Chapter 45

"Father, I'm off to work."

"In a fantasy world, such disasters do occur."

"Father was called because the scale was large."

"Father, please be very careful not to get hurt."

"Of course, Albertina. I won't do anything to make your face fall."

Worried, my brows naturally drooped. Despite being a Marshal and one of the kingdom's foremost magic users, Father has tasks that only he can do. Most of these involve battles, which is perhaps inevitable. However, knowing that he is going to a dangerous place, I cannot send him off with a light heart. Father, who seems to understand my worry, gently strokes my cheek.

Unlike me, who is so pitiful, Father stands as calm as ever. There is no trace of anxiety or agitation on his face.

Pushing down the pain in my heart, I embrace Father.

"Kistaria, I leave the house to you. With Sebastian here, nothing will go wrong."

"Yes, Father, have a safe trip."

After a brief farewell, Father and Kistaria parted ways. I watched the carriage Father boarded as it moved away, etching the shrinking figure into my mind.

"It's okay, Albert. Father is very strong."

"...Yes, I know."

As if reading my worry, Kistaria spoke to me kindly. But I couldn't manage a smile and ended up looking down.

"The wind has picked up. Let's go back to the mansion."

"...Yes."

A few days after my birthday, Father left the mansion again. It seems there was a stampede in the north. A stampede is a mass outbreak of monsters. It can be caused by a sudden release of mana from a mana pool, which turns ordinary plants and animals into monsters, or by the appearance of a dungeon, a nest of monsters, due to some cause. The latter usually calms down after a while, but a stampede caused by a mana pool can severely disrupt the ecosystem and has no clear end, so it needs to be sealed or destroyed as soon as possible. Most of the time, the stampede uses up the mana and subsides on its own.

During a stampede, powerful monsters that don't usually appear can emerge. Also, rare materials can be obtained, so it's not all bad. However, if left unchecked, it can cause significant damage to the country. A few years ago, insect-type monsters almost ate all the grain. Orcs and goblins can also destroy small nearby villages.

Even without war, the military will not disappear from this country. There are disasters unique to a fantasy world.

Kistaria is now back at the Latitche mansion. The big commotion at the academy has led to the downfall of the faction led by Prince Lucas and others. Everything, including matters that were previously glossed over by the royal family's authority, is being re-evaluated. Prince Lucas and Prince Leold are currently under house arrest in a VIP cell in a corner of the palace. Prince Lucas's punishment is severe, and he is in a state of house arrest, unable to move freely. Graham, the son of the prime minister, is also under house arrest. Joshua, the knight assigned to Prince Lucas, is in the same situation. Cain, with his immense magical power, is in a special cell.

Lena, who is said to be one of the main perpetrators like Lucas, is currently in prison. She is accused of inciting crimes against the royal family, inciting the murder of a high-ranking noble, fraud, coercion, and various acts of disrespect. Her crimes are so numerous that her execution has not yet been carried out because the investigation is not complete. At best, she will be asked to commit suicide. Being given a cup of poison preserves the dignity of the nobility. However, according to Kistaria, Lena will either be treated as a criminal slave and forced to do various labor until her death or be immediately executed.

It's a rather tragic end for the heroine of "Kimi Koi," but given the crimes, it's inevitable. Even in the same acts of fraud and incitement, the punishment is heavier for nobles than for commoners, and even heavier for nobles than for the royal family.

"The Daches baron family will not be able to avoid being dissolved.

No matter how much that woman acted on her own, the matter is too big."

"She's still a young woman..."

"Do you know that Albert was almost killed by that young woman? And it was out of pure spite?"

"...I only know that Prince Lucas was very scary... I have no acquaintance with the Daches lady."

Kistaria, unusually stern, tried to make me understand. Uh, from the looks of it, Kistaria really dislikes that young lady. Love romance seems to be far from it... Was that incident a coincidence? Or is it because I'm the villainess?

In any case, the heroine of "Kimi Koi" had a strong character despite being simple and delicate, but I don't think she was the type to hold a grudge. We had no connection, and it would be pointless for a baron's daughter to provoke a duke's family. Even the royal family would avoid it. To harm the Latitche ducal family...

In any case, the Daches lady can be considered a failure in the harem route. Given the low affection levels with Kistaria and Mikaelis, it's almost certain that she failed the game's conditions. In reality, a lady with such a list of crimes would not be taken seriously anywhere. She is likely to be executed without even being given a chance to atone.

"To think she would be so filthy... Serving so many men and using their power to indulge her whims?"

"...Is it really that enjoyable to serve many men and lord it over others?"

I think one lover who truly sees and loves you is enough.

The original Albert might have felt that way, but I can't understand it. The Daches baron's daughter seemed to be aiming for a harem, but in this world, which is a simulation of a dating game, it's not that easy.

"The harem route is fun in the game, but in real life, it's a different story. It's really disturbing. The noble status is stripped, and life is on the line. Seeing the reality of the Daches lady, I reaffirm that being steady is the best."

I have some affection for the heroine as a gamer, but the crimes Kistaria mentioned are too much. I can't even manage a dry laugh. The delicious tea Julius made tastes bitter today.

The king may have multiple consorts. Even among the nobility, while monogamy is the norm, a second wife or mistress is sometimes taken if there is no heir. The same applies to women with inheritance rights. The royal and noble families value bloodlines.

Well, if a second wife or mistress is brought into the household, the risk of a succession dispute is high, so it's not uncommon to adopt a foster child from a branch family, like in our case.

...Isn't the harem route getting more and more dangerous?

Would the heroine really be with a child of unknown parentage...? No, that's too much, even for a heroine. Please don't reduce the heroine's image any further.

The harem route is supposed to be quite difficult. You have to complete the event chains for each character simultaneously. When the timing overlaps, you have to make up for it with the number of gifts and conversations. There are also necessary ability parameters for each character, so it's recommended to use the ability and item carry-over functions from the third playthrough onwards.

Moreover, the ending is determined based on the lowest affection level among all the characters, which is a harsh system. The bad ending rate is quite high.

If I were to choose, I would be afraid to focus on just one route, so I would opt for the normal ending, which is a friendship ending. Depending on the parameters, the ending text changes. For example, if your magic power is high, you might become a mage, or if your charm is high, you might get a good marriage proposal from a viscount's family. If both magic power and intelligence are high, you might be recommended as a royal court magician. If your social skills are high, you might become a etiquette teacher for the nobility.

It's practical and realistic. I would definitely choose that option.

If the harem route was opened, could the heroine be a reincarnated person like me? If so, or even if not, she must be quite a man-lover... In any case, she's quite a challenger.

As I pondered this, Kistaria gently placed her hand on my head and stroked it.

"It's okay, Albert... I'll protect you this time. I won't let anything like that happen again."

The large, warm palm reminded me of Father. Kistaria, despite being from a branch family, has ash-brown hair and aqua-blue eyes, which resemble Father. She looks more like his real child than I do.

This princely, perfectly refined, and sweet beauty. Her voice is also sweet, making my ears tingle and my knees weak. Her smiling face is so beautiful that it's almost toxic... I'm sorry, but as a long-time younger brother, I can't really understand it.

Today, I can only think, "Kistaria is so kind." It's probably the moment when a normal lady would blush, but as a hardcore father complex hikikomori, I feel a bit jealous of her resemblance to Father.

The Latitche territory, and the Rose brand, are at the forefront of beauty. Of course, we use a lot of soaps, shampoos, conditioners, and hair packs. The servants spend a lot of time polishing Kistaria, making her shine three times more. Kistaria understands my lack of reaction and smiles wryly.

I like Kistaria, but if asked if it's as a romantic interest, I would tilt my head. I might be more of a moss woman.

Kistaria, how did you end up with such a weak woman after growing up so beautifully?

I stared at Kistaria intently. At first, she was smiling, but after about ten seconds, her face started to turn red. Her ears turned red, and she turned her gaze away and looked to the side.

Being cool and cute at the same time...? No, she was always a beautiful youth with a rosy face. When we first met, she was so cute that I wanted to dress her up. But before I knew it, she had grown taller than me and became a fine young man. Yet...

I'm the one with higher feminine qualities.

What a disaster...

Even my femininity is inferior to Kistaria's...!?

"I want to turn into a marimo and sink to the bottom of a cold lake right now..."

"What!? What are you saying, Albert!!? I understand that you're sad about Father leaving, but why are you saying such dangerous things!? You could catch a cold, or even die!?"

I was carried to the futon, worried to death. I don't have a fever! I was just a bit lonely! I was just jealous!

But the overwhelming magic of Ofthun made me fall asleep while holding Kistaria's worried hand.

Looking down at the sleeping Albertina, Kistaria sighed in relief. The girl, who is her stepsister, is unaware, but every time Father Grail leaves, Albertina watches his departure as if it were a final farewell, her face pale. When he goes to the castle, it's not so bad, but when he goes on a long expedition, her large green eyes are moist with tears, and she bites her red lips, forcing a smile as she sees him