Chapter 70

At my words, Calypse walked toward the throne as if it were only natural that he could do so, holding me in his arms.

By custom, nobles could not greet members of the royal family first.

They could only answer after someone of royal blood spoke to them first.

However.

Glance, glance.

When Father, who was holding me, began hovering near Empress Grace, who had been standing there like a statue—

“Baby fairy—no, Lady Aisha.”

Her Majesty the Royal Consort, who had been about to call me by some strange nickname befitting a monster fanatic, immediately put on her ordinary-person act and approached me.

How do you like that, you lot!

I smiled slyly and gazed haughtily at the nobles whose mouths had fallen open.

That is the kind of person I am, you see!

“It still seems you have no fairy wings—no. That is not it. Have you been well?”

Her Majesty Empress Grace, still unable to hide the fact that she was a fanatic, came closer and gave me a benevolent smile.

At the sight, several nobles nearby sharply inhaled.

“...Her Majesty is speaking to her first?”

“That young lady—she is Lady Aisha, the one recently adopted, is she not?”

“What connection could she possibly have with Her Majesty...”

For reference, Empress Grace had not spoken to anyone since the banquet began.

At most, she had spoken to Knox and the members of the Monster Lovers’ Association.

Other than that, she had merely sat with a statue-like expression in a chair permitted only to the royal family.

“The sun of the world shines upon the Frozen Kingdom. Your Majesty Empress Grace. The dessert you recommended at our last gathering was truly delicious.”

I lifted the hem of my dress slightly and greeted her politely.

Now, this was as much as everyone was allowed to hear.

For the confidential conversation, I rose onto tiptoes, covered my mouth with my palm, and whispered to Her Majesty.

“And I am very sorry for causing trouble at the Monster Lovers’ Association meeting.”

Grace, who had sunk briefly into thought at my words, nodded.

“You certainly caused one grand incident.”

I-I am sorry...

My two hands naturally folded together in a very polite posture.

“But from what I heard, you were abducted. This matter was largely our responsibility, for failing to manage the royal palace properly.”

Grace whispered just as I had done, then placed a finger before her lips in a shushing gesture, as if this were a secret between the two of us.

“We were both at fault, so let us discuss this again later at the Monster Lovers’ Association meeting. We have far too many private matters to speak of. By the way, the child in Lady Aisha’s arms is a demon...”

“Your Majesty. That is also a private matter.”

Kyle, who had been held in my arms, wriggled and stared at Grace.

Since Kyle had taken an eye-color transformation potion, he only looked like a white, docile cat.

“Oh, dear.”

Grace asked,

“If other nobles do not talk about such things, what on earth do they talk about?”

“Um...”

Since Her Majesty Grace had asked, perhaps I should attempt the sort of elegant, prideful conversation nobles had.

With that thought, I pointed at the table with my finger.

“Would you like some dessert?”

“Indeed. A fine idea. Duke Calypse, follow us at once. You are holding Lady Aisha, are you not?”

“...Yes.”

And so, while I was savoring dessert with my reluctant father and Her Majesty the Royal Consort, who was subtly excited—

“Now entering, Duke Cray Pose of the Pose family from the Kingdom of Doctia!”

A name I could never forget, one carved into my very bones, echoed through the hall. My mouth froze in the middle of eating dessert.

“Oh my, so it is true that nobles from foreign kingdoms were invited this time?”

“The Pose family—is that not the family famous for spies?”

“How fascinating. Most places keep their spies a family secret, so how confident must they be to be known as a family of spies?”

Half curiosity. Half wariness.

At the appearance of a fresh new noble, the nobles murmured among themselves and stared at the entrance.

Soon, through the wide-open doors, a leisurely middle-aged man appeared.

A squat, toad-like appearance. Ornate rings fitted onto every joint of his wrinkled fingers.

Even a relaxed smile, as if he enjoyed the eyes of others upon him.

“......”

I had only seen him from afar, yet my heart began pounding violently.

It was strange. My heart was racing, but I could not breathe.

Just as I could no longer endure it and was about to gasp for air—

“Aisha.”

All of a sudden, a large palm wrapped around the back of my head and pressed me against a solid chest.

“There is no need to tremble. Father is here, your older brother is here, and Kyle is in your arms.”

“......”

“We are all on your side.”

That low voice, reassuring just to hear, sank into my ears.

Warmth reached my forehead and nose where they touched Father’s chest.

I knew. Back then, I had been alone. I had needed to survive alone.

But now, I have a family.

“...Thank you.”

Encouraged by his words, I slowly turned my head.

“Greetings, ha ha. This is my first time in the Frozen royal castle, and it is truly splendid. Are those candles hanging from strings?”

Duke Pose had already taken over the center of the hall and was conversing with the nobles.

“That is Her Majesty Empress Grace’s magic. They are not hanging by strings. The candles are floating by magic.”

“Oh. Good heavens. As expected of a kingdom of mystery.”

“A kingdom of mystery?”

“The north is said to be a place where the royal family uses magic and wondrous monster creatures live. In our Kingdom of Doctia, it is often described like a fairy tale.”

“Oh my. A fairy tale... That somehow feels pleasant.”

“Ha ha ha! It is an honor to be here.”

As befitted the head of a spy family that deceived people with words, he possessed polished social skill.

Leaving a good impression on people he had just met was an easy thing for him.

“By the way...”

Having eased the atmosphere, Duke Pose looked around with a smiling face.

To others, it may have looked like nothing more than a gaze full of curiosity, but I knew its true meaning.

When our eyes met while he wore that eerie smile—

“...the hero of that mysterious north is here, I see.”

I saw his smiling eyes widen grotesquely.

I was afraid.

If Duke Pose captured me again, then I would have to return to that slaughterhouse-like training facility, where I had barely survived or had to kill to live.

When I turned my head away because I could not breathe again, Father stroked the back of my head once more and quietly hid my face against his chest.

And when Duke Pose stood before Calypse—

“Greetings. I am Duke Pose. You must be the famous Duke Kreutz.”

Duke Pose greeted him with a shameless face.

“It feels awkward to have you act as though this is our first meeting.”

“Pardon?”

“I simply remember exchanging urgent messages with you over that spy named Dorothy.”

Calypse did not speak in circles. With only an icy expression, he mercilessly stripped away Duke Pose’s pretense.

While Duke Pose’s complexion stiffened—

“A spy named Dorothy? Did something happen in the north?”

“I am not sure. But if we are speaking of spies... the Pose family may indeed have sent a few to our kingdom as well.”

“Thinking of it that way makes it a little frightening.”

The surrounding nobles began to murmur after hearing Calypse’s statement.

“...Ha.”

At that, the corner of Duke Pose’s smiling mouth twitched slightly.

Duke Pose wore the expression of someone who had not expected Calypse to reveal his disgust so directly in an official setting.

And no wonder. Duke Pose was well-versed in noble etiquette.

“Humanly speaking.”

As for our father, he was a war hero who had thrown such things to the dogs.

“Let us not touch children.”

“Children? Those listening may misunderstand...”

“That is why I am saying it.”

Calypse cut off Duke Pose’s words, his jaw tightening.

“I am telling them so they will not misunderstand you as a good person.”

At that final remark, the corner of Duke Pose’s mouth twitched, but Father turned away and walked off without even offering a formal greeting.

Glare—

Lucas, who was following behind Calypse, glared at Duke Pose until the very end.

Glare—

And Knox, too.

Glare—

And somehow, even Empress Grace, who was beside us.

“Ha...!”

I heard Duke Pose’s incredulous sigh from behind, but I did not look back.

Could anything possibly be more reassuring than this?