94. The Suspicious Neighboring Cousin

Johannes’s serious words left Roselia staring at him in disbelief.

“You must be joking… me, your younger sister?”

Expecting her reaction, Johannes spoke calmly.

“Twenty years ago, my mother, the Marchioness of Euciliod, disappeared along with my younger sister. At the time, my sister was only four years old. It was also around that time that your mother entered the House of Count Hesingk.”

Roselia was currently 24 years old, so the timeline seemed to fit.

But that alone wasn’t enough to convince her that she was the Marquess’s sister.

As she gazed at him with a face full of doubt, Johannes sighed and continued.

“Have you never thought we looked strangely alike? And most importantly, there are only three remaining bloodlines of Raphelios, and among them, my sister is the only woman.”

Roselia’s expression remained frozen as Johannes offered her a faint smile.

“At first, I was unsure, but when I saw you a second time, I was convinced. It wasn’t just the familial aura you carried—it was the instant recognition that you are my sister.”

Roselia sat there stunned, processing his words. After a long pause, she finally managed to stammer, “But… why didn’t you tell me sooner?”

Johannes’s face darkened, and he spoke in a calm, measured tone.

“As I mentioned before, women of the bloodline are viewed as a threat by Raphelios’s imperial court, especially the concubine factions. The Marquisate of Euciliod is a cornerstone of the empress’s faction, so it’s under constant scrutiny from the concubine factions.”

Seeing Roselia’s puzzled expression, Johannes took a deep breath and explained the current situation of the marquisate.

“The concubine factions aim to bypass the empress’s son as the heir and place a concubine’s son on the throne. A woman of the bloodline can significantly disrupt their plans.

“And if that woman turns out to be a daughter of the Marquisate of Euciliod, part of the empress’s faction, the concubine factions will go to any lengths to eliminate the threat.”

Roselia’s expression grew grim as she pieced together the gravity of the situation.

“Because of these risks, we won’t reveal your true identity publicly. At least, not until the empress’s son officially ascends as crown prince, securing his position as the rightful heir.”

“How does the crown prince’s ascension affect me?” Roselia asked.

“When the empress’s son becomes crown prince, the balance of power will shift. Once he’s firmly established as the imperial heir, the concubine factions will no longer have the means to act recklessly.”

Johannes’s expression turned even more serious as he concluded.

“Until then, you will remain here as a guest from Rugbeljet.”

Overwhelmed by the influx of information, Roselia struggled to process everything.

“I don’t even know what to think anymore… it feels like I’m just causing trouble for everyone.”

At her words, Johannes gently placed his hand over hers.

“Don’t think that way, Roselia. This is your home, the place you were meant to return to. I’ve been waiting for this moment for so long.”

A bittersweet smile appeared on Johannes’s face as he continued.

“I only regret that the circumstances are so difficult. But truly… truly, I’m so glad you’re back.”

Feeling the warmth of his hand, Roselia, still dazed by everything, could only offer him a faint, uncertain smile in return.

* * *

It had already been a month since Roselia arrived in Raphelios.

The Marquess’s methods were thorough.

She was disguised as the Viscount of Bernas, supposedly visiting Raphelios from Rugbeljet on a cultural tour.

In truth, it wasn’t entirely false—she had indeed inherited the Bernas title and estate.

Today, she was riding in a carriage to the imperial palace to greet Her Majesty the Empress.

As Roselia sat by the carriage window, she thought about the letters she had sent to Count Bernas and Claucet.

As expected, the count had responded with a barrage of complaints but had also reassured her that she could return at any time.

However, there had been no reply from Claucet.

Was she angry that Roselia had left without a word?

Did she think responding wasn’t worth the effort?

Lost in such thoughts, Roselia suddenly caught sight of a familiar silhouette in the bustling crowd.

The figure resembled Claucet, blending into the sea of people in the marketplace.

But the glimpse was so fleeting that Roselia shook her head.

She must have been imagining things, preoccupied as she was with thoughts of Claucet.

While she mulled over it, the carriage entered the grounds of the Raphelios imperial palace.

Unlike the imposing, formal architecture of Rugbeljet’s royal palace, the palace of Raphelios was a masterpiece of natural harmony and artistic beauty.

As Roselia admired the breathtaking scenery, Johannes noticed her awe and smiled warmly.

“Shall we step out?”

“Oh! My apologies!”

“No need. You’ll have plenty of opportunities to enjoy it, so take your time getting used to it.”

During her stay at the marquisate, Roselia had learned that her mother—the former Marchioness of Euciliod—was the Empress’s elder sister.

The two sisters, daughters of a count, had taken vastly different paths: one had married into the marquisate, and the other had become part of the imperial family.

Naturally, this made the Marquisate of Euciliod the cornerstone of the empress’s faction.

Dressed in elegant male attire befitting her role as a viscount, Roselia followed Johannes cautiously, her movements slightly stiff.

“Please wait here for a moment,” Johannes said, stopping in front of a grand door before entering alone.

Today, she was to meet Her Majesty the Empress, and possibly even the Crown Prince.

As she stood in the hallway, Roselia found herself staring absentmindedly at a portrait of a beautiful woman.

Though Johannes was teaching her how to control her aura, she worried. ‘What if I fail and the prince becomes drawn to me?’

Just then, Roselia felt someone’s gaze and turned her head sharply.

A boy, no older than ten, was watching her with a suspicious expression.

“Who are you? And why are you blushing while staring at Her Majesty’s portrait?”

Only then did Roselia realize the painting she had been lost in thought over was of the Empress. She flushed with embarrassment.

And who was this boy? Judging by his presence in the palace, he was likely royalty, but she couldn’t tell if he was born of the Empress or a concubine.

From his attire, he was clearly a prince. Roselia quickly lowered her head.

“Greetings to Your Highness.”

“You forgot my name.”

“Pardon?”

“You didn’t mention my name,” the boy said, his sharp observation surprising for someone his age.

Caught off guard, Roselia let out an awkward smile. “Ah… that is…”

Before she could flounder further, Johannes appeared like a savior.

“Greetings to His Highness, Prince Aaron.”

Sensing her unease, Johannes had promptly introduced the boy, easing Roselia’s tension. She quickly bowed alongside him.

Watching her with an amused expression, Johannes smiled. “It seems the two of you have already met. I was planning to introduce you anyway, so this worked out perfectly.”

“Do you know her, Marquess?”

“Yes, Your Highness. This is Antonio de Bernas, Viscount of Rugbeljet.”

At this, Aaron’s eyes lit up with curiosity.

“From Rugbeljet, you say?”

Johannes, knowing Aaron’s interest in Rugbeljet, smiled warmly and spoke with ease.

“Yes, Your Highness. We are heading to the audience chamber to meet Her Majesty the Empress. Would you care to join us?”

Aaron’s eyes sparkled with interest, but he tried to appear indifferent as he replied.

“Ahem, I am far too busy today. Perhaps next time.”

The small child, barely reaching Roselia’s waist, spoke with such an exaggeratedly serious tone that she had to stifle her laughter.

Johannes, seemingly accustomed to Aaron’s behavior, simply smiled and bowed.

“Understood, Your Highness.”

“We shall meet again, Viscount.”

Aaron’s formal farewell, delivered with exaggerated gravity, left Roselia struggling to suppress a smile, her hands itching to ruffle his hair. Instead, she bowed respectfully.

Satisfied, Aaron looked at her with a haughty expression before striding down the corridor with deliberate dignity.

As Roselia watched his retreating figure, she couldn’t help but think of Erlin, a child of a similar age back in Rugbeljet. Aaron, pretending to be so grown-up, was undeniably adorable.

Soon, Roselia followed Johannes into the audience chamber where the Empress awaited.

Upon entering, Roselia saw a dignified woman of middle age watching her with a kind gaze.

The Empress seemed older than Roselia had imagined for Aaron’s mother, but given that she was the Marchioness’s younger sister, her age was understandable. Aaron must have been a child born late in her life.

Johannes and Roselia bowed deeply in greeting. The Empress extended her hand toward Roselia, beckoning gently.

“Come closer…”

Hesitant, Roselia stepped forward. The Empress clasped Roselia’s hands gently in her own, making Roselia freeze in surprise.

“You’ve been through so much, Roselia.”

Hearing the Empress address her by name, clearly aware of her identity, Roselia’s eyes darted toward Johannes in shock.

Seeing him nod calmly, she felt a measure of reassurance.

The Empress’s warm, maternal voice pulled Roselia’s gaze back to her, her words soft and welcoming.

“Welcome home.”

For a moment, Roselia thought, ‘If my mother were alive, would she have felt like this?’

It was only then that the reality she had struggled to process—the fact that she had found her family—finally sank in.

Her nose stung with the overwhelming emotion, but Roselia mustered a wide, genuine smile as she gazed at the Empress.

* * *

On their way back to the marquisate, Johannes suggested they visit the harbor in the marquisate’s territory, redirecting the carriage in that direction.

As Roselia gazed out the window at the lively harbor bustling with activity, her eyes were drawn to a massive mansion towering alone amidst the cluster of smaller buildings.

“What is that enormous building?”

Typically, estates of such scale were located on the outskirts of town with expansive gardens, but this mansion stood like a fortress in the city center, intriguing her.

“It used to be a hotel, but I’ve heard it recently changed ownership.”

“Wow… I’ve never seen a hotel that massive before.”

“Raphelios is known for its vibrant trade with other countries. It attracts many tourists and merchants.”

“I see,” Roselia murmured, continuing to admire the impressive building.

As the carriage passed in front of the hotel, she caught sight of a familiar face near the entrance and instinctively shouted, “Wait! Please stop the carriage!”

This time, there was no mistake. It was definitely her.

Roselia stepped down from the carriage without hesitation and strode toward the woman she had spotted.

“Claucet?”

Standing at the hotel’s entrance, Claucet was sorting through shopping bags stuffed with souvenirs alongside a maid. Startled, she spun around.

“Oh no, I’ve been caught already…”

Caught?

Just then, the hotel staff, standing imposingly near the grand entrance, suddenly bowed in unison toward someone approaching.

From inside the magnificent mansion, a man in a sleek suit emerged, walking straight toward her.

“I had planned to come greet you soon, but it seems we’ve met earlier than expected.”

It was none other than Klaus, the Duke of Valtazar, the sole duke of Rugbeljet. His ever-unreadable expression didn’t falter as he stopped before her.

“The Valtazar estate has recently expanded into the hotel business. For now, I’ll be staying here. Let’s get along, shall we?”

As Klaus finished speaking, a faintly mischievous smirk played on his lips as he added,

“Neighbor.”

(End of Part 1)

 

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