Chapter 88

Beautiful sibling love.

It's just a severe case of older brother complex (unconscious familial love) and a severe case of younger sister complex (conscious romantic love).

Alber basically considers Kishutaria as an important younger brother. He loves his younger brother. However, his awareness is quite thin. And he likes his father even more. He is a bit more aware of this. But he doesn't like himself.

I had a dream.

It was a happy dream.

The vast grounds were covered with daisies.

As a child, I picked flowers with my small hands and made a crown of flowers clumsily.

Finally, the flower crown was completed.

I placed it on the head of my father, who had come beside me.

His head fell off.

The flower crown turned into bright red blood, and the daisy field became a red carpet and a hall of audience scattered with debris.

I looked around in a daze, and the floor began to collapse.

I panicked as the ground beneath me crumbled and started running, holding my father's head.

No, no. I don't want to be caught. I have to protect him.

Black hands reached out.

I don't want to give it. I don't want to be caught. No, no. Don't take me away!

I ran down a dark path, using the light leaking from somewhere as a guide.

It's too late! I'll be caught!

"---No!!"

In the dim night, the bed was dimly lit by the light of a magic stone.

The sound of heavy breathing echoed in the silence, and my hair and nightgown clung to my skin with sweat. When I raised my upper body, an unpleasant fatigue clung to me.

The knock echoed, and when I gave permission, Anna appeared with a worried look.

"What happened, Miss Alber?"

"…Anna… I'm sorry, I had a bad dream."

"Then… would you like some herbal tea or hot milk to calm down?"

"No, it's fine. I'll go back to sleep. Thank you."

"No, please call me if anything happens. Good night."

"Yes, good night."

It was a relief to know Anna was there. I felt guilty for worrying her, but I was comforted by the maid's concern.

When I laid my head on the pillow, Chap and Honey peeked in from both sides.

"Hehe, you two were here too. You were worried? Thank you. I'm fine."

"Pu?"

"Pii?"

I stroked their heads, and they tilted their heads and burrowed into my bed. It seemed they both woke up worried. The sound of them settling in the bed made me smile.

I closed my eyes, determined to sleep properly this time.

But, I was happy to meet Father even in a dream.

The royal palace of the Sandis Kingdom. In one of the most heavily guarded areas, the king's private room.

The spacious room. The high white ceiling was adorned with several chandeliers. The ceiling itself was intricately carved. The deep red walls were rich and vibrant, with gold decorations. Upon closer inspection, the decorations were uniformly the coat of arms of the Sandis Kingdom, showcasing the superb craftsmanship of the artisans. The floor was covered with a short-pile carpet, intricately patterned. It goes without saying that the highest quality materials were used without hesitation.

It was luxurious but suffocating. Even though I was used to it, I couldn't help but think so.

Rauzes stood in front of a large dressing table. There, a middle-aged man with a tired face stood.

Was it due to physical aging, the long-term pressure of being king, or the sorrow of losing a trusted and capable minister—probably all of it.

He touched the decoration on the dressing table. It moved slightly with a click, click. Then, he confirmed a small click and reached for the drawer. Pushing up the double structure, a rectangular jewelry box came out. It was 20 cm long, 10 cm wide, and about 5 cm deep. Black lacquer with gold decorations. The lid was adorned with the intricate coat of arms of the Sandis Kingdom. The scattered diamonds were small but of good quality and shining. When infused with magic, the lid opened.

Inside the lid were eight Sandis Lights. They sat on a velvet lining in their raw stone state. The clear, deep Sandis Green was the royal color of this country, the same as Rauzes' eyes.

(If it can help that girl even a little...)

This is no longer necessary for me.

I wish for her future to be a little brighter.

Only Rauzes knew what thoughts flew behind his tightly closed eyelids. But the fingers that gripped tightly until they turned white told the story of his resolve.

Kishutaria comes to see me at least once a week.

Despite being busy, he always comes with a gentle smile. Of course, I always look forward to that day.

I don't mind preparing the tart with walnuts and nuts that Kishutaria likes, and the brand of tea he prefers.

Anna also seems to look forward to Kishutaria's visits and helps enthusiastically. She is a very capable and reliable maid.

Somewhere in my heart, I feel sad, painful, and lonely. I always cry and wail— but there is no one to pick me up and wipe away my tears anymore.

The sweet, calming amber musk, the broad shoulders that look slender but are solid. The gentle, melodious tenor and the broad palm that strokes my head. They were always there when I opened my arms. The place where I could fly into, the place where only I was allowed.

—Father is no longer here.

I'm afraid that if I show my weakness, I'll be taken advantage of.

I can't sleep well lately, and even my favorite aromatherapy oils and incense don't work well. Once, when I woke up in the middle of the night and was reading, Anna stayed with me until I fell asleep. I feel bad. I'm really weak...

I pull myself together and prepare the tea. The cook from Latteche is here, and the tray is lined with cakes that rival the Rose brand.

"Kishutaria likes cheese cookies and pecan nut chocolates too."

Pecan nut chocolates are pecan nuts (also known as pecan nuts) coated in chocolate and further coated with cocoa powder. They are not yet a Rose brand product, but one of the recipes I completed after begging for it.

It was difficult to get the right nuts... Julius did. At first, we used walnuts as a substitute, but we sought out something less astringent and sweeter. Through selective breeding in the Demetrias territory, we finally managed to create pecan nuts.

I felt that Julius was a bit taken aback by the taste I sought, but once the pecan nut chocolates were made, he tried every trick in the book to get them commercialized... and ended up making multiple flavors like cocoa, caramel, and bitter, which was really difficult... and fattening. Nuts and chocolate are the ultimate combination for gaining weight.

"But Kishutaria likes bitter, and Father did too..."

He said it was delicious.

I was happy to be praised by Father, who didn't particularly like sweets.

When Father later had the treat in his office for a break, and Sebastian quietly told me, I couldn't help but smile to myself.

Thinking about it, my eye sockets felt hot, and my vision blurred. Tears I didn't want to shed threatened to fall, and I pressed my hand to my mouth to swallow a sob.

"Miss..."

I raised my face to Anna's concerned voice and forced a smile. No, I can't. I'll worry her. I need to pull myself together.

The kind maids and servants are on my side. I'm not surrounded on all sides.

"I'm sorry, Anna. I'm fine."

At that moment, Bella called out to me with a slightly tense expression.

Bella resembles Dora, a maid from the past. She is her mother, apparently. When Kishutaria learned this, he grimaced. Indeed, it seems Dora left a bad impression... but Bella is kind to me. Sometimes, I feel like she looks at me with a dreamy gaze.

I'm not scared, so it's fine. Bella and Uncle Cliff introduced me to Miss Cecil, who will be very helpful in the future. She's a bit... unusual, but I can trust her.

However, I appreciate that she doesn't look at me as a 'tragic lady' or 'princess.'

When she prostrated herself on the carpet and said, "I feel the history!" with a serious face, I was a bit taken aback... but Bella silently collected her.

"What is it, Bella?"

"...This."

Gently, a silver tray held a single envelope. Made of thick, high-quality white paper, the envelope bore the royal seal.

There are only a few people who can use this royal seal: the king or the prince. However, I have never had any dealings with anyone outside my family, the merchants and craftsmen I favor, or the Demetrias family.

I gently picked it up to see who it was from.

"Most likely from His Majesty. It's in this envelope, and the combination of green patterns is what His Majesty uses."

"Does Bella know this?"

"Yes, it's the same as the ones addressed to Lady Sistina and Lady Christina."

If it's from King Rauzes, my guard is much lower. If it were from Empress Mezarin or Empress Ophelia, it would be a bit scary.

I haven't received any magical messages from those two. If Anna or Duke Fortuna hadn't quietly disposed of them, that is. In any case, I am in mourning and can't go to glamorous places.

To begin with, I don't want to go at all.

I would rather mourn Father's death and pray for his soul. That would be much more meaningful. Mourning is a period for that purpose.

"Can I read this in my room at my leisure? Should I read it right away?"

"Not urgently, but it's better to do it soon."

"...I understand."

I don't really want to, but I can't ignore a letter from the king. If it contains something important, I don't want it to fall into the wrong hands. The servants, carefully selected by the Fortuna family and the royal family, sometimes include third-rate ones. But there are also proper people like Bella and Sir Carreras.

The mix of very capable and incapable people is probably due to the ongoing conflict between the Fortuna family and the royal family—behind which is the Council of Elders.

There are exceptions like Miss Cecil, but...

Probably, by including people who are more likely to slip up, they are skillfully deflecting some of the Council's requests. Third-rate servants sometimes disappear from my sight after a few days.

For now, the royal family and the Council are quiet.

However, according to Kishutaria, things will move quickly as soon as the mourning period is over. It's a fact. They will undoubtedly start planning and making moves to prepare for the end of the mourning period, which will last a year.

And they are imposing various restrictions on me.

To prevent a premature move, or something like a hare that hasn't been caught yet. It's unpleasant. Who will do as they please?

Father wished for my happiness until the end.

If possible, I would like to become a nun or something and spend peaceful days praying for Father's soul.

But the current Sandis royal family has no royal eyes. I know they want to pull me out. They will probably tell me to have children for the sake of the royal family. With a stranger? No way.

To begin with, the men I can interact with are very few... it's tough. Really tough.

The idea of being seen and exposed by a stranger is terrifying.

Kishutaria is also worried and advises me to be cautious. Yes, I will be careful.

When Kishutaria came later, he was very worried about me, and I was very comforted by his gentle demeanor.

For some reason, Bella and Anna had slightly awkward expressions. What's wrong with Kishutaria, such a good brother who cares so much about his sister?

Anna, for one, might have known that there was a brotherly heart, but also a deeper admiration that had matured over ten years. But the servants, including Anna, who knew that Kishutaria was more of a brother than a romantic interest to Albertina, kept silent. They didn't say anything tactless.

"Albert, what's that letter?"

"This? It's from King Rauzes. I was thinking of reading it in my room later."

"Hmm, can I see it?"

Are you curious?

I hand the letter to Kishutaria, who smiles. When I was with the Latteche family, Father, Lady Latte, Sebastian, or Julius would check it before I saw it.

...That's why my research on the convent and the lives of commoners was immediately discovered.

Hmm, thinking about it, maybe I shouldn't have given King Rauzes' letter to Kishutaria? But maybe I can't make that decision alone.

"Ah, it seems there's a magic that only the addressee can see. If Albert doesn't open it, it might burn..."

"That's dangerous. It's fine if I open it, right?"

"Yes."

Anna smoothly comes over with a paper knife.

She slides it into the envelope. The letter inside isn't stuck, right? I take out the letter and hand it to Kishutaria with a "be careful." Paper cuts can be quite deep and take a while to heal...

Kishutaria's face seems a bit tense? Oh?

"...No, Albert, I have to protect you."

"Huh?"

"No, it's a different matter. I'll read it then."

"Yes, please. What is it about?"

What's going on? Did I do something wrong?

Not only Kishutaria, but Bella and the guard knights also seem to have rather awkward expressions. Anna is calm, though.

Kishutaria unfolds the letter and reads it.

He's reading it carefully. Is it a difficult matter? I tilt my teacup. Today's tea was made by Anna. Yes, as expected of my personal maid. It's a very good taste.

Kishutaria stands up and spreads the letter in front of me, whispering in my ear.

"He wants to see you, Albert. Directly. His Majesty himself is willing to come if necessary and would like to have some time."

"Oh..."

"Alone, and as discreetly as possible."

His Majesty is coming here?

It tickles a bit when he whispers in my ear. Kishutaria's ash-brown hair touches my cheek. The color, which shines through the sunlight, is similar to Father's. How many times have I envied this color? I don't resemble Father much, especially in appearance. My hair, eyes, and facial features are very similar to Mother's. Father praised and complimented me, but wishing for what I don't have is futile.

I don't have any particular bad feelings towards His Majesty. I met him at the Michaelis sword tournament, and he seemed like a kind person.

Empress Mezarin was scary, and Princess Elmedia was shocking.

King Rauzes was so kind that I didn't mind being patted on the head; rather, it made me feel warm.

But this summons gives off a strong sense that something important is about to happen.

"What do you want to do, Albert? We can stall for a while if you need to prepare your feelings."

"...No, I'll accept it."

"Okay, will you tell me about it later? I won't force you if you don't want to."

"No, I might not be able to decide on my own. Can I consult you?"

"...Thank you, Albert."

Why am I being thanked?

When I tilt my head, I get a kiss on the forehead. Kishutaria has a complex smile, as if he's troubled but happy. I'm really clumsy.

"By the way, Albert, I have something to confirm."

"What is it?"

"Have you had any strange advances from the branch families? Letters or invitations to social events.

We're dealing with it here, but some of them are quite reckless and might interfere with you improperly."

"Branch families? I'm sorry. I've heard that Count Kreutz is my uncle, but I don't know anyone else, so please tell me."

Kishutaria was silent.

That father-like figure is Father's real younger brother. I haven't seen him recently. Apparently, he's very busy filling the gap left by Father.

But, I trust Latteche's attending physician the most. He's the right person for the job.

"Did Father ever mention anyone? Besides the Kreutz family, Maximilian, Balkas, and Kaidinsky are well-known."