Chapter 70

Alber and the Fortuna Duke Family, once again.

Alber is still in a PTSD state. I'm sure Grandpa is crying inside. It's self-inflicted, though.

Father is coming back.

All my previous melancholy flies away, and I can't help but wander here and there, fidgeting with excitement.

"Anna! Isn't this dress funny? Is my hairstyle strange?"

"You are always beautiful and very delicate, but today you are especially dazzling."

"Really? Father won't be disappointed to see me looking haggard after so long?"

Until now, along with necessities, many dresses have been delivered.

However, they are not the Rose brand dresses I like from the Latigche Duke's mansion, but only those that have passed the inspection for entering the palace.

They are supposed to be dresses of high rank and luxury, befitting a princess.

To put it bluntly, they are retro, old-fashioned, and antique, but in a bad way.

In short, they are all heavily romantic princess-line dresses.

Casual dresses for everyday wear are not as strict, but the dresses suitable for formal occasions are all in a very old-fashioned style.

If I say they have a long history, it's... well... you know... that.

They all remind me of the designs in royal portraits I've seen somewhere.

I have no intention of becoming a member of the Sandis royal family.

I am Albertina von Latigche.

I am a member of the Latigche Duke's family.

The green dresses that could be called the color of the Sandis royal family. The pale green is a bit better, but... I can see the intentions behind them, and I don't like it.

Mmm... If I'm going to meet Father, I want to wear a Rose brand dress. Something in aqua blue, like Father's eyes.

Anna, who seems to have sensed my inner dissatisfaction, smiles wryly, but her eyes are gentle as she looks at me, who is unusually excited.

"...Do I have to wear this tiara?"

"Yes, it was specified along with the dress."

"Can't I give it to Chappy? Look, Chappy? It's a shiny hat, you know?"

Chappy doesn't have hair, so it would be difficult to put it on.

The tiara, made of what seems to be platinum, is adorned with large diamonds and Sandis lights, sparkling like the sun. It looks heavy.

When I offered it to Chappy, he nibbled on the edge and returned it, saying, "I don't need it." I see, you don't need it. Ah, there's a tooth mark. Well, it's fine.

Anyway, the edge will be hidden by my hair.

I don't like the dress, but I'll endure it for Father.

The prospect of seeing Father is a very obvious carrot, and I'm floating with excitement.

...Actually, it's not a lie to lure me out, is it? The King wouldn't lie like that, would he?

I was nervous, but Kistaria, who came to see me afterward, assured me it was true.

Mikaelis and Julius also carefully confirmed that there were no unnatural points in the date and time.

...All three of them, their trust in the royal family is shockingly low...

I can't say anything about that.

On the day, Kistaria and the others, dressed formally, came to pick me up.

Father's expedition was apparently quite fierce. There were various troubles, but Kistaria was vague about it, so I didn't press for details.

Suddenly, Mikaelis was staring at me.

"What's the matter?"

"Oh, no... It might make you feel bad. It's nothing."

"What is it?"

It's concerning... The way he was vague is more concerning.

When I continued to stare at him, Mikaelis gave in.

"In that outfit, you look even more like Cistina. There's a portrait of her in the corridor, wearing that exact dress. It's a place that anyone entering the castle would have seen at least once..."

I really wanted to take off this dress.

No! I don't want to! Why does everyone keep comparing me to Grandma and Mother!?

Father is an exception! Because we're married! I can't help it! But why does everyone around me keep seeing the resemblance so much!

With a pout, Kistaria, who smiled wryly, adjusted my tiara.

"Such an obvious approach. It's effective, but it's very typical and lacks creativity."

Julius sighed in exasperation.

Kistaria, who had a half-lidded look, nodded.

"Even if you do that, it won't deter Father. It will only add fuel to the fire.

Do you want to make him even angrier?"

"Alber is a member of the royal family... It looks like you're in a hurry to die."

Mikaelis sighed deeply. I'll run away!

If I run away when I sigh, will I come back when I inhale? If I make him take deep breaths, will Mikaelis' happiness return?

Among us, Mikaelis seems to have the most worries.

"By the way, where is Jibril?"

Where is she? I thought she might come with us.

The delicate, elegant, and radiant lady who brightens any room with her presence is not here. I dote on my lively and spirited younger sister.

When I tilted my head, the three of them quickly averted their eyes. Their faces were a bit pale.

Hmm? What's going on?

"Jibril... Before entering here, she met the Duke and Earl of Fortuna..."

"She immediately said, 'What do you want, Lady Albertina, who hates you to death? If Lady Albertina is shocked and scared by your faces and runs away, what will you do? Why don't you go somewhere else?'"

Julius was surprisingly good at mimicking Jibril.

Yes, that smooth, refined, and slightly sharp tone. It's definitely Jibril.

To me, she's a lovely, fluffy velvet rose, but she occasionally pricks those around her.

I secretly thought she should say more, but I kept it to myself.

"Probably, she's still glaring at the entrance of Vayu Palace..."

Jibril is amazing. To stand up to the Great Bear Duke.

Kistaria seemed to have a distant look in his eyes. He must be worried about Jibril too.

Because the Great Bear Duke is scary. I can only squeak from a distance. If I get close, I might cry.

"What if Jibril is being bullied...?"

No! That's not good! My cute Jibril!

When I turned pale, I felt a lukewarm gaze. Why are you so calm! Jibril is in trouble!

What if Jibril is crying!? Shouldn't at least one knight have stayed to protect her?

"I'm sorry, I tried to stay, but I was told to come get Alber quickly..."

"Alber, Jibril is quite strong-willed and can talk well, so she'll be fine.

The Duke of Fortuna won't treat his granddaughter, who is younger than Jibril, too badly."

"Rather, the Earl of Fortuna was already taken down by Jibril's preemptive attack. The Duke of Gandalf is more of a warrior than a noble, so he might tolerate some harsh words.

He's a knight too, so he won't bite a lady without reason."

Do you think that violent bear duke has such common sense!?

I let out a wordless, agitated moan.

The thought of my cute Jibril being roughed up is unbearable. When I started to pace aimlessly, Julius caught me and lined me up between Kistaria and Mikaelis.

We walked down the palace corridor at a slightly brisk pace.

The three of them seemed relaxed. It must be because of their height...

I'm worried about Jibril.

Then, as we crossed the barrier, we saw the Duke of Bear looking lost and the Earl of Beard covering his face with his hands.

What happened?

I don't know, but it's good that she's safe. As long as Jibril is fine, that's all that matters.

Jibril was standing with a satisfied sigh, as if she had accomplished something.

I wanted to get closer, but the bear, my nemesis, was there, so I couldn't.

I instinctively hid behind Kistaria. I'm sorry, Kistaria. A shut-in like me is still afraid of that bear.

I clung to his back, but Kistaria, being kind, wouldn't push me in front of my nemesis! He is a model younger brother who has taken care of this broken-down mess for over ten years. It's the culmination of all the times I've defied him in the game's story. I'm really sorry.

However, the Sandis royal family.

Why did you want to make me, who hides behind my younger brother and taunts the Four Great Dukes with my grandfather, a princess?

A puppet. You must want a puppet. You want a fake princess. I understand very well.

The royal family has three of King Lauses' children, so why do they want me so much that they're provoking Father? The eye color isn't even a match. The two princes have green eyes. They might be a bit different from Sandis green, but...

The beard and bear have noticed me!

Oh no! Don't look! My mental strength is fading!

"Albertina..."

No! Stop it!

In response to my rejection, a nearby magic stone lamp exploded.

Some of the shattered magic stones rolled to Julius' feet.

...Huh? Could I be having a magic power surge?

"Alber, calm down. They have no ill intentions."

"...Don't come any closer?"

Sticking to Kistaria like a cicada on a tree trunk, I turned my head to Mikaelis, who nodded. His smile was gentle. Am I being treated like a little girl again? Grr! But that bear is scary!

If it's a lie, I'll use Mikaelis as a shield next time! He seems like a good wall with his height and build!

Since Mikaelis said it was okay, I reluctantly glanced at the Fortuna family.

Our eyes met. There was a dull-eyed, muscular bear. As usual, he's intense. To me, who is used to the sparkling handsome men in otome games, that muscle festival bear is still unfamiliar.

I can't believe I share blood with that man.

I still don't like him!

When I glared at my nemesis, Julius quietly but clearly said, "It's just to make you angry. You should stop."

Ugh, if Father's attack power is 530,000, mine is 53. I'm trash.

Roar! The villainess blood in me! The soul of a villainess!

Once (only once) I made Julius feel Father's blood in me, and I'll show that bear my villainess skills!

"Albertina..."

"Kyaa!?"

...I let out a lady-unlike sound.

Damn, the long-cultivated shut-in villainess in me won...

Because that bear's voice is scary!

In response to my mental state, a magic stone candlestick a bit away is flickering.

"...Duke of Fortuna, please step back. You've seen enough.

Do you want to make my sister's magic and power surge again?"

Kistaria stepped forward, subtly increasing the distance between me and the bear duke.

His aqua blue eyes were calm, but the air and tone around him were cold and hard.

After a moment of staring at each other, the Duke of Fortuna sighed and turned away.

"I will have Clift with me. I won't give that up."

"Understood. Is that acceptable to the Earl?"

"A, ah. Albertina. Do you remember? I'm your Uncle Clift."

"...I know."

Despite my curt response, Uncle Clift, with his Kaiser beard, broke into a grin. I don't want to admit it, but he's my uncle.

Why doesn't he give up despite my cold attitude? Is he a masochist?

"Miss, your sulking lacks venom and attack power.

It only makes that kind of person happy. Ignoring them completely would be more effective."

"Hey, servant. Don't put strange ideas in her head. I'll cry. If my niece, who looks just like Chris, ignores me, it will be the end of this pathetic middle-aged man who is a mix of a siscon and a niececon."

Just die. Out of my sight!

While stopping Uncle Clift from getting closer, Julius sighed.

"Look. After just a few encounters, she's this sulky... I advise Miss Alber to reconsider her slyness."

"I don't know! I don't know if I'm sly, but I only act cute to get Father's attention... It's only a few times!"

I don't deny it. A father-obsessed daughter sometimes wants her father's attention.

I don't want to be a bother, but sometimes I really want Father's attention.

"Are you still saying that? You're a block of slyness. Your very existence is sly."

"What do you mean!? When have I ever acted sly!?"

Julius always calls me sly.

When did I act cute? I've only ever acted cute for Father! I love Father!

To get Father's busy time, I used all my daughter privileges.

I don't understand... When did I ever act cute to anyone other than Father? When? I need to fix it. I don't remember being such a frivolous daughter.

This incident will definitely cause trouble.

The royal family will try to separate me from the Latigche family. Father has always kept me close, probably anticipating such a commotion.

While clinging to Kistaria's back and grumbling,

"Alber, I think that's probably it... Can you hear me?"

"More importantly, step back, Kistaria. I want to enjoy my sister after so long."

Jibril wanted a hug, so I hugged her tightly.

Being cute is justice.

Thank you for reading!