IBDSID-Chapter-88

88. The Duke’s Achilles’ heel

In a dimly lit study filled with deep mahogany furniture, a man
slouched into a plush sofa, nervously tapping the rim of his glass
with his fingertips.

“Damn it… who would have thought that woman masquerading as
a man was actually of Raphelios bloodline…?”

Grand Duke Rubelio muttered coldly, his voice laced with irritation
as he downed his drink in one swift motion.

“This just got even more troublesome.”

The shadowy figure standing silently before him, Rubelio’s
right-hand man, bowed his head.

“From what I’ve heard, the imperial family of Raphelios is already
under the control of the concubine factions…”

“What does that matter?”

The Grand Duke snapped impatiently. His aide continued in a
calm tone, his head still bowed.

“While I’m unsure about the Empress’s faction, the concubine
faction would see a bloodline woman as a threat rather than
someone to protect.”

The Grand Duke’s hand froze mid-tap against the glass at this
remark.

“Hmm… you’ve provided something useful for once.”
He set the glass down on the table and slowly stroked his chin,
muttering under his breath.

“Of course… I didn’t think of that. If Raphelios finds out about a
bloodline woman, they’d be desperate to exploit her.”

A sinister smile spread across his lips.

“If they learn that she’s actually a woman in disguise, this could
turn into an excellent bargaining chip with the Raphelios scum.”

At his words, the aide bowed deeply.

Having organized his thoughts, the Grand Duke poured himself a
fresh drink, his mood visibly lifting as he grinned.

“I’ll need to make contact with the Raphelios delegation,
specifically with the nobles aligned with the concubine faction.”

“I’ll make the arrangements. However… revealing that the woman
is female will require close access. With the Duke’s estate so tightly
guarded, it won’t be easy to approach her.”

“Hmm…”

The Grand Duke fell silent, mulling over the challenge. Then, a
wicked grin curved his lips.

“There’s a way to divert the Duke’s attention elsewhere.”

He sipped the amber liquid in his glass, savoring it before
swallowing with satisfaction.
“And if it happens to sour his relationship with the Crown Prince in
the process, all the better.”

***

Roselia watched Count Bernas and Claucet with a smile as they sat
side by side in the garden of the Count’s estate, each working on
their own painting.

Despite their frequent bickering, the way they admired and
critiqued each other’s work felt heartwarming, almost like a
grandfather and granddaughter sharing a moment.

“Look at this. How can a bird look like that? I’ve never seen such a
plump canary in my life,” Count Bernas grumbled, his tone playful
yet sharp.

Claucet puffed up her cheeks and glared at him sulkily.

“I was emphasizing Pipi’s cuteness!”

“Cuteness, my foot. It’s so chubby I’d question whether it could
even fly.”

“That’s not fat, it’s feathers! And what about your painting,
Grandfather? Isn’t that girl supposed to be me?”

Claucet pointed at the portrait Count Bernas was painting in an
attempt to retaliate.

“You’ve got a keen eye. Yes, it’s you and Antonio.”
“And since when am I short and stubby like that?”

Claucet’s sharp retort was met with an indifferent response from
the Count.

“I paint in hyperrealism.”

“Ugh! Grandfather!”

As Claucet flushed with indignation, both Count Bernas and
Roselia burst into laughter.

In truth, Claucet’s painting of the canary was exquisite, despite the
Count’s teasing. It was delicate and beautiful, with a slight touch of
whimsy that made it more endearing than a real canary.

Roselia, who had developed a keen eye for art under Abel and
Nadia’s guidance, found it impressive. Claucet’s rapid
improvement in such a short time was remarkable.

Her skills now were nearly on par with Abel and Nadia, though
perhaps not yet at Count Bernas’s level.

Why, then, hadn’t Claucet’s artistic talent been mentioned in the
original story?

Was this another new twist in the narrative?

Aside from the mention of Klaus having a sister, there was hardly
any information about Claucet in the original. Roselia couldn’t help
but wonder if she had overlooked something important.

Lost in thought, she shook her head.
No, that couldn’t be it. After all, even Count Bernas, who had only
painted war scenes in the original, now created serene, beautiful
depictions of peaceful life.

Similarly, Nadia, who had left behind only one painting before her
death in the original, now filled this world with dozens of her works
depicting vast, open skies.

Perhaps Claucet’s newfound artistic talent was just another minor
change, one that added richness to this altered version of the
story.

Roselia was jolted from her thoughts by Claucet’s brusque voice.

“Antonio, what are you thinking about?”

“Oh… nothing much,” Roselia replied awkwardly, offering a
sheepish smile.

Noticing her distracted state, Count Bernas gestured toward the
easel in front of him.

“If you’ve got nothing to do, come sit here.”

“Pardon?”

“If you’re going to sit there daydreaming, you might as well model
for us.”

“Oh… yes, sir.”
Carrying a chair hesitantly, Roselia approached the easels, her
awkward demeanor drawing a mischievous grin from Claucet.

“I’ll draw you beautifully!” Claucet promised with a giggle.

Once Roselia settled into the chair, both the Count and Claucet
turned serious, their focus entirely on their sketches.

Watching them, Roselia felt a smile creep onto her lips.

The Count, noticing her expression, spoke without lifting his gaze
from his work.

“If you’re going to smile, keep smiling. Stop changing your
expression.”

“Yes… understood,” Roselia replied softly.

Claucet, unable to contain herself, burst into laughter at the
Count’s curt remark.

Her bright laughter was infectious, and soon Roselia couldn’t hold
back her own laughter either.

***

Returning from her visit to the Count’s estate, Roselia made her
way, as usual, to the Duke’s study.

She stacked a collection of history books about Raphelios and
Lugbeljet on the table and sat down, immediately diving into her
reading.
The books contained far more detailed accounts and histories than
the sparse information she had known from the original work.

As she immersed herself in the intricacies of the world’s history, a
strange sense of dissonance crept over her.

Was this truly the same world that had once existed only in a
book?

Did the original author really conceive such an expansive history
and lore, or… had this new world built itself as she studied its
previously untold details?

Her thoughts were interrupted by a peculiar sensation, like a
prickling warmth against her cheek. She glanced to the side,
startled to find Klaus leaning casually against the bookshelf,
gazing down at her.

“Oh my goodness! When did you get here?”

“Just now,” he replied with a soft smile.

“I won’t disturb you. Keep reading.”

Roselia frowned, feeling more flustered than comforted.

His very presence was distracting enough. His lingering gaze
ignited a warmth that reminded her of his lips from the previous
night, leaving her feeling flushed all over again.

“Um… Your Grace…”

“Yes?”
“Don’t you have work to do?”

“Of course,” Klaus replied nonchalantly, his lips curving into a
mischievous grin.

His casual tone and refusal to leave made Roselia feel
self-conscious as he sat across from her, deliberately invading her
space.

“Even when I’m busy, I make time to see you,” he added.

His unreserved gaze made Roselia avert her eyes, fixing them back
on her book.

But his piercing stare seemed to trace her every move, from the
way she turned the pages to the small gestures of her hands.

His intense attention made her body tingle with an almost
unbearable tension, a lingering memory of the night before when
he had left his mark on her.

Her lips tightened in an effort to hold herself together as Klaus
spoke in a low voice.

“Antonio.”

Roselia jumped, startled out of her thoughts.

“Y-yes?”

“You smell good.”
His sly smile sent her face ablaze as she stammered, “You’re being
playful again.”

Finding even her flustered reaction endearing, Klaus replied with a
tone of mock innocence.

“I’m just stating a fact.”

“I’ll… tone it down,” Roselia muttered, trying to mask her
embarrassment with a sharp tone.

But Klaus’s grin widened, his voice lowering to a velvet-like
murmur.

“I like your scent.”

“I’m well aware,” she replied curtly, pretending to stay focused on
her book.

Klaus chuckled softly. “Good. I’m glad you know.”

Roselia, realizing she couldn’t concentrate with him around,
narrowed her eyes.

“If you don’t have any specific business with me, wouldn’t it be
more efficient for you to return to your office and handle your
work?”

“I can work efficiently anywhere, Antonio.”

“Of course, Your Grace,” she muttered dryly, rolling her eyes.
Her muscles still ached from his relentless antics the previous
night, and his casual demeanor only made him seem more
exasperating.

Noticing her frustrated glance, Klaus casually picked up one of the
books she’d brought.

“Raphelios history… Are you regretting not going with the
Marquess?”

Startled, Roselia’s expression faltered before she replied evenly,
“I’m just gathering information in case they reach out. It’s better to
be prepared.”

Her blunt response made Klaus’s brow furrow deeply.

“If they target you or try to contact you, I won’t sit idly by, no matter
who they are—even if it’s the Empire of Raphelios.”

“You’re overreacting again,” Roselia sighed. “I’m only studying in
case of a hypothetical scenario.”

Klaus softened his expression, though his voice remained steady.

“If you’re curious about your family in Raphelios, I could look into it
for you.”

His unexpected offer left Roselia wide-eyed.

Klaus cleared his throat awkwardly and continued, “Bloodline
records are highly secretive, but if you want, I’ll investigate further.”

Her sharp gaze narrowed. “You’ve already tried, haven’t you?”
Caught off guard, Klaus avoided her eyes. Roselia sighed, shaking
her head.

“They’re strangers to me. I don’t feel any attachment or longing for
them. As I said, I’m just studying to prepare for the unknown.
There’s no need to concern yourself.”

Klaus’s expression finally relaxed, reassured by her words.

Roselia caught his relieved look and couldn’t help but smile faintly.

Just then, the study door burst open, and Alejandro hurried inside,
looking panicked.

“Your Grace!”

Klaus’s brow furrowed as he asked sharply, “What’s the matter?”

“It’s… a message from the imperial palace…”

Alejandro hesitated, glancing nervously at Klaus before continuing.

“The Crown Princess has gone missing while traveling to the
southern region.”

The sudden news shocked Roselia, making her stiffen in place.

Her uneasy gaze instinctively turned to Klaus.

He stood frozen, his face pale as a statue, completely immobilized
by the revelation.