Chapter 7: Spoiled Young Lady VS Villainess?
Albertina herself is not particularly hot-blooded.
Instead, those around her are quick to anger.
And the calmer they become, the calmer I grow in response.
I do not get angry myself.
When I saw Michaelis von Dimitrias again after some time, he had withered like a dead tree.
Why!?
He was perfectly healthy when Father carted him off!
Where was that brilliance that rivaled blooming roses, paired with vivid red hair and handsome features?
Not only I but also Kishutaria and Jibril were shaken by how gaunt he looked.
In my shock, I clung to Kishutaria.
Jibril clung too, but unfortunately grabbed his belt, forcing him to clutch his slipping trousers with one hand.
“Michaelis, what happened…?”
“Ah… eh? Albertina…? I have been busy, so I have not eaten much. Is this a dream?”
“If you are busy, that is all the more reason to eat and sleep properly.”
He patted my hair and face.
“Dream? A waking dream?”
It is reality.
“Yes, we are here because Father invited us to see the completed resort facility. Did you not know?”
This is Dimitrias territory.
It is strange for the heir not to know.
But when Father’s shadow flickers behind something, I simply accept it.
Right now, however, Michaelis is the priority.
He looks like death.
“Michaelis, I shall inform Father myself.
You are to eat immediately, brush your teeth, bathe, and sleep.”
I invoked the transcendent authority of Albertina.
It works on very few, but when it works, it is absolute.
“I would like to, but…”
“But what?”
“The cause is not the Duke of Lattiche, but—”
“Lord Michael! There you are!”
His expression emptied completely.
It was frightening.
The voice belonged to a blonde girl with slightly upturned blue eyes.
She wore a loud red A-line dress overloaded with frills, lace, ribbons, and corsages.
Flashy if generous, gaudy if honest.
She glanced at my and Jibril’s simple travel dresses and snorted.
Jibril quietly fumed.
The girl wrapped herself around Michaelis’s arm, pressing her chest against him.
“I am Seira von Tengaron of the Count Tengaron house.
Michael is my fiancé.
Kindly excuse yourselves.”
Her chin tilted arrogantly.
Her feathered fan shed stray plumes.
Tengaron is below a ducal house in rank.
Yet she flaunted her status proudly.
She looked at me disdainfully.
“Where are you from? Some rural noble house?”
A soft, mocking laugh came from beside me.
“Allow me to introduce myself.
I am Kishutaria von Lattiche, son of the Duke of Lattiche.
This is my elder sister, Albertina.
And this is Jibril von Dimitrias, sister of Lord Michaelis.
You were unaware?”
His aqua-blue eyes were cold.
His bow was impeccably polite and utterly intimidating.
Seira froze, her fan slipping from her hand.
“Pleasure to meet you, Lady Seira.
I am Albertina von Lattiche.”
I performed a perfect curtsey, one of the few accomplishments drilled into me through strict lessons.
She did not bow in return.
Even I know that is unacceptable.
“Let us go, Sister.
It would shame Father if such discourtesy remained in your sight.”
That was harsh.
Kishutaria escorted me away.
Michaelis shielded Jibril.
Julius subtly blocked pursuit.
Later I learned that Seira had been pressing an ambiguous childhood promise into a formal engagement demand upon Michaelis.
Unfortunately for her, she chose poorly.
She could have approached me, the easiest path to Father.
Instead, she attempted to ensnare Michaelis while ignoring the Lattiche house entirely.
Michaelis’s face goes blank whenever she appears.
“She is foolish,” I remarked.
“I would prefer fools stay away from you,” Kishutaria replied.
“Will you not call me Sister again?”
He smiled faintly, more adult than before.
It made me a little lonely.
Seira’s advances intensified rather than retreated.
When I am present, she restrains herself.
When I am not, she glares at me.
If Father saw that glare, the Tengaron house would not survive it.
Anyone who harms me must be erased in Father’s eyes.
Even beloved adopted sons or friends’ children are not exceptions.
If not for me, Father would be a flawless duke—handsome, brilliant, and respected even by the royal family.
To have him crush a count’s house over something like this feels far too villainess-coded.
So I gently steered Father away from visiting Dimitrias.
As for Seira, I asked Julius to investigate quietly.
Perhaps her parents can retrieve her.
I would ask Kishutaria, but lately he seems in a mood where he might overkill.