Chapter 14

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It's Hettoko's turn with the魔王 Papa.

Alber is quite a father-complex case, you know.

Father doesn't like it when I go to places he can't see.

How much does he dislike it? To the point where Sebastian's consumption of stomach medicine drastically increases, and the servants let out blue cries.

But when I want to go out, there's only one option.

Until now, I haven't had much reason to go out, and I've been fine with just staying in the mansion, so it's a bit of a gamble—can I do it?

From the way Father reacted when I casually mentioned wanting to go out before, I was even more confident.

So! I'll take advantage of Father's love for his daughter!

I'm sorry for being such a spoiled daughter. But Father is just too supportive. It's really scary to go to a dungeon full of enemies, the targets of conquest, alone.

"Father, I want to go out, but I'm scared to go alone. Could you come with me?"

"Of course, my dear Alber. How about we go to a boutique in the capital? Or shall we visit the Rose Trading Company that Alber established? You've never been there, right?"

"Hehe, it's been a while since I've gone out with Father. I'll leave it to you."

The company was almost entirely the work of Julius and Sebastian, and I just happened to be the one who suggested it...

But since Father seems happy, I'll let it be.

If it weren't for the convent issue, the Latitche family would be very close. I'm quite a father-complex case too.

They say a parent's heart is unknown to the child, but a child's heart is unknown to the parent. I don't want to see the Latitche family—Father—fall. I don't want the ducal family to decline.

I'm sorry for suddenly asking Father on a date, but Sebastian is kind and won't be angry. Rather, everyone in the Latitche family is quite indulgent with the silly daughter, Alber. Thanks to that, the hikikomori can smile peacefully today.

When I entwine my arm with Father's, my face is as bright as if it might burst. It's because of his good looks that it doesn't look greasy.

Father's stomach isn't protruding at all, and the clothes he wears are stylish and cool, combining the history of the noble family with the latest fashion.

The latest dress from the Rose brand is a recent popular slender type. It has a high-waist cut and a sash belt made of a bright blue ribbon. The white dress is adorned with delicate lace and embroidery, not flashy but elegant and beautiful. The silhouette that spreads softly on the knees is beautiful and my favorite.

My hair is tied up in a half-up style, held in place with a barrette made of silver and aquamarine.

Dangling from my ears are matching aquamarine drop earrings and a necklace.

Since I'm going out with Father, I have to put in effort to look good.

I don't know, but my 'capriciousness' guarantees Father's good mood for about a month! And I'm shedding tears of joy because it's a cute capriciousness that we go out together. To Father, it's nothing more than a reward. The power of a daughter is too great.

Is it okay for Father to so easily agree to his busy daughter's capriciousness?

But it's very much appreciated. I don't want to be in the middle of a situation where I'm surrounded by flags or bluffs when I go to meet the target of conquest.

It's impossible for a chicken. I want to be a hikikomori. But I firmly refuse the route of destruction.

Father is at the pinnacle of both literary and martial arts. He can overwhelm even Michaelis with a sword, and manipulate even Kistharia with magic. He is truly a cheat in existence—however, even with that cheat, the real Alber was rejected because in some routes, the cheat father had to command at the border, or there were unstable events in the country, and he couldn't show his authority near Alber.

Father is Alber's strongest shield and sword.

I'm sorry, but I might be a parasite on Father's leg for life.

To stop being one, I would have to become a disciplined nun...

It's too late for a hikikomori to work.

Can I endure a life of poverty? Can I make a city my home?

When I go to the academy, I receive VIP treatment. Of course, my Father is an incredible authority.

A duke and a marshal. Amazing, even though I'm a hikikomori daughter.

I was led to a reception room with extravagantly gilded furnishings, but I was surprised that the person I wanted to call out was not the duke's son, Kistharia, but Jibril.

I wore a wide-brimmed bonnet to hide my face.

"Ah, right. Alber, can I ask you something?"

"Yes, what is it?"

When Father touched my ear, or rather my earring, the air suddenly moved.

Is this magic? When I tilted my head, my hair color had changed to the same ash brown as Father's. It was a bit lighter than Kistharia's, a color that matched Father. I thought I would check my eyes, and Sebastian quickly handed me a hand mirror. Indeed, they were aquamarine.

"Oh! They match Father's!"

The lighter color makes the atmosphere much softer.

If we stand side by side in this state, we really look like father and daughter! I, who strongly resemble my mother, don't have much of Father's features... The real Alber feels the cold and ruthless genes of Father.

But, it's impossible for my mother—Mother Chris—to cheat on Father. Such a possibility is unthinkable, to the point where Father would lose all interest in me.

But why? I tilt my head with a smile.

"Alber isn't well-known, but you look a lot like Christina, so we can't let anyone suspicious figure it out."

"Even with Father here?"

"Fools are everywhere, Alber."

From somewhere, he even put on glasses. It seems to be a magical tool. He didn't say what it was, but it might be a GPS system.

It's really silly. There are people who want to make Father an enemy. It's really too much.

Father's chest, where he lovingly touches my cheek, is probably filled with memories of the late Mother. When he looks at me, he sees someone else.

I hardly have any memories of Mother Christina.

But I don't mind seeing Father see Mother in me. I look a lot like Mother and not much like Father. But through me, Father's gaze tells me that I was born out of the love of Father and Mother.

And now, I'm just the coloring, but I'm Father.

I'm a bit excited. In this form, I might look more like a sister to Kistharia. As I wait, the anxious face of the headmaster appears.

It seems that Jibril is in the forest area outside the academy for an extracurricular activity. Why would a noble lady be in such a place... But it's a fantasy, so it's pointless to nitpick. And this is the stage of a dating game. A little absurdity is nothing compared to a flag.

He said he would be back in about an hour.

"Useless."

When Father casually throws in a sarcastic remark, the headmaster trembles.

I don't like it when Father is in his demon king mode. He seems very angry that his cute daughter is being kept waiting.

"Then, can we take a tour of the academy while we wait?"

"Yes! Of course! The greenhouse and the rose garden in the west are in full bloom now."

I mentally punch myself to keep quiet about the rose garden in a school.

If I nitpick, I lose. There are many bourgeois in the academy, so there are many such unnecessary facilities.

However, leaving Father here waiting is too risky. I'll try to tour the academy without being too unnatural.

The roses, which are in full bloom, are magnificent, and various flowers color the hedges and arches. The green that shines in the sunlight and the vividly blooming flowers are so beautiful that I want to capture them in a painting.

"Oh, they're so beautiful, Father."

"Should we make one at home?"

"I like our garden as it is. A little glimpse is enough."

"Indeed. The palace has many roses, but I got tired of them after three days."

Is that the level where the palace gardeners should cry?

The gardeners at the Latitche mansion also take great care of the garden.

Occasionally, I go to see the new flowers, which is one of my pleasures. If I see the whole garden, I'll collapse. The Latitche mansion is quite large.

In the spring, having tea in the gazebo is quite delightful.

By the way, I haven't made any new sweets recently. Should I unlock the recipes for eclairs, cookie cream puffs, and custard pudding soon?

The development of a magic stone-powered mixer for efficient meringue and whipped cream production is progressing, and my cooking level is steadily improving. We are gathering mages and craftsmen to try making magic stone stoves, ovens, and stovetops. Mages aren't interested in household appliances, but they jumped at the offer of research funding. Magic stone refrigerators and freezers are also being developed for commercialization. In any world, research doesn't progress without a patron.

"Oh, this hedge is a maze."

"It seems so."

"Father, shall we have a race? Who can reach the goal first?"

"A race?"

"Is it not allowed?"

"No, it's fine. —Sebastian, Raven, Anna. You stay with Alber."

When Father said it as a matter of course, the three who had been standing a step back came to my side.

Father is alone.

Well, isn't it better to protect the duke and marshal Father rather than the hikikomori daughter?

"Father, are you alone?"

"I can protect myself, and Alber is the one who might get lost."

"But I'm a graduate of this academy, you know," Father says with a charming wink.

Oops! Father is a graduate of this academy!

But indeed... Since the children of nobles attend, it's not strange for Father, the duke of the Latitche family, to have attended. In fact, the next head, Kistharia, attends. By the way, the first prince and other princes do too.

"If you get lost, cut down the roses and go outside."

"But, but that would be cruel to the roses!"

After all, they are blooming so beautifully!

Father tilts his head in confusion, but the spirit of not wasting things is shouting no.

"Besides, I won't get lost!"

Father's smile is so gentle. He's smiling, but he's not affirming it at all. What the heck! I'll escape and reach the goal right away!

So.

"Oh???"

I seemed to be lost.

I boldly set off, but with roses on the right and roses on the left, I got lost in about ten minutes. Was I distracted by the beauty of the flowers and wandered around too much? Oh, how embarrassing.

I put my finger to my cheek and tilted my head, "Oh???" Maybe I'm directionally challenged? Now that I think about it, Julius or Kistharia usually lead the way, don't they?

I suddenly stopped and started wandering around. The servants have the same lukewarm, loving smile as Father. Raven is looking at me curiously.

Stop it! Your adorable expression is making me even more frustrated!

I'm getting stubborn and looking around aimlessly.

"Ugh..."

"Miss, we've already been down that path."

"Is that so? Then..."

"That's a dead end."

"Oh?"

Is that so? I'm completely lost.

I don't even know where I've been. Chicks are chirping around my head. I'm confused.

Raven is staring at me. I look at Raven too.

"Raven, please."

When I put my hands together and tilt my head, "Please," Raven nods and starts to guide me.

Our servants are really excellent and a great help. It's so easy and the hikikomori lady is even more decadent.

But after walking steadily without a pause, Raven, who occasionally looks back to check if I'm following, suddenly stopped.

Raven's expression, which is usually close to expressionless, shows a hint of confusion. Raven, who is often said to be hard to understand, looks very troubled.

"What's wrong, Raven?"

"I