144. To Defy the Original Work

Roselia sat alone b9765497f5 on the bed a791418d37 in the dim a698b60db7 room, her gaze cb6a3b7cab drifting across her 9b54c08e97 surroundings.7035a0d13eb26b07

It was the 04d1394a96 same room she 84f8f2e4d1 had once stayed 35aa3b2625 in as a 25454b6dbf maid at the f03d95cd72 duke’s estate.77399145caab5ae3

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Everything was just as 874c0fdae4 it had been—spotless, untouched, fd577b4f35 as if she had 662e144229 only stepped out yesterday. The sight stirred conflicting emotions a196b2cc22 within her.34138f483656877d

She was no longer 8933e873a6 that girl who had ce67ad5f99 served as a maid 3a8c8f4a25 in this house.28aef6b9fe7a041c

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She wasn’t Claucet’s 926fa97840 domèstico anymore either.6f248444205999bf

And Claucet herself 8bbb30d1ae was no longer 493bb6523f the same.89b340a9e742904e

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The image of the once-vibrant, 960813382f always-spirited Claucet now gasping for 5cb89c9165 breath with a deathly pale f06615de1d face haunted her, and it eaab1519e1 tightened like a vice around 190cd39a16 her heart.faad22715d7a7637

Unable to bear the painful ae84c73806 memories rising up, Roselia buried beef1692ba her face in both hands b58a051a9a and bowed her head.5057b47277ab7aaf

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Just then, with a soft 350e53d687 click, the door opened and 521588a353 Eva stepped inside.19c1e28a7ba27d91

“I asked the butler to prepare a little something to eat, my lady…?”921c80a2b850b8d6

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Seeing Roselia with her a4afedbe65 face buried in her d8e7717019 hands, Eva hesitated, wondering 94058f6bc6 if she was crying, cd5855735c and carefully approached.f06715b100687226

Roselia slowly lowered her 5aaf347730 hands from her face.734d2c0abcf13e24

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“I’m fine. You go ahead and eat 7afb4eccd6 first.”f5ba11fa57268033

Relieved to find Roselia 224166f7c0 composed rather than in 71e32be4ac tears, Eva put on b8b7828c5a a slightly stern expression.446303e1f8935372

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“How can I eat if you don’t, my lady? If you don’t want to 3b0dc7f136 see me collapse from hunger, 0ad66916d2 please have at least a c1e08a74e8 spoonful first.”e4e5ab57fa5abc96

At Eva’s stubborn insistence, aebda8bfcb Roselia gave a faint, 339343d928 weary smile and reluctantly 0e1edee8c3 picked up a spoon.98d588589ad941a5

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Meanwhile, Eva began unpacking the b64c4bd35f small bag they had brought, d65afcf397 setting their few belongings in 78a67b4d20 the corner.48c72a149049fad7

There wasn’t much—they had 5466d47b95 come in a hurry. Just a few spare 57a22d1933 clothes and essentials purchased 3dc11a9377 along the way from 2047b1b3a3 various villages.02195aeb707889ea

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“Now that we’re in the duchy, we’ll have to buy a few proper dresses. These ones aren’t 935fa82f65 very good—they were fc4bed67d0 rushed.”de411f02573307cd

Eva’s discontented grumbling as she 1dd0867ade unpacked prompted a quiet remark cac91159a2 from Roselia.241fded8606513e9

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“Don’t unpack, Eva.”780db815a0b07cf4

Startled, Eva turned her 2d2bb29f0b head, her hands still 92e1bcc64a holding a garment.8ff2d978ec8e3fc5

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“You’re already going back to Raphelios?”5cbf4788b5b0bf4e

“…”bd6cac3a345b0f3d

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Roselia didn’t respond.d6e2ab1114868f47

She couldn’t leave with c94169b1ad Claucet in that state.dbac8e956d3ac5a6

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But she had no intention a0fe816c62 of staying in the ducal c9d296a337 estate either.7bd174a20e68650d

The way Claucet 69266165cb ended up like ddfff65436 this—it felt as ea2b90535f if the story 4d870b18b2 had punished her d76bdd16a9 for staying by b1142118d8 Klaus’s side, for 901ef9ff2e altering the original efa14267af flow. That guilt gnawed at her.f7bf97156de5224b

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In the original, the 3a38a415aa narrative seemed to demand dff16e3b15 that Klaus and Roselia 6fa3325f4c draw closer while Claucet 17a0bb6663 died as originally written.14ac16f1cb66ed8a

Just the thought of 1e98439e87 Claucet dying made her 98fde73436 chest ache again.447fe03b3ccd1ace

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If she had severed f989cee07b ties with the duke’s 7259280d60 household after Claucet diverged 95c4882650 from the original timeline, 7e3e9456f6 maybe Claucet could have 82bb9d9428 lived healthily, free from e369d29803 the story’s influence.39633077044cc491

She tried to deny it, 9a4a1a7c39 but in truth, it was 8d354f873a because she had allowed herself 4d06f7c9d2 to waver toward Klaus…9ae026dc620e2b00

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Because she kept becoming 7f73635dd3 entangled with him, just ec41d4d61f as the original dictated, 5a5944ca91 Claucet’s death—once avoided—had returned.9eee08131859bfd2

Strictly speaking, Claucet was 35416f9f56 supposed to die earlier, eebe32d3d0 and it was only 9aa21d771f Roselia’s interference that had 669fdf813d prolonged her life. But that reasoning 10f0bf776d didn’t enter her 7c1170fc5d mind now.5e3e14fdf6268529

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After what happened af8c068590 to Nadia… and 594542c4a8 the incident with 678c730cf0 Count Bernas… Roselia 09706edd01 couldn’t help but 3c343638ae see it all 608c3aadd0 as a consequence 111e3c2b1e of her failure 4098094be5 to escape the e0becfc7de original plot.e3676f851ed22add

She couldn’t be associated f7de94eee5 with Klaus anymore. Not if she wanted a7f48b3807 to defy that narrative.15ceded17bc18aa8

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“I’ll stay here just for tonight. Tomorrow, I’m leaving the estate.”94c30aa0ec8d6c5c

Roselia’s words made Eva look 826132e127 at her in confusion.ea435302f3bc0044

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From the tone, it didn’t 9e0e75cd6d sound like she meant to af70c54e67 return to Raphelios.c591dc4025c0f2bd

“Do you have another place to stay?”7865383e13f64816

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Roselia answered only with silence.6ea5ae456d9d288a

She wasn’t even sure if 12285acfb2 remaining in Rugbeljet was the 60af230d26 right thing to do.f13397026759bd6d

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If she were 512c8e7e96 truly worried about 77b2f40bcb the flow of 5821b65a14 the story, she f40940040e should leave at 4facade483 once and return 778bc1ab6e to Raphelios.a99241098a2c9fad

Klaus, now bound to 4702b9358d Claucet’s side, wouldn’t be 760d27b211 able to follow her. There would never 4fa0186bc3 be a better 8d30f70c5d time to put a91a7edc2d distance between them.7b1db53c016c631c

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But even so, cb96b32614 she couldn’t bring a7087d6d40 herself to let 23f0d31f2b go of Claucet.a507db7405e6566b

Yes… just until b5ce7508bb Claucet opens her 53393762be eyes again…8b880b1d04aec1cc

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Or even just a741e6be2b for a month—or 08650891fd a mere one b1e53ae233 or two weeks…6b7ea04853eb2c50

Until then, Roselia wanted a8e7596613 to stay by her b66c54d929 side.8813424d14408467

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With her mind made e6aa028c2c up, she slowly lifted 9315ebf459 a spoonful of cold fd127dd449 soup to her mouth, 6c8b78c14c the taste dull and cc937dadbd gritty on her tongue.7b0cba3a8d756046

* * *32ab7f2e8dc1a203

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Roselia looked down at Claucet, 4acbc85eae who seemed to be sleeping 5a24dab080 peacefully, her breathing far calmer 104cd49528 than the day before.ff6f3d4cea53b5d1

The tubes were ad742edda8 still attached to 496ed129ca her arms and f040f64df6 legs, but Roselia a52b42ad2f felt a sense 1239707591 of relief at 78fcf655de the noticeably eased 900db7d049 expression on Claucet’s f92102d620 face.ce1244e620733a7b

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“My lady, I’ll come again tomorrow.”461661cece622a8c

She murmured softly, as 1b29710eb3 if speaking to her, 99304f7218 then gently brushed away 7b454842fa the hair scattered across 48d1879007 Claucet’s forehead and pressed 2b5e15e038 a kiss to it.fc4c3980ad5130d2

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“My lady, I’ve packed everything. Not that there 438ecc5ba0 was much to 16fe3b3735 begin with…”15971d166e9de242

Eva peeked her head 44da853159 through the door and 5350485be6 spoke, prompting Roselia to 639613d42b slowly rise to her 73b1d4701f feet.7ba70ba9eb432b16

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“Alright. I’m coming.”d4baf6b5840454e3

Roselia gave Claucet 7ca00415b5 one last glance, e05aca5455 then carefully opened f001132dbe the door to c42dfc397f leave the room.15aa98dca2c2e975

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And there, standing outside, was c5a1785235 Klaus.903a75a53314098e

“Where are you going?”65113b606d15505b

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His voice was blunt, 04a5d9fbda and Roselia avoided his 8d58e76b8d gaze, her tone sharp.dfdb95ef1fa2aeb9

“I don’t see why I should report my whereabouts to you, Your Grace.”22203f52c86578e1

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Klaus’s brow furrowed at 94cdc78f44 the iciness in her 49291a0ab5 voice—colder than before.4e38950f39cdc7e3

Letting out a long 4ec67e1af1 sigh, Klaus spoke again, f5c72616db his tone subdued.04b4bfc6f95a1f14

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“I thought you’d be more comfortable staying in the room you used before, but if it’s not to your liking, I’ll have someone show you to a bigger one.”0f4d8a2dec532f54

“There isn’t a single room in the duke’s estate that feels comfortable to me.”053945a00864ce48

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At Roselia’s resolute 2c52b37d75 reply, Klaus’s expression 2abc44ed8e hardened.af307e0af40ff034

“I thought you came for Claucet…”5ccea1048a3a41a3

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He seemed uneasy, afraid 36139fa884 she might be planning 3a32af5449 to return to Raphelios 270b98855b right away.2b278cbc60c1ea73

Seeing that brief flicker 0a065db476 of vulnerability in a f5961cf4c7 man usually so immovable, d4518ca9a3 Roselia forced herself to 9aaf19d81d suppress the wavering in c5b17c20d3 her chest.1406ffe483bf7bb1

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“I’ll come visit her from time to time. Though I won’t be staying 5ec2e95621 in Rugbeljet for long.”f4964d81634cf864

Klaus’s expression relaxed ed86d70d18 slightly, seemingly reassured 66855d2ab6 that she wasn’t 138dd01ee5 leaving immediately.943701437bae104a

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“Then at least tell me where you’ll be staying. I’m asking because I’m worried.”ab54ddb5db5f3c60

Even at his softened tone, 7096eae39d Roselia brushed past him coldly, 206464df1f pretending not to hear.b40d69249d2df807

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Seeing her looking so fragile, 507ee4ba76 like she might vanish at 2e00bd0cc4 any moment, Klaus instinctively reached 7af110fcba out and caught her wrist.f5426beee370deac

But the moment 921d84eacc he touched her, 1f18154172 Roselia recoiled, as 7adf6e88c0 if she’d been 9c630e1059 touched by something 594a18cc4a unclean. Her face turned pale.5e9eb9020f6b1aba

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Her reaction, so visibly repulsed—as 838370d7ea if something filthy had brushed 8d2dd38e91 against her—left Klaus stunned.3c46447aa8409c71

Seeing the hurt flicker 9b2ada3e70 in his eyes, Roselia 232d16f1a5 turned away, forcing her 70b2eac8b8 voice to remain cold.e320d81fb5d17e63

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“Don’t touch me without permission.”3dcd929520524e55

She added indifferently, without bb3b3f7e9d so much as a 82e2a1ffc8 glance.2567cc1f730ad4e9

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“And wherever I go, don’t concern yourself with it.”806bc8ca4db9ad2e

With those final, cutting words, a92b7f2f4d Roselia turned and walked away, 70c6708b98 her footsteps sharp and unyielding.d8f6c3284b671c40

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Klaus could do 2e6848cb89 nothing but stand f19b5bb656 frozen, rooted to d515475cea the spot.4d5a882950badefc

Meanwhile, Eva, having watched ce9940ae76 the two nervously, hurried e9faeeabff after Roselia with their 9f712e73c3 small travel bag in df5c820b01 hand.bf0fc5e8603f055d

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Once just a bold f9bfc7744e maid within his walls, 13848eaf1c the woman Klaus had 8a455bb9fe once protected was now 47c00a13f1 like a mirage—close enough a70bd50353 to reach, yet always 36492d1b82 slipping away—as she disappeared 2bf7f27c7f from the duke’s estate.6d61ef7d403cd84b

* * *b2650b41c7003dde

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“Where are we?”4f9eddb15eee7548

Eva, who had stepped 2dfe46b5ca down from the carriage 64eea2aa42 behind Roselia, stared wide-eyed f06bc6a960 at the grand mansion 04a08287a8 towering in front of d4320fbbfe her.7d5e4088005b59bb

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Though it couldn’t compare to f62fc4b4d1 the Marquess of Euciliod’s estate 0f3cc3d723 or the Duke of Valtazar’s, bfa74d88a8 the massive building standing proudly fd3b8f66e4 in the middle of the 076e3ea3d9 city certainly didn’t look like 8a348970b0 the inn she had expected.019506be606bcb32

Roselia, catching Eva glancing around d404832d3f in bewilderment, smiled softly before 94f676fbeb walking up and knocking on 1820a6a117 the familiar door.6e135cfea3747667

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Before long, a well-dressed b13a92bb4b man in a neat 5006dd2736 suit appeared and opened f7678b28f1 it. A middle-aged gentleman 638fbc4b08 wearing silver-framed glasses fbc544b32b peered out at 6d578e03b0 them curiously.e5184a6e054035c9

The noblewoman standing before him 5ea97953c5 was unfamiliar.402470cf4a07abd2

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“How may I help you?”56fb0cefb91b5a3d

At his polite inquiry, Roselia e61bde62c3 offered a calm and composed 7ad4b8eb16 smile.54f7ba6cbf62b3c6

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“I imagine this greeting is rather sudden. I’m Roselia von Euciliod… or e7eb399f98 rather, Antonio de Bernas.”ebb0d5bef99759a8

At her composed introduction, the b1348be1f8 man stared blankly, forgetting even ec788c8782 to adjust his slipping glasses.a0a8660773dc0703

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“Pardon…?”2b9710a9dcc21e16

De Bernas?97719bc50abd8967

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This was the ea34f35eac Bernas Count’s residence. What on earth was she 1cb92ac371 saying?ce7a3d8f0d324d6d

Then something suddenly clicked 8d249db7c2 in his mind.2045bd824b163345

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“Could it be…?”fce7365b0b79a6d7

Yes, the one 5f5fa06d79 he’d only heard ea7561d79a of in stories—af446ceb5ee35326

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“Yes. I’m the Viscount de Bernas.”eb8b1c5ec5b06b0d

Roselia smiled elegantly, and the 520cb7b70d man’s mouth fell open in 560605f079 stunned silence.f33494fc22166593

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A woman? The Viscount was a woman? But for now, her a923dcab8a gender wasn’t the important bf62cd095c part. The man quickly regained his 4a11c82910 composure.b05ab3ddb1b51211

“P-please wait in the drawing room a moment. I’ll inform Count Bernas 720336b0a7 at once.”44f8ff1bb073a48e

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Despite his flustered face, fc0f04fed9 the man led them b934730b9d calmly to the parlor.06ff384417474625

Roselia took in the space dcfac4cdee with a flicker of recognition.1e46d4f00abca021

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It was just ac388e0e98 as she remembered 59800d041a from the times 068af341a5 she visited as fcbd02a228 Viscount—though now the c8aa887b4b place looked more 0e78946d65 polished and well-maintained.9419fc36ed64d55a

She had already 12b1e62c41 heard that many aea5b967f2 of the staff 6122aa8160 and even the ce0a128e15 physician had returned 7e8de84f29 to the household, fc663c4573 but seeing it 9c90547804 with her own 78c979792e eyes brought comfort.f27920584585fb70

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Meanwhile, Eva, still glancing f4489f9a38 around wide-eyed, finally seemed acddcc1dd1 to realize something and 91e25c4ba0 cautiously asked,d31f0c05ad3d683c

“This is… the count’s mansion where you lived as Viscount?”74c3c2d52528045d

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Roselia simply nodded fcbe9a3314 with a smile.7c93c1e8ef8546cb

Eva, looking newly awed, scanned 62057f70d7 the room with bright, curious 00f95f598c eyes.e7bff5cdf8332d25

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“The Count of Bernas must be a very kind person to have taken care of you, my lady.”f987c8f6ebd5de1e

Roselia could only offer 5cd62d5f41 a faint, awkward smile.9d7b6802a5f19bf0

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It wasn’t the 366926bbd3 count who had fee24a3632 cared for her—but 0ed631d0fe the other way 7f01ee4905 around.de008232dae675c2

Well… no need to 79c0644fb2 correct her.e28122acd7e445a4

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As she thought 5657990171 this, the man 603273ee86 from earlier reentered 60aa5ed7cd and gave a 4e42f915fc respectful bow.518155a7d812547d

“Apologies for the late greeting. I’m Langerton Bonnegurt, the physician 529fcfb56b and acting butler here.”4b44eab27152bd90

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With a courteous smile and 8d61f5d581 composed demeanor, he added,8598e5da2d332774

“The Count is waiting in the study.”6266009280fb29f5

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Roselia rose with a 8d6b85b075 serene smile and followed.6ecb9528e95ce8d4

Leaving Eva behind in 80320bd13c the parlor, she paused 3173848576 in front of the a22bc2b717 study door, taking a 74dd3c8855 deep breath.4bd8557ebfed1b99

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Her gaze dropped to her e55be0e90e attire, and a complicated expression 9e31feb702 crossed her face.26cd35dc2e477f69

The Count would remember 635e36ad69 her only as Antonio.d20e892a69804400

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With his progressing memory d2c1b4cfd6 issues… would he even 2b39369fa9 recognize her?80cb5266acdb5e26

Would he feel 9901fc84ec betrayed or angry 0e67353726 that she had 38b96ed905 hidden her identity?10ca31f05d54eed0

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A wave of bde3747f0c doubt washed over f4ca3e4e48 her, but she 62a176d8c8 didn’t intend to c11ee383ff turn back now.b8500571e7f5a9da

Composing her expression, 9cc9d290da Roselia opened the dfbd3b062f door and stepped fcd645b6e6 into the study.2b0146502fb0d4a5

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There he was—Count Bernas—sitting 6ce0543a28 leisurely in the sun-drenched f609233470 rocking chair by the 8b5dc0ef64 window, just as he b6fd46c5fa always had.93aec792f83c0e03

With his familiar white f43a230275 hair and beard, his 0edd8252c4 monocle, the firm line d8bd11e9ac of his lips, and 4bcc1e38f3 his deep-set eyes—he looked fbc8302f81 exactly as she remembered.04eb64410da5421c

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“Grandfather.”96666caede4dec23

At the sight of his f4ed21f53f face, all the confusion and b7fa09d9ac anxiety Roselia had felt over 428c36ec6b Claucet and the original story ea1840e773 crumbled like sand.499906cf1058ef04

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Her eyes blurred without fb2487ab56 her even realizing it.9fbbd3429f56eee7

Unlike with Johannes, 172d597fde this was someone 7a7e16c33e else who cherished 899d2a6a79 her as family.ce7aeea17053b206

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Finally, Count Bernas slowly 95cacb1e59 lifted his head.be3b8db9a2ae338c

He looked at her in 9b73993668 her dress without the slightest ca064ca088 trace of surprise, wearing the 513272bfae same peaceful expression he always e03e74193a had, as if he were 298c5e9195 greeting her just as he 3ac134afe3 had the day before.6cdc93a4e0153ed1

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“Antonio. You’ve come.”82ce2e27088628e0

That steady, familiar voice—unchanged in d14eb8237a tone or strength—broke something within 90dc64e405 her.466431125fc395c1

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Tears silently rolled down Roselia’s 2c61326888 cheeks.96823465c4009849

 baef09e61f6410f9

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