Chapter 118
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 118
“What on earth is going on?”
“I know, right?”
The noblewomen and young ladies who had been invited to Sandra’s birthday party whispered to one another with pale faces as they hurried out of the main castle.
Since it had been a grand party thrown with Nigella’s full backing, the procession of departing nobles seemed endless. Because the guests consisted only of mothers and daughters, their conversation was much more candid.
“It’s been so long since we’ve seen Marquis Aster Frezier’s face.”
“Has it been nearly ten years?”
“But to think he’d call for a family trial right then and there the moment he arrived…”
It had been a lightning-fast progression.
As soon as Marquis Aster Frezier heard Tulia’s words, he didn't ask Nigella a single follow-up question. He simply declared on the spot that he would hold a ‘family trial.’
The lavish birthday party, where Sandra and Belladonna were supposed to be the stars, was left in shambles, and the guests fled the main castle.
No, ‘fled’ was the only way to describe it.
They scrambled to leave without looking back, terrified they might get caught up in the mess if they stayed, causing quite a commotion for a while.
“To think they embezzled Lady Tulia’s child support… No wonder that mistress was living so extravagantly, far beyond her station.”
“What do you think the verdict will be?”
“Who knows? But it seems the rumors of her being the ‘abandoned lady’ weren't true after all.”
A few young ladies who had previously clashed with Tulia while mocking her with that title trembled, recalling the Marquis’s terrifying demeanor.
* * *
‘Why won’t they let me in?’
I knew there was a family courtroom inside the Grand Ducal castle.
‘When it was Lilius and Tedric’s turn, they weren't in the family courtroom; they were interrogated in the conference hall in front of the elders and other vassals.’
But the family courtroom where Nigella and the others had been dragged was different. Decisions made in the family courtroom were final and could not be overturned.
From that perspective, Lilius’s case had actually been a display of leniency—or perhaps a result of his political power. To be precise, Lilius had enough elders and vassals on his side that he could handle things in the grand council chamber.
‘The fact that a family trial is being held now means…’
It means they have no intention of showing Nigella even an ounce of mercy for his embezzlement.
I’d seen this in The Milk Bread.
There were endings where Tulia was brought before a family trial, stripped of the Frezier name, and reduced to a commoner. Or endings where she was exiled abroad after a family trial. There was even one where she had to kneel and apologize to Corico.
‘No, wait.’
Those weren't exactly endings; they were ‘Tulia Punishment Events.’ One of many, many such events.
So, in a way, the place was familiar to me.
However, the Marquis did not permit me to enter the courtroom.
‘Well, family meetings usually end quickly anyway.’
Based on what I saw in the game, it usually took maybe an hour?
‘…So why isn't it over yet?!’
The family trial was still ongoing by the time my ankle was properly treated, I’d eaten a late dinner, and I’d even gone back to my bedroom to wash up and take a nap.
“Was there a break in the middle?”
“No, my lady. I heard they’ve been proceeding continuously without a single interruption.”
“What? They stayed up all night?”
“Yes. I heard Countess Orquichin fainted briefly… but since I don't know the details of what’s happening inside…”
“Hmph…”
I tilted my head as I listened to Adel’s report.
At first, when I heard the trial was dragging on, I wondered if the Marquis was going easy on them because Nigella is his biological brother. But hearing rumors that Belladonna Merton fainted made me think otherwise.
‘Ah. Maybe those people just embezzled a truly staggering amount of money, including Tulia’s child support.’
Since the sum was likely enormous, it probably took a long time just to settle the accounts.
‘Even Lisian and Leon were called in as witnesses.’
So, for the first time in a while, I slept alone last night. My fear of the terrifying status window had lessened significantly thanks to being with the twins, and since I was feeling restless and physically exhausted, I was fortunately able to pass out as soon as my head hit the pillow.
I headed toward the party hall—the place where Sandra’s birthday party had come to an abrupt end yesterday.
“It’s a mess, as expected.”
At my words, the maid escorting me looked startled and asked cautiously, “Should we clean it up right away?”
“No. Leave it. They threw the party, so they should be the ones to clean it up. No matter how long the trial takes, it’ll be over in two or three days.”
“Yes. Understood, Lady Tulia.”
The formal dinner had mostly finished, but more than half of the lavish finger foods and the massive, ornate birthday cake remained untouched.
‘Nobles really have no idea how precious food is.’
At least the sensible servants had placed glass covers over them. Since I had already ordered the firewood heating the hall to be removed, the room was now as cold as an ancient castle in winter. It felt like walking into a giant refrigerator.
“Tell the servants they can snack on things as they pass by. If I tell them to just take it, some might try to sweep it all up, so tell them to share it among themselves discreetly.”
“Oh? Understood, my lady!”
Having lived on nothing but cucumber sandwiches in the past, I could never tolerate throwing away such expensive food while it was still perfectly fine. Seeing the abundance of magnificent dishes nobles enjoyed at parties, the maid’s expression brightened instantly.
Once the servants finished nibbling away like hamsters, the sight Nigella and the others would face upon leaving the trial would be the wreckage of a party with nothing but scraps left.
Talk about killing two birds with one stone.
‘They’re going to feel like absolute trash, right? I’m most curious to see how Nigella reacts.’
And to be honest, I was curious about something else too. Just how much of my child support did Nigella and Belladonna embezzle? Depending on how much they skimmed off, the blueprint for my revenge would change.
I’m a villainess who needs to wash down every ‘sweet potato’ moment with a refreshing ‘cider’ moment, after all.
As the number of revenge blueprints in my head surpassed two thousand, I actually started to feel a bit excited.
‘So, who told you to bully me?’
I’m Tulia. A total revenge junkie.
Feeling the petty and wicked blood of Tulia flowing through my veins, I chuckled inwardly.
‘Wait, this is strange.’
Why does one side of my chest feel so cold? It felt as if a winter wind was blowing through my heart, causing the temperature there to drop endlessly.
There are times when even I don't fully understand the beginning and end of my own emotions. Thanks to that, I shivered from a strange chill the entire time I ate alone for the first time in a while.
Knock, knock.
It was around the afternoon when the Assistant Butler came to find me while I was reading in my bedroom.
“Lady Tulia.”
“What is it?”
“His Grace and the Marquis are requesting your presence in the conference room.”
“Which conference room?”
“The small conference room, my lady.”
“If it’s there… I assume the trial is finally over?”
“Yes.”
“Alright. Let’s go.”
“Yes, my lady.”
Since they were calling me to a conference room rather than the courtroom, it seemed the trial had reached its conclusion.
“Lady Tulia is entering.”
A servant opened the door, and I stepped into the room. This small conference room was only used for matters of the utmost gravity. Perhaps because of that, the atmosphere was incredibly solemn.
‘And it’s nothing but Freziers.’
Aside from a scribe and a few essential servants, not even the elders were present. Sitting in the highest seat was, of course, Grandfather. Beside him was Marquis Aster Frezier.
The twins sat there with equally pale faces, and at the very bottom sat Nigella’s family. My designated seat was opposite the twins.
And…
‘I can understand the mountain of documents, but…’
What were these dresses doing folded neatly in front of me?
I sat in my elevated seat and glanced down at the foot of the table. Belladonna Merton looked like a corpse, proving that Adel’s words about her fainting weren't a lie. Sandra didn't look much better. Even the robust Nigella looked so exhausted he seemed ready to collapse at any moment.
‘So they really interrogated them for over thirty hours?’
Is that even possible?
Marquis Aster Frezier, sitting at the head of the table with an inscrutable, expressionless face, didn't look tired at all.
‘…Grandfather’s expression isn't great.’
It wasn't a matter of stamina for Grandfather; he looked devastated by the situation. To an outsider, he might still look like a formidable tiger, but after watching him so closely, I could tell immediately.
‘He can't be feeling good about this.’
Regardless. I decided to speak up first.
“What are these dresses for?”
I directed the question at Belladonna and Sandra, since these were the dresses they had worn at the birthday party, but Belladonna didn't open her mouth.
It was the Marquis who broke the brief silence.
“Answer her. Miss Belson.”
‘Wow, right to the end.’
The Marquis continued to insult her by using the name she hated most, his face still showing no emotion. But Belladonna Merton didn't seem to have the strength left to tremble with rage or vow revenge.
With a deathly pale face and an expression that was almost groveling, she spoke to me.
“I… I secretly took the dresses that were meant for Lady Tulia. I will return them all, so please, my lady, have mercy…”
“Wait.”
Belladonna’s trembling voice was cut short. Marquis Aster had interrupted her.