Chapter 24

Father had hanged the royal family's attendants and royal guards at the Bloody Carnival, yet surprisingly, there was no reprimand from the surroundings.

No matter how much the Latitche family is a great noble family and Father is a respected figure, shouldn't there be some kind of punishment, even a little?

Perhaps it's just that the news hasn't reached the ears of the NEET. It might be that the capital is seething with tension, and I'm worried about that.

However, worrying won't change anything. I asked Sebastian with determination, but he lowered his eyebrows and replied, "Everyone is desperately trying to please Lord."

Why is that?

It seems that the First Prince and the Second Prince were infatuated with the young noblewoman, Renaria, and had been causing all sorts of trouble. This had been a source of discontent among the nobles, and it was on the verge of exploding. Lucas and Leold had not yet been decided as the Crown Prince, and they should have been competing to win that position. However, they were so preoccupied with pleasing Renaria that they were becoming lazy. They neglected their fiancées, social events, and official duties, and were only focused on trying to win Renaria's heart, who was known for her frivolous behavior. It's quite annoying.

As a result, capable people distanced themselves from such princes. Only those who had been bound together since childhood remained, and even they were infatuated with Renaria. It's a bit like a hellish scene.

The academy is a miniature of the noble society.

The unexpected downfall of the princes, who had been competing fiercely and brilliantly until now.

It seems that the faction of the First Princess is rising behind the scenes, and those who couldn't join the princes' factions are flocking to her. It seems that she has been suddenly elevated. Is it good for the royal family to be like this...?

In such a chaotic situation, the problem caused by Prince Lucas.

He accused a noble young lady of a false crime. This had happened several times before, but due to the authority of the royal family, most of the time, the victims had to endure it. However, this time it was a young lady from a top-tier noble family. Moreover, he not only insulted her but also injured her.

Furthermore, that young lady was a respected figure, even by the Sandis royal family—not just respected, but treated with a fear close to reverence. And the head of her family was a rare genius, but also known for being difficult.

To make matters worse, her beloved daughter had already had her life ruined by a royal family's mistake.

Father, who is dangerous to everyone except me, had been turning a blind eye to the royal family's reckless games. However, he was visiting his beloved daughter and son at the academy, and it seems he was there to demand punishment for the young lady who had been spreading rumors about his daughter, whom he didn't even know.

Wow, where does Father get his information about the academy... Julius? Raven? Kishutaria? Anyway, it seems that Renaria was in a hopeless situation.

It was a situation where her head could have been physically removed at any moment, but Father held back when I was with him. Then, Renaria told Prince Lucas that the reason Kishutaria had rejected her was my fault. As a result, Prince Lucas, who had been acting recklessly, dragged me out of the carriage on my way home without doing any proper research. He intended to publicly denounce and humiliate me to vent his frustration.

But why did he target me? Really.

I was in a very impressive carriage, and it even had a full escort of knights.

A young lady from a ducal family, the highest of the upper nobles, whose grandmother is a princess. Moreover, her father is incredibly capable and dotes on his daughter to the point of being obsessed.

It's hopeless. What a jerk, Your Highness.

The Sandis royal family had already been sufficiently frightened by Father once before. The second time would be even more terrifying, wouldn't it?

...Albert, I don't know!

Anyway, the princes, who had been causing one problem after another, are now being tightly controlled by Father, and everyone is just laughing at them.

It seems that as long as the king is still alive and not a vegetable, it's fine.

The NEET didn't know, but since entering the academy, he had been repeatedly warning the prince, who had awakened to true love, about his tyrannical behavior. The king was also struggling, and the prime minister and ministers were at their wits' end.

It was one thing to fight bitterly over the right of succession, but causing problems over women was a no-go.

The current king had also suffered because of the previous kings' promiscuity with women.

Of course, it's a tragedy that the next king, who was supposed to be raised carefully, turned out like this.

Ah, they're the princes of my country. Could the Sandis Kingdom be in a dire situation? In the game, they had a grand wedding parade with the heroine at the end...

No way! That would be a problem! What would I do if the representative of the country acted like that!?

Ugh... I didn't expect the situation to be like this while the villain was absent...

Honestly, I want to laugh at the blonde prince's faction and say, "Serves you right, hahaha!"

Father is currently working hard to take a vacation on his birthday.

Incidentally, it seems that part of his work includes dealing with the prince and his faction.

I'll also work hard to make delicious cakes! I've recently been allowed to make meat sauce and white sauce, so I can make various things with tomato sauce, which is derived from ketchup. Gratin, lasagna, pizza, and pasta sauces are all good options...

I'm not even allowed to touch a knife, let alone go near a stove or any place with high temperatures. I'll have to beg the chefs. Yes, I will!

I came to the backyard secretly, without Anna noticing.

It's a sunny spot where daisies always bloom.

They bloom all year round, but especially in spring.

They are a hardy variety, closer to weeds, but there are always enough to make a crown of flowers.

I picked one and started weaving it, adding more daisies.

They lack the splendor of roses, the elegance of lilies, or the purity of daffodils.

I like their simple, unassuming charm.

I remember trying to make a crown of flowers for Raven here once. But I ended up giving it to Julius because he found me first. It was a bit different, but they both have black hair, so it seemed to suit them.

I haven't seen Raven since that day. He's probably undergoing 're-education' as Father calls it. I wonder if I'll see him again. I hope I do. I miss him.

I used to think of him like a younger brother. Even though he has a blank expression, I like how he looks his age when he's surprised.

I never got to give him the crown of flowers.

I wanted to see what face he would make if I gave it to him with a "Thank you always."

Maybe he would even smile, I hoped.

But that day never came.

This is where Julius first confessed to me. It was more like he was confessing his sins.

Julius Fran had been Albertina's servant since he was old enough to understand.

I immediately rejected him then, but I can't forget that last, pleading look. Especially since it was Julius.

But why did he fall in love with me? Despite always treating me like a failure, why did he fall for this girl who only has looks, family, and bloodline, all inherited from her parents?

I think Julius would prefer someone more proactive and intelligent.

But Julius, being handsome, would probably seek a partner as beautiful as himself.

Speaking of handsome, Kishutaria is also handsome.

Though from a branch family, his position as a ducal heir is unquestioned. He was taken in and educated from a young age, and he is a fine young man by any standard.

Even during his short time at the academy, he received constant attention. Many young ladies were looking at him with admiration.

He could have his pick of more wonderful women, but for some reason, he seems to like me. I don't understand.

Mikaelis seems to like me.

Probably for sure.

He is more explicit in showing his affection, sometimes approaching me quite boldly.

He is usually serious and diligent, and despite his dazzling appearance, he doesn't seem to play around with women. He's quite stern, to be honest.

My sources are limited to the servants and a few merchants, but I've never heard anything bad about Mikaelis. He is a handsome knight and count known for his charm, but it seems he has been in love with someone for a long time...

Despite his many heroic tales and the attention he receives, I wonder why he chose someone like me, a NEET...

He's bad for my heart. He's not kind to a NEET's heart.

In my previous life, I would have been swept away by his looks and personality, and would have happily agreed to marriage or elopement.

But I can't agree.

Speaking of likes and dislikes, I definitely like them.

I love all three of them. They are some of the few important people in my narrow world.

Whose hand would I take?

Knowing that they might bring me down with them, would I still take their hand?

Aaaaaah!!!

Enough! I'm always worrying about the same things! It's pointless!

I've decided!

"I'll become independent! I'll become a commoner and get a job to support myself!"

I'm afraid to fall from my high position!

Fortunately, I was a commoner in my previous life. I worked in a country that, despite being an advanced nation, had one of the worst labor environments among advanced nations—Japan! Do you know? The labor laws in Japan haven't been significantly revised since they were established after the war! It's been a quarter of a century... or even half a century? Ugh, what a terrible government! There are so many black companies... I've had my overtime pay withheld so many times... Japanese people are too accommodating.

...But that's irrelevant to the Sandis Kingdom. I'm already dead there, anyway.

If

Even if I weren't the young lady of the Latitche ducal family, and someone still liked me as just Albertina...

If someone liked me as just Albertina, I would take their hand.

It might not be any of those three.

It's possible that no one would even look at me.

Even Father might be disappointed in me.

But if he doesn't just give up on me, I can't become a commoner.

Alright, I've decided! I'll become a commoner! I'll even go to another country if I have to!

That way, I won't have to see the death flags!

...But I won't be able to see Father and the others either.

That's sad, but if I'm lucky, I might be able to see them from afar.

"Next to the convent, a commoner?"

A cold voice descended.

"Miss, if a noble lady goes down to the town alone, she will be immediately deceived or kidnapped and violated by dirty men."

The well-polished leather shoes stepped on the daisies with a crunch. He had walked through a relatively clear area.

His arms were crossed, and his expression was exasperated. His glasses, which glinted with a hint of sarcasm, felt very oppressive. Still, he was looking at me with a stern, twisted expression.

"Or—would you rather be violated by me first? As a substitute, it would be much more intense."

"...Julius?"

Huh? Isn't he a servant at the academy for Kishutaria? I tilted my head, and he read my thoughts again. "Regular report," he said. Is he a mind reader?

"You were thinking about unnecessary things again, so this is a warning."

"But, you won't know unless you try!"

"It's impossible."

"Why are you so sure?!"

"Even if the duke, who rarely gives in to your pleading, were to allow it, which is highly unlikely, and even if he were to abandon you, which is even more unlikely, I would find you no matter what.

No matter what you've become, whether you have a lover or a husband, I will take you. If you've fallen to a prostitute or a slave, it would be even more convenient. I can buy you.

Ideally, I would catch you before you belong to anyone.

In the end, it's just a change of who keeps you.

I don't have the wealth or connections of a duke, so I can't be choosy about the means."

Hmm? Is this conversation going in a strange direction??

His exasperated expression had suddenly turned into a suspicious smile. It's creepy! What are you thinking? What would you do with someone like me, who has no family name or wealth?

...Is this some kind of thank you for all the times I've been a lackey for you? A punching bag?

As I turned pale and trembled, Julius' expression softened for a moment, then he smiled seductively.

"I'll make your body so that you can't be satisfied without me."

"No, I don't want that! I want to be independent!"

"...This failure really lacks a sense of crisis."

"I heard that!"

"No, I was already aware of your shortcomings, but you are really troublesome."

"You called me a failure!?"

That hurts! Just wait and see! I'll get rid of my failure and become an independent adult!

"Really, why am I so attached to someone like this..."

"Huh?"

"Before the kidnapping, you were such a brat that I wanted to kill you."

"What are you mumbling about? Is your stomach hurting?"

"Unlike you, I was raised in a garbage dump, so drinking dirty water doesn't hurt me."

"Even so, it's bad for your stomach. And it doesn't taste good, does it?"

"It would be better if you said, 'A commoner should not speak so freely.'"

"No, Julius! That's not nice! ...Do you want me to say that? I don't have that kind of taste. Sorry..."

I pointed my finger at Julius, and he showed a complex expression, as if he was flustered, scared, and embarrassed.

Julius usually scolds me when I use commoner language or inappropriate words, regardless of his background.

I don't discriminate against him, whether he's a commoner, a noble, from the slums, or from another country.

He's an important childhood friend and servant! If I seemed so narrow-minded, I'm sorry. Since there are so few people of higher status than me, it would be endless if I looked down on and mistreated them. What's the fun in that? ...What was the original Albert's fun, really?

But as Julius watched me, he looked thoughtful. I had a bad feeling.

"Say it."

"Huh?"

"Say it."

"Eh... um, a commoner should not speak so freely?"

"Without the honorifics, more fluently! More assertively! More clearly!"

Why is he so passionate about this? Is he a Spartan?

I looked at Julius in confusion, but he said, "Again." Fueeeee! Why!?

"Um, a commoner should not speak so freely?"

"Don't stutter! It's too cute! Don't make more enemies for me!"

I don't understand! Piiiiie!

I bit my tongue a little, but Julius' face turned red, and he seemed a bit angry. Why? Because I'm bad at it? Why do I make more enemies for Julius when I fail?

"A commoner should not speak so freely!"

"More like a duke, with a cold smile! Int