Chapter 9: Just Before the Curtain Rises

“Hmm, perhaps I should make my debut in society next season.
I would like some girl friends.”

“What are you saying, raised not merely in a greenhouse but within a barrier.
Absolutely not.
Who knows what strange illnesses or poison you might bring back—how horrifying.”

“Horrifying, he says…”

“There are many flies pretending to be butterflies that swarm around the House of Lattiche.”

Julius, the capable yet excessively sharp-tongued valet, poured another cup of exquisite tea as he spoke.
Kishtarial simply declared, “Absolutely not,” and refused to budge.

Even the way he lifted his teacup was elegant, perfectly befitting a noble heir.
Behind him, a new maid holding the cake stand sighed in admiration.
I sensed Anna’s gaze flick briefly toward her.
If that maid continues like that, she may well be reassigned away from my service.

“I have both the duty and the right to protect you, Albel.
Absolutely not.”

The very person in question wishes to go, you know!?

My dear brother, may I trust those words?
You will not stab me in the back the moment I do?
You will truly protect me?

In any case, my debut talk vanished.
Primarily due to Father’s terrifying proposal.

“Perhaps we should scatter the Dampere House as fireworks to celebrate?”

He did not specify rank.
He did not specify which Dampere.
But Sebas and Julius subtly shifted their expressions behind him.

Father, please do not turn someone’s destruction into celebratory fireworks.
Are we speaking physically?
Or socially?

“My thanks, Father.”

“You are special, Albel.
The masses exist to amuse you.
Choose what you like.
Play as you like.
Break as you like.
This world exists for you.”

Father, please do not plant such dangerous ideology in a shut-in.

I refuse ruin and condemnation flags alike.

“I am happy to be your daughter, Father.”

“And I am the happiest man alive to have such a daughter!”

He immediately lifted me and spun me around.
High, high in the air.
Father is stronger than he looks.
I am no longer a tiny child.

Yet within his embrace, nothing is frightening.

“I love you, Father.”

“…Ah.”

He looked momentarily stunned, then smiled awkwardly, as if remembering something long past.

“You resemble Chris… your mother Christina more and more.”

“Do I?”

“She was the most beautiful woman in the kingdom.
I scattered those fools of the royal house and married her myself!”

…So Father’s disdain for royalty predates me?

Apparently, their marriage had been a fervent love match.
Sebas turned pale when I asked for details.

“Ojou-sama, it would be far too stimulating for you.”

Father, what exactly did you do?

To cheer Sebas, I created a handmade ticket labeled “For Sebas,” sealed with my rose stamp.
It entitled him to request Father to heed his words.

Sebas collapsed to his knees in tears.

Apparently, this “Father Ticket” holds more power than royal commands—at least when it concerns Father.

Later, I began folding paper cranes.
Julius showed interest.

Ah, this country leans Western in culture.
Origami is unknown here.

Kishtarial and Julius will soon depart for the Royal Academy in the capital.
Michaelis and Jibril as well.

So I decided to make protective charms for them.

The game’s academy life is filled with romance flags and parameter raising.
Without the villainous lady Albertina stirring trouble, will it even be dramatic?

Kishtarial insists I must reply to his letters.
Julius instructs Raven, who will serve me in his absence, to report all my behavior in detail.

“Even with Lady Lattine and Anna here, I worry.”

His expression softened faintly, a rare genuine smile.
It was dazzling enough to blind me.
Kishtarial promptly covered my eyes.

I crafted small kusudama ornaments, color-coded for each of them.
Blue for Kishtarial.
Purple for Julius.
Crimson for Michaelis.
Pink for Jibril.

I threaded them with decorative cords and embedded small magic stones as amulets.
They are single-use protective charms.

I may be weak at offensive magic, but support spells are my forte.

I even made a larger, elaborate one for Father using silver-dusted blue paper.

He was overjoyed.

That alone makes the effort worthwhile.