Chapter 56: The Old King’s Concerns
Kishutaria raised one eyebrow with practiced ease and formed a cynical smile.
Even that expression was beautiful.
Yet it was not one he could ever show the older sister who adored him.
A cold light flickered within his blue eyes.
Even Mikaelis, who had brought the proposal, could not completely hide the bitterness and struggle written across his face.
“So let me get this straight.”
“They barged in during the chaos caused by the attack.”
“They forcibly exposed Albertina’s appearance.”
“They dragged her out of the ducal estate against her will.”
“She cried.”
“She begged them not to.”
“They ignored all of it, locked her inside the royal palace, and now that she’s rejecting everyone with all her might and they’ve run out of options, they’re coming to me for help?”
The selfishness of it was astonishing.
The moment things became inconvenient, they expected him to solve the problem.
Mikaelis could only nod at the poison dripping from Kishutaria’s words.
“…Albertina’s barrier only allows passage to people she trusts.”
“At the moment, the only one who can freely enter and leave is Anna, the maid who has always attended her.”
“It is possible to force one’s way through.”
“However, doing so places immense pressure upon the person entering.”
“And if someone pushes too deeply into the barrier, it places a burden on Albertina herself.”
“So it isn’t something that should be done carelessly.”
“Barrier magic really is unusual.”
Julius folded his arms.
“So there are barriers with functions like that.”
“It is an extremely rare attribute.”
Mikaelis nodded.
“Compared to the four basic elements or even the six major attributes, research is practically nonexistent.”
“Specialized magic is often connected to divine spirits, elementals, fairies, demons, and things beyond ordinary understanding.”
“Most people simply can’t handle it.”
“Which is why research never progresses.”
“And the Sandis royal family’s barriers seem to be a bloodline-specific form of magic.”
As a magician himself, Kishutaria disliked not understanding the mechanism behind it.
But the knowledge that Albertina remained safe brought him considerable relief.
He had spent the past days fearing the worst.
If things had gone badly enough, they might already have forced some unknown man upon her.
The glory surrounding the royal eyes was famous.
So were the darker stories.
The royal succession was inseparably tied to them.
And the Elder Council’s obsession with the subject bordered on madness.
Albertina had been stolen away so suddenly.
Everything had happened far too quickly.
Never in his wildest expectations had he imagined Duke Fortuna would personally drag her straight to the royal palace.
Judging from Count Kristoff’s behavior, Kishutaria had assumed there was at least genuine familial affection beneath the hostility toward Grail.
“Even if our theory about the barrier’s selection process is merely speculation, you’re still going?”
“Obviously.”
Kishutaria answered immediately.
“Albertina is already absurdly shy and terrified of strangers.”
“There’s no way she’s in any kind of stable condition after being dragged somewhere like this.”
“If there’s even a chance to see her, I’ll take it.”
“No matter what.”
“Anna can support her all she wants.”
“But the only thing that would truly calm Albertina down is seeing Father.”
“Even I can only provide temporary comfort.”
He shrugged.
As always, everything revolved around Albertina.
His sister complex remained hopelessly severe.
Naturally, Kishutaria had also been blamed for helping conceal Albertina’s royal eyes.
The greatest responsibility belonged to Grail.
Even so, many had attempted to pressure Kishutaria into making a damaging admission.
Apparently they assumed he would be easier to crack.
Looking at him now, Mikaelis found that difficult to believe.
Compared to Grail’s freezing stare whenever Kishutaria overstepped around Albertina, and compared to his mother Latine’s lightning-like fury, a few threats and drawn-out interrogations were nothing.
Being cornered by persistent noble daughters at tea parties was honestly more exhausting.
As long as he remained the son of a duke, no one could openly resort to violence or outright disrespect.
Even now, the prestige of House Latitche protected him.
“Can Julius come with me?”
“Difficult.”
Mikaelis considered it.
“But I’ll ask.”
“Albertina likes the tea and herbal blends he prepares.”
“She probably isn’t eating.”
“She’s likely consuming less than a bird.”
“At least I want her drinking something.”
“If I am permitted to accompany you, I shall prepare her favorite tea leaves and honey.”
Julius immediately began planning.
“Fruit as well.”
“Soft fruit, jelly, compotes—things that are easy to eat.”
“If they’re from Rose Trading Company, Lady Albertina will probably accept them.”
“She trusts their products.”
“Their chefs and pastry artisans all have ties to House Latitche.”
Albertina’s nerves would be stretched to their limit.
Anything unfamiliar might make her refuse it outright.
But products from Rose Trading Company carried familiar tastes and memories.
Those she might trust.
There was no room for mistakes.
“Honestly, I’d rather bring the head chef from the main estate.”
“Can you cook?”
Kishutaria asked.
Julius paused.
“…Simple dishes, perhaps.”
“But nothing worthy of being served to Lady Albertina.”
“If Albertina can eat it, make it.”
“Lady Albertina deserves—”
“Make it.”
“How tyrannical.”
Julius sighed.
Yet eventually nodded.
“Though I make no guarantees she’ll actually eat it.”
Mikaelis quietly listened to their exchange.
“The matter is settled, then.”
“I’ll deliver the report.”
His crimson hair swayed as he stood.
Then he promptly left.
The fact that he spoke less than usual suggested he was struggling with his own emotions.
Yet his position required obedience.
The honorable count was caught between conflicting loyalties.
His affection and concern for Albertina.
His admiration and respect for Duke Fortuna, commander of Sandis Kingdom’s knights.
It was a complicated position.
To Kishutaria and Julius, Fortuna was simply an overbearing old tyrant.
Mikaelis likely saw things differently.
His feelings sided with Albertina.
His reason demanded impartiality.
A difficult burden.
Yet his sincerity also made him valuable.
He brought information from perspectives neither Kishutaria nor Julius could access.
More importantly, they trusted him.
Mikaelis owed both House Latitche and Albertina too much to betray them.
And if he somehow did…
Jibril would explode long before Kishutaria or Julius could react.
The younger count’s daughter was absurdly attached to Albertina.
And Albertina spoiled Jibril nearly as much as she spoiled Kishutaria.
Albertina was kind to everyone younger than herself.
Yet her affection toward Jibril was particularly deep.
Deep enough to make the three men openly jealous.
Once Jibril learned what had happened, she would undoubtedly abandon both school and social obligations to rush here.
Despite her delicate appearance, the young noblewoman was terrifyingly energetic.
Sometimes she overwhelmed all three of them.
Then she would unleash that lovely voice of hers and mercilessly scold them.
Using every skill she’d acquired in noble society, she would target their weaknesses with deadly precision.
A red little devil.
One of them had started calling her that.
None remembered who.
Yet the nickname fit perfectly.
Until her inevitable arrival, the two men decided to hold a strategy meeting.
It was mostly pointless.
But it made them feel better.
Permission was granted surprisingly quickly.
Chancellor Darren and the Elder Council had objected.
Then King Lauzes lost his temper.
“Do you intend to kill my niece’s daughter for your convenience?”
The king’s roar silenced them instantly.
Even the Chancellor and Elder Council retreated before the fury of the normally gentle monarch.
Kishutaria and Julius secretly found themselves viewing the king more favorably afterward.
No matter how mild-mannered he seemed.
No matter how gentle his reputation.
He remained the king of an entire nation.
Even with the succession crisis looming over him, he had not blindly thrown himself at Albertina.
The current king was already showing signs of age.
Albertina was the only remaining individual who both possessed the royal eyes and appeared capable of bearing children.
Lucas.
Leold.
Elmedia.
All three royal heirs had failed to inherit the ideal royal color.
Under normal circumstances, marrying Albertina to Lucas or Leold would have been the obvious solution.
Unfortunately, the relationship between the royal family and House Latitche had already deteriorated too far.
To make matters worse, both princes had become infatuated with another woman.
Despite already having noble fiancées.
Despite their duties.
The scandal they created was so severe that marriage with Albertina had effectively become impossible.
Even royal authority could not force the matter now.
House Latitche was simply too powerful.
And Albertina was Grail’s only daughter.
Taking her away in a manner that resembled kidnapping had been the worst possible decision.
Everyone knew what would happen when Grail returned from the campaign.
Concealing a child with royal eyes was certainly a crime.
Yet anyone familiar with Albertina’s personality could understand why it had been done.
Every servant and retainer of House Latitche said the same thing.
Albertina was gentle.
Unsuitable for political struggles.
Completely uninterested in power.
Even now, people worried about the lingering fragility left behind by her kidnapping trauma.
And beyond that…
Grail’s contributions to Sandis Kingdom were simply too great.
No one could condemn him so easily.
Albertina’s wellbeing had been protected through Grail’s overwhelming love and overprotectiveness.
He had poured his heart and soul into raising her.
Now that treasured daughter had been stolen away.
Against her will.
Against her desperate protests.
No one believed Grail would forgive this.
The situation had already crossed the line.
There was no possibility of escaping the consequences.
A frightened girl.
Dragged to an unfamiliar place.
Crying herself to exhaustion.
Rejecting everyone around her.
Hiding behind a barrier.
That was Albertina’s current state.
Lauzes understood it perfectly.
Returning her to House Latitche immediately was impossible.
Moving her at all carried risks.
But surrounding her with people connected to House Latitche would undoubtedly calm her.
If Grail saw his beloved daughter emaciated and exhausted…
His fury would multiply beyond imagination.
The knights assigned to watch the barrier remained skeptical until the very end.
Could Kishutaria really pass through it?
After all, his birth circumstances were well known.
A distant relative.
The son of a mistress.
Someone whose origins stood far below the ducal family.
No one openly mocked him.
But rumors always spread around famous people.
“We’ve reached the barrier.”
Kishutaria glanced at Julius.
“Everything ready?”
“…Unfortunately, Lady Albertina’s preferred tea set could not be obtained in time.”
Julius sounded genuinely apologetic.
“I gathered several of her favorite tea blends.”
“At least the varieties she drinks regularly.”
“However, the vintage leaves from Char de Fairanin that she has particularly enjoyed recently are completely sold out.”
“Even Rose Trading Company won’t receive more until next week.”
“The fruits, syrups, and light meal ingredients are prepared.”
“Hm.”
Kishutaria shrugged.
“Good enough.”
The handsome young duke barely seemed interested.
Then, without hesitation, he stepped into the barrier that had defeated veteran knights and royal court magicians alike.
The thin membrane of mana resembled glass.
Or perhaps a soap bubble.
It accepted Kishutaria instantly.
Then Julius.
Then the cart carrying the tea service.
Several knights attempted to follow.
The barrier promptly threw them back outside.
They landed hard on their backsides.
Even after scrambling to their feet, they continued pressing their hands against the barrier and pounding on it.
Nothing happened.
Without sparing them even a glance, Kishutaria and Julius continued down the long corridor ahead.