Chapter 58: – Reunion
The visitors arrived several days later.
Anna’s inner devil was laughing triumphantly behind her expressionless mask.
She trusted Julius’s abilities, but she certainly didn’t trust the man himself.
And right now, she could practically feel his irritation at witnessing such a touching reunion between brother and sister.
Outwardly, he wore his usual composed expression.
His appearance was immaculate as always.
His polished leather shoes gleamed.
Not a fingerprint nor a speck of dust could be found on his glasses.
His hair was perfectly arranged without a single strand out of place.
Yet behind those narrowed violet eyes burned resentment and jealousy toward a social status he could never overcome.
Within that calm face, those lightning-bright purple eyes revealed everything he was feeling.
At the very least, Albertina hadn’t noticed.
Kishtaria was probably ignoring it completely.
To a man who adored his older sister, a servant’s jealousy wasn’t worth paying attention to when Albertina herself was crying and clinging to him.
When the two men were allowed inside, Albertina was sitting absentmindedly on the sofa.
She was barely eating.
Barely sleeping.
That lifestyle was slowly but steadily consuming her.
The barrier showed no signs of weakening whatsoever.
Her rejection of the outside world remained absolute.
That alone was proof of her stress.
The sound of someone entering frightened her badly.
But the moment she recognized who it was, her green eyes widened.
Then tears poured down her cheeks.
Her pale face became stained with tears as sobs escaped her throat.
She sprang from the sofa and ran forward.
In her haste, she dropped the strange little creature she had been holding.
Her foot caught on it, and she nearly fell.
The one who caught her was Kishtaria.
With a gentle smile, he spread his arms and received her fragile body.
Like someone accustomed to doing it, he effortlessly lifted her and carried her back to the sofa.
Albertina buried her face against his shoulder and cried.
Kishtaria stroked her head.
Ran his fingers through her hair.
Slowly rubbed her back in comfort.
“Albert, you’ve gotten so thin…”
“You must have been terrified.”
“I’m sorry I couldn’t protect you.”
“You were lonely, weren’t you?”
“I’m sorry I couldn’t come sooner.”
“No…”
“I’m just happy.”
“Thank you for coming…”
Her delicate white hands timidly wrapped around his back.
A pair of violet eyes stared intensely at those fragile hands.
If gazes had physical force, they might have snapped from the pressure.
Ignoring Julius’s stare, Kishtaria gently pressed a kiss to the corner of Albertina’s tear-filled eyes.
The girl continued hiccuping and crying softly.
She didn’t even seem aware that his physical affection had crossed normal boundaries.
Apparently unable to bear watching any longer, Julius finally lowered his gaze.
Then he noticed the bizarre creature chewing on his leather shoe.
His eyes narrowed.
Without hesitation, he stomped on it.
His polished shoe sank into the creature’s plush-looking back.
Its tiny limbs flailed wildly.
Like a freshly caught fish thrashing on land.
Determined not to let it escape, Julius continued grinding it beneath his foot.
Every bit of his frustration went into that completely unfair act of displacement.
“Kishtaria.”
“What?”
“That’s Lady Albertina’s favorite.”
“Please wipe it clean afterward.”
“…Fine.”
“But I put quite a lot of force into that.”
“I didn’t even feel a single bone break.”
“Stop that.”
“You can’t even use healing magic.”
“What exactly is this thing?”
“I’m not entirely sure.”
“Apparently it’s some kind of fairy or spirit infant.”
“It’s remarkably clumsy.”
“But it’s surprisingly sturdy.”
“I threw it out a window once.”
“It got stuck headfirst in a gazebo and came away completely unharmed.”
“…Then why did you allow something so suspicious near Lady Albertina?”
“Because she calms down whenever she’s holding it.”
Julius frowned.
After a moment, he sighed.
He stomped on the struggling creature one more time before finally releasing it.
The green beast let out pitiful cries and squeezed itself between Kishtaria and Albertina.
Kishtaria looked horrified.
Albertina simply tilted her head and placed it on her lap.
“Oh my, what’s wrong, Chappy?”
“Chappy…?”
“That’s definitely not a normal animal.”
“Isn’t he adorable?”
“He’s round and small.”
“And when he’s happy, he sings.”
“…Albert.”
“Are you sure that’s safe?”
“He doesn’t bite or scratch.”
“He’s a very good boy.”
“Oh dear, his back is dirty.”
“That’s strange.”
“If he’d fallen, usually his stomach would be dirty instead.”
Kishtaria shot Julius a look.
Julius grimaced and shook his head.
True, he had stepped on it.
But he hadn’t intentionally sent it over to interrupt them.
Much as he hated it, he couldn’t bring himself to ruin Albertina’s happiness at reuniting with her brother.
Especially after seeing how weak and exhausted she had become.
Meanwhile, Albertina was carefully wiping Chappy’s back with a handkerchief while the creature cried pitifully.
It truly was clumsy.
And timid.
There wasn’t even the slightest hint that it could hurt Albertina.
To comfort someone who couldn’t allow ordinary people near her, perhaps it really was the perfect companion.
Kishtaria glared resentfully at the green creature for interrupting what should have been an emotional reunion.
Meanwhile, the clueless pair continued cuddling together.
Albertina gently stroked its round head.
Chappy chirped happily and burrowed deeper into her ample chest.
The narrow-minded duke’s son visibly twisted with jealousy.
Without warning, he grabbed Chappy by the head.
Then threw it straight out the window.
It was a magnificent overhand throw.
A sorrowful scream echoed through the air as the tiny creature disappeared into the distance.
“Ch-Chappy!?”
“Physical attacks barely work on spirits and fairies.”
“E-Even so, isn’t throwing him cruel?”
“Anna did the same thing.”
“Why does everyone keep throwing him?”
“He’s so small and cute.”
“Not cute.”
“Absolutely not cute.”
“What are you sulking about?”
For years, Kishtaria had occupied the position of Albertina’s beloved younger brother.
Having that cherished position threatened by some mysterious creature that had appeared out of nowhere was far more humiliating than he had expected.
It was merely a pet.
And yet he found it deeply irritating.
“You don’t know what’s dangerous here.”
“You shouldn’t get close to things you don’t understand.”
“Anna already gave permission.”
“And Chappy isn’t a bad child.”
“Really.”
Albertina’s sad expression finally broke his resistance.
Kishtaria gave in.
Watching this, Julius narrowed his eyes.
As if he had any room to criticize someone else’s weakness.
“Fine.”
“But we’ll investigate him properly.”
“Just in case there’s something suspicious.”
“Yes…”
“I understand.”
“Julius.”
“Go retrieve him.”
“Immediately.”
“As you wish.”
Bowing elegantly, Julius accepted the order.
He repeatedly reminded himself to act normally.
In truth, he wanted nothing more than to remain beside Albertina.
But he was merely Kishtaria’s attendant.
If the duke’s son gave an order, he obeyed.
Leaving behind the tea set and ingredients he had painstakingly prepared, he turned around to retrieve the creature.
“Julius.”
“When you come back, make tea for me.”
“I want the usual one.”
Albertina called out naturally.
Her voice was far brighter than before.
When he had entered the room, her eyes had been empty.
Her heart absent.
She had looked as though she might vanish at any moment.
Now her voice sounded exactly as it had back at the mansion.
The voice she used whenever she spoke about loving Julius’s tea.
Slightly spoiled.
Slightly affectionate.
Just one sentence.
She had called his name.
Made a simple request.
And done so with complete confidence that he had already brought exactly what she wanted.
He could feel his expression softening.
The knot in his chest melted away.
That young lady was hopelessly oblivious.
Hopelessly incompetent.
Yet every so often she effortlessly stole people’s hearts without even realizing it.
As though it were the most natural thing in the world.
“As you wish, my lady.”
“Of course I’ve prepared it.”
After closing the door behind him, Julius immediately broke into a run.
He had to return before the water he had carefully heated cooled down.
The insulated container would keep it warm.
But he could never serve tea brewed at anything less than the proper temperature.
That young lady might be hopeless in many ways.
But her palate was first-rate.
Julius returned quickly.
Chappy was dangling from his hand by the tail, squirming unhappily.
Apparently he had collided with the ground somewhere.
He was covered in dirt.
Fortunately, he seemed completely unharmed.
Why did everyone keep throwing poor Chappy around?
As Albertina wondered that, Julius cleaned the creature with a damp cloth.
Then casually tossed him onto the carpet.
Why are you throwing him again!?
Chappy rolled across the floor.
Apparently he enjoyed it.
He continued tumbling end over end until he finally collided with a wall.
After reuniting with her younger brother and attendant, Albertina’s spirits had completely lifted.
Because this place had frightened her.
The Vayu Palace was magnificent.
A splendid royal residence.
But simply because it wasn’t the Latitche estate, it felt terrifying.
Everyone outside was a stranger.
The man claiming to be her grandfather, Duke Fortuna, was here too.
She wanted to leave.
Yet she didn’t want to see any of them.
And if she made a mistake and stepped outside, who knew where they might drag her next?
Father.
Please return soon.
She didn’t want a Bloody Carnival.
She simply wanted to go home to the Latitche estate as quickly as possible.
After crying her heart out in Kishtaria’s arms, she sipped the tea Julius had prepared.
As always, it was delicious.
She had casually requested “the usual.”
And of course he had prepared it.
As expected of Julius.
He always seemed to know exactly what she wanted.
Truly an elite attendant.
Or perhaps she was simply too easy to read.
“This is delicious.”
“As expected of you, Julius.”
“It’s wonderful.”
“I’m pleased to hear that.”
“Today’s sweets are soufflé and peach tart.”
“If you would prefer something lighter, we also have fruit jelly and yogurt cake.”
His calm, pleasant voice was familiar and comforting.
Arranged upon a silver tray were colorful petit fours.
Each looked delightful.
Choosing one was difficult.
Every single one looked delicious.
Though each piece was small, she doubted she could finish them all.
“Oh my.”
“How lovely.”
“The peaches look like roses.”
“The soufflé looks wonderful.”
“But the jelly and yogurt cake also look delicious.”
“Shall I cut them for you?”
“May I?”
“Then please do.”
“Certainly.”
Yay!
For the first time in ages, her heart danced with excitement.
Unable to stop smiling, she looked up and met Julius’s gaze.
Behind his glasses, his eyes softened gently.
Not his usual teasing smile.
Not one filled with hidden meanings.
Only warmth and affection.
…Did I really look that terrible?
She had certainly been depressed lately.
Perhaps that was why she hadn’t been able to eat.
But somehow she felt she could eat now.
Skipping meals and eating sweets instead wasn’t good.
Yet Anna wasn’t stopping her.
Actually…
Was Anna looking pleased?
Why?
“I’ve also prepared herbal tea.”
“If you would like some, I can serve it.”
“Oh my, how thoughtful.”
“You’re very well prepared.”
“This much is only natural.”
The smile that appeared on Julius’s face carried a trace of arrogance.
Just like always.
Handsome men really were unfair.
Even expressions like that suited them.
Though Anna clearly disliked it.
Despite knowing him for years, she apparently felt like breaking his glasses every time he made that face.
Please don’t.
Anna was amazing.
But Julius really was incredible too.
What possible enjoyment could there be in serving someone as hopeless as her?
Well…
Probably the family status.
That was the only explanation she could think of.
The familiar flavors of Latitche—
No, Rose Brand products.
Those familiar tastes soothed her.
Meanwhile, Chappy was wandering around the table, fascinated by the delicious smells.
Could she give him a little?
When she glanced at Julius, he sighed and handed her a small white plate.
“Only this much.”
“Yes.”
“Thank you.”
Holding out a piece of cake, she smiled.
“Here, open wide.”
Chappy immediately opened his mouth.
Such a good child.
Such a cute child.
And yet nobody seemed willing to spoil him.
Why was that, she wondered?