82. All You Have to Do Is Say Yes

As Roselia stood frozen in surprise, Johannes appeared seemingly out of nowhere, his warm smile directed at her.

“Leaving me out would have been disappointing,” he said lightly.

‘The Marquess of Euciliod, too…?’

“How are you here…?” Roselia asked, still dazed and struggling to process the scene before her.

Before Johannes could answer, Count Bernas spoke up, his expression one of exasperation.

“You didn’t come, so I had no choice but to come to you. You insolent girl, not even showing your face after I collapsed?”

Next, Abello spoke with his usual friendly but slightly awkward smile.

“When I heard you’d visited the palace with my painting and something bad happened, I got worried. I’m relieved to see you’re safe now.”

Finally, Erlin, beaming brightly as if unaware of the seriousness of past events, raised her hand enthusiastically.

“I’m here too, big brother!”

Roselia, overwhelmed by their presence, found herself smiling softly before she even realized it.

Claucet, clearly pleased with herself, gave Roselia a knowing wink.

“Klaus invited them. You’ve been a bit down lately.”

‘I’ve been down? Did it really show?’

Roselia’s thoughts wandered, unsure how visible her emotions had been. Johannes, standing nearby with his usual gentle expression, added, “Of course, I wasn’t officially invited. I came after hearing the news myself.”

The image of Klaus’s lingering wariness toward Johannes surfaced in her mind, and she couldn’t help but chuckle softly.

“I’m glad you came, Marquess,” she said warmly.

Finally, her smile relaxed into something genuine, and Claucet’s lips curved into a sly grin.

“Alright then, let’s get this party started!”

“A party?” Roselia asked, startled.

“Yep! A party to celebrate your safe return!”

“That’s a bit much, don’t you think…?”

“What do you mean? This is the least we can do!”

Roselia hesitated, glancing toward the mansion. She couldn’t help but worry if Klaus, despite having invited the guests, would be uncomfortable with such liveliness.

Sensing her concern, Alejandro, who had been waiting by the entrance to greet the guests, spoke up gently.

“The Duke has given his approval.”

Roselia blinked, incredulous. “The Duke… did?”

Before Claucet could chime in, she clapped her hands together and turned to Melda.

“Alright, Melda, let’s get everything ready!”

“It’s already prepared, Lady Claucet,” Melda replied, flashing a thumbs-up. A smile tugged at her lips, a testament to her years of understanding Claucet’s every whim.

Claucet laughed brightly, and before long, the impromptu celebration was underway.

The gathering, though modest for a Duke’s household, was charming. Tables were set up in the garden, adorned with flowers and an assortment of delicious dishes. The cheerful ambiance was accompanied by the vibrant colors of blooming flowers surrounding them.

Erlin dashed happily through the garden, her laughter ringing out as Claucet playfully chased her in a game of tag.

The sound of the girls’ carefree laughter, the sight of a picturesque garden, the aroma of fine food, and the presence of warm company—Roselia felt her heart stir.

Her gaze swept the scene: Erlin’s joyful antics, Abello smiling as he admired the scenery, Count Bernas and Johannes chatting in a pleasant atmosphere.

The sound of Erlin’s giggles as Claucet caught her filled the air.

‘A story that never existed in the original.’

‘The connections I’ve made, being different from the original Roselia.’

These people, their laughter, their lives—none of it was fiction. It was real, tangible, and hers.

Her heart felt warm, a gentle fullness spreading through her chest.

* * *

Roselia knocked on the door to Klaus’s bedroom, carrying a box of antiseptic and fresh bandages.

“Your Grace, I’ve come to change your bandages.”

“Come in.”

Entering cautiously, Roselia stepped into the room and approached Klaus, who was seated on the edge of the bed, his upper body bare to allow for his injuries to be tended.

She struggled to keep her gaze steady, avoiding the sculpted muscles of his chest and shoulders as she found her voice.

“I… thank you for today,” she said softly.

She was referring to how he had thoughtfully invited Count Bernas and Abello for her sake.

“I’m glad to see your mood has improved,” he replied, his voice unusually warm.

Startled by the unexpected kindness in his tone, Roselia looked up at him, her eyes wide.

“You were… worried about my mood?”

Klaus held her gaze, a faint smile tugging at his lips.

“Of course. Why wouldn’t I care if the woman I like looks unhappy?”

‘The woman he likes…?’

Roselia’s face flushed crimson.

But she quickly composed herself, forcing her emotions back into check.

‘Don’t get ahead of yourself. He’s likely just speaking about simple affection between a man and a woman.’

“I’ll change your bandages now,” she said quietly, opening the box with a determined expression.

As she carefully unwrapped his bandages and began to clean the wounds, Klaus sat silently, his body tense under her touch.

His muscles twitched involuntarily as her hands brushed his skin, a reaction both imposing and strangely captivating.

Roselia focused on the task, ignoring the tingling in her fingertips each time they made contact.

Finally, as she leaned closer to tie the bandage securely, Klaus suddenly grasped her hand, his touch warm and firm.

“This… is getting hard to hold back,” he murmured.

Startled, Roselia looked up at him, her cheeks burning.

Klaus’s eyes, dark and intense, met hers as he brought her hand to his lips, pressing a kiss against her knuckles.

“Roselia,” he said softly, his voice carrying a weight of restrained emotion.

“I need you to know something.”

Her breath caught as his lips brushed against the inside of her wrist.

“I’ve been holding back so much,” he murmured, “because I’m afraid you’ll run away.”

His words sent a shiver through her, the warmth of his breath on her skin leaving her trembling.

“You just have to say yes, Roselia.”

His gaze lifted, locking onto hers as he waited, his expression an unspoken plea.

“I…,” she started, her voice faltering.

Interpreting her hesitation as rejection, Klaus released her hand, a shadow of disappointment crossing his face.

“So, it’s still not time,” he said quietly.

As he withdrew and turned toward the terrace, Roselia felt a pang of unexpected emptiness.

Before she could process her feelings, Klaus opened the window, letting the night breeze drift in.

‘That’s it? He’s just going to leave it there?’

Roselia found herself biting her lip, feeling a strange sense of regret she didn’t want to acknowledge.

‘I can’t believe I’m disappointed… What’s wrong with me?’

“Roselia,” Klaus said suddenly, his voice steady but tinged with suppressed longing.

“As I’ve told you before, I won’t push you to do anything you don’t want.”

He turned his head slightly, a rare, gentle smile gracing his lips.

“I’ll wait until you’re ready.”

The tenderness in his expression made Roselia’s heart lurch, her pulse racing uncontrollably.

Without another word, she turned and fled from the room, unable to face him or the emotions swirling in her chest.

Pressing a hand to her chest as her heart pounded erratically, Roselia squeezed her eyes shut.

‘You’ll get hurt. If you fall for him, you’ll both end up hurting each other.’

She remembered vividly how the original Roselia had loved Klaus and how it had ended for her.

And how Klaus had fared after her death.

But another thought crept into her mind, an insistent whisper she couldn’t ignore.

‘But isn’t the Klaus of now different from the Klaus in the original story?’

Roselia quickened her pace, trying to suppress the feelings threatening to escape her heart.

 

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