Chapter 82

The book adaptation has been decided. Once the details are finalized, I will post them on my activity page.

Thank you so much for your support!!!

Oh, the serialization will continue. I will aim for a happy ending.

In conjunction with this, the title may change in the future.

"Good morning, Miss."

With a light swish, the curtains were thrown open. As the morning sun flooded the dim room, an elegant yet charmingly lavish room came into view. Everything in the room was crafted by top artisans, not a mass-produced item in sight. Each piece was a unique, one-of-a-kind creation, many of which were difficult for even nobles to obtain.

A small, fluffy rabbit plushie, no bigger than a palm, lay on the bedside. It was worth half a year's salary for a palace knight, or a year's salary for a soldier. Even its round eyes were custom-made, polished from black stone by a skilled craftsman.

There was a rustle in the bed. Slowly, a green, clumsy monster-like creature emerged from the covers.

"Here you go again, Chappie. You have your own bed, you know."

The green plushie-like form twitched. Julius, raising one eyebrow skillfully, gave it a cold look that made his otherwise handsome face seem cruel.

"How many times do I have to tell you not to get on Miss's bed?"

He lightly inserted his finger and entered the canopy. Julius, who was deeply devoted to his beloved, glanced at the trembling, strange creature that was making a thin, "pi, pi" sound beside her. With a flick of his hand, he sent it tumbling off the bed.

It seemed to realize it had done something wrong.

Yet, no matter how many times he punished it, it never learned.

No matter how many times he told it not to get on Albertina's bed, it would still climb up. No matter how many times he locked it away, it would somehow escape. It was a mystery. Despite being so foolish, it had an abnormally high escape skill.

According to Anna, it was Albertina's favorite. She had been told not to be too harsh on it, but as an unknown and suspicious creature, Julius did not like it.

The thought of it being embraced by his beloved, with her slender arms and those ample breasts, filled him with murderous intent.

When it tried to sneak back onto the bed, he grabbed the small rabbit plushie and chased it away. It then slid into Chappie's bed (originally for a small dog) and cried.

Julius looked down at it coldly before turning back to the bed.

There, as always, lay Albertina, still in a deep sleep.

Fortunately, her complexion was not too bad. This was partly due to the skill of the doctor, but also because Anna used scented oils to massage her and bathe her every day.

Albertina tended to faint when she received a significant emotional shock. This was due to her inherent sensitivity and physical frailty.

However, there was one more factor that was suspected.

One of her attending physicians, Lord Vania, said with a nonchalant air, "Miss Latitche seems to have a lot of magical power. No, too much. Her physical endurance is not enough to handle the amount of magical power she possesses."

This was not impossible.

Albertina's father was known as the Demon King, not only for his ruthless nature but also for his overwhelming magical power and skill, which no one could match.

It was not at all strange for his direct descendant, Albertina, to have inherited this.

Her mother, Christina, was not known for her strong magical power. She was a famous beauty but not considered an excellent mage.

Living a normal life would not be a problem, but during the recent attack, Albertina had used magic in a very strenuous way. This was apparently the cause of her condition.

Grail, fearing this, had entrusted Albertina to Julius.

However, Julius had only managed to stop her at the last possible moment. If he had been just a few minutes, or even seconds, later, Albertina might have suffered fatal damage.

In general, Albertina was gentle and obedient.

She treated Julius, who was rather impudent for a servant, with exceptional leniency.

He never expected her to reject him so strongly.

(Ah, right... She shows an abnormal level of dedication to those she takes into her heart. With the Duke, Kistaria, and Michaelis present, there was no way she would listen to me.)

He had completely misread the situation.

It was a terrible mistake.

It was unthinkable.

As he held the increasingly weakened Albertina in his arms, he must have been unconsciously anxious.

He had sensed that Albertina undervalued herself.

She thought her only merits were her appearance, lineage, and family name. She believed she had no value beyond what she had inherited from her parents.

This was an extreme case of undervaluation.

Julius had no interest in women who were only valued for their looks and lineage.

...Not that he found her completely unattractive.

He did not deny her excellent lineage and family name, and her overwhelming beauty and the fresh, alluring figure that became more enchanting with age were indeed very attractive.

Julius was aware that he was quite a face man.

The person in question was always worried about her height, but her slender and delicate neck, her pristine white décolletage, her beautiful arms from her delicate and graceful fingers to her feminine and full chest, her slender waist without a corset, her alluring hips, and her legs, mostly hidden by her dress, which combined a soft, feminine roundness with a delicate slenderness, were all very appealing.

When he embraced her, he smelled not perfume but a soft, fragrant oil.

The scent that emanated from her body was a result of the perfume and fragrant oils she had used for years. Albertina disliked strong fragrances and never wore perfume. The fragrant oils she used were mostly soft and refreshing, all custom-made. Each one was unique to her, different from the perfumes that other young ladies wore.

Kistaria often clung to Albertina, not only out of affection and concern but also because she had become accustomed to her pleasant scent.

However, even without that, Albertina's specifications were excellent.

As a duke's daughter, she had the best education and refined manners ingrained in her. She was diligent in her studies, though she had her strengths and weaknesses. She was an excellent mage and a caring lord's daughter who thought of her people. As a businesswoman, she took great care of her servants and craftsmen. The Rose brand was popular as an employer, with generous salaries and benefits, attracting many applicants. Her personality was gentle and endearing.

Her only flaws were her frail health and a rather absent-minded lack of caution. She had a dangerous naivety that could not be left unchecked.

She had many passionate fans both inside and outside the mansion, but to avoid stimulating the timid Albertina, they were kept hidden and controlled.

The only exception was that Gibril. It was only because Albertina tolerated him and Grail allowed it that he could get away with it. Gibril was quite favored by Grail. If he had been a son instead of a daughter, it would have been very dangerous.

If only she were not the Demon King's daughter—how many times had he thought that?

If she were someone like Clift, a merely excellent person, he could have easily taken her out of the country.

It would have taken some time, but it would have been possible before Albertina reached her debutante age.

Albertina was lenient with those she took into her heart, and it was easy to manipulate her. Julius was particularly skilled at such things.

He could plant false impressions in a person's mind with words that were not contradictory, unnatural, or too perfect.

When the time was right, they could gradually move to a distant country. A merchant would be perfect. Even if they were a commoner with a good income and knowledge of other countries, it would not be unusual for them to emigrate. It was not uncommon for a nobleman to fall in love with a merchant who became a confidant and a lover. Moreover, a wealthy merchant who sought honor and status might marry a noblewoman from a fallen but prestigious family to enhance his status.

Julius had the ability and boldness to do this.

He could manipulate most people without them realizing it.

But Grail was different. A remarkable person with an incomprehensible perspective. Even the slightest mistake could cost Julius his head.

Albertina's guardian was a terrifyingly impenetrable presence.

Albertina did not realize it, but Grail had placed skilled guards around her and rarely left her unshadowed.

Julius was Albertina's servant. Even in her normal life, she was somewhat dangerous. He knew that her shadows had often come to the surface without her knowledge.

To the clumsy and absent-minded young lady, the smiling old butler, the gardener who claimed to have back pain, the young apprentice gardeners, the maids who treated her like an angel and doted on her, and the chefs who constantly fought over the recipes she gave them—these were all elite.

The gentle and safe environment was a result of Grail's obsession and the care of those who cherished Albertina.

(She probably doesn't realize how difficult the people she has taken into her heart are...)

Julius was one of them.

Anna was also quite formidable, as were Sebastian, the gardener Agravein, and the chef Gordo. The teachers she was close to were also quite unusual.

Even Kistaria, Michaelis, and Gibril, who were taken in by Grail, were suspiciously cautious for their age.

Despite being shy, they could be easily won over by her good looks, which delivered a preemptive strike, and her innocent and endearing personality that was uncharacteristic of a noble young lady. She was kind, gentle, and polite to those below her.

Even those who knew her demonic personality before the kidnapping were completely won over.

No matter what magic or curses she might be using, there was no suspicious behavior. He had observed her closely, but only confirmed that she was a purely innocent and annoyingly coquettish creature.

At one point, Albertina had studied curses as part of her magic lessons. It might seem strange, but it was a desperate measure because she could not use offensive magic.

No matter how hard she tried to learn offensive magic, her powerful magical power would come out as a weak, fragile mass, like sugar dissolving in water. Her curses were barely perceptible, if at all.

Naturally, her surroundings, seeing her incompetence, became even more overprotective, thinking, "I must protect this person."

The stark contrast to her excellence in other areas of magic was severe.

Bella, the head maid of Vayu's palace, was smitten with Albertina at first sight. If she had actually interacted with her, she would have been completely charmed. Even her shy and awkward demeanor when meeting new people could trigger a motherly instinct and a protective urge.

(When I heard she was Dora's mother, I was wary, but I think she's probably fine.)

When she heard that Dora was no longer with the Latitche family and was missing, she only sighed lightly.

She must have had a difficult personality from the beginning. It was easy to imagine her boasting about being Christina's maid when she was in Fortuna.

But that was in the past. She was disposed of before she could change her host to Albertina.

"It's okay, Miss Albertina... Everyone is waiting for you to wake up."

If anything were to happen, no matter what—Julius would not hesitate.

If he were to lose this person, it would be better to abandon the country. He would take everything from Albertina, even if she cried and longed for her family, to protect her life.

One of his strengths was this arrogance. The coldness to cut others without hesitation.

He was hated by Grail because of this trait.

Grail was wary of a man who might take his beloved daughter by any means necessary. However, because Albertina trusted Julius as an innocent brother and childhood servant, he was tolerated.

(If Miss Albertina had shown romantic feelings towards me, I would have been disposed of on the spot. I was disliked to some extent...)

Because of his attention to detail, his ability to fulfill unusual requests, and the rare trust and openness he had earned.

In the end, it was a fortunate miscalculation for Julius.

He did not understand why Albertina had trusted him so much.

He was not a person who was liked by others. He acknowledged his competence but knew his nature was twisted.

His lineage was uncertain, and his upbringing was humble. It was only because of the meritocracy of the Latitche family that he had risen to this position.

He had been abandoned by his parents and lived on the streets in the slums. He caught the eye of the Duke of Latitche and was trained as a servant, learning etiquette, skills, and knowledge.

Julius knew better than anyone that he was a gutter rat. No matter how composed or elegant he appeared, it clung to the corners of his heart.

(Miss Albertina did not change her attitude... Even when I confessed out of frustration and clearly told her I was a lowly person.)

She offered her delicate white hand when he reached out.

She did not know how much she had been saved by her unchanged smile, her approach, and her voice.

At first, she seemed confused by his confession, but it was more confusion than disgust or contempt.

Albertina did not know how much relief Julius felt at this.

In her eyes, he was a proper human being, not a lowly commoner or servant.

It seemed obvious, but it was not.

It would not have been strange for a servant to be considered disrespectful for harboring feelings for a duke's daughter. If Albertina had shown disgust, he would have been killed or expelled from the duke's family. The difference in their positions was that great.

Now that Grail was gone, many people would approach Albertina. And nine out of ten of them would not be good.

How should I ensnare them?

A faint, dark smile appeared on his face.

Ah, this expression should not be shown in Miss's presence.

He hid it and lightly made the bed. The blanket inside was a bit messy from Chappie's movements.

At that moment, a deathly scream, "Piiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii