144. To Defy the Original Work

Roselia sat alone on the 14e9784508 bed in the dim room, 32896045cf her gaze drifting across her ebb107db39 surroundings.43ab8df86c148bd3

It was the same room a54c703d3a she had once stayed in 337b388201 as a maid at the 1054ea9d6c duke’s estate.6e98bfcb345eb4ea

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Everything was just 372c5dc7e7 as it had a816f357dc been—spotless, untouched, as bf7b5ad994 if she had dc13b8d519 only stepped out e2837b1e4b yesterday. The sight stirred conflicting 1ac30c77de emotions within her.3081f8edd37c8132

She was no d61757407c longer that girl 24a3e3a2cd who had served 4c425de6dd as a maid e7b51f8996 in this house.bf17c1db51444df6

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She wasn’t Claucet’s domèstico df4a785140 anymore either.ce38aa5561648016

And Claucet herself was 29b99fbff5 no longer the same.626b14e755aca2ae

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The image of 3d6b96283d the once-vibrant, always-spirited a8cc2b4e8e Claucet now gasping 1e84f55120 for breath with d95d975b2c a deathly pale cb7f1c013c face haunted her, df7bd8dafc and it tightened 23c4c4b5b7 like a vice 606a6c766b around her heart.0ab53991484cd608

Unable to bear the bdc82461ef painful memories rising up, c2f6d795cf Roselia buried her face 19113b8665 in both hands and 2ca7ac87e7 bowed her head.5f75f8ffedc14237

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Just then, with a 38260c8605 soft click, the door 717fd6d502 opened and Eva stepped 147cef4339 inside.7c037ab9f6c86da8

“I asked the butler to prepare a little something to eat, my lady…?”9c93bdb81980c0e0

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Seeing Roselia with her 5b3409c9ea face buried in her 753dd04a2f hands, Eva hesitated, wondering ff7d35f5e1 if she was crying, e1d213a31e and carefully approached.c92fb432146e87e0

Roselia slowly lowered her 17527ea287 hands from her face.015354a12441752f

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“I’m fine. You go ahead and eat acd4ec1891 first.”0db76dbb050927cb

Relieved to find b896082bc0 Roselia composed rather be579214c0 than in tears, 9eb09ce957 Eva put on 357a900371 a slightly stern b14550a0e0 expression.b9d4752fe27705b4

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“How can I eat if you don’t, my lady? If you don’t want e65cf3f5e3 to see me collapse c16f8c32cc from hunger, please have bb70617aa1 at least a spoonful 9d1bdca30e first.”88d94648f9d578bc

At Eva’s stubborn d41fe5db9f insistence, Roselia gave 17be781379 a faint, weary a86f408af8 smile and reluctantly 1044108791 picked up a 4159b6d092 spoon.ef11e4a9391b7bf4

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Meanwhile, Eva began unpacking the 539533bf48 small bag they had brought, 05b93cc18b setting their few belongings in a1ae3483ac the corner.86a6c9b3d0554893

There wasn’t much—they had bec470930d come in a hurry. Just a few spare 59510399e7 clothes and essentials purchased d91bc7a50e along the way from 1bf3a23c90 various villages.f1e86249ad0d7819

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“Now that we’re in the duchy, we’ll have to buy a few proper dresses. These ones aren’t very e7cda33be2 good—they were rushed.”809e3cd500649a75

Eva’s discontented grumbling as be6c0048a6 she unpacked prompted a 96c02975b2 quiet remark from Roselia.555849c6cda43464

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“Don’t unpack, Eva.”4414704e16d1ce58

Startled, Eva turned her d0fddb645e head, her hands still 87f1a22e94 holding a garment.42f97f487e77b39d

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“You’re already going back to Raphelios?”dfaae43d4b6d1d53

“…”ce4717e922b8336d

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Roselia didn’t respond.2059e243b551aa2c

She couldn’t leave with 4e178222fa Claucet in that state.cd8afc161dd54dd9

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But she had 2160761c09 no intention of af13c6add2 staying in the 1cbf844fad ducal estate either.16eeccce73da8511

The way Claucet ended up 788e667f2c like this—it felt as if aebd7fde0c the story had punished her e138063a40 for staying by Klaus’s side, 79d8f0e29e for altering the original flow. That guilt gnawed at her.5a2f5c705a112ba1

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In the original, the 51f9aeacef narrative seemed to demand edbce011b3 that Klaus and Roselia fc976f2a5d draw closer while Claucet 7f4b384c57 died as originally written.b766bf0e7881bd1c

Just the thought b6002fb050 of Claucet dying c9fe0eb34a made her chest 4d4e9eba97 ache again.78171717af8d936a

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If she had 9aac381e46 severed ties with f49f121e67 the duke’s household 707475442e after Claucet diverged 76707a557a from the original e3bba2f064 timeline, maybe Claucet 7662cf4077 could have lived 82eecc1ae5 healthily, free from e2e28c0e4b the story’s influence.8b091da996fb5232

She tried to deny it, e3916c23eb but in truth, it was 15b627acca because she had allowed herself 9dfca2a078 to waver toward Klaus…d71a5ed1f2d0e899

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Because she kept becoming entangled f5e2442588 with him, just as the 7b44339d7d original dictated, Claucet’s death—once avoided—had abc67543e6 returned.66cd6c7b60ac64c1

Strictly speaking, Claucet was supposed 6d0becf94a to die earlier, and it 11487fd916 was only Roselia’s interference that 59c7feb6cb had prolonged her life. But that reasoning didn’t b24fa9fc71 enter her mind now.dd1ae05923a97d94

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After what happened a22fbfdbe5 to Nadia… and 9b0c5d64e3 the incident with 13662fe15f Count Bernas… Roselia 5df1a9f388 couldn’t help but b07e6a535a see it all c8556cf046 as a consequence 1be1810ba0 of her failure 4afb861c19 to escape the 76c413a7ca original plot.a70a4a45bbede622

She couldn’t be associated with 524b0edad0 Klaus anymore. Not if she c18b552b0f wanted to defy ccb7ead464 that narrative.73795313f4f12dcc

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“I’ll stay here just for tonight. Tomorrow, I’m leaving the estate.”aa13f546d1ad690e

Roselia’s words made Eva f6101996e6 look at her in 264abfa3fd confusion.d63f977e2cad1627

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From the tone, it 6c733c2025 didn’t sound like she a92a61ed3e meant to return to 2fcadb4b83 Raphelios.0769eb9f85f5653d

“Do you have another place to stay?”105f934c67554e30

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Roselia answered only with silence.04383c45019c390f

She wasn’t even sure if bf8aa3a66c remaining in Rugbeljet was the 21311fac73 right thing to do.3b4a140fb6b7ca15

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If she were truly 9e5bbe34c4 worried about the flow e822b7dd53 of the story, she f680b5d803 should leave at once 56ffd2f70f and return to Raphelios.47e0670ef00fe5bc

Klaus, now bound to Claucet’s bff1590680 side, wouldn’t be able to bda7aa9466 follow her. There would never e635910c15 be a better 56eb19e924 time to put 1ee2105851 distance between them.8452d5ca77d833ab

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But even so, 23c4627986 she couldn’t bring 94fab924fc herself to let ddb7b6b4ac go of Claucet.90f570dc17b36833

Yes… just until Claucet 9a4335ac86 opens her eyes again…1ab7cebd39ce0bda

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Or even just for 3db198f1de a month—or a mere df13f1adac one or two weeks…76aaae77003e4ad8

Until then, Roselia a340695328 wanted to stay 27dad85196 by her side.29b28c1228bb2679

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With her mind made up, d2089ea848 she slowly lifted a spoonful 70ccaf7b9a of cold soup to her 6345fba766 mouth, the taste dull and 8025f62763 gritty on her tongue.5d98ce1bcd5c48b8

* * *bcaf9bf7351a54b1

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Roselia looked down at Claucet, ac331cd599 who seemed to be sleeping f1ce6f121e peacefully, her breathing far calmer 5dd1d45ce5 than the day before.ab377c028f6059c8

The tubes were d00770f5da still attached to 03cab2b6d8 her arms and e99d2e160f legs, but Roselia fd03769047 felt a sense 85de52dfba of relief at f44c16d561 the noticeably eased f1f07cf69c expression on Claucet’s d0c19f5a45 face.7db7ee1efa5538b6

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“My lady, I’ll come again tomorrow.”cb2d3a9602dc82b3

She murmured softly, 6194d7dec5 as if speaking 456f47c8ec to her, then f3c6f19829 gently brushed away 12f92260a6 the hair scattered 43a005a035 across Claucet’s forehead ba9402e0ef and pressed a 432df27e2c kiss to it.a53bcff89cba446e

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“My lady, I’ve packed everything. Not that there was much f32361fb19 to begin with…”06c5ea0b812277c0

Eva peeked her head 0aef1049f1 through the door and 01c3eca521 spoke, prompting Roselia to 8dbc2d937c slowly rise to her 0779f174b7 feet.0099babba89b97a4

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“Alright. I’m coming.”25f287b63c788aeb

Roselia gave Claucet one ebe399114e last glance, then carefully 56869f1dbc opened the door to 8897459249 leave the room.5032c79fc4dd4ff1

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And there, standing bbd1780f62 outside, was Klaus.346eb6da4720cf3f

“Where are you going?”07dab7198a119a00

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His voice was blunt, 23e51fe649 and Roselia avoided his 734b0ee3ed gaze, her tone sharp.0d94bb16f5e87515

“I don’t see why I should report my whereabouts to you, Your Grace.”a6e27d1cd7eb383e

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Klaus’s brow furrowed at the 0537b03178 iciness in her voice—colder than ab93e57289 before.15ec00419252e2ea

Letting out a 4fbd04a27d long sigh, Klaus 0d7b20d32d spoke again, his 6179ed98df tone subdued.3459d93c5326ed63

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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.”cc7d40ede6a02a92

“There isn’t a single room in the duke’s estate that feels comfortable to me.”5946ce9991c48db8

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At Roselia’s resolute 64b54794dc reply, Klaus’s expression bfdf11c720 hardened.c9442ac97f2a11b5

“I thought you came for Claucet…”0e43361d78ebe865

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He seemed uneasy, afraid 843849d98f she might be planning 526c358f38 to return to Raphelios bdffdbe0c6 right away.30716eff56d21ca1

Seeing that brief flicker of 8d05e6ce2a vulnerability in a man usually 717cdcd44a so immovable, Roselia forced herself e80feb5bef to suppress the wavering in 4347eb1768 her chest.94edf67c65826592

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“I’ll come visit her from time to time. Though I won’t be 3be7bb4654 staying in Rugbeljet for 8d4b1c17c9 long.”206f211355bcbce1

Klaus’s expression relaxed 1b1cc83a0d slightly, seemingly reassured 47e7b0acbe that she wasn’t 5196d23f8a leaving immediately.fab50dcfddbe61d5

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“Then at least tell me where you’ll be staying. I’m asking because I’m worried.”7b3e3ae8312827b4

Even at his softened 51240c4d2b tone, Roselia brushed past 8d59f21c76 him coldly, pretending not 60a934dc5f to hear.28960d7d948757af

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Seeing her looking so fragile, bbf4d6e47a like she might vanish at 4f57270afb any moment, Klaus instinctively reached 6993c92a65 out and caught her wrist.8ba6fb5f1e7d2c89

But the moment he 157ada64f8 touched her, Roselia recoiled, 74fc750e88 as if she’d been f6948d000a touched by something unclean. Her face turned pale.db3ab929d3d54779

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Her reaction, so 3b9cdf5b0b visibly repulsed—as if c5e05f82ea something filthy had 4116ba233e brushed against her—left 5b6df6ed62 Klaus stunned.435fe66d3826286c

Seeing the hurt flicker 9109efb692 in his eyes, Roselia 8628e7feaf turned away, forcing her 3e1c58d330 voice to remain cold.01ed62b21d887817

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“Don’t touch me without permission.”b440b169ee04a37a

She added indifferently, 571048d722 without so much fc89898ca9 as a glance.f7d05a06c1fa2dae

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“And wherever I go, don’t concern yourself with it.”350f7911c06c2607

With those final, cutting words, b9b4b8a428 Roselia turned and walked away, dafe26f859 her footsteps sharp and unyielding.7f3a672f03e1343a

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Klaus could do nothing but 6324fca75e stand frozen, rooted to the 2b8253f3a3 spot.af8ae3131af4bc30

Meanwhile, Eva, having watched the 1cbdaab042 two nervously, hurried after Roselia 4d9bba217b with their small travel bag c5cfe3e08c in hand.dfae243e0d2590e9

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Once just a bold maid 80f345ba09 within his walls, the woman 74d122e6f3 Klaus had once protected was e912f50949 now like a mirage—close enough f840e36ce5 to reach, yet always slipping 0699bdc61e away—as she disappeared from the f7ced14eba duke’s estate.8959d44c784c1193

* * *b8698530b0d5ada9

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“Where are we?”de81da93c291189d

Eva, who had stepped f676702488 down from the carriage 53dfb9a4eb behind Roselia, stared wide-eyed e49aa0e52b at the grand mansion cf3d0cc88e towering in front of b4bd5d4255 her.b8146a213edf7606

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Though it couldn’t compare e1dbe1a6fb to the Marquess of 2530c12a77 Euciliod’s estate or the 89d0e29784 Duke of Valtazar’s, the ef57d0cdd0 massive building standing proudly 65967be43b in the middle of aa0c7d6fb4 the city certainly didn’t e62797d9f8 look like the inn b630d7f14d she had expected.a321b67c18950084

Roselia, catching Eva glancing around af8c793bdb in bewilderment, smiled softly before d6cc72b131 walking up and knocking on 2a174f680f the familiar door.57e1af7d677ac5ef

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Before long, a well-dressed f679f5f839 man in a neat 6154187ce6 suit appeared and opened 91fbdb9487 it. A middle-aged gentleman d9c470d4fd wearing silver-framed glasses 6e92721e67 peered out at 81f6670982 them curiously.5be5b112da1026bc

The noblewoman standing 9df023d2d1 before him was 958dc53ce7 unfamiliar.39bcc38ff100ffb2

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“How may I help you?”473091313ca990e4

At his polite 1268662123 inquiry, Roselia offered 693622d910 a calm and ecb34fe695 composed smile.54fd55d98091d2ed

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“I imagine this greeting is rather sudden. I’m Roselia von Euciliod… or 21d9550acd rather, Antonio de Bernas.”094ad9d4871e5e09

At her composed 4a887d5d6a introduction, the man 4066eac81f stared blankly, forgetting ca6eb42a92 even to adjust 6127324e86 his slipping glasses.a437ed3c034624df

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“Pardon…?”af01a47e7aab8023

De Bernas?9891f11d6d30a5ac

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This was the Bernas 9a8bbe4369 Count’s residence. What on earth e0973df5c5 was she saying?1dc801d373711ae2

Then something suddenly 87f700e3ee clicked in his b800db8ef7 mind.81461f26782f969e

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“Could it be…?”888249ddea46f6de

Yes, the one b5e4531e30 he’d only heard 9304f41397 of in stories—3f66d49d6347657e

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“Yes. I’m the Viscount de Bernas.”7639352415e3b48e

Roselia smiled elegantly, and the c2193ddd51 man’s mouth fell open in c31f06c949 stunned silence.34c1782ec0e5eb45

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A woman? The Viscount was a woman? But for now, f3496e59dd her gender wasn’t 315e866394 the important part. The man quickly 02614af950 regained his composure.beb77dcaeead8dc1

“P-please wait in the drawing room a moment. I’ll inform Count Bernas at 6a7eba2723 once.”228f3fedf0196930

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Despite his flustered bbb55eba6f face, the man 88c9a7fc5b led them calmly 69bdbddcbc to the parlor.983b49da840f31c5

Roselia took in the 190581c6e8 space with a flicker f0c4ff4b17 of recognition.5072c9cc69cf146a

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It was just as she 2ca7b56033 remembered from the times she 90dd5e3772 visited as Viscount—though now the 147abd1145 place looked more polished and e4aa1a36b9 well-maintained.6a4e330ba5c1cf99

She had already heard that e9f3e99eb0 many of the staff and 5b315067d6 even the physician had returned 88a428a30c to the household, but seeing 563020ca14 it with her own eyes 8672927dfa brought comfort.54ec628cde977934

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Meanwhile, Eva, still glancing around 9b44d387d7 wide-eyed, finally seemed to realize 4bd3e89721 something and cautiously asked,572672449f95d509

“This is… the count’s mansion where you lived as Viscount?”572a62630d0751a3

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Roselia simply nodded with a ef426b9341 smile.db1814c37e4a0b31

Eva, looking newly awed, scanned a02930bc2d the room with bright, curious 3194f72391 eyes.5adfd33c87f33d27

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“The Count of Bernas must be a very kind person to have taken care of you, my lady.”770db57ad32167cd

Roselia could only offer 8e7d5ce4d8 a faint, awkward smile.9451162da2a3c168

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It wasn’t the b36ee5ffc2 count who had 6b1e90f421 cared for her—but a6f39f785b the other way 13df56bd83 around.24e90335d37d28b8

Well… no need to 6286e9f5d0 correct her.b5d96e69f03b50b9

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As she thought d1462c9a2f this, the man f3e89451cf from earlier reentered 98c20fff35 and gave a ddba7428b7 respectful bow.8a6dbc8e9d7691c8

“Apologies for the late greeting. I’m Langerton Bonnegurt, dcae92e7e9 the physician and 8242e1f39f acting butler here.”886b53b9680b52aa

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With a courteous 47599d153a smile and composed 7d9233feab demeanor, he added,a4e1c89c89606f1a

“The Count is waiting in the study.”9433004eb4d0e128

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Roselia rose with a serene 1056ad9e42 smile and followed.1b9bfc450913df9f

Leaving Eva behind 063d61fd28 in the parlor, f26d76ec65 she paused in 4403a87d69 front of the 996cf737e7 study door, taking 6420944a6c a deep breath.22c1b0d9107edc3b

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Her gaze dropped to her 641c2b3cf2 attire, and a complicated expression ef1c044fd6 crossed her face.4eeefc1e75a46fac

The Count would 17cfa7a09b remember her only 57465e6e8d as Antonio.faa08e210273a541

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With his progressing memory issues… 4942a94f17 would he even recognize her?2c797a131ffbfdcb

Would he feel 81f08b1042 betrayed or angry 34bbef0405 that she had e11cbec03a hidden her identity?ac5e859b8be407e8

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A wave of doubt 93599d5e63 washed over her, but 280843c822 she didn’t intend to 6b3e160bfa turn back now.562daf22b3f767e2

Composing her expression, 921c9fdd16 Roselia opened the 0154a2fddf door and stepped 3b970d06a7 into the study.b0bade366b042507

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There he was—Count Bernas—sitting 8cabd5f9c4 leisurely in the sun-drenched d07efb3aa7 rocking chair by the 8a7d9a4fe8 window, just as he 46ddfbee09 always had.0c9cbc1bcd1987ac

With his familiar white hair 396fb94513 and beard, his monocle, the 2fef254c98 firm line of his lips, 3f1fc44cd9 and his deep-set eyes—he looked 7d44a5d738 exactly as she remembered.c8132f572a65b05e

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“Grandfather.”f303171bf15c27ce

At the sight of his efabecab0d face, all the confusion and f4f38dd51c anxiety Roselia had felt over cbae98b9e7 Claucet and the original story bea481994d crumbled like sand.090bdee07e5886a5

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Her eyes blurred without her 18760a4df8 even realizing it.66076055bbabb8d7

Unlike with Johannes, this was baa1d5cedd someone else who cherished her c785ecab63 as family.176e99006c9d44f9

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Finally, Count Bernas slowly lifted 95b592dca7 his head.5554e95dfec66af8

He looked at her e3ae9ffac1 in her dress without e036f71b86 the slightest trace of 0272aeb618 surprise, wearing the same da5c5bf7da peaceful expression he always 31535f1b80 had, as if he 0b3cc08c5d were greeting her just c7611cf66d as he had the d0778ba93d day before.a20901168c087272

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“Antonio. You’ve come.”1d0cf3422df6246f

That steady, familiar voice—unchanged in d503f78b65 tone or strength—broke something within ace1c3a36c her.0684d0de8846f6f2

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Tears silently rolled e45dfa4141 down Roselia’s cheeks.214d70f94dc3267f

 30a4df69995ee6fd

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