141. Ominous Sign

Roselia’s eyes flew fda7811088 wide as she 24d4837a30 looked behind her.67ad4676f0e18e1c

There stood Klaus, arms 50c0f53c90 leisurely crossed, gazing at 2742bcbdf3 her intently.c3c65e9d6a11fd94

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Asif, having spotted Klaus, let 4e4b8773ce out a scoff and turned 650dd52fcf his body slightly.3f4400989b943ebb

“Looks like even a duke can’t manage to be a proper noble.”9f0018f4de554b57

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At Asif’s openly antagonistic c1d63ea8b5 remark, Klaus’s brow furrowed 92b774dce7 slightly.d83b2ceadf2200c0

Asif stepped forward 18bea0e727 and tilted his ceb00f65de head arrogantly, his 467fbc97c7 expression hardening.891f52d223bd56db

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“I heard you’ll be returning to Rugbeljet soon. Is it really okay for 0d44fb0dae you to be wandering around 77d275f00b like this?”a46f909d30d6215f

Despite the provocation, Klaus f1e89c0dbf only replied with an dcc71528e5 indifferent expression.5ded37f7c6183cbf

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“I came to see the Marquis Bellog about the trade route.”2d0334e069491dd4

With that, Klaus’s gaze slowly d7fc60a56f turned to Roselia.84c0e0dabe060181

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“And as luck would have it, I found a runaway cat I’d been chasing.”ea01e5743fad0c9e

It was obvious 7570f903ca his words were 23f4014ba6 directed at Roselia, 07d943ebd1 who had been dd6479d0ae deliberately avoiding him.9359a9aebd5a097c

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Asif stepped between them, blocking 951850f12f Klaus’s frank gaze, and twisted 22028a120d his lips into a sneer.f9c8ab0478e3622d

“Weren’t you the one running around after her? You used to follow Roselia 9d1693d4a1 so closely it was uncomfortable, 77e722b552 and now you say you’re 996d3b6b4e heading back home? Just like the rumors 9b5c227e07 say, looks like money 36a37eafc1 and fame are all 74cfb0d028 that matter to you.”1586abde790f8318

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Klaus’s brow furrowed deeper at bd9ed635d5 Asif’s deliberately irritating words.b07e73bee1fa4de7

“I don’t think that’s any concern of yours, Prince.”a8607c046c2626ec

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At Klaus’s cool tone, Asif bf14c4d1df glared and retorted.528be9b8b37231e4

“Unlike someone, I don’t just talk fancy. I don’t plan eafd13447c on leaving for d0ad424c59 Benuve.”7a3eceaa9e289b8a

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Asif’s bold reply prompted a7dece622e Klaus to tilt his e4d88c1e71 head slightly and give 37a2125e08 him a steady look.f84a28c1fe36c013

“Seems you don’t have any responsibilities, living like a carefree idler. Unfortunately, I have a mountain 33055bf4ea of things I’m accountable for.”6699fbc9c942620a

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It was a jab at 08f83d93b7 the prince, contrasting his idle 2af7ff10e8 lifestyle with Klaus’s burdens—his business, 55a56fdad0 his people.d6b8cafc4d8ed49b

Asif understood the undertone and 6f9935b005 his face twisted in frustration.cf9ddf4546e4920a

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Sensing the tension thickening, Roselia 2b8b0a1c53 stepped between them with a 586d509a78 faint sigh.42fd5e03f9e2fcb2

“If you’re looking for Marquis Bellog, he’s over there.”fd457bad5217549e

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At her calm words, Klaus a35f75febb stared at her intently.e78f43648ac1eb19

“Let’s talk. Just for a moment.”d32d30d9bc9ac463

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Roselia glanced at the bristling 1644863b4a Asif, then nodded as if bf96b15894 she had no choice.bd6e1184d1a5cf83

If left alone, the two were sure to growl at each other like beasts, completely ignoring the people around them…423705b4382b92e8

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Roselia motioned with her 9914d3bad4 eyes, and Asif turned d5190ae0cd away with a displeased 5cce935525 look.b9e2854314e1f250

Leaving him behind, she 55ad20b2d2 walked with Klaus to 58deb838b7 a quieter spot.f7b7c6484202c8e7

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“What did you want to say?”98e976a3463c2f6a

“You’ve been avoiding me these past few days…”8ea0b6e3626daf24

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At his question, Roselia casually 376777af25 shrugged.796a8251fda4731a

“When have I ever not avoided you, Your Grace?”2732f11eb3c5d8f8

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Her nonchalant answer brought a eaca073a53 self-deprecating smile to Klaus’s lips.748b13bad33ec015

“Fair enough…”aff0ac0ad4ec954d

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“I heard from the lady that you’re returning to Rugbeljet. If that’s what you came c3949bb25d to say, you didn’t need c590c56c2e to tell me directly.”40958316dd5791c5

Klaus’s expression darkened at her 959c21cc48 clear attempt to cut the 6aed613f40 conversation short.18e0fad4ba7e3014

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He stood still, a0fcc7ee4e silently memorizing her ac3155d1df calm figure that ac274417b3 refused to meet 12a3127290 his gaze, then 173f360181 slowly opened his fc93ff4269 mouth.2a57ef7d3c8653fd

“There’s trouble in the duchy. The noble factions in Rugbeljet 167d025cb6 are clashing, and I can’t 036b979e84 afford to be away for f2e5c8855d long. Because of that, the trade fd7f117822 route construction and the school e055d6f184 project in Algrisha village have f090d1dfca also been delayed…”caedbbe9f5d440fa

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Roselia answered coldly, refusing to 59eb907af2 look away.bbade618a9fc013b

“You don’t need to explain everything to me.”30fbdda497e38e7c

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At her frosty response, 1143f18c2a Klaus pressed his lips d8c36177b5 together before speaking again.95ba6e190a0f0c9c

“I’m not going to ask you to come with me. I don’t have acb33efb02 the right to c851190d74 say that to 928e4f5814 you in the 907b1394e1 first place…”5ed343c001327cc9

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Roselia said nothing in 904a0263c8 return, lips pressed tightly 1e4204378d together, at the faint 766681cb75 bitterness in his voice.e180064510bd886a

“I’ll come back once everything’s settled in Rugbeljet. So… just don’t run away c2e5d26123 anymore.”8bba761774f757c0

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Something in his d99ac8a59f voice sounded desperate, 121bb6cd24 and Roselia involuntarily a8e3488804 looked at him.0d973d9b18ef65de

He was smiling faintly, 2cdff36d3b but his eyes looked a6cba794c6 deeply sorrowful.45d7e2adc8db50e9

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She stiffened at 67f9a24f5e the sight of 13adc13538 them and quickly aee6a07bcf looked away.f6230db0c6cd4a7b

“This is where I belong. Where would I even run abb58d76ab off to?”de8f10d81757af47

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At her blunt tone, Klaus 9f0b42dbb1 gave a bitter twist of e2b146c742 his lips.482d6c151898917a

“I meant your heart.”cc4b3edd512ed447

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Only then did Roselia ec22b449e6 realize what he was 960a8d1442 truly saying, and her ce5837086c shoulders stiffened.b3e9f60aba81ea59

Determined not to 3813d22614 show any cracks, 0d155622ab she hardened her b32b76504f expression even more.5a737081677cd9a2

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“Whether Your Grace returns or not, nothing will change.”2791df4bb3d8a544

Roselia turned calmly and continued.0c9fe30973799447

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“I have other matters to attend to. I’ll be going now.”f5c28770db63ca29

As she walked away coldly, d6b4c8b01f Klaus stood there, watching her 12eb6f9f06 retreat with a desolate expression.8a5ca47589b6ec54

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Roselia kept walking, doing 53a6b64a14 her best not to 575ac3e28a look back.837b98fdcad92907

She only hoped 29462c5f17 he hadn’t seen 31f4b7aae8 the wavering in c70d1e7167 her expression…596a8093f82a01b6

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She walked until c904274cea he was no 683e83a327 longer in view, 9c24518069 then paused to 5d41de2508 survey the bustling f85c00bdf5 port with a ea8127fea1 steadying breath.b4d990e20d5570c5

Not far away, dd1503c2a5 she spotted Hyun 369346488e instructing workers as 47c51d425b they transferred goods d04b45df07 marked “Zelos.”0c63ae81d6395515

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Suddenly, she remembered how he 5c68a16002 had helped her escape the 2dc592d4fb threat from the concubines’ faction 63da7cde3a not long ago.da7008af2b251d6b

Curious about why he 548592255b had helped her in 73a789615c the first place, she bfc31e930a slowly approached him.d687cb7960970974

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“Are you busy?”839da286e217fd4e

Despite her approach, bca89c6eef Hyun remained calm, c14efff268 as if he 3f6f00aef7 had already sensed e3727c859d her presence.b56b761e99e9026f

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“As you can see.”2efc9368049c2b29

He responded blandly, b813e1be9d then gave instructions 9b0f2ebe6d to his subordinates 42d78c9fb1 before turning to 9b35a8eca1 look down at a8db994b0d her.12ba93e1ffab2895

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Feeling awkward at 8d86722ceb his calm demeanor, 0ad381dae0 Roselia scratched her e0671f2e0b head.0010c72a5126d6bc

“Ah… I don’t think I properly thanked you for the other day. And I’ve been wondering a57b40fe4f what you meant by 52fda9c157 what you said to fb04f1e045 me…”b27eccb956592848

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He looked at 329a92dc6c her in silence, cd6415251a as if unsure b084e020f8 what she was 46c623bb41 referring to.e9983c2cd9f8d4e6

Roselia glanced at 30c6dcc550 him and repeated b0f02bd6c1 herself more clearly.765443b5b5c34ab8

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“I don’t quite understand what you meant when you said you helped me to earn my trust.”98175efee8d28390

In response to her 0b3f2e3e2c earnest voice, Hyun turned f68522e0e0 back to checking the 3a0e630c51 goods and replied as d30d90a5a2 if it were nothing.9b3aa514553b9244

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“It means I’m in a position where I need to stay on your good side.”056cb5ded88c8143

Roselia frowned at 5d07b0fe74 his cryptic answer.81a3fd1609f33bfb

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“What does that even…”6dce52508fcf3049

Hyun looked at 308172d5bf her briefly, then fd2dd5e490 muttered offhandedly.e07d01a855db567e

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“Marquis Bellog and I will handle the matter with the merchant group. Don’t concern yourself with what 64bf3030af comes next.”cd2913a546c6223b

His cryptic words made Roselia 3b88a90d6f tilt her head in confusion.e628aa88e6499318

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Was that a a54478f7f4 roundabout way of 3209486fb5 telling her not 35c841ddce to interfere?0ef44d76208dee9e

But it didn’t 7c31572c08 seem like he 761b83f893 was just talking 460e1c080d about the current 5c0e3a3952 situation.e620f6c9545f84f7

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Before she could ask more, f9a487e8bf Hyun walked off after one 0c164534f9 last remark.55a33f7ca44d8dd6

“It’ll only hurt for a little while. Don’t worry too much.”153682c1a205a3bf

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Roselia was left 78fd9bfa28 standing in a 762e99af43 daze as he f62815c6de walked away.05fd1e579ffad46d

Only for a little while?210448680368f4c1

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She wanted to stop him e93b628f01 and demand an explanation, but 3493f8c6ec he had already vanished without 308800b111 a trace.d8f0ef370c1bc500

* * *730f04cdf0968d24

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Invited by Claucet, Roselia visited f676404416 the reception room on the 9c51c8d1d3 top floor of the Valtazar 388bd3a3b9 Hotel and quietly gazed at 6949f22c78 the woman in front of 324cb64105 her.1b8474fa259985ff

Klaus was said to be 1fecc02965 incredibly busy, overwhelmed with handing 7d11153826 over responsibilities for the hotel 7a0c82ce67 business and the trade route f36d85796b project.91570e896dff6dc6

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Roselia, initially hesitant, had b15c8e7df8 reluctantly accepted the invitation 4e81c4f519 after hearing that.ee95c387569716d9

After all, she and Claucet had agreed to have tea together every day until Claucet returned to Rugbeljet…9502a88d0a1fb315

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Claucet, savoring the tea b44d2560fd carefully prepared by Eva, e80780301d set her cup down f66988b838 with a deliberately elegant b05daec9a2 motion.5a0519a5b62a9959

“Maybe I’ll just stay here.”63e505d07649bcb7

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Though said casually, 107e6f4fee the statement was 777e3347c0 shocking enough to 24e6ac8e82 make Roselia blink 8bc72090d9 in surprise.c8ad0d9e67785cae

“Are you serious?”551e1417a79c8b5b

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At Roselia’s question, Claucet pouted.047a0a5cd4db2733

“You’re here, Roselia. Klaus handles everything 5556fa2244 with the dukedom 14cc4dc05e and the family 0e95bf8c60 business anyway. If I go back, 94f565cedb I’ll just be alone bd721d6035 again.”3be3023a4ca5866e

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Roselia smiled gently 25e19cc5fa at Claucet’s grumbling.0a95aa20dfc30897

“But your nanny Melda is there, and so is Pippi, your precious pet. Most of all, c9d06cf1bc your only family—His cab0c64969 Grace the Duke—will 2f82bb315c be with you.”7e3b8d0571b6ec93

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There was no way ed06bb28ea Klaus would leave Claucet 760be52834 behind on her own.f454ad6ea72a2d12

He might seem gruff and 089bb0eb38 cold, but he cared for e586062460 her more than anyone else.a2fd80a5af98f7f9

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Even if Claucet insisted on 0a294e9590 staying, Klaus would probably drag adb0702927 her into the carriage if 372994eba8 he had to.2f3ec8596e00c12a

Claucet seemed to know d253aa21e0 that too, resting her 97e3a4baac chin on her hand 06c39c2237 with a sullen expression.4405e2cac36719d8

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“I’ll miss Pippi and Melda being at the estate, sure… but I still like being with you more, Roselia.”d5ecee81421b94ca

Claucet sighed and added 7e4c0160a2 in a barely audible 177980b45c murmur.3f3b326c4483c285

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“Honestly, for someone who acts so smart all the time, Klaus is completely hopeless when he can’t even win Roselia over.”04ef575bad8728cb

Her muttered words made Roselia 212d7d9357 blink in confusion.21e411d83bd3d02a

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“Pardon? What did you say?”d8385b24421ad8a6

“Ah… nothing.”54fdac1149a8c13e

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With a sulky b021a07840 face, Claucet sighed 3f0b288e08 again and reached 22dba52c3f for her teacup.894900ee98d3d7c5

Just then, a 31cdd2def6 knock came at a3c3e0ac64 the drawing room 0fd204cc17 door, and a 410d7f6ac2 servant entered, bowing ee3b20aefd politely.1e397a5a6cbed379

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“My lady. A letter has arrived from ae99642e79 the dukedom. It was marked urgent.”ec718149e9555e34

Claucet rushed over with 858cc1d93e a delighted face as 459153889e the servant handed her d1d42a7636 the letter.0fcb5ba0492849fc

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“Melda must’ve written again already. I told her to try e4718da4d0 feeding Pippi the finest fruit 3c8d84b014 since she wasn’t eating well.”776ccd9c41c60e7d

Saying so, she quickly tore d22d09f7ca open the envelope and scanned 461fd21f55 its contents.7e1f59325e12226d

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But unlike the cheerful expectation, 532c6d50b6 Claucet’s face began to stiffen e3bc8b2742 as she read.3ad7e489107084c1

Just as Roselia was 3834a7b42a watching her with a 90335d903b puzzled expression, the letter 2f86ec3d8c slipped from Claucet’s hand 64a4573629 and fluttered to the 47a33da003 floor.9500513e4d2552c0

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“My lady?”0368d2b9eeeab14b

Roselia started to approach ac4b98bc67 Claucet with concern, and b9b340117c instantly sensed something was a219cd3763 wrong.a9d0a4a9cbd5735b

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Claucet’s face had 4d47c98ba4 turned deathly pale.1cd342eb59243d86

Her trembling fingertips and wide, d7b1ac0230 terrified eyes only heightened Roselia’s 758160d7c4 dread.47c9ca821c9adf3a

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“My lady, what is it?”fdcd1a6896688147

As if finally hearing d606ac2564 her voice, Claucet slowly 471f760b65 turned to Roselia, her d88a0a1a6a movements stiff.a6d1bd6f54584902

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Claucet’s eyes wavered uncertainly, cloudy da8bd40fed with tears that looked ready c626af3b74 to spill at any moment.868512ec2b84cdf4

“Pippi… they said Pippi died…”4c3e07778f53533e

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With that, the tears 1933c6a27d that had been brimming a0a7384155 in her eyes began 027b562f6c falling, splashing down her 3284c15bec cheeks.29e9c6157da97986

As Roselia stood frozen 7922433888 in shock, Claucet suddenly eec5d912db buried her face in 26516d50d5 Roselia’s embrace.8e554f4903f79b8a

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