Chapter 113
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 113
“Good heavens, that mistress must be out of her mind!”
“Shh. Keep your voice down.”
“She’s right. She is the Countess of Orquichin now, after all.”
The noblewomen whispered behind their fans.
“But as you know, Her Majesty the Empress…”
“That may be true, but the master of our Grand Duchy thinks differently.”
“Still, it’s dangerous to speak so openly about it.”
Because it was the settlement period, numerous nobles were already arriving at the Frezier main castle.
In other words, quite a few people had witnessed the confrontation between Belladonna Merton and Tulia Frezier from a distance that morning.
They hadn't been able to watch the exciting spectacle from up close, however.
This was because Lisian Frezier—the man who would one day inherit the title of Marquis—had given strict orders beforehand to keep everyone at a distance.
“What were they talking about?”
“I heard the Countess of Orquichin dropped her formalities with the lady.”
“Lady Tulia said she would convene the Council of Elders…”
Even amidst the polite and meticulous security, there were always nobles whose tenacity allowed them to overhear a few words here and there.
Since this was the first time Grand Count Nigella Frezier had personally brought his mistress along, the eyes and ears of the entire Grand Duchy were focused on them.
“So, that is how Tulia handled it.”
“Yes, Your Grace.”
Luc Kelposher, who had witnessed the entire exchange firsthand, reported directly to his master.
Grand Duke Asis Frezier stroked his chin as he gazed out the window.
“She sells me out with such confidence. My granddaughter… She says things that no one else would dare to utter. Not even the Emperor himself would be so bold.”
“Lady Tulia is indeed daring.”
“She even threw around the Council of Elders as she pleased.”
A satisfied smile played on Asis’s lips.
“She was born with the spirit of a true leader. I wonder whose granddaughter she is.”
“She is Your Grace’s granddaughter, of course.”
“The fact that she grew up so well on her own is what weighs on my mind. I am troubled as to what I should do for her.”
Grand Duke Asis Frezier tapped his fingernail against the windowsill and murmured.
“Should I openly take her side, or should I watch from the shadows for now?”
His deliberation didn't last long.
“An old man riding the coattails of a granddaughter who is finally distinguishing herself… what a pathetic sight that would be. The latter is better.”
Luc Kelposher smiled.
“A wise decision, Your Grace.”
The late Grand Duchess, Lisiyan, had once declared to Asis that she would raise their only daughter, Hyacinthia, in her own way.
It hadn't been an empty boast.
True to her nature as a woman born with the qualities of a king, she had raised their eldest daughter to be magnificent and brave.
She was so impressive that Grand Duke Asis had quietly resolved to pass the title of Grand Duke to Hyacinthia one day.
Of course, both of them had long since returned to the earth…
Consequently, Grand Duke Asis Frezier didn't really know how to raise a daughter or what he should do for a granddaughter. It was difficult for him.
“If Tulia says she needs anything, give it to her.”
“Yes, Your Grace.”
Asis Frezier lifted his head slightly.
In the distance, beyond the window, lay the Statis Plains.
The red plum blossoms, blooming in abundance, were slowly falling with the changing of the season.
To Grand Duke Asis Frezier, the sight of the withering plum blossoms had always been an unpleasant one, like a recurring minor nightmare. It had always been that way.
But.
“I’ll turn them into a wonderful gift so that you’ll like them too, Grandfather.”
“……Hmm?”
“Just give me the plum fruits. I won’t leave a single scratch on the flowers or the trees.”
Ever since Tulia told him to look forward to her ‘gift,’ that prickly, thorn-like emotion no longer surfaced.
Instead, he felt a small sense of anticipation.
Because of that, Asis was able to gaze at the Statis Plains with a calm heart for a long time.
It was the first time.
Truly, the first time since the Grand Duchess had passed away.
* * *
From that day on, Belladonna Merton began to ostentatiously build social ties with the noblewomen.
Naturally, the high-ranking ladies initially showed their reluctance openly.
However, Grand Count Nigella proved to be a staunch ally. He took Belladonna around personally, introducing her to the wives of the vassals with whom he shared close ties.
Already, some of the noblewomen had begun to exchange social calls with her, and a following was slowly growing, particularly among lower-ranking noblewomen who found it difficult to break into central society.
‘I see. She’s a formidable woman.’
She chose incredibly beautiful dresses every time; seeing her pass by from a distance was like watching a ball of light move.
‘And how is every single jewel she wears so massive?’
I almost wondered if Nigella was going to go bankrupt by pouring jewels onto his mistress.
“Lady Tulia.”
I was in the middle of checking the guest list, which was steadily filling up with nobles.
Adel entered with a troubled expression and announced.
“The Countess of Orquichin has come to see you.”
“What for?”
I let out a scoff.
“She’s been sending Sandra for the past few days to ask for a room change. Now she’s finally come in person.”
“Shall I send her away?”
“No. I can’t have people saying I mistreated a Countess. Bring her in.”
Click, clack.
Belladonna Merton walked in.
“Welcome, Countess.”
“Lady Tulia. The annex I was assigned is too far from the main castle, and it’s inconvenient. Change my accommodations.”
She went straight to the point.
“I’ve already heard that several times from Sandra, but unfortunately, the room assignments are already finalized.”
“I understand that not all the guests of the Grand Duchy have arrived yet. Can’t you just take one of their rooms and give it to me?”
She wasn't wrong.
“You may be young, but since you’ve taken on the role of the lady of the house, surely you can exercise that much flexibility?”
“It’s exactly as you said—I’m still young.”
I fluttered the stack of documents in my hand.
“I assigned the rooms based on rank, with the main castle as the center. If I move your room forward, I’d have to rearrange every single assignment. And that’s while guests are already arriving.”
“Let me see that.”
Belladonna Merton tried to gracefully snatch the paper from my hand, but I had already anticipated as much.
More importantly…
I am a villainess with an unnecessarily high Skill Stat!
I can easily dodge the cold but graceful reach of a noblewoman!
When I dodged Belladonna Merton’s hand without even blinking, her face flushed red a beat later.
“What do you think you’re doing?”
“I should be the one asking you that, Countess Orquichin.”
I asked, fluttering the paper again.
“In any household, due to security concerns, the layout of the main castle can only be viewed by those with the permission of the Family Head.”
Flutter.
“In Frezier, that person is me.”
Flutter, flutter.
“If Grandfather found out that an outsider tried to forcibly take the layout of the main castle and the annexes…”
Flutter, flutter, flutter.
“It wouldn't be a matter he’d overlook easily.”
“……I made a mistake because I didn't know. I didn't mean it that way. Could you please not mention this to His Grace?”
Her words were blatantly subservient. I replied with a bright smile.
“Well, yes. I suppose I can do that much for you…”
“…….”
“However… shouldn't you apologize to me as well, Countess?”
If it had been Sandra, her face would have turned beet red and she would have lashed out blindly, but this woman was a seasoned mistress-turned-countess.
She stared at me with cold eyes and smiled.
“I’m sorry, Lady Tulia. Then, unfortunately, I suppose I’ll have to keep using that room.”
“I suppose you will.”
“I only mentioned it because it’s inconvenient for me to be in the annex when both Sandra and the Count are in the main castle.”
“I’ll provide a carriage for you.”
“……How kind of you.”
“Don’t mention it.”
I, Tulia Frezier, had long since judged the Belladonna Merton before me as an enemy to be annihilated.
‘If you look closely, she subtly drops her honorifics and even dares to try and snatch documents from my hand.’
It was only because I was technically younger than Belladonna Merton and because she had a connection to Nigella.
The woman had been rude to me this entire time.
‘Just like Lilius did, Nigella must be eyeing the position of Grand Duke.’
This woman likely dreams of becoming the Grand Duchess one day.
It wasn't an entirely impossible dream.
Even now, Nigella lived with Belladonna despite being at odds with my grandfather.
If he were to become the Grand Duke of Frezier in the future, would there be anything left to fear?
Nigella was the type of man who would find a way to make Belladonna Merton the Grand Duchess no matter what.
In the past—that is, when I had first transmigrated into Tulia—I thought it didn't matter who inherited the title of Grand Duke.
No, I didn't even have the luxury to consider such a future.
But I was different now.
In the future, the position of Grand Duke of Frezier must be held by Lisian—who is kind, brilliant, an unprecedented genius in the history of the Academy, beautiful, and the true male lead.
Absolutely.
‘That Nigella fellow… being an adulterer alone shows he’s rotten to the core.’
Furthermore, just looking at the amount of money a high noble like him squandered on his mistress, it was enough to break the backs of the people in his territory.
He was a man who would surely bankrupt the Grand Ducal House.
* * *
“Brother. It’s strange.”
Meanwhile, in the back room of the office assigned to Tulia.
Leon Frezier, who had unintentionally overheard the conversation between Tulia and Belladonna Merton, was overcome with a massive doubt.
“Was she always the type who could settle everything with just words?”
Leon frowned, his arms crossed.