Chapter 116
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 116
What’s gotten into this man to make him show me such kindness?
“I’d be delighted.”
Though suspicious, I had no reason to refuse a dance request from Nigella, who was both my social superior and a close relative.
As we stepped onto the floor, the crowd parted naturally to make way. The music shifted to a new melody.
“Isn’t it dull, standing against the wall like that all by yourself?”
“What else could I do? The Countess apparently made a mistake with the invitations.”
After a turn, Nigella spoke again.
“Even I, your uncle, didn’t realize Belladonna had only invited mothers and daughters, or fathers and daughters, to this party.”
“Is that so?”
“It must have been quite awkward for you.”
“Yes. Since I don’t have a mother, after all.”
“No, Tulia.”
No?
We drifted apart for a step before coming back together.
“It’s not so much that you don’t have a mother or a father.”
“Pardon?”
“It’s more that you were abandoned.”
“Ah, I see.”
Right. Of course.
And here I was, wondering why he was being so nice for once.
Whether he noticed my expression souring or not, Nigella skillfully led me through another turn before continuing.
“Don’t take it to heart. High society is a cold place by nature, and since you’ve seized power through all sorts of means…”
“Yes, yes.”
“Naturally, envy and jealousy are bound to follow.”
“Still, wouldn’t it be better if there were no envy or jealousy among relatives?”
Nigella’s brow furrowed for a moment at my remark.
However, the rhythm of the dance was relentless.
We had to take two more steps away from each other before we could clasp hands again and whisper.
“Ahem. That is true. Even if you lack parents, you still have me, your eldest uncle.”
In that brief interval, Nigella seemed to have decided which side offered more profit.
“And don’t you have Sandra, your younger sibling whom you must protect?”
For now, he chose to maintain a facade of harmony with me.
“Don’t pay too much mind to Belladonna’s behavior today… Ack!”
Whoosh!
In that instant.
I was literally flung aside by Nigella. I lost my footing and collapsed onto the floor.
“Sandra!”
Despite committing the madness of throwing his partner away, Nigella didn’t look back. He rushed off, calling only his daughter’s name.
Looking over from my position on the floor, I saw that Sandra had also fallen, likely having tripped over her own feet.
Though she looked to be in much better shape than I was.
“A-Father. My ankle hurts. Waaaaah!”
“Let me see!”
Perhaps because both young ladies of the Frezier family had tumbled to the ground, the music cut off abruptly.
The guests began to murmur in shock.
Wow. Everyone around me must have seen that.
They saw Nigella throw me.
The long hair that Adel and the other maids had worked so hard to style was now a mess. The jeweled headband I was wearing had slipped and was dangling precariously.
I tried to stand up, but a sharp pang made me grimace.
It wasn’t a good sign; I had clearly sprained my ankle badly.
Before a servant could approach, a pair of beautiful shoes stopped in front of me.
“Oh, dear. He really does go all out when it involves his daughter.”
It was Belladonna Merton.
She cradled her cheek with one hand and let out a troubled sigh.
“Well, real men are always so sincere when it comes to their daughters. Who could possibly stop them?”
Well, that much was true.
She seemed to be trying to take a dig at Marquis Aster Frezier, and if it was about bashing that man, I was more than willing to join in.
If that man had just sent the child support properly in the first place, Tulia wouldn’t have suffered so much.
And neither would I.
“Here. Take my hand and stand up, Lady Tulia. It looks like you’ve hurt your ankle.”
As I took Belladonna Merton’s hand to pull myself up, my eyes drifted toward her waist.
Looking at it up close, this dress is even more insane.
The expensive gown featured a stunning belt, at the center of which sparkled a massive green diamond.
It looked like a giant, ripe Muscat grape shimmering under the sun. It was the most precious treasure among all the jewels Belladonna was wearing today.
How could a diamond be the size of a baby’s fist?
Nigella certainly is resourceful. Where did he even find something like that?
My genuine admiration was short-lived.
“Ugh!”
The moment Belladonna helped me up, she yanked her hand away. With my sprained ankle, I had no choice but to stumble again.
“Oh my!”
It was fine that she caught me quickly. The problem was that in the minor commotion, I ended up stepping on the hem of her skirt.
“Goodness, the Countess’s dress…”
“It’s ruined. Oh, what a shame! Such a waste!”
“Didn’t she say it was a new arrival for the season? How tragic.”
“I wonder if she’ll have it repaired and put it up for the charity banquet this year? I bet plenty of people would want to buy it…”
“To be honest, I’m a bit tempted myself.”
Even I, the granddaughter of the Grand Duke of Frezier, had been impressed by Belladonna’s dress and jewels; the wives of the ordinary vassals were reacting even more strongly.
“Thank you, Countess. I will compensate you for the dress.”
“Oh, Lady Tulia. There’s no need for that. This dress is so expensive that I wouldn’t even know how much the repair costs would be, so I couldn’t possibly charge you.”
“No, I insist.”
Dammit. My emergency funds and my allowance are going to be wiped out.
While I was swallowing my tears inwardly, Belladonna Merton spoke.
“The dress is truly fine, so…”
Her gaze flickered down toward our feet.
Crunch.
At the same time, the sound of Belladonna Merton’s shoe stepping on something stone-like rang out.
“Would you mind just picking up that diamond for me?”
I followed her gaze downward, and my eyes widened reflexively.
Is this woman actually insane?
What Belladonna Merton was stepping on was indeed a stone, but a very expensive one.
Specifically, it was the green diamond the size of a baby’s fist that I had been admiring just moments ago!
Normally, one would treat such a thing with the utmost care.
Forget a Duchess—even an Empress would likely cherish and worship a green diamond of that size.
It was a rare, priceless gem that a Queen of some kingdom might wear.
Regardless of the price, since it wasn't mine—
She wanted me to pick it up while she was stepping on it?
Ha.
In an instant, a flurry of thoughts raced through my mind.
the moment I bowed my waist before her, all the victories I had won against Belladonna today would become meaningless.
People only remember the final victor, after all.
Nigella was the one who threw me, though.
But if I tried to throw a tantrum and insist that Nigella should pick it up since he was playing the role of the 'loving father,' I would only make myself look ridiculous.
Should I call a servant to pick it up?
I had been constantly reminding everyone that this was my territory; calling a servant to bow their head would ultimately be an admission of my defeat.
And a very petty one at that.
She’s certainly no ordinary mistress.
Belladonna Merton pressed down harder on the jewel and asked, “Lady Tulia, do you not wish to?”
In that moment.
A massive shadow intervened between us.
I could swear that, other than my grandfather, I had never seen a man so large.
Not as Han Ina, and not as Tulia.
Without a moment's hesitation, the massive man leaned down and picked up the diamond Belladonna had been stepping on.
The moment he straightened his back and our eyes met.
Only one thought filled my mind.
…Why did those rumors even exist?
The rumors that Tulia wasn't the Marquis's biological daughter.
Anyone who saw him in person would realize instantly that it was nothing but nonsense.
Clean silver hair.
Dark, sunken light-green eyes.
And above all, a gaze that was cold as ice.
Belladonna Merton’s trembling voice echoed in my ears.
“M-Marquis Aster Frezier?”
Marquis Aster Frezier.
A man whose aura was the spitting image of Tulia’s—far more than any game illustration could ever capture—was looking down at me.