Chapter 53: The Eyes of the Royal Family

“Why?! I’m the heroine! I haven’t done anything wrong! Why is everyone treating me like the villain?!”

The shrill voice was sharp enough to split one’s head apart, making Kishutaria’s expression twist involuntarily. They had likely removed Renaria’s gag to interrogate her despite the magic-sealing restraints. She was exactly the same as ever. Back at the academy, she had carried herself with confidence while hiding behind the authority of the princes. Now that confidence had completely vanished. Perhaps it was more accurate to say that her true colors had finally been revealed.

Renaria’s delicate, innocent appearance had once fascinated many young noblemen. Compared to aristocratic ladies, her reactions seemed fresh and charming. However, Kishutaria, who had grown up alongside someone truly pure within the protected garden created by the Demon King, saw her differently. Everything about her had always felt false. Her behavior was suspicious, calculated, and only half-successful in its attempt to appear endearing. She always approached people while pretending to be kind and considerate, yet there was always an unsettling sense of superiority hidden in her eyes.

He had disliked her from the very beginning.

She had approached him with the expression of a saint, acting as though she understood everything and accepted everything. She had arbitrarily decided that Kishutaria was some pitiful, unfortunate boy whose only value lay in his title as a duke’s son. Deep down, she had looked down on him.

“Albertina is a villainess! She’ll destroy the kingdom someday! Getting rid of her is for everyone’s benefit!”

And she had insulted the person he treasured most.

The first person besides his mother to ever show him genuine affection. The person who had treated him not as the son of a low-ranking nobleman’s mistress, but as a younger brother and as a fellow human being. The person who had given both him and his mother a place to belong.

Kishutaria wanted to strangle the woman screaming those insults with his own hands. Judging by the expression on Christoph’s face, he likely felt something similar. The count’s disgust was completely undisguised.

“What exactly is that thing? Shall I dispose of it?”

“I would advise against that,” Kishutaria replied calmly. “She is a major criminal wanted by the kingdom. If we fail to hand her over to the proper authorities, the responsibility may fall upon us.”

“That? A major criminal?”

“Even someone like her was once known as the academy’s villainess. There was a time when she behaved as though she ruled the entire school.”

“…As expected of the little fool who dared challenge Grail. The rumors about her stupidity were apparently understated.”

Christoph stroked his Kaiser mustache with a troubled expression.

Kishutaria could never forgive Renaria. He wanted to cut the tendons in her arms and legs immediately and crush the throat that kept producing that irritating voice. However, before anything else, they needed answers. They had to determine how so many intruders had managed to infiltrate the Latitche estate. Could someone as foolish as Renaria truly have planned something this elaborate herself? They also needed to find out how she had gathered so many accomplices.

Meanwhile, Renaria’s screaming continued unabated.

“That woman isn’t Albertina! Albertina has black hair! Her eyes are supposed to be plain green! That woman is a fake! Impersonating someone is a crime, right?! She’s the criminal!”

One of the soldiers conducting the interrogation slammed the heel of his military boot directly onto Renaria’s head. Her face struck the floor with a sickening sound. She writhed for several moments before breaking down into sobs.

For an instant, Kishutaria felt a chill run down his spine.

Albertina’s true appearance had almost never been revealed outside the ducal estate. The only exception had been when Grail had taken her to Domitrius Territory. A noble girl from House Tengarong had seen her there. That family had later incurred Grail’s wrath and vanished entirely from the noble registry. The consequences had spread even to their branch families, scattering them far and wide. There was no connection there.

Furthermore, the Duchess Territory, where Renaria had been born, wasn’t even adjacent to Domitrius Territory.

“…Black hair and green eyes?”

The uneasy voice came from beside him.

Kishutaria immediately knew who would react strongly to those words.

“You aren’t seriously considering believing the ramblings of a criminal, are you?” he asked. “You saw Albertina yourself earlier.”

“Y-Yes, of course. Her hair and eyes resembled that brat Grail’s. It’s a shame, really. If only one of them had been different…”

“I see. So an Albertina with brown hair and blue eyes holds no value to you. I’ll be sure to tell her that. I’m sure she’ll be relieved.”

“Wait! Stop! Don’t you dare! You little brat!”

Christoph’s panic was so great that his true feelings spilled out completely. Grabbing Kishutaria’s shoulders, he shook him desperately while trying to retract his statement.

Kishutaria calmly brushed his hands away and straightened his collar.

“…How does an adopted son resemble that damned Demon King so much?”

He wasn’t nearly as inhuman as Grail.

Then Christoph muttered under his breath.

“And yet that child is so adorable…”

On that point, Kishutaria wholeheartedly agreed.

Even now, no one could explain how the beloved daughter raised by the Demon King had turned out to be someone like Albertina. Latine had once mentioned the matter directly in front of Grail himself, and even the man in question had merely tilted his head in confusion.

Having watched Albertina grow up over the years, Kishutaria considered it one of life’s greatest mysteries.

Not because he was dissatisfied with her.

Simply because it made no sense.

And why was it that Albertina managed to captivate powerful people despite having absolutely no intention of doing so?

Michaelis had once mentioned that even His Majesty Rauzes seemed quite fond of her.

Perhaps she possessed some sort of middle-aged-man-killer attribute.

Regardless, Renaria needed to stop talking.

Officially, Albertina von Latitche did not possess the royal eyes. She was simply a beautiful young lady who had inherited her mother’s appearance. That was how things had to remain.

Then a tremendous crash echoed through the room.

Everyone turned.

Renaria was dangling from the grip of a giant man who held her by the collar. She wasn’t especially small herself, yet compared to the enormous figure holding her, she looked as light as a twig.

“…Green eyes? Albertina has green eyes? What exactly does that mean? Green… could it be the royal color?”

“R-Royal color? I don’t know! What are you talking about?! It hurts! Let me go!”

“The royal color is the most revered color in this kingdom. A deep and noble green. Sandis Green.”

“I-I don’t know! But they were green! Darker than Lucas’s!”

The moment those words left her mouth, the giant released her.

Renaria was thrown aside like garbage and rolled across the floor. Gasping and coughing, she struggled to breathe. The man who had discarded her paid no attention to her afterward.

Instead, he turned around.

His single eye gleamed like polished steel.

Though the color was the same gray as Christoph’s, the pressure behind it was entirely different. It felt sharp enough to cut flesh. His white hair and beard were thick and wild. Scars covered his face and body. Every feature of the man radiated overwhelming strength.

Christoph looked like a refined nobleman.

This man looked like a war god given human form.

Even the medals decorating his chest were overshadowed by the sheer force of his presence.

“…Boy of House Latitche. Good timing. I wish to meet Lady Albertina.”

“I must respectfully refuse. My sister is completely exhausted after the attack.”

The moment that single eye settled upon him, even Kishutaria nearly faltered despite years of social training. He somehow managed to maintain a polite smile.

Albertina would never welcome a visitor like this.

And if she met this bear-like old man—

No.

This was Duke Gandalf von Fortuna.

She might faint on the spot.

“I must determine the truth as a servant of the royal family and a member of one of the Four Great Ducal Houses.”

“Your son, Lord Christoph, has already met Albertina. Surely that should suffice.”

“Hah. You expect my fool son to see through Grail’s schemes? That man always wears the face of a harmless gentleman while calmly doing whatever he pleases.”

Unfortunately, that assessment was completely accurate.

Grail would do absolutely anything for Albertina.

He would kill anyone.

Deceive anyone.

The timing was awful.

Yet perhaps it was inevitable.

An attack had occurred at the annex. Neither the host’s son nor Duke Fortuna’s son had been present. Naturally Gandalf would come seeking answers. As a military leader responsible for the kingdom’s knights, it was only natural that he would investigate an incident involving so many nobles.

And this was also the home of his granddaughter.

A place deeply connected to him.

Kishutaria doubted that Gandalf would be won over by Albertina’s appearance the way Christoph had. This man was far more dangerous.

Gandalf rarely attended social gatherings. Since the death of his wife Sistina, he had become even more withdrawn. His relationship with House Latitche was hardly warm either.

There were only two possible reasons for his presence.

Either he wanted to provoke House Latitche.

Or he intended to find an opportunity to meet Albertina.

Thanks to Lucas’s actions, Albertina’s name had spread throughout noble society. People pitied her. Sympathized with her. Rumors about her beauty and gentle personality had spread as well.

“However—”

“If you continue to resist, I shall consider it an act of disloyalty toward the crown. Stop wasting time and take me to her.”

Kishutaria wanted to curse.

But stopping him was impossible.

If refused, Gandalf would simply search the estate himself.

His son had already done exactly that.

“…One look only. That is the absolute limit of my concession. Please understand. My sister is extremely delicate and terribly shy.”

Gandalf merely snorted.

In truth, Kishutaria didn’t want to bring him there at all. Yet if Albertina encountered this giant unexpectedly, she would be terrified. For her sake, allowing a single meeting seemed the lesser evil.

Meanwhile, elsewhere—

“A visitor…?”

Please don’t tell me it’s that rude old man Christoph again.

Absolutely not.

The thought must have shown on her face because Anna looked equally displeased.

“Not Count Fortuna, my lady. His father. Duke Fortuna.”

Ah.

The blood-related stranger who supposedly happened to be her grandfather.

That made things even worse.

She had heard he looked frightening.

For someone accustomed to being surrounded by absurdly beautiful people, the prospect of meeting an intimidating old man sounded genuinely terrifying.

“This is all so sudden…”

Honestly, she wasn’t pleased.

If Father were here, things would be different.

But Grail was still away dealing with the Stampede.

At this very moment he was probably obliterating monsters somewhere.

To make matters worse, she had already changed into comfortable clothing because she intended to rest.

Not quite a nightgown.

But close.

A fluffy dress made from soft fabric.

A warm shawl stuffed with griffon feathers.

Her makeup had already been removed.

She wasn’t fit to receive guests.

Not at all.

After much fussing, Anna dressed her in an elegant green gown decorated with embroidered climbing roses and tied her hair into a half-up style with a white ribbon adorned by silver filigree and emeralds.

“It suits you beautifully, my lady.”

“Thank you, Anna.”

She still wasn’t enthusiastic.

But there was no helping it.

Or so she thought.

The next instant, the door exploded open.

The deafening noise froze her body.

Instinctively she turned toward it.

A gigantic figure filled the doorway.

A bear?

No, a person?

No, definitely a bear.

Or perhaps an entire mountain.

The massive figure ducked through the doorway.

It felt less like walking and more like squeezing through.

He was simply too large.

Albertina instinctively retreated while clutching Anna’s hand.

Huge.

Far too huge.

And more importantly—

Terrifying.

His presence dwarfed even Prince Lucas’s.

His gaze alone felt lethal.

This was supposed to be an otome game world, wasn’t it?

Not a fighting game.

Not an RPG.

Then why did this man look like he had stepped directly out of a gritty action manga?

She had been told Duke Fortuna was coming.

Nobody had mentioned that he resembled the king of all grizzly bears.

It was a primal fear.

The fear of prey standing before a predator.

If he was a bear, then she was a rabbit.

The terrifying pseudo-human turned his eye toward her.

Eeeeeek!

He’s terrifying!

Julius always scolded her for screaming like an uncultured noble lady.

So she screamed internally instead.

The moment he recognized her, his eye widened further.

Then—

He sat down heavily on the spot.

Still terrifying.

Extremely terrifying.

He was probably around the same age as Sebas.

Yet far scarier.

“A-Ah… Anna… Anna…”

“My lady, please remain calm! He is human! Barely human, perhaps, but still human!”

He was coming closer.

Anna’s attempts to reassure her accomplished nothing.

The moment the giant took a step forward, Albertina’s fear reached its breaking point.

She froze completely.

Unable to flee.

Unable to resist.

She had been locked onto.

His gaze was fixed on her.

If looks could physically wound people, she would already be riddled with holes.

“F-Father… Father…”

Please save me, Father…

Her body trembled uncontrollably.

Each step produced a heavy creaking sound from the floor beneath his weight.

Perhaps her calling for Grail annoyed him.

A frown formed between his brows.

Which only made him scarier.

He approached steadily and reached out.

A large scarred hand.

As he bent down, his shadow swallowed her.

His expression vanished into darkness.

Only that gray eye remained visible.

Glowing.

Albertina tried to twist away.

A hand seized her shoulder and forced her to face him.

The sharp gaze pinned her in place.

His fingers gripped her chin and tilted her face upward.

Fear made her breathing shallow.

Tears gathered in her eyes.

“Duke Fortuna! This was not our agreement! Please release Albertina!”

Kishutaria rushed forward.

Gandalf casually knocked him aside with one hand.

The young man crashed into a wall.

“K-Kishutaria…! Stop! Don’t hurt my brother!”

I hate this!

Anyone who hurts my family is awful!

Let go!

She grabbed at the arm holding her chin.

It didn’t move at all.

Fueled by anger, she glared directly at him.

Another hand reached toward her head.

Fear nearly froze her solid.

“…A protective amulet? No. Not this one.”

A small object rolled across the floor.

The silver ornament adorned with an emerald that had been attached to her ribbon.

His hand moved again.

This time to her chest.

The chain of her pendant snapped effortlessly between his fingers before being tossed aside.

W-What…

What was he doing?

“Not this one either.”

Her bracelet was removed next.

She struggled desperately.

Nothing worked.

The beast examined everything she wore.

Then his gaze stopped.

Not on her face.

On her ear.

A scarred finger brushed her hair aside.

The target was her earring.

As his hand reached toward it, a memory flashed through her mind.

Her father’s smile.

The day he had given it to her before she entered the academy.

A gift meant to protect her.

“Please… stop…”

Something small struck the floor.

A hard little object.

“…Ah. She truly resembles them. Sis. Chris. Your eyes have indeed been passed down to her.”

The gray eye stared into the distance.

It was looking at her.

Yet the person he truly saw wasn’t Albertina at all.

Reflected within that lone eye was her face.

A face filled with absolute despair.