Chapter 4

Thank you for reading (*- -)(*_ _) *bows*

About half a year after restarting as the reborn Albertina, my father decided to remarry.

Although I wasn't particularly enthusiastic, as an only daughter, I had to accept it. After the kidnapping incident, I had become a traumatized hikikomori little girl, and to continue the Latitche family, my father decided to adopt a son. It seems the son was from a branch family, a viscount or baron's youngest son, but because of his strong magical power, they decided to take his mother as well.

The reason for taking the mother along was that, in addition to being a hikikomori, I had developed a fear of men after the kidnapping incident.

They also thought it would be good for me to have someone to talk to, as a hikikomori daughter.

My father, who could only see Albertina, didn't understand people's feelings. I was slightly taken aback.

The stepmother, when she arrived, was overwhelmed by the grand mansion and the luxurious furnishings. As for the stepbrother, he had a vacant look and seemed dazed.

According to Julius, the excellent servant, she had been one of the mistresses of a poor baron. The baron, who was short of money and couldn't properly educate his youngest son with strong magical power, had easily handed over the stepmother and stepbrother for a small sum. It was a convenient way to get rid of them, which I could understand.

In the original story, the main family Albert would drive the stepmother to suicide and bully the stepbrother.

As a result, in the Kistharia route, the stepbrother would seek revenge to the point where he wouldn't even let Albertina die.

Incidentally, in the original story, Julius would also bully them, using them as he pleased.

I had moments when I thought, "I can't let this happen as in the original story." I'm sorry, Julius. I still use you. *sigh* You're too competent to not use!

Mainly to improve the food, not to harass or harass. I hate hard bread that makes my jaw hurt. The white bread made with natural yeast from apples and raisins, and the yogurt I got my father to cry for, is my favorite. I'm tired of thin soups without bouillon, and dried meat or steaks that hurt my tongue, which is used to spicy foods. I will definitely make mayonnaise, ketchup, and oyster sauce with money and effort. I'll use the compensation from the royal family if necessary. After all, I'm the villainess! Julius is enthusiastic about commercializing the products, but I won't release anything that doesn't satisfy me. When I reject it, the head chef and Julius try various things, and I continue to enjoy delicious meals with my stepbrother Kistharia and my stepmother Latine.

Next, I want to make miso and soy sauce. I'm currently searching for a bean that can replace soybeans.

I don't have a bad relationship with my stepfamily.

However, my social skills as a hikikomori lady are terrible.

Even when we eat the same food, the distance at the table of a great noble is enormous.

I can only really talk to my father, my personal maid Anna, and the servant Julius. I don't like Dora, who has been the personal maid of my mother—my biological mother—and has a lot of influence. She often makes snide remarks, and I don't know if they are witty or profound.

Moreover, Dora knows that I have been afraid of the dark and confined spaces since the kidnapping incident, and sometimes deliberately closes the curtains, covers my face with a cloth, or turns off the magic stone lamp while I'm sleeping. It's terrible, especially at night. Anna and Julius come to fix it in the middle of the night before I notice, to prevent me from going crazy if I wake up in complete darkness. It's fine in the morning... as long as the sun is up.

Dora, who was the personal maid of my mother, has a lot of influence. Anna and Julius are also excellent, but they are young. They don't have the same level of authority to use keys or command other servants as Dora does. Maybe she's becoming more arrogant because the real mother is gone? I don't want to become an adult like her. What does she want?

If I tell my father, she'll be fired immediately. I can't be so careless with her life. Julius and Anna, who are on the Albert side, seem to encourage me to report her.

Even so, she was my mother's maid. *sigh*

If I help the new family, it will also help the new stepmother—so I thought, but the atmosphere between them is cold. Dora, what do you want? Not only me, but also Latine and Kistharia are annoyed by you. It's the ultimate level of being a villain.

Thanks to this, all the hate goes directly to Dora. My new family and I are not that tense. I'm just being paranoid.

"…Albertina-sama, you don't dislike me or Mother, do you?"

Kistharia, a beautiful young boy worthy of being a target in a dating game, with ash-brown, slightly wavy hair and gem-like aqua-blue eyes.

Albertina is also a beautiful girl, but Kistharia, if dressed as a girl, would be a very beautiful girl... *cough* a very beautiful boy.

Incidentally, in the R18 version, there is a past where Albert takes his virginity.

But the reborn Albertina is a very timid hikikomori, so she usually hides behind Anna or Julius. Recently, she has been dragged out by force to get used to it, so she greets him.

During meals? The distance is too great! I can still bear it!

Why did he talk to me!?! I'm in a state of panic inside and cling to Julius.

Julius, who has a slight smile, is my personal servant. In fact, this intellectual glasses-wearing person is also a very handsome young man. *sigh* Is it because this is a dating game world? My vision is too bright... If I'm not careful, I'll immediately say, "Eyes... Eyes!" Sometimes even when I look in the mirror. The face value in dating games is crazy.

"...I'm a little scared, but I don't dislike you."

"Scared? Of me?"

"...I'm scared of strangers. I'm scared of everyone who comes from outside."

It's a fact that Albertina has many external enemies.

After all, she's an innocent young lady, and from past conflicts, even the royal family can't speak to her carelessly, treating her as a bomb.

My father also keeps a close eye on my surroundings.

If Albertina complains about the existence of this mother and son, my father might immediately kick them out. The super daughter-loving duke would do it.

"I'm not scary. The duke brought me here for Albertina-sama."

...Father!!! What did you say, Father! This small, beautiful boy is saying such a terrible line without any ill intent!

Sure, to my father, I might be the only one who matters, but he might casually say something like, "Die for Albert" or something... No, he wouldn't, right...?

With that father, it's possible. My careless attitude or words could cost the lives of this young boy and his mother. I might need to pretend to be friendly—so the hikikomori lady decided to win over her stepbrother and stepmother.

Incidentally, the strategy is mainly sweets. It's a simple idea that children and women like sweet things, but it works well.

Albertina, who had abandoned all tea parties and parties, devoted herself to improving her diet, learning the minimum etiquette and studies.

She was also enthusiastic about making seasonings, recipes, and sweets that don't exist in this world.

When the compensation from the royal family ran out, she extorted it from her father with a pout. The Duke Grail von Latitche, who loves his daughter so much that he would carry her in his eyes, fully supported her.

Thus, she made a lot of sweets. There were cookies and scones, but the cakes were hard and mysterious lumps, so she developed a sponge cake as part of the chiffon cake project. It was easy to make with flour, sugar, eggs, and butter or oil. She also developed a pound cake with dried fruits and nuts, and flavors like tea and coffee. She made chocolate from cocoa she found while searching for spices. She also made jelly with agar.

She made all kinds of sweets and, when they became somewhat edible, sent them to the two and invited them to a tea party to hear their opinions.

Within a year, they could talk normally.

Julius, who is now enthusiastic about commercializing not only ketchup and mayonnaise but also sweets, tried to persuade me with all his might. *sigh* I resisted with all my strength, but I was easily convinced by Julius—why? *sigh* I'm the duke's daughter, right? But my job is just to say "Please" to my father, and the rest is done by the super-excellent servant Julius and the butler Sebastian.

Recently, my stepmother complained that she was getting fat because the food and sweets were too delicious.

In fact, even the ultra-beautiful Albertina was gaining weight.

She felt she was becoming plump. This was a problem. I knew the cause, but I didn't want to go back to the poor diet I had been freed from, compared to the modern world.

What should I do? Exercise! Develop diet products! Fortunately, the bread, seasonings, and sweets that I had been researching enthusiastically had become a major industry for the Latitche family, generating enormous wealth. The funds were secure, thanks to our super servant. My father praised me as a genius, but I just gave the order. Sorry.

First, I developed sports wear. A comfortable material with stretch and moisture absorption. Silk is luxurious, but since it would be worn for movement and would wear out quickly, a somewhat durable and inexpensive material was better.

Then I realized that there were no women's sports wear in this world! In the noble society, there was a hierarchy of dresses, and it was basically all romantic styles for teenagers, like something out of a dating game. You could only choose between princess-line or A-line dresses. There were no slender-line, empire, or mermaid dresses. My stepmother, a tall and beautiful woman, could only wear bright pink or yellow, which seemed too much for her. Incidentally, the heroine also wore a pink princess-line dress.

Albertina would also look good in it. After all, she was a beautiful girl.

But—inside, she was a hikikomori, and pastel colors were too much. The same went for sports wear.

I didn't want to start a fashion revolution in this country. I just didn't want to be forced to wear those ultra-romantic dresses! And I didn't want to see my stepmother wearing them either! It was too much for women in their thirties or forties!

The current Albertina loves earth tones and monochrome.

Besides, Latine Mama would look better in blue, not pink! A noble and high-class pale color! Why would an adult lady with charm have to wear a dress that looks like an extension of a Shichi-Go-San festival?

Using my otaku knowledge and financial power, I designed various dresses. I colored them with colored pencils and explained to Julius that this kind of dress would suit Latine Mama.

I had no intention of bullying my reclusive daughter or my stepmother, who was taking over the social and women's associations in place of my deceased mother.

While developing women's riding clothes for dieting, I also made a mermaid dress for Latine Mama. Since this kind of dress didn't exist before, I prepared a large lace shawl and a pearl long necklace to cover the waist and thigh lines. I also made matching aquamarine and pearl earrings and hair clips. However, if Latine Mama suddenly appeared in such a sensational fashion in a world that only pushed princess dresses, she would be criticized.

I thought about it. If I had someone who couldn't be criticized, even by the nobles or the royal family, it would be fine. That is, my father! You're the one!

My father, who is still extremely indulgent with his daughter, was easily convinced by my pleading.

Latine Mama, who was escorted by my father, a crazy psycho daughter-loving father, and forced into an incomprehensible costume by his daughter. Since it was just on paper, my father wouldn't do anything inappropriate, right? That's what I thought.

"Miss, what would you like to name this dress brand?"

"Huh?"

"Albertina-sama, it's impossible. Julius, you already have the seamstresses and weaving workshops secured, so it's just waiting for a name."

The stepbrother, who whispered this quickly, looked at me with pity, unlike the hikikomori lady who only does what she likes. The stepbrother, who received proper education as a duke's son, looked at me with pity.

Julius, with a smile that didn't allow any refusal, held a sketchbook with my designs.

"...Under the Rose"

Under the rose—its meaning is "secret" or "confidential."

I didn't want to assert my existence in this world. Besides, it's not strange for a woman's fashion brand to have a flower name.

Julius smiled even more and bowed politely before leaving. The super servant is very efficient, so the store might open in the capital next week.

It's scary. I'm glad he's not my enemy. I hope he's not my enemy? I couldn't help but cling to Kistharia's back, who tilted his head and said, "Sister?"

It's scary! The servant who is supposed to be convenient and wonderful feels like he's trying to strangle me. And it's not a quick, decisive strangulation, but a slow, suffocating one with cotton... *shudder* Scary!

"Sis, I'll protect you!"

"...Thank you, Kistharia..."

Just hearing those earnest words makes me cry. His cheeks turned red as he insisted, "Really!" He's so cute.

I'm sorry, Kistharia. You were a target in the dating game, and it's a bit scary to rely on you. We're getting along as siblings now, but love can change people.

No way! I finally used my ultimate weapon, Father, to break the engagement flag with the prince, but why is my stepbrother also a target! The end of the villainess in the R18 route is terrible!

"Would you help me even if I'm a bad girl?"

"Of course! I'll protect you!"

I have your word! Please don't suddenly betray me and stab me from behind...?

While I was trembling in fear, Anna somehow smiled as if to say, "Oh, oh, oh, oh." Ignorance is bliss.

"I... I love you, Albertina."

"...Thank you. If you can say the same thing ten years from now, I'll consider it."

By then, the heroine... what was her name? Lina? Lena? will have appeared, and if it's the right route, I'll be heading straight to condemnation.

Kistharia, pouting, says, "Really!" but a hikikomori is not very proactive in love. We're not blood-related, but we're siblings. Besides, I have a father who loves his daughter so much that marrying me would be a path of thorns, not to mention a path of hell.

Because of the kidnapping incident and the rumor of my death, he doesn't like it when I'm even a little away from him.

Oh, Kistharia. Despite being tossed around by a sister who is loyal to her desires (mainly food), you have grown up so earnestly and cutely. If you acquire the heroine attribute on top of the earnest attribute, I'll publish a thin book with Julius.

When I pet his soft, slightly cat-like hair, his face turned red to an amusing degree.

If you enjoyed it, please leave a review, comment, or bookmark. Thank you!