Chapter 9

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Thank you for your reviews. I never thought I would receive such kind words...

I am enjoying reading them (*- -)(*_ _) *bows*

I was surprised to see that it made it into the daily and weekly rankings for isekai stories. Is this even allowed? I was quite shocked.

It was a dream, but it wasn't just a dream. I hope I can make it to the end.

Due to the story's progression, it will take some time to resolve the foreshadowing, including the character's development. I hope I can resolve everything...

The story may end up being longer than I thought, but I would be grateful if you could continue to follow it.

I try to make each chapter end on a good note while avoiding making it too short and unsatisfying...

To be honest, I haven't really thought about who Albert will end up with yet.

Actually, Albert is quite clueless when it comes to romance. He's too busy being terrified of the flags of destruction and condemnation to have any time for that, and he's floundering on his own.

"Hmm, should I try entering society next season? I want to make some girl friends."

"What are you saying, someone who has been raised in a barrier, let alone a greenhouse? No, you can't. You might catch some strange disease or poison—how terrifying."

"Terrifying?"

"There are many flies disguised as butterflies that gather at the Latitche family."

Today, Julius, the capable butler, made the most delicious tea. When I thought about Kistaria, he was adamantly against it, saying "Absolutely not."

The new maid holding the cake stand behind him sighed. I felt Anna's gaze for a moment. She was looking down, but I sensed her presence. That maid might be reassigned from my service if she keeps this up.

"I have the duty and right to protect Albert. Absolutely not."

But he himself wants to go!?

My dear brother, can I trust your words? I don't want to be stabbed in the back the moment I believe you. Will you turn me into a splinter with magic? Will you protect me properly?

By the way, my debut in society has been canceled. Mainly due to Father's terrifying plans.

"Maybe I should make a big splash with the Danpelle family?"

He didn't mention their title or rank, but from the subtle change in expression of Sebastian and Julius behind Father's smiling face, I can infer that the Danpelle family is quite influential.

Father, please don't turn someone's house into splinters as a substitute for fireworks.

Is this physical or a matter of family honor?

Those two are the epitome of butlers and stewards, basically calm and collected with excellent judgment. However, their expressions and emotions don't often align. They have a still and dynamic side, but they always wear a beautiful mask of smiles or blank faces.

I don't know what kind of grudge Father has with the Danpelle family, but I don't think it's right to mix personal vendettas with my debut in society. It will surely become a memory I can never forget, but I don't want it to be a nightmare.

Depending on my response, it might cause quite a commotion.

For a moment, I saw a pleading look in the servants' eyes. Usually, they are tossed around by Father's reckless behavior, and they are used to it. Even Sebastian and Julius, who have hearts of steel, showed a hint of desperation.

"Well, thank you, Father."

"It's fine, Albert. You are special. It is the wish of all commoners to please you.

Choose as you like, play as you like, and destroy as you like.

Albertina, you are a chosen one. This world exists for you!"

Father, please don't instill such terrible ideas in a recluse.

Being a duke's daughter is indeed a rare position, even among the few noble families. However, I don't think it means I can act arrogantly and cruelly.

If I were to follow that path, the original Albertina, with her noble bloodline, might have been a princess in a different era. But her end was tragic.

Being executed would have been better. Being stripped of her title and exiled, becoming a plaything for bandits, being forced to marry an old and ugly man, or being raped as a slave—there are many examples where being executed would have been better.

I refuse. I would rather be a nun and live a pure life.

In Father's sharp beauty, there is a glint in his eyes.

Father's eyes reflect only one person, me.

Who does Father see in me?

Is it the real Albertina before the kidnapping? The late mother, Christina? A dream in Father's heart?

What truly reflects in those eyes, a mix of madness and coldness?

I must never ask this question, but I am grateful to this father as Albertina.

The world of nobility usually seeks the best marriage or alliance for their daughters to ensure prosperity. I am left alone in peace because Father keeps me in his hands, in the Latitche family's little world, and exempts me from all duties.

"I am happy to be Father's daughter."

"I am so happy to have a lovely daughter like Albert!"

As soon as he said that, Father picked me up and started spinning me around, holding me by the waist. It's like a high ride. Father, are you actually quite strong? My body has grown a lot since the kidnapping.

The incredibly capable butler, the beautiful step-brother, and the charming young nobleman who resembles a story's hero and knight—all were given to me by Father as if they were toys to a child.

I am given everything, from food, clothing, and shelter to entertainment, and I am in no position to complain about Father.

However, I sometimes feel uneasy. Is it enough to just sit back and enjoy the love as a daughter without doing anything?

Father will firmly say it's unnecessary with a smile, but sometimes I feel guilty.

Perhaps the reason I am seen as too sweet is due to this guilt.

"I don't really care about the Danpelle family. Do as you please, Father?"

"Is that so?"

"Yes."

Father hugged me tightly. The scent of his perfume and a hint of hair oil were the most calming things. In his arms, there is nothing to fear.

Father is the one who protects me. To protect me, he doesn't care if someone is a commoner, noble, or royal. He decides whether to crush or ignore them based on whether they are an enemy or an ally. And sometimes, he picks them up on a whim.

Despite his terrifying intensity, I can't help but like Father.

It's because of his love, even if it's twisted, it's real.

"I love you, Father."

"...Ah."

With the best smile I could manage, I conveyed my feelings. Father, who was slightly surprised, returned a stiff smile, as if seeing something bright and nostalgic.

"Father?"

"No, Albert looks a lot like... Mother Christina.

You've grown so much recently, and you resemble her even more."

"Is that so?"

"Yes. Your mother was the most beautiful woman in the country!

I married her after driving away the royal family's fools!"

...Does Father's dislike of the royal family date back to when Mother was alive?

Father is smiling, but Sebastian's face looks a bit off. Was he mischievous? No, it would have been impossible to marry a woman who was courted by the royal family without being quite mischievous.

Especially, the king can take concubines in addition to the empress. The empress is usually from a royal family of another country or a duke or marquis within the country. Occasionally, a powerful count is chosen, but they are usually from a particularly influential noble family. Concubines are generally of lower status than the empress but are often nobles. At the very least, they need to have a title. Below them are the king's official mistresses, and then there are various concubines of different statuses, including lower nobles, widows, and commoners.

Some countries even have a harem palace. Our country has a harem, and the kings of the first and second generations were quite active, spending the national treasury on women.

Naturally, the succession struggle among the numerous heirs was intense, but it ended due to an epidemic. Ironically.

It was the Megil flu, a disease that specifically targeted magic users, which was a killer of nobles and royals. Depending on the route, the protagonist might get sick and there are nursing events. The prince and Kistaria routes have popular stills of the protagonist suffering from a fever.

But I have no interest in making my family suffer. I will secretly get the medicine. Regular fever reducers don't work because it's caused by magic. If Kistaria or Father, who are strong in magic, get infected, it could be serious. On the other hand, lower nobles and commoners with less magic are fine. Since Albert has magic, I should prepare more medicine.

In any case, the royal family values bloodline. For someone without royal blood to become king, it usually happens through war or revolution. The Sandis royal family is no exception. The Sandis Kingdom has national treasures and magic that can only be used by those with royal blood, so it's a rule that the bloodline from the first king must not be broken.

Thanks to this magic, they have overcome various disasters, wars, and rebellions in the past.

This is ancient magic or lost technology, so it can't be replaced.

Naturally, Mother, who had royal blood, was in high demand. The Sandis green eyes are the eyes of the royal family, and she was incredibly beautiful.

If Father fought against such people, he must have been quite capable.

The current Father is unstoppable, but even he was young once. It must have been difficult to marry the most beautiful woman in the country without being skilled in power struggles.

Moreover, Mother's mother was the current princess. Royal marriages usually only go to prestigious families. Normally, unless something terrible happens.

Noble marriages are often arranged by parents, so it's impressive that Father and Mother pursued love.

What was it like? Their relationship. When I asked Julius, he said it was a passionate love marriage but didn't give details.

That makes sense. Julius isn't much older than me.

When I asked Sebastian for old stories, he turned pale and shook his head violently.

"It's too intense for you, my lady! Please forgive me..."

...What was Father really like?

He must have been quite mischievous. Sebastian, who is an excellent steward, twisting his face in pain is heartbreaking.

Julius shaking his head silently means I shouldn't ask more. I'm sorry, Father causes a lot of trouble.

Sebastian must always have a hard time with Father. Maybe I should give him a massage voucher or a word voucher as a daughter. Father is very energetic and aggressive, so even Sebastian might need me to stop him as a last resort. My words don't have physical or authoritative power, but I think they can be a mental stopper.

When I gave a homemade ticket to the exhausted Sebastian, he collapsed and started crying.

What!?! Sebastian!?! This is what they mean by tears streaming down. His eyes, starting to show wrinkles, were wet, and tears were falling one after another. He held up the "Father Ticket" as if it were a precious treasure.

Incidentally, only Sebastian can use it, and it's written "To Sebastian" with my rose seal.

Kistaria and Julius, who were watching with me, had mixed expressions.

"In a way, it has the power of national authority and is more effective than an order from the royal family."

That's only for Father.

The family, both the devil and the naive, cause a lot of trouble for the servants. Which one is better to take care of?

However, Kistaria warned me not to make such tickets easily.

"Sebastian might treasure it too much and hesitate to use it when necessary."

Julius is genuinely worried about the unusually cheerful Sebastian.

Is it that important? It's like a toy made by a child.

When I made a paper crane, Julius was interested.

Come to think of it, this world, or at least this country, has a Western-influenced culture. Origami is not recognized. I heard that packaging and such are quite rough in foreign countries, and there isn't much of a culture of folding paper into beautiful shapes.

By the way, Julius will accompany Kistaria to the capital's school next year.

That's right, unlike in the original story, Albertina doesn't go to school.

Mikaelis and Jibril, the count's siblings, will also go. Mikaelis is already enrolled, but Kistaria and the heroine were in the same grade, and Jibril will start next year.

I thought about making some kind of charm for everyone.

Whether the story follows the original or not, it's clear that it will be an intense school life.

It's a game where the main focus is on romance, but you also improve your academic, magical, and technical skills, and charm to get closer to and win over your main target. There is also a reverse harem route, but I think it leads to a messy aftermath after graduation.

Moreover, without the villainess Albertina von Latitche, who has both power and beauty, the school life might lack excitement. Especially in the prince and Kistaria routes, the obstacles, namely Albert, made it more exciting.

Incidentally, Kistaria is writing letters and telling his son to write back, like a worried mother. Isn't that the other way around?

Julius, on the other hand, is instructing the butler, Raven, to report my every move in detail while he's away. Hey, are you saying that in front of the person? What am I to Julius? A four-year-old duke's daughter? If I say I want to become a nun in the future, will he be so shocked that he collapses? Julius seems to be quite overprotective of me, even more so than Kistaria.

"Even with Latine and Anna, I am worried."

My lady often causes trouble without realizing it—his words are advice, but his expression is a slightly troubled smile. Oh, the rare smile on the usually coldly beautiful face. It's not a fake smile but a genuine one, like the sun melting the snow in spring.

I squinted at the brightness, and Kistaria gently covered my eyes.

This is bad. I'm in trouble. I thought I was used to beautiful people, but to be blinded by the one I see the most. I still have a lot to learn.

Struggling to remember my past, I made a small kusudama. It was a bit difficult to get thin paper like origami.

When I started gathering materials for the kusudama, Julius, sensing my plan, started hovering around, so I had Anna and Raven chase him away.

I made a blue kusudama for Kistaria, matching his eyes, and a purple one for Julius. For Mikaelis and Jibril, I made red ones, with Mikaelis getting a deep red and Jibril a pinkish one.

There wasn't much time before they left for the capital, so I worked hard to finish them.

Not only for decoration, I added a string to hang them and used a magic stone shaped like a ball to give them weight, making them look good when they sway. The magic stones also serve as amulets—single-use, but genuine protection.

I'm not good at offensive magic, but I'm skilled at support magic. The original Albert was great at both offensive and curse magic... maybe it's the person inside?

Unrelated to school, I made a slightly larger kusudama for Father, using custom-made paper with various blues and silver powder.

Father's kusudama took a bit longer because I made it more elaborate, but he was very pleased, so it was worth it.

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Thank you for reading (*- -)(*_ _) *bows*