78. To be falsely accused of treason.

“I warned you not to get too deeply involved with the Duke of Valtazar…”

Roselia froze, unable to comprehend the situation, as the Crown Prince’s cold words echoed in the room.

“What do you mean…?”

Before she could process the accusation, the captain of the royal guard, standing beside the Crown Prince, bellowed loudly, “Arrest the traitor involved in treason!”

Strong, rough hands grabbed her arms, and Roselia stared at the Crown Prince and the captain in shock.

“W-What are you doing?! Treason? That’s absurd!”

Her protest was met with the Crown Prince’s icy, emotionless voice.

“Search her belongings.”

‘Why my belongings…?’

Before she could voice her confusion, the knights tore her bag away, dumping its contents onto the floor.

With a clatter, among the scattered items, a golden object fell out.

It was the imperial seal—symbolizing the Emperor’s authority.

Roselia’s body went rigid as she stared at the golden seal. She didn’t need to examine it closely to recognize the imperial crest engraved on it.

“Did the Duke of Valtazar order you to steal the imperial seal?” the Crown Prince asked, his tone cold and accusatory.

Roselia, panicked, shook her head vehemently.

“N-No! There’s been a mistake! I’ve never stolen anything!”

Ignoring her frantic denial, the Crown Prince let out a deep sigh.

“No traitor ever admits to being one.”

“Your Highness! This is a setup! I only came here because a servant told me you had summoned me!”

Her desperate plea was interrupted by the captain of the guard, who frowned as he turned to the Crown Prince.

“Do not heed her words, Your Highness. A desperate traitor will say anything to save themselves.”

The Crown Prince remained silent for a moment.

“Your Highness! Please! You know I would never do such a thing!” Roselia cried.

For a brief moment, the Crown Prince’s expression faltered, but it quickly hardened again. His steely gaze, cold and resolute, dashed any hope Roselia might have had.

To a man scarred by noble treachery and betrayal, facts mattered more than words. And the presence of the imperial seal was a damning fact.

“Take her to the prison,” the Crown Prince commanded in an icy tone.

Roselia stared at him in stunned disbelief.

“Your guilt will be determined at tomorrow’s imperial trial.”

The knights dragged her away, her limbs limp as though she were a lifeless doll.

She couldn’t resist, her mind spinning with thoughts.

‘Has the original story’s timeline been accelerated again?’

The punishment for treason was death.

Roselia’s thoughts turned to the execution platform described in the original story, where her counterpart had met her end. Her face twisted in despair.

‘If there’s a god in this world, they must truly despise me,’ she thought bitterly as she was forced down the cold corridors, her fate uncertain.

* * *

Seated at his desk, reviewing documents, Klaus’s gaze drifted toward the window where the setting sun cast its golden glow.

‘Did she say she was meeting the Crown Princess today?’

The thought of Roselia, who had gone to the imperial palace, filled his mind as he stared blankly at the window where she had once sat.

Though her warmth had long since faded from the windowsill, Klaus could almost sense her lingering scent carried on the breeze.

As he continued to watch the orange-tinted horizon, a commotion at the entrance of the estate caught his eye.

A familiar imperial carriage, flanked by dozens of royal guards on horseback, approached in an imposing procession.

A vague sense of unease crept over Klaus, and his brows furrowed just as Jeffrey, the head butler, burst into the study, his usual composure shattered.

“Your Grace! You need to come outside immediately! The imperial guards are—”

Jeffrey, who would never enter the study without permission, looked flustered, his panic heightening Klaus’s suspicions.

“I already know,” Klaus replied coldly.

Without delay, Klaus exited the mansion, accompanied by Jeffrey and Alejandro. The imperial procession came to a halt before them, the royal guards forming a tense, defensive line.

Meanwhile, Claucet, who had been enjoying tea in the garden with Melda, rushed over, her face filled with confusion.

“Isn’t that the imperial guard? Why are so many of them here?”

Before she could come any closer, Klaus extended an arm, blocking her path. His tone was icy.

“Stay back, Claucet.”

The door of the imperial carriage opened, and a man who appeared to be a herald stepped out, carrying a letter sealed with the imperial insignia.

Behind him, the mounted guards dismounted, lining up in an intimidating formation, weapons at the ready as if prepared for immediate action.

“To Duke Valtazar,” the herald declared loudly. “Suspicion of treason has arisen. By order of His Highness, the Crown Prince, your estate will remain under the surveillance of the imperial guard until further notice.”

A sharp intake of breath was heard from Jeffrey, who stood behind Klaus, unable to hide his shock.

Alejandro, Claucet, and even Melda shared his astonishment, their faces pale with disbelief.

Only Klaus remained composed, his expression as cold and sharp as steel as he silently faced the herald.

“Be warned: if you attempt to leave the estate or make any suspicious movements, it will be considered an act of treason, punishable by immediate execution,” the herald continued.

Unable to contain her outrage, Claucet stepped forward, her voice shaking with anger.

“T-Treason? What is the meaning of this—”

“Calm yourself, Claucet,” Klaus interrupted, his tone steady and commanding.

“If we remain still, the baseless accusations of the imperial family will be exposed.”

Though his words sought to reassure, the tension in the air was palpable, the imperial guards standing ready, their hands gripping their weapons as though waiting for the slightest excuse to act.

Claucet, silenced by Klaus’s warning, glared daggers at the herald, her eyes practically boiling with anger.

Meanwhile, Klaus, maintaining a calm demeanor without a trace of disturbance, addressed the herald coldly.

“I don’t know what grounds you have for accusing me of treason, but you should know you’re wasting your time.”

At Klaus’s frigid warning, the herald let out a small, mocking laugh, his lips curling in disdain.

“Earlier today, one of the servants from your estate was caught attempting to steal the imperial seal. Surely, a mere servant wouldn’t steal the seal for their own use, would they?”

A servant from his estate?

A face immediately came to Klaus’s mind, and his entire body stiffened.

The previously composed Klaus now radiated an entirely different aura, his brows furrowing deeply as his voice dropped into a threatening growl.

“Don’t tell me… the servant’s name is Antonio?”

The sheer chill in his voice made the herald swallow hard before responding curtly, “So you do know the name of the servant you sent.”

The herald’s words sent sparks into Klaus’s eyes.

Before anyone could react, Klaus lunged toward the horses, clearly intending to leave. Startled, the knights guarding him quickly raised their swords, blocking his way.

Even Claucet and the household staff gasped in shock at Klaus’s sudden and reckless action.

“Klaus!” Claucet cried, alarmed by the sight of knights aiming their weapons at her brother.

More knights rushed in to restrain him, pinning his arms back. Klaus let out a furious snarl.

“Damn it, this is a setup! Let go of me!”

The once composed and calculating Duke of Valtazar had lost his temper completely, a sight that made even the herald frown as he spoke.

“Duke Valtazar, have you forgotten what I just told you? If you move recklessly, it will be seen as an admission of guilt. Both you and the imprisoned servant will face immediate execution.”

Klaus froze.

The thought that his actions could lead not only to his death but also to Roselia’s left him chilled to the core.

The knights pushed him down, forcing him to kneel as his resistance ebbed. His shoulders sagged, and his body grew limp, but the humiliation burned deep.

“Grr…!” Klaus ground his teeth in rage and indignation, his pride battered.

The herald regarded him with detached indifference as Klaus growled through gritted teeth, “Someone has clearly framed Antonio.”

“The truth will be revealed at tomorrow’s imperial trial,” the herald replied curtly.

At his signal, the knights loosened their hold on Klaus and retreated behind the herald.

The futility of arguing with the herald weighed heavily on Klaus, who made to step forward again, but a faint tug at his sleeve stopped him.

Turning his gaze, Klaus saw Claucet trembling as she held onto him, her face pale with fear. She shook her head silently, her expression pleading.

The mere mention of execution in this high-tension scenario seemed to have awakened a deep-seated trauma in Claucet—one tied to the death of their family members.

Her terrified expression made Klaus pause, his shoulders stiffening.

Finally, he let out a resigned breath, his body slackening as he realized there was no other choice.

* * *

The dim and damp imperial prison was faintly illuminated by moonlight seeping through the cracks of a small window, casting a forlorn glow on the cold stone floor.

Beneath that faint light, a small figure sat huddled, knees drawn tightly to her chest.

Roselia, her face buried in her knees, slowly raised her head to gaze at the pale moonlight pooling at her feet.

‘Is this how the original Roselia felt, with death so close at hand?’

A mix of frustration, anger, and an overwhelming sense of futility weighed heavily on her chest, stifling her breath.

The trial was just a formality—it might as well be a death sentence.

Having known the Crown Prince Esteban from the original story, Roselia understood him better than anyone.

At this point in time, he was consumed by suspicion and distrust, unwilling to believe anyone.

‘An imperial trial… Is it better than the summary execution in the original?’

A bitter smile played on her lips at the thought.

To her surprise, in this bleakest moment, she found herself hoping Klaus wouldn’t get involved.

Had she grown attached to him already?

Or perhaps… like the original Roselia, she too…

Her thoughts were abruptly interrupted when a dark shadow fell over her.

Assuming it to be one of the prison guards, Roselia sluggishly lifted her head, only to find herself staring wide-eyed at a figure cloaked in a black robe.

‘Could it be… Klaus’s shadow agent?’

Anxiety flickered in her eyes as she looked up at the figure.

If they were discovered, not only would she be in danger, but Klaus as well.

The robed figure stood silently, staring down at her with an unreadable expression.

“Are you a shadow sent by the Duke? This is dangerous. If the guards find you—”

Before she could finish, the figure slowly pulled back the hood of their cloak.

Roselia’s eyes widened in shock as the face beneath the hood was revealed.

“Klaus…?”

Klaus’s expression was pained as he gazed down at Roselia, curled up on the cold stone floor.

“Roselia…” he murmured, his voice thick with emotion.

TL/N: Damn missed Alpha male bbg meme. But here

 

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