Chapter 109
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 109
“What did you say?”
“Now that Mother is Countess Orquichin, she’s become one of Her Majesty the Empress’s closest confidantes, hasn’t she? Mother has never even set foot in the Grand Duchy—isn’t that a blatant insult to our family?”
Nigella furrowed his brow.
Grand Duke Asis Frezier loathed Nigella’s mistress, Belladonna Merton. Even Nigella himself had never once considered bringing Belladonna to the Frezier Territory.
“The noblewomen have no reason to shun Mother anymore, Father! I heard that everyone was green with envy when that Tulia girl was granted pure gold jewelry by the Empress the other day.”
“Yes… that is true.”
Nigella stroked his chin, lost in thought.
His mistress, Belladonna, was certainly a woman of great resourcefulness. Winning over the public opinion of the noblewomen staying at the castle…
It shouldn’t be that difficult.
Nigella had always wanted to bring Belladonna Merton to the Grand Duchy. The problem was his father, Grand Duke Asis. The Iron-Blooded Grand Duke radiated such a wall of fury that Nigella hadn’t dared to even try.
But now that Belladonna has become Countess Orquichin, I have to face him eventually.
His father had likely already received word that Belladonna Merton had been granted the title of Countess Orquichin. He must have been appalled the moment he heard it. After all, the old man considered Belladonna’s very existence a stain on the family’s honor.
However, Nigella could guess why his father hadn’t sent an aide to reprimand him yet.
It’s probably because he doesn’t know yet.
He didn’t know what Nigella had promised Empress Carmi in exchange for Belladonna receiving the countess title.
But Nigella was no fool. He had calculated everything to ensure the Grand Ducal House would benefit before making the deal with Empress Carmi. In the process, he had become quite close to the Empress. This was something any noble of the Empire should naturally welcome.
In the first place, Nigella disliked his father’s conservative tendencies.
Emperor Alexander dotes on Empress Carmi, so why must Father take the lead in criticizing her for things like affairs?
Since Nigella himself was technically having an affair with Belladonna Merton, Grand Duke Asis’s criticisms felt like a blade pointed directly at him. This made him even more irritable, and his frustration eventually turned into resentment toward his father.
Father has grown old. He’s lost his ability to look at the practical benefits.
Empress Carmi was a formidable woman, contrary to appearances. The proof was the Second Imperial Prince, Dave. Emperor Alexander hadn’t produced a single illegitimate child after the Second Prince. It meant Empress Carmi was very efficient at handling things behind the scenes.
Why on earth should he oppose such a woman, such a powerhouse?
Prestige?
Morality?
All of that was useless in the face of practical gain.
Nigella felt as though he was carving a new path for the family. And this path—this pragmatism—would eventually guarantee his future position as the Grand Duke.
When you look at the forest, the trees seem small.
As he imagined himself as the future Grand Duke, the fact that Grand Duke Asis Frezier kept Belladonna Merton at arm’s length started to feel trivial.
Yes. It’s better to face him directly and persuade him. Even Father can’t ignore the code of chivalry.
While he was at it, he could also look forward to Belladonna’s support now that she held the title of Countess. The social activities of noblewomen had a significant impact on the work of male vassals. High society itself was a political arena, and the Grand Duchy was no different.
Just as Nigella was nearly convinced to take Belladonna to the Grand Duchy, Sandra’s next words fanned the flames in his heart.
“And you have no idea how much Tulia looked down on me, Father.”
“What? Tulia looked down on you?”
A spark of anger instantly flared in Nigella’s eyes.
Nigella had been born as the middle son—neither the eldest nor the youngest. Perhaps because he had lived in an awkward position between a brilliant older brother and a sly, socially adept younger brother, Nigella hated being ignored more than anything else.
“When did she look down on you? Was it at the Imperial Palace?”
“Yes! You and Mother were too busy talking to other nobles to notice. Every time I even tried to speak to her, she glared at me like she was going to rip my hair out…”
Sandra, her eyes—so like Belladonna’s—welling with tears, continued.
“Unlike me, she doesn’t have a mother or a father, does she? I hate always feeling intimidated by her. Can’t we go, Father?”
After a moment of cold calculation, Nigella spoke with a solemn expression.
“I cannot have my daughter feeling intimidated. Fine. Let us go. Perhaps seeing our family’s harmonious appearance will change your grandfather’s mind.”
“What?! Really?!”
Sandra, who hadn’t actually expected Nigella to agree, jumped for joy.
“In exchange, you must dress as modestly as possible. You are not to pack a single flashy dress like the ones you’re wearing now. Do you understand?”
“Huh? Then what am I supposed to wear?”
“I mean wear ordinary dresses. The same goes for your mother.”
Sandra was currently wearing a beautiful dress that looked like something an Imperial Princess would wear. If this was what she wore at home, there would be no end to it if she actually tried to dress up. She only wore incredibly expensive clothes and jewelry that only a highly favored princess would typically possess.
This was one of the reasons why, despite being looked down upon behind her back as the daughter of a mistress, she still received quite a few party invitations.
The thought of not being able to bring those things made her feel petty and annoyed, but fearing her father might change his mind, Sandra quickly nodded.
* * *
Now that Mother is officially Countess Orquichin, I’m the biological daughter of a Countess.
And yet, he was telling her not to pack any pretty dresses befitting her status!
She understood that he was being careful not to offend the Grand Duke with excessive luxury, but she couldn’t help but feel dissatisfied with her father’s command.
The maids, having already received Nigella’s orders, were busy packing her things in the dressing room. Seeing the trunks being filled with mediocre dresses instead of the top-tier ones encrusted with fist-sized jewels made her feel even more spiteful.
Her mother, Belladonna, seemed to have received the same message from her father, as she was happily ordering the servants to pack. The leather trunks used by nobles for travel were filled with nothing but plain dresses, just as her father had ordered.
If even her mother was determined to follow his words, there was no way around it.
It was then.
Sandra’s eyes widened. She saw her mother’s head maid ‘secretly’ packing flashy dresses.
Mother is also dissatisfied with Father’s orders! Well, it is her first time going to the Grand Duchy; she can’t let the noblewomen there look down on her.
Nigella used to give Belladonna extravagant gifts every season. The jewels and dresses he gifted her were so incredibly expensive that even the duchesses in the Imperial Capital envied them.
She probably wouldn’t wear them openly, but if the noblewomen of the Grand Duchy showed even the slightest hint of looking down on her, she looked ready to dress up in those clothes and jewels immediately to put them in their place.
Then I should secretly pack a few sets too.
She had no intention of making her father angry. She was just packing three or four sets as a backup, ‘just in case.’
Sandra hummed to herself as she secretly added jewelry made of beautiful pink diamonds and dresses that would easily cost 10 Billion Gold each into her trunk.
* * *
‘Busy, busy, noble society…!’
I was in the middle of processing internal affairs without a moment to catch my breath, having just returned from what was essentially a business trip to the Imperial Capital.
At this rate, the local trash is going to drop dead from overwork and ascend to the heavens.
Just then.
“Lady Tulia.”
Luc entered with an uncharacteristic urgency. I was slightly startled by his words and found myself asking back.
“Wait, what? Uncle Nigella and Sandra are coming to the Grand Duchy?”