Chapter 114
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 114
“No way. The Tulia I know was the kind of girl who, if she didn't like you, would grab you by the hair, drag you off, and dump you into an oak barrel.”
“Tulia has... g-grown up... enough.”
“Ugh! Brother, you really don't know her! That’s not it!”
Leon looked at Lisian with an expression of utter frustration.
“She was as wicked as the god of evil himself! That kind of malice doesn't just get neutralized by getting a little older. Maybe if she lived to be twenty thousand years old, but otherwise, no way!”
“Th-then I guess Tulia is... t-twenty thousand years old n-now.”
“Aaaargh! Brother!”
Lisian tended to accept whatever Tulia did.
In fact, if Tulia did even the slightest thing well, he would claim she was always smart, or even smarter than himself, or that she was the greatest talent in the Frezier family.
He didn't hesitate to shower her with such praise, which left Leon utterly dumbfounded.
“Give me some praise too! Is she your only sibling? Was I picked up from the street?! Huh?!”
“Leon.”
“Yeah! Brother!”
Lisian spoke without taking his eyes off the documents he was reading.
“You are... f-far, f-far inferior to Tulia.”
“Agh! Seriously!”
Stomping his feet in frustration, Leon Frezier finally flopped down onto the sofa. The plush cushions sank deep before springing back up.
“But Brother. You felt it too, didn't you?”
Leon cast a glance toward the door leading to Tulia’s office and continued.
“That woman is a bit strange. I mean...”
“Her outfit?”
“Yeah, exactly. I guess you noticed the moment you saw her too. Her clothes are very, very strange.”
“Yes.”
“Well, I suppose anyone with eyes would notice. Though it seems no one but us has.”
Leon asked, “It looks like Tulia doesn't realize it either. Are you going to tell her?”
For the first time, Lisian lifted his head from the documents he had been staring at.
Summer, lush greenery, straight-growing stalks.
Eyes of that color turned toward Leon.
“No.”
It was a short but firm answer. Leon conceded immediately.
“I guess so. Knowing the truth might hurt her feelings. Knowing her.”
“It’s not that...”
Lisian’s long, elegant fingers lifted the documents again.
“There is... s-someone else... who should be the one to tell her.”
“...Huh?”
There was no further explanation. Leon blinked, then a moment later, let out an "Ah" of realization as he crossed his legs and leaned back.
* * *
“Thanks to you, we are able to hold a very grand birthday banquet. Thank you, Lady Tulia.”
“It was Uncle Nigella’s request. Just make sure you prepare it well.”
“Of course, my lady.”
Nigella’s aide bowed deeply and withdrew. In his hands, he held the box I had given him. It contained one of the keys to the Grand Ducal House’s warehouses.
To insist on holding a birthday party for Sandra...
Her actual birthday was still two months away. It was obvious they wanted to hold the party now because Belladonna was at the main castle and so many of the vassals' families were in attendance.
“Lady Tulia.”
“Yes?”
“Are you sure you’re alright with this?”
I nodded at Adel’s concerned question.
“Well, it’s fine. Though it is quite strange that they took the key to a small-to-medium warehouse without a word of complaint.”
To put it another way, it made me think they were definitely up to something.
“Do you think they’re going to try and splash juice on me at the banquet?”
“Should I stay by your side?”
“No. If even Adel is there, it’ll look like I’m too intimidated by that mother and daughter. Don't come. One or two ordinary maids will be enough as my attendants.”
“But... I understand, my lady.”
When Lilius and Aubrey were kicked out, their direct subordinates were naturally purged as well.
And when I returned to the palace last time, I took the opportunity to conduct another thorough sweep of the internal staff.
I mean, it wouldn't do to have all the information within the castle leaking out to the head of an information guild, right?
It’s a relief Adel meticulously reorganized all the servants' personal records.
Thanks to her, I was able to weed out the suspicious servants without much trouble after just a bit of cross-referencing.
Our Adel is amazing.
If I feel this proud, I can only imagine how proud, grateful, and sorry Luc Kelposher must feel toward her.
Lately, he’s been bringing me all sorts of things—fine tea leaves, silks, you name it.
Specifically choosing times when Adel is by my side.
However, every time I stole a glance at Adel’s expression, there was never much of a change.
The same went for Luc Kelposher.
If I hadn't known about the relationship between Luc and Adel, their ironclad poker faces were so perfect that I wouldn't have sensed anything strange at all.
I guess siblings really are siblings.
“I can dodge any juice they throw, but just in case, should I layer some waterproof fabric over my dress?”
“How about having the knights on standby outside the banquet hall instead, Lady Tulia?”
I burst out laughing at Adel’s joke.
“Aha, Adel, I didn't know you could make jokes like that. That’s such an over-the-top suggestion, just like Grandfather...”
In that moment, Adel, the assistant butler, and the chief physician silently exchanged glances. Only then did I realize.
“...Oh. You weren't joking.”
* * *
Ah. I should have had the knights on standby.
I had to work hard to hide a cold smile as I entered the Grand Banquet Hall.
I should have brought the knights, Lisian, Leon Frezier, the trio including Adel, Grandfather—everyone.
I hadn't thought this through.
“Oh, Lady Tulia! You’ve arrived!”
“It’s so wonderful to see you again up close. My, your eyes are as bright and spirited as ever.”
“Is your concept today the Goddess of Spring? Indeed, I heard the head maid was exceptionally skilled... That pale pink dress suits you perfectly.”
“Is that sapphire necklace a gift from His Grace the Grand Duke? My, the craftsmanship is breathtaking!”
The noblewomen and young ladies who rushed toward me the moment I entered chatted away, offering sweet greetings.
Looking at this scene alone, the atmosphere seemed quite pleasant.
It was as if Tulia’s past as a notorious brat had vanished into thin air.
I looked like nothing more than a beloved granddaughter of a powerful man, a beautiful daughter of a Marquis whom everyone envied.
But.
I smiled and responded to each of them while sharply scanning my surroundings.
It’s all mothers and daughters. Every single one of them.
There were a few families where the mother was absent, but in those cases, the young ladies had entered accompanied by their fathers.
In other words.
There was a single entry code for Sandra’s birthday party today.
You must enter as a mother-daughter pair.
Or, a father-daughter pair.
Tulia has neither a mother nor a father. Those wicked people...
Usually, at other parties or banquets, there were plenty of people I could ask to escort me.
There was the "true male lead" Lisian, who was a collection of nothing but virtues, and even that guy Leon Frezier, who at least had a handsome face.
Even if it wasn't them, Grandfather would usually send over several dashing knights and tell me to pick whoever I liked to take with me.
But the protagonist of today’s birthday party was Sandra Frezier.
The party had to be held according to her wishes, and I had received my invitation almost at the very last minute.
I didn't think much of it at the time.
Since it was a party being held at the Frezier main castle, I, as the one practically in charge of internal affairs, had to attend regardless.
But to pull a stunt like this to embarrass me.
Click, clack.
Just then, the sound of heels clicking sharply against the floor reached my ears.
Perhaps the sound stood out because everyone had fallen silent at the same time.
The family that appeared, parting the crowd of nobles like the Red Sea, was, of course...
The adulterous couple, including Nigella. And their daughter.
“Tulia. You’ve dressed quite like a lady today.”
“Thank you. You look quite the handsome gentleman yourself, Uncle.”
I shifted my gaze to look at Sandra.
“Sandra, you look very cute and glamorous too. I haven't seen that dress before; it’s the prettiest one I’ve ever seen.”
“As expected, Sister has great taste!”
Sandra smiled broadly and spread out her lavender silk dress.
“It’s a dress Father gave me as a special gift! It’s a limited-season piece by Designer Forth, and he even had jewels added by hand!”
“Ahem. For my daughter, that much is nothing.”
See? He really is the kind of man who would ruin an estate.
As the biological son of Grand Duke Frezier, Nigella had inherited the special title of Grand Count rather than just a regular Count.
While it was true his income was much higher than a typical Count's, to have jewels the size of fists hanging all over his daughter’s dress?
Furthermore, if it was a limited-season piece from a top-tier designer, the price must be astronomical.
That dress alone must easily cost in the hundreds of millions. If you add the price of the jewels...
It would be insane.
“By the way, did you come alone without an escort?”
Nigella looked genuinely puzzled. Before I could even open my mouth, Belladonna Merton, who was leaning against Nigella, gave a troubled smile.
“I’m so sorry. The servants made a mistake and apparently failed to deliver the invitation that stated Lady Tulia was welcome to enter with the young lords of the Marquis house.”
In an instant, I felt everyone fall silent and exchange glances.