Even Though I Defeated the Demon Lord, My Wife and Daughter Treat Me Like Trash ~ I Found Out My Wife's Child Isn't Mine, and When I Confronted Her, She Got Mad and I Was Exiled. The Country's in Trouble Because the Demon Lord Came Back? Sorry, I'm Getting Remarried to a Princess, So I Can't Help. - Chapter 11: Ten Years of Betrayal

Chapter 11: Ten Years of Betrayal

After accusing me of my so-called crime, Albert continued.

“I wanted to kill you back there, you know. But the guards showed up before I could. Can’t exactly carry a sword in the royal quarters. You’ve always had such damn good luck, Van.”

There was a strong sense of hatred and murderous intent in Albert’s eyes.

It’s true, if he’d wanted to take my life, that would have been his best chance. 

He’s a skilled swordsman, but even unarmed, if I hadn’t passed out, he wouldn’t have stood a chance against me.

But more than that, something didn’t add up.

“If anyone should be killing someone, it should be me killing you for stealing my wife. I don’t recall ever giving you a reason to hate me this much.”

At my question, Albert’s eyes darkened even more with anger.

“Of course you wouldn’t understand. You’ve never had to deal with the humiliation I’ve endured because of you.”

“I don’t recall doing anything to make you feel that way.”

Albert sneered and continued.

“Do you remember the village we investigated in this recent mission, the one we also passed through before the battle with the Demon Lord?”

“I remember stopping by, that’s all.”

“We sent word ahead, letting them know we’d be staying there. When we arrived, the village elder greeted us. Do you know what he said? ‘Your Highness, we’re honored to have you visit our humble village.’”

“That sounds like a normal greeting to me.”

“Yes, a perfectly ordinary greeting. Except, the elder wasn’t addressing me. He was talking to you, Van.”

I couldn’t say I was completely clueless. 

It was true that during our time working together, I was often mistaken for the leader instead of Albert.

“Do you know why? From the outside, you look more like the ‘ideal prince.’ You, a mere orphan, with the noble air of a prince. Picked up and raised by Old Man Barnes, the greatest wizard of our time, you stole the glory of defeating the Demon Lord from me, and now you’re hailed as the ‘Hero Who Saved the Nation.'”

“When did I ever call myself a hero? The people started calling me that on their own.”

“That’s exactly it, Van. Even when we were in the same party, it was always you getting all the praise! I was treated like a sidekick! Everyone expected me, a prince, to risk my life in battle, as if it was just my duty. But for you, the orphan who rose up, everyone celebrated your achievements, they thanked you! Why the difference?!”

I had no idea Albert felt this way. 

Honestly, it sounded like pure jealousy, but I doubted he’d be willing to hear reason right now.

Fine. He had likely already set the stage for my punishment, manipulating the situation so thoroughly that reversing it seemed impossible.

“So? Am I to be executed for this supposed crime?”

Even as I asked, I felt certain they couldn’t go that far.

“No, you’re to be exiled. Officially, it’s out of respect for your role in sealing the Demon Lord. We won’t announce your crimes to the public.”

Well, that seemed to be the compromise.

Albert probably wanted to kill me himself, but there were those around him who would oppose that.

And if he tried to sentence me to death, I’d kill him—and anyone else who stood in my way, including the king.

It would be a last resort, but I was capable of doing it. 

If I chose to leave the country and disappear from Albert’s life, things would resolve more peacefully.

Of course, I had no intention of forgiving Albert for framing me. 

But killing him now and confirming his claims of my “murderous intent” would be foolish. 

If I wanted to clear my name, I’d need time to prepare.

“Fine. With my wife’s betrayal, I have no reason to stay in this country. I’ll leave. But if I can get her agreement, I want to take my daughter with me.”

I couldn’t force it, of course.

Given Emilia’s recent attitude and the charges against me, it seemed unlikely that she’d agree.

But I would still try to convince her.

Albert, hearing my proposal, let out a mocking laugh.

“Hahaha, Van, do you really think Emilia would agree to that?”

“And why are you so sure?”

“Because she’s my daughter. She knows it too.”

“…What?”

“I told her a year ago. I told her the truth—Emilia’s my daughter,.”

That couldn’t be true. 

If it was, then that meant Camilla and Albert had been involved for over ten years… But even so…

“You… Even if you’ve been involved with Camilla for over ten years, there’s no way to know for sure who Emilia’s real father is!”

That’s right. 

Before Emilia was born, I had a normal relationship with Camilla. 

Even if the timing overlapped with Albert’s, there’s no way to definitively know who the father is.

“Heh, Van. Have you ever visited a brothel? Knowing how serious you are, I doubt it.”

“No.”

“Many brothels employ mages. Do you know why?”

“Of course, to… prevent…”

I realized it mid-sentence. 

In brothels, clients are often placed under a temporary spell—just for a day, but it’s incredibly effective.

“Yes, the ‘contraceptive spell.’ You probably thought you’d never been under such a spell before, didn’t you?”

“…Shut up!”

It hit me hard. 

Camilla had always told me that, as a saint, the church had a special spell to ensure a stable pregnancy for a successor. She used it on me every time we were together…

But now, Albert’s smirk confirmed my worst fears.

“That’s right, Van. Camilla followed my orders and cast the ‘contraceptive spell’ on you every time. Do you understand now? Emilia was never your daughter.”