92. Regret It, Your Grace

The carriage, escorted by knights, arrived at an inn on the outskirts of the city. Johannes had deliberately avoided returning to the Imperial Guest Palace, knowing that word of Roselia’s whereabouts would quickly reach the Duke’s spies.

Once they secured the largest room in the inn, Johannes made sure Roselia was seated at the table and brought her a steaming cup of tea.

“Are you feeling a little calmer now?”

Roselia, who had been sitting motionless like a statue, finally looked up. She accepted the tea, the warmth of the cup seeping into her hands.

“Thank you…”

Her voice was faint, her expression vacant, making Johannes regard her with evident concern.

“Roselia,” he began carefully, “as I’ve told you before, if there’s ever anything you need or want, don’t hesitate to ask me.”

Roselia stared down at the tea, her gaze distant, before speaking in a low voice.

“Marquess.”

“Yes?”

“The proposal you mentioned before… is it still valid?”

Johannes tilted his head, clearly puzzled by her question.

Roselia finally looked up, her expression resolute.

“The one where you offered to take me to Raphelios. Does it still stand?”

Johannes’s face shifted to one of surprise and apprehension.

“Are you serious?”

Images of Klaus flashed in Roselia’s mind, but she pushed them away and closed her eyes tightly before replying firmly, “Yes. And as soon as possible.”

Though relieved to hear Klaus had returned alive, Roselia couldn’t shake the gnawing sense of dread.

No matter how much she tried to distance herself from the original storyline, events continued to unfold as if pushing her back toward it. The threads of fate seemed determined to realign.

Her belief that Klaus would choose her over the Crown Princess had been a fleeting arrogance that now left her feeling deeply wounded.

The closer she grew to him, the more the looming shadows of tragedy seemed to gather around them.

She had to admit it—she couldn’t change the original story, nor could she change him.

If she couldn’t alter their fates, then perhaps the best course was to part ways, to preserve what little peace remained for both their futures.

Roselia exhaled shakily, her emotions swirling as she shut her eyes once more.

Watching her intently, Johannes hesitated before speaking.

“I had planned to leave for Raphelios tomorrow anyway. If you’re certain, we can leave straight from here.”

He studied her carefully, then added cautiously, “But… are you sure this is what you want?”

Opening her eyes, Roselia fixed him with a determined gaze.

“Yes. It doesn’t matter anymore.”

Her resolute tone silenced any further questions.

Johannes nodded slowly, acknowledging her decision.

“Very well. Let’s rest here for tonight and set off at first light.”

* * *

“What a little rat. You let her slip away again?”

The shadowy man in a robe bowed nervously to the voice of Grand Duke Rubelio.

“I had no choice. The Marquis of Euciliod appeared with his knights…”

“Did that damned Marquis say he was from the Empress’s faction?”

“Yes. It seems that he found our secret letter to the court nobles and beat us to it.”

The Grand Duke Rubelio growled inside in frustration at the words of the man.

“Those idiots of Raphelios can’t even manage a single letter!”

Rubelio threw the glass down in frustration and then quickly caught his breath before straightening his clothes.

“So, what about the woman?”

“It seems that she is still with the Marquis Euciliod.”

“That man interfered in the Imperial Court trial… I really don’t like him.”

At that moment, the voice of the Grand Duchess was heard outside the door of the study where they were, accompanied by the sound of a knock.

“Your Grace.”

The Grand Duke, who nervously glared at the door at her call, asked in an annoyed tone.

“What is it?”

“The Duke Valtazar is here.”

Rubelio and the shadowy man exchanged a glance at the unexpected news.

The Grand Duke immediately hardened his expression and gave the man a look before giving his final instructions.

“Send a shadow to the Marquis Euciliod, too.”

“Yes.”

As soon as he heard the man’s answer and saw him disappear through the back door of the study, Rubelio opened the study door with a calm expression.

He frowned at the Grand Duchess, who bowed her head at his appearance, and opened her mouth.

“Duke Valtazar is here?”

“I’ve taken him to the reception room.”

Following her explanation, he headed for the reception room and saw the Duke Valtazar sitting comfortably with his legs crossed. He frowned slightly.

Immediately, he walked over to the opposite side of Klaus and sat down. Klaus’s cold gaze turned toward him.

The Grand Duke nonchalantly pretended not to notice Klaus’s murderous gaze.

“It’s been a while! Haha. But what brings you here without any notice, Duke?”

Klaus, with a relaxed smile on his face, uncrossed his legs and leaned his elbows on his knees, and spoke in a very serious tone.

“Let’s cut the pleasantries. Where is Antonio?”

In response to Klaus’s harsh question, Rubelio only shrugged with a relaxed smile.

“What are you talking about? Isn’t Antonio a servant of the Duke’s household? Why would you come looking for a servant of the Duke’s household at the Grand Duke’s house?”

Klaus, frowning at the expected reaction of Rubelio, took something out of the inside of his jacket and put it on the table as if throwing it over.

It was the badge he had taken from the thugs who tried to kidnap Roselia in front of his mansion and the same badge that Viscountess Clemence, who was working for Lugvela, was carrying.

Rubelio’s expression stiffened in shock, and Klaus asked sharply, twisting his lips.

“Do you recognize this badge?”

Rubelio stared at him silently without answering, and Klaus’s expression soured as he drove home the point.

“This is the emblem of ‘Shadow Wings,’ a group under the Grand Duke Rubelio. I got it from the man who tried to kidnap Roselia, and from Viscountess Clemence, who was working as Lugvela.”

Even when Klaus pressed him, the Grand Duke only looked at Klaus with a relaxed expression.

In the end, Klaus, who had had enough, slammed the table and growled.

“Where did you hide Antonio? Isn’t it me or the Crown Prince who are keeping you in check? Release the people who have nothing to do with this.”

Klaus said this and glared at the Grand Duke with his teeth clenched.

“If you don’t, I won’t stand by and take it any longer.”

Only then did Grand Duke Rubelio straighten and turn his face towards Klaus, responding to his warning.

“Duke Valtazar.”

A smile was already on the Grand Duke’s face as he turned towards Klaus.

“You’re barking up the wrong tree.”

“You’re still denying it…”

When Klaus, who had had enough of his insolent attitude, stood up abruptly, the Grand Duke continued, leaning back on the sofa with a casual air.

“Antonio, or rather, that woman, is not here.”

The Grand Duke, who seemed to have already noticed Antonio’s identity, twisted his lips into a smile as he referred to her as ‘that woman’.

“I heard that she is on her way to Raphelios with the Marquis Euciliod.”

Klaus frowned at the Grand Duke’s smirk.

“Raphelios…?”

“You’re a step too late, Duke. No… I think you’re ten steps too late. Haha… If she crosses over to Raphelios on her own, I won’t even have to get involved.”

Klaus stood up without even listening to the Grand Duke’s words to the end.

Without even questioning the Grand Duke’s words, he left the mansion and rode his horse frantically.

To get to Raphelios, they had to cross the border, so there was no need to think hard about the destination.

* * *

Roselia stared out the carriage window, lost in thought.

Klaus would undoubtedly be furious when he realized she had left.

Would he feel betrayed, or would he scoff and move on, thinking she was never that important to him?

‘Or maybe… saving the Crown Princess deepened his feelings for her,’ she thought bitterly, her chest aching with the weight of her decision.

Whatever the outcome, this was the right path—for him and for herself.

The sharp pang in her heart returned, and she bit her lip, forcing the thoughts away.

Just then, the carriage screeched to a sudden halt, jarring her out of her reverie.

Thrown off balance, Roselia tumbled to the side, but Johannes, seated across from her, quickly steadied her.

“Are you all right?” he asked, concern evident in his voice.

She nodded, embarrassed, as she adjusted herself back into place.

Frowning, Johannes leaned out of the carriage to shout at the driver. “What’s going on?”

“A man is blocking the road ahead, my lord!” one of the knights called back.

Johannes stepped out of the carriage, his brow furrowed.

In the dim light, he saw a lone rider on horseback, stationed defiantly in the middle of the road.

“Who dares…” Johannes began, but his voice trailed off when he recognized the figure.

“Klaus Valtazar?”

The Duke was in a state—his clothes torn, his face pale, and his breathing labored. He looked as though he had ridden nonstop without rest.

“Klaus,” Johannes said, his tone sharp with disbelief. “Surely you didn’t ride all this way in your condition.”

But Klaus didn’t respond. He swung off his horse with a grunt of effort, his gaze locked on the carriage.

Without acknowledging Johannes further, he strode toward the vehicle, throwing the door open.

Inside, Roselia froze like a startled deer, her wide eyes meeting his.

“Klaus…?” she whispered, her voice tinged with shock.

“Roselia,” he said, his voice low and unwavering.

“Why are you here?” she asked, her tone carefully guarded.

Ignoring her question, Klaus’s expression hardened. “Get out.”

His commanding tone made her flinch, but she refused to move, her jaw tightening.

Seeing her resistance, Klaus leaned in and grabbed her wrist, intending to pull her out.

“Klaus, stop this at once!” Johannes barked, rushing forward.

“Step aside, Johannes,” Klaus growled, his tone dark and menacing.

But Roselia’s voice interrupted the escalating confrontation.

“I told him I’m leaving,” she said, her tone steady.

Both men froze, their eyes snapping to her in disbelief.

“What?” Klaus asked, his voice a mix of shock and confusion.

Roselia’s gaze didn’t waver. “I said I’m leaving. I told him I’d go.”

Klaus released her wrist as if burned, his face clouded with hurt and disbelief.

“Why?” he murmured, his voice barely audible.

Roselia met his gaze, her own eyes cold and resolute. “Because I won’t go back to the Duke’s estate.”

His face crumpled at her words, his usual composure replaced by something raw and desperate.

“You said you’d stay with me, Roselia. You promised you wouldn’t leave unless I did.”

Her eyes softened for the briefest moment, but her voice remained steady as she delivered the final blow.

“And you were the one who left first.”

Klaus staggered back a step, as if physically struck by her words.

Roselia’s heart clenched at the sight, but she turned her head away, refusing to let him see her pain.

Forcing himself upright, Klaus took a deep breath. His voice was quieter now, tinged with regret.

“I won’t let this be the end, Roselia,” he said, his tone filled with a quiet determination that made her chest tighten.

But she didn’t respond, her silence as much a wall as her refusal to return.

With that, Klaus turned on his heel, his footsteps heavy with the weight of her rejection, and mounted his exhausted horse.

Roselia’s hand trembled as she clutched her lap, her resolve cracking under the enormity of her own decision.

‘You’ll regret this, Klaus,’ she thought as tears blurred her vision.

‘But so will I.’

 

 

 

 

⋆｡ ﾟ ☁︎｡ ⋆｡ ﾟ ☾ ﾟ ｡ ⋆

☕ Hi, friends! Your support means the world to me. If you’d like, you can buy me a coffee here: Click the link on the image! 💖

Thank you for keeping me inspired! 🌸

⋆｡ ﾟ☁︎｡ ⋆｡ ﾟ☾ ﾟ｡ ⋆