Chapter 5 – The Magic Kingdom

Preparations were underway for my journey to the kingdom. I was at the palace, accompanied by ministers and guards. Jason and the twins came to see me off.

"Rex, don't go!"

"Don't let that girl trick you!"

"If anyone looks down on you, don't hold back—punch them hard!"

Their farewells were unusual, but even stranger was the fact that Ange had said goodbye at home and never showed up. In my past life, no one had seen me off, so having them here now made me happy.

It would've been an even better moment if he hadn't been standing right beside me.

"Hurry up! We need to depart soon. Make sure my luggage is properly stored."

For some reason, Count Belkman was also joining the trip—a man who usually hated leaving his estate.

"Why is he coming?"

He must have heard me because he answered sharply.

"Brat, I can hear you. I'm not going with you. I have business in the kingdom—you're just hitching a ride to cut costs."

"Are you sure it's okay to bring this much luggage?"

"Don't worry. I'll handle it."

A stranger introduced himself. His brown hair was slicked back, and he had a strong, chiseled jaw.

"And you are?"

"The second strongest man in this country—Isel Ahren Frankton. They call me the 'Knight Beyond Mortals.' With me here, there's nothing to fear."

If he wasn't a character from the game, I wouldn't have cared. But I noticed him staring intently at Jason.

"Is there something between you two?"

"Nothing. He just thinks he's above me."

"It's not a thought—it's a fact."

"True, you were the strongest for years, but you're old now. You've lost all traces of your youth and look as aged as my father."

Jason, who had been depicted as a man in his forties in the game, was finally starting to resemble that image.

"I may be old, but that's why this kid is here. He's my successor. Unlike you, he's already humiliated the kingdom at a young age. What have you accomplished?"

Isel left in clear displeasure.

"You're quite popular."

"Popularity in gambling matters more."

"Well then, I'm off."

I boarded the carriage and headed for the kingdom.

◇

It took several days to cross the border—a distance equivalent to traversing the entire Japanese archipelago.

Upon entering the capital, the differences between the two nations were immediately obvious.

The duchy had the feel of a developing rural town, while the kingdom's streets resembled those from the era of Jack the Ripper.

Old-fashioned cars—the kind seen in American mafia films—passed by.

In the game's world, this was the most advanced region, but right now, that didn't matter.

The carriage stopped in front of a grand mansion with "Rysburg" engraved in marble.

As I stepped out, I realized no one else was getting off. The servants unloaded my luggage and immediately climbed back in.

"Why isn't anyone else coming down?"

Count Belkman leaned out from the carriage.

"Listen, brat, you may be staying here, but there was no agreement about servants accompanying you. I'm here on business—I need all of them."

"See you when it's time to leave. Move out!"

As the carriage departed, the count stuck out his tongue.

What a despicable adult. I wanted to punch that ugly face of his.

I rang the bell, and an elderly butler in a suit answered.

"How may I help you?"

"My name is Alex Ahren Leone. I've come from the duchy at Her Majesty the Queen's invitation to stay at the Rysburg ducal house."

"Eh? Weren't you arriving tomorrow?"

"And your attendants?"

"They were in a hurry, so they left ahead."

"My apologies for not being prepared!"

The butler bowed deeply and ushered me inside.

At the door, bouncing like a cat that had found food, was the petite villainess Eliza, dressed in casual clothes—an elegant dress paired with a short skirt.

"You're finally here, you duchy rogue."

"Let me make one thing clear—I'm only accepting you because the queen asked. I'll show you the wonders of the kingdom and make you take back all your insults."

Her delighted expression was feline-like.

"Have Kevin carry your luggage. I'll give you a tour of the house."

She took my hand and dragged me around—showing me the bedrooms, the bath, even the doghouse.

In the hall, servants were preparing something.

"Is there a party tonight?"

"Hehe. Sharp, aren't you?" The villainess puffed out her small chest.

"Today's my birthday. We're celebrating tonight."

"Really? Happy birthday."

For a moment, she froze. Then, snapping back to reality, she replied with unexpected grace.

"Th… thank you."

"Let's wait for my family to arrive."

She pulled me along again, forcing me into a pretend tea party.

If any grown man other than my father was playing tea party with a little girl like this, he'd probably be arrested on the spot.

"You're surprisingly good at this."

"It's just a tea party. The twins make me do it every day."

(I want male friends…)

My only male relationship was my adoptive father, who wasn't exactly a role model. I almost teared up.

"You play with the Anrose twins often?"

"Yes. But they do weird things sometimes."

"Like what?"

I shared an embarrassing secret.

"A few years ago, Mary suddenly got curious about male anatomy and tried to pull my pants down without warning."

"No servants were around to stop her…"

"Anrose shouted, 'Mary! Let Rex go! That's not appropriate for girls your age!'"

"But she was covering her eyes while peeking through her fingers with bloodshot eyes…"

"Eventually, my pants got pulled down, and I was crying when a servant finally walked in."

As I recounted the humiliating memory, Eliza looked strangely sad.

"I see… You're all really close, aren't you?"

"It's a special bond between orphans. They're my precious family now."

"So you really did lose your parents… I thought you were just saying that to make me angry."

She seemed to regret her earlier hostility.

"I don't know how it feels to lose family, but I can imagine how lonely it must be to sleep alone in an empty room at night."

Unintentionally, Eliza had given me a hint about her villainous behavior.

"Lady Eliza, it's time to prepare for the party."

"I'll be right there," she replied to the butler before turning back to me.

"Rude child. Tonight, I'll introduce you to my family. You'll witness the greatness of House Rysburg."

(She just wants me to meet her family… What a cute girl.)

◇

Night fell, and the birthday party began.

There were more adults than children, as expected of nobility.

But Eliza spoke to no one, instead staring out the window.

Near the end, a large cake was brought out, and everyone began singing Happy Birthday—so this world had it too.

Eliza ran to the butler, so I quietly followed.

"Kevin, why aren't Mother, Father, or my brother here? They promised they'd come!"

The butler's expression darkened.

"My apologies, but they're occupied with urgent matters today—"

"Liar! You're lying again!"

"They broke their promise again!"

Eliza ran off in tears.

The butler made to follow but seemed to know it was pointless.

Noticing me behind him, he hesitantly explained.

"The master took the young master on business, and the mistress is inspecting the wheat fields…"

I recognized this from the game. Eliza would speak of her loneliness, feeling betrayed by her family, and grow obsessed with the crown prince—leading to her downfall.

I followed the sound of crying.

Her bedroom door was open, and in the moonlight, I saw Eliza, tears streaming down her face.

"Are you okay?"

As I approached, she hurled a pillow at me.

"Go away! I don't want to see anyone!"

"I get how you feel—being let down by family. But even if they can't always be with you—"

"Shut up!"

Another pillow and a stuffed animal flew my way.

"An outsider like you wouldn't understand! This has nothing to do with you!"

Her voice carried real pain and hatred.

Normally, I'd back off—but not this time.

"If I—"

"That's why I hate you all!"

"…?"

"You always say 'I'll be there for you,' but even when you promise 'I'll definitely come this time,' you never do!"

"This year, I've barely seen you at all. I begged you to at least come for my birthday!"

"If you really cared, you'd be here! If you hate me, just say it!"

"You all wish I didn't exist!"

She collapsed onto the bed, sobbing.

This was my chance to change her fate.

I climbed onto the bed and moved closer.

"If your family can't come… would it be okay if I visited you every year on your birthday?"

Moonlight filled the room as she stared at me with teary eyes.

"I don't have family, so I cherish the people I meet. Even if it's the queen's order, wanting to be friends with you is my choice."

Eliza wiped her tears with her sleeve.

"Really?"

"I promise."

Normally, she'd probably punch me for exploiting her weakness.

But to save her, I'd take any punishment.

"Oh, right—a present."

"It's a handmade hairpin."

"Even if you don't like it—"

"No…"

She took it and put it on herself.

"I love it."

She smiled as if she'd been given the greatest gift in the world.

◇

"Reeeeex! Help meee!!"

The next morning, while watering the garden with the butler Kevin, Eliza—who had asked me to call her "Ellie"—came running in tears.

"What's wrong?"

"It's a miracle! They came!"

Behind her stood her family.

All of them were stunningly beautiful—true nobility.

Her father, blond like his son, contrasted with Ellie's red hair, inherited from her mother.

"Pleased to meet you. I am the Duke of Rysburg."

"Alex Ahren Leone. I've come from the duchy."

"Leone… That man's son, then."

"By the way, why is Ellie crying into your chest?"

I'd expected her to be overjoyed, but instead, she was weeping.

"I was just explaining to Ellie. You see, my wife suddenly had severe stomach pains…"

Her mother rubbed her belly. I understood.

"Our family is growing. We had to travel slowly, so we only just arrived today."

"Ellie, you're going to have a little brother or sister. That's why we couldn't come yesterday."

Ellie pouted.

"I'm happy about the baby, but does that mean you'll break promises like yesterday's too?"

"Well, if that's the case, maybe we shouldn't—"

"No! You have to come every year for my birthday and holidays!"

Her family looked surprised.

"Seems you've made a friend while we were away."

"What kind of promise?"

"He promised to visit me every year on my birthday, and he agreed!"

The duke studied me before nodding.

"That's fine. I have no objections."

"I agree as well."

"Me too."

"Hey, Alex, how about showing me the skills that defeated that Zackley boy?"

(Finally, a male friend!)

"No!"

Ellie cut in.

"Brother, he's my guest. Go make your own friends."

Everyone laughed at her jealousy.

With this, the course of her tragic fate had surely changed.

◇◇◇

In a seedy tavern in the kingdom's capital, Count Belkman kept Isel waiting outside.

The place was exactly what you'd expect where neither sunlight nor law reached.

The count entered a private room marked with a number from a slip of paper.

A hooded man awaited him.

"Any tails?"

"None. My guards are waiting outside."

"Do you have what I requested?"

"Yes, here."

He handed over confidential documents from the duchy—names of politicians, family records, agricultural economic data.

"With this, we can slowly stoke conflict between the kingdom and duchy. Once His Highness gains political support, we can invade the duchy whenever we choose."

"That land was originally ours. It's time to take it back."

The count was the leader of the war faction.

The duchy wasn't recognized as a sovereign state—it needed approval from three nations but only had one. The royal bloodline was the only reason it could even call itself a duchy.

Alex didn't know. In the game, Count Belkman was a minor villain, but in truth, he was the mastermind behind the war.

With backing from a third party, he had spent years fabricating evidence to fuel tensions.

In the game, after Anrose and Jason were gone, he repeatedly violated an adult Mary and killed anyone who opposed his plans.

(I despise that wretched land. I'm much happier living in this advanced city. Becoming a count was only possible because I was contacted as an informant.)

"There's one more thing I'd like to discuss…"

"About that nuisance?"

"Yes. What should we do about that attention-seeking brat…? I thought I'd see if he's useful before disposing of him."

"Just like his parents."

The most horrifying part wasn't the talk of eliminating Alex—it was the revelation that the count had been the one to kill the twins' parents.

Where would the game's story go from here?