Chapter 54: Unwanted Shackles
Everything that followed was a nightmare.
No matter how much she cried, resisted, or refused, Duke Fortuna insisted on taking her away by force. When she sat down and refused to move, he simply picked her up. Then he placed her inside a carriage bearing the Fortuna ducal crest.
Kishutaria raised his voice in protest. Sebas and Julius tried to reason with the duke. None of it mattered. The only concession they managed to obtain was permission for Anna to accompany her, since she was Albertina’s personal maid.
The destination was not the Fortuna Ducal House.
It was the royal palace.
By then, even her tears had run dry. Exhaustion and emotional strain had left her barely conscious. She felt like a criminal falsely accused of a crime. As she stared at the staircase leading toward the audience chamber, it felt as though she were being led to the gallows.
She no longer had the strength to resist.
Nor the strength to walk.
Duke Fortuna effortlessly carried her with one arm and continued forward without hesitation.
The gazes of everyone who saw her were unbearable.
Don’t look at me.
I’m scared.
Father…
I’m scared.
What is going to happen to me?
I don’t want this.
I don’t want this.
Please help me.
I don’t want to go.
I hate strangers.
Strangers are frightening.
I don’t want to meet any of them.
The only people she wanted to see were Father, Kishutaria, Julius, Mother Latine, Sebas…
She wanted to go back to everyone at House Latitche.
Drops of water fell onto the crimson carpet.
One after another.
They were her tears, spilling from her eyes, running down her cheeks, dripping from her chin.
For a brief moment, Duke Fortuna’s footsteps halted.
He glanced at her.
Then he continued walking as though nothing had happened.
If anything, his pace seemed even faster afterward.
Through her blurred vision, she could see Anna lifting her skirt as she desperately hurried after them.
Albertina wanted to reach out.
Yet she lacked even that much strength.
“Please wait, Duke Fortuna! My lady is—!”
The moment she opened her eyes, an unfamiliar ceiling greeted her.
A canopy of thin fabric hung overhead, but the mural painted across the ceiling was unlike anything she recognized.
It wasn’t merely unfamiliar.
It wasn’t even decorated in the style of House Latitche.
She remembered hearing that when Christina had married into the family, Grail had completely rebuilt and renovated the main residence. He had hired Christina’s favorite designer and redesigned everything according to her tastes.
The moment Albertina woke up, terror seized her body.
An unfamiliar place.
Unfamiliar presences.
Everything around her was unknown.
The drowsiness that had dulled her senses vanished instantly as fear took hold.
“Ah… Ah… Father…? Anna! Julius! Sebas! Kishutaria! Mother Latine! Somebody… somebody…!”
The water inside the pitcher beside the bed exploded with a sharp crack.
The canopy curtains trembled violently.
Cracking sounds echoed somewhere nearby.
Walls.
Windows.
She couldn’t tell.
Then a loud knock rattled the door.
“My lady! Have you awakened?! It’s Anna! I’m right outside! May I come in?!”
“Anna! Anna! Please come in!”
The door burst open.
Anna practically stumbled into the room.
Her usually immaculate hair had become disheveled.
Albertina desperately crawled toward her, reaching out with trembling hands.
Anna immediately embraced her.
Gently stroking her back.
It was Anna’s familiar scent.
The same fragrance oil Albertina used.
A faint hint of herbs.
Warm.
Soft.
Comforting in a way completely different from Grail’s presence.
The moment she felt that warmth, Albertina broke down.
She buried her face against Anna’s shoulder and sobbed.
Anna’s arms tightened around her.
The embrace felt as though it were holding together a heart that had nearly shattered.
After she had cried herself out, Anna finally explained what had happened.
The moment Duke Fortuna discovered Albertina possessed the royal eyes, he had rushed to report it to the kingdom and immediately brought her to the royal palace.
During the journey, however, Albertina had fainted.
As a result, she had been moved to a room within the palace to rest.
That was when the real problem began.
Apparently, she had unconsciously activated her barrier magic.
She had no memory of doing so.
According to Anna, her fear and rejection had manifested directly as magic, creating a powerful barrier.
How much had she hated the situation?
…Well.
Quite a lot, actually.
After losing consciousness, Albertina had collapsed onto the floor.
Duke Fortuna had immediately tried to pick her up and check for injuries.
But he couldn’t even touch her.
No one could.
Though she lay right before them, everyone was blocked by the barrier.
Court magicians had been summoned to dismantle it.
None succeeded.
Barrier magic itself was a rare attribute possessed only by the Sandis royal bloodline. Research into it remained limited, and much about it was still unknown.
Naturally, the sight of a noble lady collapsed near the audience chamber attracted attention.
Her appearance only made things worse.
Her grandmother, Sistina, had been famous throughout the kingdom for her extraordinary beauty.
As a result, Albertina’s identity quickly became known.
This was terrible.
Absolutely terrible.
The situation became increasingly chaotic.
The only person able to touch Albertina was Anna.
However, allowing a young woman of similar build to carry her was considered dangerous.
Dragging her was impossible due to her status.
As more and more people gathered, the commotion eventually reached the king himself.
His Majesty Rauzes possessed the same barrier attribute.
Using his magic, he managed to weaken the barrier temporarily.
Even then, Duke Fortuna still couldn’t touch her.
The barrier reacted violently the moment he approached, crackling with renewed force and undoing everything the king had accomplished.
Only then did the royal magicians finally realize the truth.
The barrier was a physical manifestation of Albertina’s mental defenses.
When the Council of Elders learned this, they were overjoyed.
The relationship between the royal eyes and barrier magic was inseparable.
Those who possessed the royal eyes were almost always capable of barrier magic.
The current candidates for succession lacked the eye color the council considered ideal.
Albertina had publicly revealed both the royal eyes and powerful barrier magic simultaneously.
The elders praised Duke Fortuna for finding her so quickly and showered him with rewards.
And now—
Under the pretext of protection—
She was being confined within a section of the royal palace.
“I never thought I would be grateful that your magic was so powerful and that you were such a severe recluse, my lady…”
Anna’s voice trembled.
“If you had remained unconscious without that barrier… I cannot imagine what they would have done to you…”
“What… what do you mean?”
Anna hesitated.
Then she answered.
“They would have examined your body thoroughly.”
Albertina froze.
“Your magical power. Your attributes. Your aptitude. Whether you possessed a royal seal. Your compatibility with royal magical artifacts.”
Anna’s expression darkened further.
“They would have checked whether you were capable of bearing children. They would have investigated your history with men. Everything.”
A chill ran through Albertina’s spine.
“In the worst case… before your father could arrive… they might even have forced some unknown man upon you.”
The words were horrifying.
Far beyond horrifying.
Albertina instinctively looked down at the white nightgown covering her body.
Ever since her barrier activated, Anna was supposedly the only person who had been able to touch her.
Her heart pounded violently.
“N-Why…?”
Her voice shook.
“Why are they so desperate?”
“The Council of Elders’ obsession with the royal color exceeds every rumor.”
Anna lowered her gaze.
“Neither Prince Lucas nor Prince Leold possesses strong aptitude for barrier magic. Princess Elmedia struggles even with basic spells.”
She hesitated.
“Compared to them… your existence is irresistible.”
That still didn’t justify examining an unconscious woman’s body.
Not for medical reasons.
Not for health.
This was outright violation.
Albertina had heard from Jibril and the others that there were fanatics obsessed with green eyes.
But this…
This was insanity.
“What about Father?”
“He likely hasn’t been informed yet.”
Anna’s answer was immediate.
“If the duke learns what has happened, everyone knows exactly what kind of retaliation would follow.”
Albertina could practically picture it.
The entire royal palace reduced to scorched earth.
Father would be furious beyond reason.
“My lady.”
Anna took her hands firmly.
“Please endure this a little longer. Once the duke discovers the truth, he will come for you.”
Albertina lowered her head.
“I don’t want to trouble Father… but…”
She had been thrown directly into enemy territory.
One mistake could be disastrous.
The only strategy she could think of was hiding behind her barriers and refusing to move.
Then suddenly—
“Kishutaria!”
She looked up.
“What about Kishutaria? What about the intruders? Is everyone alright?”
“I believe so.”
Anna nodded.
“Renaria Datches has been returned to prison.”
“And Lord Kishutaria is safe. I’ve heard he repeatedly petitioned Duke Fortuna and the Chancellor to return you to House Latitche.”
“Sebas and Julius were here as well.”
A bitter smile crossed her face.
“But they clearly do not wish to allow anyone from House Latitche near you.”
“I requested that your guards and maids be selected from Latitche personnel for the sake of your peace of mind.”
Her expression darkened.
“They refused.”
How cruel.
Were they trying to destroy her mentally?
She was completely useless.
An incompetent shut-in who had survived comfortably only because Grail protected her.
Without people to care for her, she could barely function.
Without Anna, she doubted she could even drink water provided by the palace.
She would probably starve to death.
Or waste away.
Then another thought struck her.
Wait.
Was her chastity actually in danger?
Anna had said something extremely alarming earlier.
Albertina’s face turned pale.
“My lady.”
Anna stood up.
“Would you like some hot milk?”
“I will taste it first.”
Her voice became firm.
“I won’t allow anything suspicious to pass your lips.”
Just then, a commotion erupted outside.
A terrible feeling gripped Albertina.
Before she could speak, the door opened.
It wasn’t Father.
It wasn’t Kishutaria.
It wasn’t Mother Latine.
It wasn’t Julius.
Nor Sebas.
It was the man who had dragged her into this nightmare.
Duke Gandalf von Fortuna.
“…So you’ve awakened, Albertina.”
“…!”
Fear flooded her body.
Leave.
Go away.
I hate you.
The words stuck in her throat.
Then Gandalf stepped toward the room.
Only to be stopped.
A transparent wall blocked his path.
The barrier.
The realization made Albertina’s shoulders relax slightly.
Thanks to her barrier magic, he couldn’t approach her.
Gandalf placed his hand against the invisible wall.
After a long silence, he finally spoke.
“…Another barrier.”
A bitter smile crossed his face.
“My own granddaughter truly despises me.”
Did you expect anything else?
You brought me here.
The only place she wanted to be was House Latitche.
The place she loved enough to die for.
Her precious home.
Her precious family.
Everything important to her existed there.
House Latitche was her entire world.
She wanted to live there.
To die there.
If not, then she wanted to disappear for its sake.
This was the first time she had ever felt such anger toward another person.
“…Go away.”
Her voice trembled.
“I don’t even want to see your face…”
Gandalf’s eyelid twitched.
Then, without another word, he turned and left.
There was no doubt.
This man had shattered the peace she and her family cherished.
Perhaps he had acted correctly as one of the kingdom’s leaders.
Perhaps these eyes and the blood in her veins truly were important to the Kingdom of Sandis.
But why now?
The king already had sons and daughters.
Why drag her into this?
She didn’t want to become a convenient puppet.
She didn’t want responsibilities she never asked for.
She didn’t want her precious things stolen from her.
She had hidden herself away for so long.
Lived quietly.
Happily.
Her world might have looked small and restrictive to others.
But she had been happy.
“…I hate you.”
Whether those words were directed at Gandalf or herself, even Albertina wasn’t sure.
Blood ties alone meant nothing.
Without affection, all they produced was resentment.
“And the duke’s daughter?”
“She is severely weakened. However, the barrier continues to expand in both strength and range with each passing day.”
“At this rate, we won’t even be able to hold the ceremony welcoming her into the royal family, let alone speak with her.”
“The fact that she can use barrier magic is remarkable. Yet only a single maid from House Latitche can approach her.”
“At this rate, even the palace guards and servants assigned to Vayu Palace will be forced out.”
“We must formalize matters quickly. If Duke Latitche discovers what has happened, he will undoubtedly fly into a rage.”
“The barrier is the greater concern. Will she collapse from exhaustion before the barrier fades?”
“Lady Albertina must bear sons possessing the royal eyes.”
“The bloodline. The magical aptitude. Someone like her would be accepted by the people as a successor.”
“She is practically revered as a saint within Latitche territory.”
“If she is incorporated into the royal family, the prestige of the crown will recover considerably.”
“Whether she becomes a princess or queen mother is irrelevant. The royal bloodline must continue.”
“The Megil Plague has truly caused endless problems.”
“Most of His Majesty Rauzes’s siblings died from it.”
“A devil’s disease.”
“Lady Sistina and Lady Christina also died young.”
“Such beautiful women blessed with the royal eyes.”
“A shame they left behind so few heirs.”
“I’ve heard Lady Albertina is not particularly healthy either.”
“She may not be able to bear many children.”
“The Blood Binding Ritual should remain a last resort.”
“There is no royal with greater potential.”
“And we must not provoke Duke Latitche excessively.”
“She cannot be allowed to die.”
“Though allowing her complete freedom is equally unacceptable.”
“She must be publicly acknowledged as a royal princess.”
“A fiancé should be selected immediately.”
“The stability of the royal family depends upon it.”
“Though strengthening both House Latitche and House Fortuna may be unavoidable.”
“Any Latitche relatives should be excluded.”
“The current heir is merely an adopted son.”
“If blood relations are distant enough, marriage remains possible.”
“Latitche may attempt to force such an arrangement.”
“House Armandine and House Frings are both among the Four Great Ducal Houses.”
“Either would be suitable.”
“Queen Opheel will undoubtedly support Prince Leold.”
“And what of Queen Mezarin?”
“Prince Lucas remains confined after his disgrace.”
“With the hostility between him and Lady Albertina, arranging a marriage would be difficult.”
“They may look among the collateral branches instead.”
“Wasn’t Prince Leold already engaged to the daughter of Duke Frings?”
“If the throne is at stake, changing partners is a small sacrifice.”
“Lady Albertina is too sheltered to govern.”
“Even if she possesses succession rights, a royal consort would naturally govern in her place.”
“Anyone who marries her would effectively obtain royal authority.”
“Precisely.”
“Lady Albertina should focus solely on producing the next generation.”
“The sacred royal color must never disappear.”
“It is the duty of the royal family.”
“The kingdom’s highest obligation.”
“Speaking of which, I heard Duke Fortuna volunteered to become Lady Albertina’s guardian.”
“But can even he restrain Duke Latitche?”
“That man is a monster.”
“The monster is weak when it comes to his daughter.”
“When Lady Christina died, even he fell into despair.”
“And they say Lady Albertina is her very image.”
“As long as she remains here, there is little he can do.”
“Hah. To think the day would come when that monster could be leashed.”
“Indeed.”
“Princess Albertina herself may become the chain.”
“The royal color.”
“The shackles that bind a monster.”
“For the kingdom’s sake, let us hope she lives a very long time.”
The old men spoke calmly.
Almost cheerfully.
Not once considering the cruelty of their words.
To them, protecting the royal color was absolute.
Protecting the kingdom justified everything.
Under that noble cause, they made ruthless decisions without hesitation.
In the span of a few minutes, they determined the course of a young girl’s entire life.
And no matter how unwanted that future might be, not one of them felt even the slightest guilt.