwardly, averting his eyes. “It was an emergency. I didn’t have a choice.”

Johannes let out a long sigh, seemingly reassured that nothing irreparable had occurred.

“It’s fortunate the situation didn’t escalate further.”

* * *

While the conversation continued, Roselia glanced between the two men, unable to fully grasp the weight of their discussion. Klaus, noticing her confusion, avoided her gaze, and Johannes finally addressed the topic directly.

“Did anything happen during the blooming?”

“It’s hard to explain,” Roselia said hesitantly. “But since then, I sometimes feel like something is seeping out from my chest.”

Johannes’s brows furrowed in thought, but his voice remained calm. “That’s likely due to the buildup of your scent within your body. Without proper control, it can manifest like that. Do you remember when it happens?”

Roselia glanced at Klaus briefly before admitting, “It seems to happen after I’ve spoken with His Grace.”

Johannes’s expression hardened immediately, and he turned to Klaus with an uncharacteristically sharp glare. Klaus stiffened under his gaze, unsure of what he had done wrong.

Johannes let out a frustrated sigh. “It’s likely connected to the blooming. Being with her during that time may have amplified the effect.”

Roselia bit her lip, feeling uncomfortable. “Honestly, I don’t remember much from that night…”

Klaus shifted uncomfortably, avoiding both their gazes. Johannes, on the other hand, continued to scrutinize Klaus, his tone sharp but composed.

“Regardless, it seems you’ve acted as a catalyst.”

At this, Roselia turned her confused gaze to Klaus. He, however, avoided looking at her, a faint blush creeping up his ears.

Johannes sighed, then continued in a reluctant tone. “As much as I hate to say this, staying close to His Grace might help you learn to control your pheromones. His presence seems to trigger the buildup, which makes it an excellent opportunity for you to practice managing it.”

“Control my pheromones?” Roselia asked, still unsure.

“Exactly,” Johannes confirmed. “If you can’t manage it, the scent can cause… complications. Especially with the opposite sex. By staying close to someone who acts as a catalyst, you’ll learn to regulate it better.”

Roselia nodded, her expression conflicted but resigned.

Johannes hesitated before adding, “And for now, I recommend continuing to disguise yourself as a man.”

Klaus, who had been quiet, spoke up. “Why?”

“As I mentioned earlier, a woman’s pheromones are much stronger than a man’s. That alone makes a female of the Raphelios bloodline a rare and dangerous target. The imperial court is especially wary of such women.”

The mention of the imperial court’s inner struggles made Klaus frown deeply. He thought of the Emperor’s concubines, who were already known for their cutthroat rivalries. If they discovered Roselia’s presence, the consequences would be dire.

“If the imperial court learns about her, the concubines will target her immediately,” Klaus muttered darkly.

Johannes nodded. “Exactly. Their ruthlessness knows no bounds when their positions are even slightly threatened.”

Roselia frowned, clearly irritated. “I have no interest in the Raphelios Empire.”

“That doesn’t matter,” Johannes said with a bitter smile. “They’ll see you as a threat regardless.”

Klaus sighed heavily, his expression grim. “For now, it’s safer for you to remain disguised. Both the imperial court and the Grand Duke’s faction are dangerous enough already.”

Roselia, already accustomed to her male guise, saw no reason to object. She nodded calmly, glancing between the two men before settling into her usual composure.

* * *

As the carriage rolled back toward the ducal estate, Klaus and Roselia sat awkwardly across from each other in silence. The atmosphere was heavy, the tension palpable.

Eventually, Klaus broke the silence with a calm yet pointed remark.

“I still don’t understand that absurd excuse you gave me earlier.”

Roselia turned her gaze to the window, her expression tinged with resignation. She hadn’t expected him to believe her, not really. But in that moment, when she’d seen the hurt in his eyes, she’d felt compelled to offer some kind of explanation, no matter how implausible.

“It doesn’t matter if you don’t believe me…” she murmured, her voice resigned.

Klaus stared at her, his gaze unwavering. “But I’ll take back what I said.”

Roselia turned to him, her confusion evident. “Take back what?”

Her question was met with a faint, bitter smirk from Klaus.

“When I said we shouldn’t see each other for a while. I think I’d feel more at ease keeping you close by.”

His sudden declaration made Roselia’s face flush involuntarily.

Thump.

Her heart, startled by his uncharacteristically candid words, began to race.

Klaus’s eyes lingered on her face, his intense gaze locking with hers. Roselia felt her pulse quicken further, as if her heart was trying to drown out the silence between them.

As she struggled to steady herself, Klaus suddenly raised one hand to cover his face, letting out a low groan.

“Hah… Roselia. Are you trying to drive me mad?”

Through the gaps between his fingers, she caught a glimpse of his face—it was tinged red.

Surprised by his reaction, Roselia stammered, “What…?”

Klaus’s dark, smoldering eyes peered at her through his hand. “The scent…”

His voice was low, weighted with restraint. He leaned forward abruptly, pressing one hand against the wall next to her seat, the proximity making Roselia suck in a sharp breath.

Her wide eyes darted nervously as his warm breath brushed against her ear, sending heat rushing to her face.

“It’s taking everything I have to stay composed right now,” he muttered, his tone laced with frustration. “I’m almost proud of myself for holding it together…”

Roselia’s ears burned as she felt the heat of his presence overwhelming her.

TL/N:

 

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