Chapter 81

It's Zeph's and Shadow's turn.

Shadow can't distinguish between Chappie No. 1 and No. 2 (provisional) when they're alone.

"Peep?"

A small, plush-like, green, plump creature emerged from under the bed. After confirming that no one was around, it crawled out on its belly. As it did so, acorns, nuts, and flowers fell from its loincloth.

"Geaa? Pea?"

No one around?

Chappie, the mysterious monster-like creature, looked around as if to confirm. After a thorough check, it gathered the dropped items with unusual caution, using its short limbs to stuff them back into its loincloth. Then, it climbed up the bed using the canopy. It fell a few times but eventually made it to the top. There, the person Chappie was looking for was lying.

"Pyaa..."

On the vast white sea of sheets, her jet-black hair spread out. Even in sleep, her rare beauty was evident. She looked like a delicate doll crafted by a master artisan, but the slight movement of her chest proved she was alive. Chappie took a flower from its loincloth and placed it on the sleeping woman's forehead. It was a pale pink, double-blooming rose, freshly picked from the palace rose garden that morning. The soft, lace-like petals were both elegant and delicate, and the young flower emitted a sweet, rich fragrance.

The recipient remained asleep, not even stirring. Chappie made a slightly disappointed sound, "Gee?"

This time, it took out a shiny blue acorn and a large, open pinecone. Both were flawless, without any damage or insect bites. It tried to place them on her cheek, but they fell off due to poor balance. Undeterred, Chappie picked them up to try again. However, a hand reached out from behind, picked up the items, and lifted Chappie.

"Peep?! Piiii!"

"...I won't steal. The young lady is sleeping. You should wait until she wakes up to give them."

The tall, black-clothed figure scolded the fussing Chappie in a low, calm voice. The voice was emotionless, but his gaze was fixed on Albertine. Satisfied with the black-clothed figure's words, Chappie dangled its short legs and tried to grab the loincloth, but it was deftly avoided. Then, the loincloth was pulled from another direction.

The black-clothed figure fell silent.

The fabric tore easily and was chewed a few times before being spat out with a "Yuck!" Chappie, the small monster-like creature, expressed its displeasure by kicking its short legs vigorously.

Meanwhile, Chappie was singing happily.

What about this one?

There are more of them.

"Gaau!"

"Pyaa?"

"Pyaa! Grrrr!"

The new one seemed a bit more assertive. Chappie, intimidated by the new one's aggressive stance, shrank back, "Pya...?" The new one pressed its round forehead against Chappie, trying to get it to be put down. If it had leaned forward a bit more and used its horns, it might have been more effective, but it just pressed its round forehead against Chappie. Sighing, the black-clothed figure put Chappie down, and both creatures fled to the bulge in the curtain. They seemed to be having a conversation, but both seemed harmless.

The young lady doted on Chappie, and even if there were two of them, she would be happy rather than troubled. Albertine's definition of "cute" was quite broad. If there was something that would make Albertine happy, Anna or someone else would want to increase it. When she wakes up, the harsh reality will inevitably hurt her. Indeed, as soon as Kistaria and Latine learned of Grail's death, they were frantically dealing with the sudden influx of unscrupulous suitors. They were all trying to snatch any rights they could from the Latitche ducal family, and even the news reached the ears of the guard in the Vayu palace.

Grail had always been vigilant, but now they were taking advantage of the situation. They were trying to push out the second wife and take over the rights of the underage stepson. However, Kistaria was not raised to be easily pushed aside. After all, she had been the stepdaughter of the Demon King for most of her life. Latine, too, had been burned by jealousy, hatred, and envy in the social world and was a formidable woman who had been dealing with the duke, even if as a business partner. Their rivalry was a topic of conversation in the social world. People's misfortunes are sweet, and the social world prefers such topics. Especially since the Latitche family, which had been a symbol of absolute power and was known as the shadow royal family, the uncrowned royal family, was now a topic of interest.

However, the black-clothed figure was not particularly interested in such rumors. The same went for the increased number of monster-like creatures. After all, Albertine had a strong resemblance to the Sandis royal family. Blood-related magic often involved contracts with fairies, spirits, or divine beings, or was the result of inter-species marriages. Grail's strength in magic, inherited from the Demon King, might also attract such powerful entities. Additionally, these beings often favored pure and innocent things like young children and virgins, though there were exceptions.

Grail's overprotectiveness might have been partly due to this. He always wished for Albertine's happiness and healthy growth—though he sometimes went overboard. But that was gone now. The loss must have deeply affected Albertine. He was just worried about Albertine, who had lost her beloved father. The upper echelons, particularly the Council of Elders, were now pushing for Albertine's entry into the royal family, now that Grail, their biggest obstacle, was gone. Despite Rauzes' objections to the hasty progress, they were forcing him to sign the final documents.

(This world is not kind to the young lady.)

While not Grail, Albertine could have reached the highest positions if she wished. She could have aimed for the lofty heights that everyone envied. But what Albertine wanted was something simple: peaceful time with her beloved family, and for it to last as long as possible. She didn't desire any honors, positions, jewels, or even a crown—something so ordinary and mundane, yet so far from her current position.

---

Zephiriel could feel that something around him was changing drastically. Some people were openly mocking him. The Domitrias family, known to be close to the Latitche family, was a well-known fact. Despite the difference in rank between a ducal family and a baronial family, Albertine had cared for the Domitrias siblings, which had smoothed over many things. However, this didn't mean they were complacent.

Zephiriel had always strived to be of use to Albertine, refining herself as a lady. She was active in the social world, rising to become an influential figure. This was also for her brother, the baron, who had harbored deep feelings for Albertine for years. He had worked hard to be worthy of her, despite his nature, which was not suited to such political maneuvering. He had diligently built connections while also performing his duties as a knight and lord. His efforts had paid off, and it was said that a promotion to a higher rank might be possible during Michaelis' tenure.

Michaelis' energetic activities had made the baronial family a strong one, not easily eliminated. However, the sudden death of the ducal lord caused significant ripples. While some nobles who had been flattering the family had disappeared, many others were trying to ingratiate themselves with the baronial family. Some thought they could easily secure a marriage with Michaelis now that the duke was gone, but they were being firmly rejected.

Naturally, for the emotionally deep Michaelis, the Latitche ducal family was almost like family. He was likely to observe a year of mourning, just as the ducal family would. Kistaria, of course, and Michaelis, wore mostly dark colors, if not black, after the funeral. Bright and vivid colors were avoided. While not explicitly stated, those who brought up marriage proposals at this time were quietly added to his blacklist.

The changes were not limited to the social world. With the news of Grail's death, the protector of the Sandis Kingdom, the border regions were becoming tense again. The Domitrias territory also bordered the kingdom, and the smoldering conflicts in various areas were a cause for concern. Grail had been thoroughly suppressing these issues to secure a vacation with Albertine, but vigilance was still necessary. He had sent messengers to towns and villages to report any changes immediately.

Michaelis was busy, and so was Zephiriel. She wore dark dresses to match her brother's, taking on as much as she could to reduce his burden. They couldn't afford to be eliminated in the intense political changes. If they were complacent, they would be overtaken and left behind.

"---Good afternoon. Thank you for inviting me today."

Zephiriel smiled, like a red rose in full bloom. Despite the anxiety and restlessness behind her perfect lady's smile, she didn't let it show. She flitted about, trying to gather any useful information from the social world, which was filled with rumors.

---

"...I'm so tired..."

"Good work, Zeph. Today's tea is Josephine's special herbal tea!"

She patted the golden head slumped on the desk. Zephir, looking almost like a death mask, rotated his stiff neck and shoulders haphazardly. The pain and the unpleasant sound with each movement were a mix of discomfort and relief.

He reached for the herbal tea Josephine had prepared. The fragrant aroma finally brought a smile to his face.

"Chamomile?"

"Do you like it? Please try to drink a little more. If you collapse, the work really won't get done."

The well-built young man in the knight's uniform said with a playful expression. His voice was low and masculine, despite his soft, feminine way of speaking. Josephine's effeminate nature was not new, and it allowed him to notice fine details and handle tasks that rougher people couldn't. Most nobles would find him repulsive, but Zephir recognized his competence and lack of serious character flaws.

Zephir had seen the worst of human nature when he was eighteen, during a raid on a slave trafficking ring that spanned multiple countries. The slaves were treated worse than animals, branded, mutilated, and broken by abuse and drugs. Some had their freedom and bodies taken by magic. It was a hell on earth. Many had no home to return to, no future, just waiting to wither away in despair. He felt powerless.

The raid was a success, and he received accolades, but the cruel emptiness haunted him. He took in the slaves who had nowhere to go, despite his wife's disapproval. Some were given a chance to learn and start anew, but many were beyond help. With more to protect, Zephir focused on managing his territory.

His judgment of danger was different from most, given his experiences as a knight. Young as he was, few had faced as many dangerous situations as Zephir.

"I don't understand why so many people are burdened with such huge responsibilities... How can the four great ducal families handle it?"

"It can't be helped. Kistaria, the Latitche heir, is said to be quite like Grail. They think they'll get more favors if they get you to take over."

"What a nuisance. They should focus on their own territories and work."

"That's why they want to gather elsewhere."

Josephine's laughter only added to Zephir's fatigue. He had been handling the work pushed onto him until his brother returned, juggling multiple tasks. He understood his brother's incompetence and frustration, but he lacked the energy to be angry. He quietly corrected things and kept silent.

But with Grail's death, even more work had come his way. There were likely many hidden issues that Grail had kept under wraps. Some were so outrageous that he wanted to yell. Moreover, Zephir's bloodline was closer to the Latitche family, and many were trying to push him to take over from Kistaria.

Zephir never wanted to be a baron. After a previous marriage where he was very well-liked by his spouse, even after a divorce due to lack of children, he was asked to adopt a child. Before he knew it, he was a baron, a prestigious one at that.

Originally, he preferred a civil or military career, ideally as a palace magician or researcher. He was content to be buried in ancient magic books and artifacts, even if he never saw the light of day.

"Please, enough... I've had my fill of power struggles. I'm tired of the nobles' squabbles..."

Zephir was a man who loved peace. He was content to watch over the healthy growth of the children he had taken in, in his rural barony. He didn't care if it was remote or declining.

"Zeph, you really get dragged into things even though you have no desire to fight..."

"I know. I think I really do get dragged into things..."

"Becoming a baron was quite a struggle, wasn't it? Even a duke wanted to adopt you."

"Absolutely not! That place has Lady Ruiya, who has been tormenting me for years!"

"Wasn't she originally a merchant's widow? She's quite beautiful, despite being a bit older. When did she become your lover?"

"---When I visited her townhouse as the king's representative, she was there. Two months ago, she was the lover of the Sarnail Marquis, so she must have switched."

"Oh, she's quite active. The Sarnail Marquis is nearly sixty, isn't he? Zeph, you don't like that type of woman, so when did you meet her?"

"It was work. Work! Lady Ruiya is a former courtesan, so she's very skilled and has many connections. Her ability to manipulate men is astounding! It was only once, about ten years ago, but she still has an interest in me!"

He clutched his head, clearly distressed. Zephir was competent and kind, but his one and only major flaw was his bad luck with women. His natural kindness and sincerity often led to misunderstandings, resulting in disastrous relationships. Bloodshed was not uncommon, and it was a reason he avoided the social world.

(I think Grail didn't want to introduce his daughter to Zeph for this reason.)

Moreover, Zephir was aware of his tendency to attract women. He had never complained about not seeing his beloved niece after her kidnapping. Unlike Grail, Zephir loved children.

"Maybe you could become Kistaria's guardian until he can take over everything?"

"It's too much for a rural baron. The Latitche family is too large. Besides, the royal family and the Council of Elders want to weaken the Latitche family. They think it's a good opportunity to reduce their influence. I don't want to give them an opening. If the Latitche family weakens, it reduces the deterrent against the nobles and the Council. The royal family is weak, so the Latitche family needs to balance the power. Kistaria needs to handle it, and I don't know him or his sister well. If I suddenly show up as an uncle, they'll just be wary."

Zephir said this with a slight pout. He wanted to help, but his busy schedule and lack of trust made it difficult. If rumors of his support spread, it could undermine Kistaria's position.

"Well, there are plenty of ways to help indirectly."

Zephir smiled childishly. Josephine thought, "He must have already done something," but she just smiled back.

Thank you for reading!