Chapter 34: Childhood Friends’ Conference
Kishtarial, Julius, and Michaelis had been summoned to a salon room at the academy.
They had not gathered out of idle habit to chat, but because they had been called by a certain individual.
Of course, even normally, the three of them often stayed together to exchange information or to avoid troublesome female students.
Kishtarial and Michaelis were students, but Julius frequently traveled between the Lattiche estate and the academy as a valet.
They each reported by letter as well, but Julius was also involved in business affairs, so he inevitably had to leave the academy at times.
Michaelis, as the head of the Count Domitrius family and a territorial lord, also returned for administrative duties.
While a steward could handle some matters, there were many things only the lord himself could do.
When particularly busy, he would even use a dormitory or salon room as a temporary office.
So, the three of them gathering was not unusual.
From an outsider’s perspective, however, a duke’s son, a count, and a viscount—three exceptionally handsome nobles—together would naturally draw attention.
Julius remained in the position of a valet because he served the Lattiche family, but ordinarily, someone of his standing would not act as a servant.
He was allowed to conduct himself as a noble in his own right.
Having been granted a title as one of the key figures behind the expansion of the Lattiche duchy’s business, Julius was known as a capable self-made noble.
The Rose Brand was also a result of his skill.
Although the idea originated from the duke’s daughter, it was Julius who shaped it and developed it to its current success.
The fact that he refused to abandon his role as a valet in order to maintain his connection to that young lady was known only to a select few.
Kishtarial was the son of the prestigious Lattiche ducal house, one of the foremost families in the Sandis Kingdom.
Originally born as the child of a concubine from a poor baron family, he had been taken in at a young age and thoroughly educated.
Now, combined with his charming looks, he was one of the most influential young nobles at the academy.
He possessed exceptional magical power and was respected as a member of one of the four great ducal houses.
Even members of the royal family could not casually address Kishtarial, the future duke.
His father was a marshal, the head of one of the four great ducal houses, and a major industrialist—
and Kishtarial bore the full expectation of inheriting all of it.
Such a trio of prominent young nobles, who could not help but attract attention wherever they went—
all had poor complexions.
Steam rose fragrantly from the prepared tea set, yet it did nothing to ease their tension.
“Thank you for waiting, everyone. I truly appreciate you coming.”
A beautiful young lady dressed in a calm orange gown entered gracefully.
Her glossy red hair was styled half-up and secured with a barrette adorned with a corsage matching her dress.
She wore a bell-line dress from the popular Rose Brand, flaring gently from the waist down, shimmering with jewels that caught the light with every movement.
Her radiant smile bloomed like a rose upon seeing all three of them present.
But for the three men, it only made the atmosphere even more tense.
Why?
Because the girl was Jibril von Domitrius—
their childhood friend, and someone powerful enough to overwhelm all three of them combined when necessary.
And when they were summoned like this, only one thing came to mind.
It had to involve Albertina von Lattiche.
Jibril often helped them fend off persistent noble ladies seeking to become their fiancées, so they could not easily oppose her.
Jibril sat down on the gobelin-upholstered sofa, opened her fan, and smiled even more deeply.
A chill ran down the three men’s spines.
Her lovely, elegant smile triggered every instinct warning them of danger.
“I’ll ask directly.
—Is there anyone among you who has captured my sister’s heart?”
It was a straight pitch.
A brutally direct question.
“Sister” was Jibril’s affectionate way of referring to Albertina.
Normally, it would be improper for a count’s daughter to call a duke’s daughter that, but Albertina herself happily accepted it, so no one could object.
Even the duke, who could have corrected it, allowed it as long as it did not harm her.
Albertina did not wish to marry Michaelis.
She simply adored Jibril and indulged her.
Nothing more, nothing less.
“…After more than ten years, this is the result? How pathetic.”
Jibril sighed openly in disappointment.
Her reaction struck even deeper into their hearts.
There was no mercy.
“Then, has anyone confessed their feelings?”
Her interrogation continued.
It was an invasion of privacy, but no one dared object.
Her pressure alone made her seem like a perfect interrogator.
Her ruby-like eyes were sharp and cold.
When none answered immediately, her brows twitched.
“Kishtarial, my brother has already secured a verbal commitment from my sister.
And Julius—you as well, haven’t you? I doubt you would fall behind.”
“…If you already knew, you didn’t have to ask.”
“What? Why should I show restraint when extracting your true feelings?
Do you think being pursued by me would make you abandon your long-held love?
At this age, none of you are engaged, let alone married.
You’ve all avoided arranged meetings, and in reality, none of you even have a fiancée candidate!”
She said it outright.
Kishtarial looked at her as she boldly stood her ground.
Compared to his well-endowed stepsister, Jibril’s chest was modest.
Perhaps she sensed his thoughts, because her pressure increased.
She had become more formidable each year.
Albertina, meanwhile, remained as airheaded as ever, unaware of Jibril’s true nature.
Even when witnessing Jibril’s temper, she would simply smile and say, “Jibril is still cute.”
“So, what exactly do you want to hear?”
“The progress of how far each of you has gotten with my sister!”
“…Why do we have to tell you that?”
“Because my sister is saying she wants to become a nun or a commoner—something utterly ridiculous!!!
I was shocked! Speechless!
And it’s all because of your incompetence!!!
You’ve grown into men, yet none of you can even hold onto her heart!
If I were a man, I’d throw down a glove and cut you all down myself!!!”
Her furious outburst echoed through the salon.
The windows trembled, and the tea rippled.
Her words hurt both ears and hearts.
Tears welled in her eyes—tears of anger and frustration.
Her composed noble lady façade shattered completely.
“My sister doesn’t dislike you… so why does she refuse marriage so stubbornly…?”
“I’d like to know that too.
She listens to most of my requests, yet she won’t agree to that.”
“Kishtarial, you haven’t asked her anything strange, have you?”
“If I had, Anna would glare at me and Mother would kick me.”
Jibril glared, and Kishtarial shrugged.
Her suspicion did not soften.
“Do you know how it feels to be recommended marriage proposals after confessing so much?
Even when I push boundaries, she just smiles innocently…
I’m not a child anymore. I don’t want to remain just her ‘cute younger brother.’”
“Oof… Sister’s as lethal as ever.”
They could all imagine it.
Albertina likely accepted everything as harmless affection.
She was extremely tolerant toward those she trusted.
Especially toward Kishtarial—her guard was practically nonexistent.
“As for me, after expressing my feelings repeatedly in letters, she once asked if I had any woman I was interested in.”
“…That sounds familiar.”
“She seems happy when I have prospects, but she never considers herself a candidate.”
Jibril groaned, holding her head.
“I even clearly told her I saw her as a woman, yet she didn’t understand—and then buried my arm in her chest.”
“Julius, report to the training grounds after this.”
“She’s grown again.
For someone with the crisis awareness of a toddler, why is that the only thing developing?”
“Julius, shall I sic my brother on you?”
The room froze at his blunt remark.
Julius simply narrowed his eyes behind his glasses.
He smiled, but it was not a pleasant one.
“…She’s been gathering information about commoner life from merchants.”
“…Explain.”
“She’s seriously considering becoming a nun or a commoner.”
Julius explained everything smoothly.
Her research into strict convents.
Her attempts to learn about commoner life.
Her genuine intent.
“But realistically, living as a commoner would be impossible for her.”
“Why?”
“She has intelligence, creativity, and magical ability.
She could succeed—if left alone.
But her appearance alone would attract people who would lose their reason.
She would be targeted before she could even use her abilities.
At best, she’d become someone’s doll.
At worst… she’d be broken.”
His tone was calm, but the content was harsh.
“Before that happens, the duke would never allow it.
He’d sooner build an entire town for her.”
“…Build a town?”
“Yes. It would be faster.”
Michaelis was slightly taken aback.
But it was entirely possible.
“That’s why I called you here! To stop her from becoming a nun or a commoner!”
“…We know.”
Jibril slumped.
Kishtarial frowned.
Julius spoke quietly.
“…The cause may be the kidnapping incident.”
Silence fell.
Julius continued.
“Before the kidnapping, Lady Albertina was… cruel.”
“…What?”
The three could not reconcile that with the girl they knew.
“She enjoyed binding servants to trees covered in honey and watching insects swarm them.”
They froze.
That was not play—it was torture.
And she had been a child.
“But after being rescued… she was terrified.
Of everything.
Except the duke.”
Julius described her broken state.
Her fear.
Her change.
How she became the gentle girl they knew.
“…Her fear of men has worsened.”
Michaelis spoke quietly.
“…After the incident with Lucas.”
“…So that’s why…”
Jibril whispered.
Kishtarial’s face twisted.
Julius frowned slightly.
“Then her rejection of love and marriage… is because of that?”
“It’s possible.”
“But we cannot ask her about it.”
Kishtarial said firmly.
It was a taboo.
Touching that trauma could break her completely.
And yet—
None of them knew.
That Albertina’s fear came not only from her past—
but from the countless tragic futures she remembered.
That she feared the “story” itself.
That choosing someone would trigger ruin.
That she was not the real Albertina.
That she was only pretending.
That she believed she was loved only for the shell she wore.
She misunderstood everything.
And she would only realize the truth when she had nowhere left to run.
“…You know,”
Kishtarial muttered,
“She overthinks things.
A lot.”