Chapter 15
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 15
“Isn’t that Lady Tulia?”
“Even her hair looks… decent now.”
“It seems the hazing from the main castle has finally come to an end.”
“Honestly, it was getting to be a bit much.”
Even though the meeting hadn’t fully concluded, the vassals who had already stepped out were whispering among themselves as they watched me.
Their words had a sharp edge, but none of the gossip was directed at me. It seemed my confirmation that Viscountess Aubrey’s reputation had hit rock bottom was accurate.
As I stood there in modest, tidy attire holding my basket, Leuc eventually emerged and greeted me.
“It has been a while since you brought jam.”
“There weren’t many glass jars I liked, so it took some time to receive new ones.”
In truth, it had been difficult to make jam lately because of Adel.
The moment I stepped into the kitchen and picked up a paring knife, she looked so horrified I thought she might faint.
Because of that, I hadn’t been able to make jam or rack up any coins.
Actually, Adel had made most of this jam herself.
The color alone was on a different level.
‘But I can’t let it sound like I’m just bossing my younger sister around to Leuc.’
The excuse I had prepared in advance seemed to work well.
“Ho, this batch looks particularly delicious.”
“Well, I did put in quite a bit of effort…?”
Fortunately, Leuc was easily convinced. He even made an unexpectedly good offer, saying he would introduce me to a glass artisan the next time one visited the main castle.
‘As expected of Leuc. No, isn’t the Kelposher name itself just too beneficial for me?’
Leuc Kelposher had been quite kind to me from the start, and Adel Kelposher was practically an angel to me now.
“By the way, Lady Tulia,” Leuc asked. “Are you not returning immediately?”
“Yes. I thought I’d pay my respects to Grandfather if he has the time.”
Of course, those were just empty words.
‘I absolutely do not want to see him.’
If I could, I’d avoid him forever.
I knew he was a necessary person for my quests.
I knew that, but the Grand Duke’s gaze and aura were simply too terrifying.
There was a reason his grandchildren trembled in his presence.
I was just an ordinary person with a much smaller heart and more fragile nerves than the original Tulia.
Even the original Tulia, known as the wild foal of the Grand Ducal House, was terrified of him. Imagine how burdensome it was for me to have to meet him!
However, I had no choice because I wanted the vassals who would soon come pouring out to perceive me as a ‘devoted granddaughter.’
Indeed, Leuc was already looking at me with a pleased expression.
“By the way, Lady Tulia. Where did you learn to make jam like this?”
Finally, the question came. A typical lady wouldn’t know how to make such things!
Naturally, I had my answer ready.
“I have a memory of learning it from my father when I was very young.”
Leuc looked slightly surprised, perhaps not expecting me to mention Tulia’s father.
The surrounding vassals were the same. I could practically see their ears perking up all over the place.
They were probably shocked by such an unbelievable claim, right?
‘Well, it is a lie.’
I only spun this tall tale to emphasize that Tulia had at least a little bit of a connection with Marquis Aster.
Whether Tulia is his real daughter or not, I don’t know, but please just believe she is.
That’s the only way my reputation will go up. Please.
It was then.
“Hmm? How could that be?”
I turned around.
“Did your uncle hear incorrectly just now? You’re saying Lord Aster taught you something as trivial as making jam?”
Viscount Lilius and his wife, Viscountess Aubrey, were walking toward us, accompanied by several servants.
I greeted Lilius and Aubrey with a smile.
“It has been a while, Uncle.”
“Yes, it has. By the way, was what you just said true?”
“Yes. I remember Father teaching me himself when I was little. Though, because I was so young back then, the taste isn’t quite perfect.”
“Ho, that is certainly news to me.”
Lilius stepped closer and smiled warmly.
One might expect his eyes to remain cold even if he hid his intentions, but his gaze truly looked like that of a doting uncle. It was uncanny.
That’s why, when I played the game, I thought he was a good person.
As it turned out, he was a madman who treated his clueless niece like a fool while secretly embezzling her money.
Lilius laughed and patted my head.
“Yes, yes. Even if my brother is busy as a commander now, he cherished Tulia dearly when she was a child. Haha!”
But that was short-lived.
Viscountess Aubrey Frezier, who had also walked closer, leaned down and spoke in a sweet voice.
“Oh, dear. Would the Marquis, of all people, really do such a thing?”
Viscountess Aubrey gave me a thin smile.
“Tulia, you little rascal. Lying is a bad habit.”
“Pardon?”
My brow furrowed slightly, but Aubrey continued to smile like a dignified noblewoman, unbothered.
“I understand, of course. A fifteen-year-old girl is a delicate creature, always starved for affection.”
I mean, sure, I was using Marquis Aster’s name for my own gain.
‘But trying to frame Tulia as a liar in front of all these people is going too far.’
Even if I was technically lying.
I was her niece, yet she was trying to humiliate me so openly.
Setting aside the fact that my life depended on my reputation, among nobles, honor was often the difference between life and death.
‘Then again, these are the people who were going to let me freeze to death in that warehouse. What wouldn’t they do?’
The main castle was already bustling with people.
Furthermore, this was right in front of Grand Duke Frezier’s office.
The meeting seemed to be wrapping up, as more and more nobles were trickling out of the room.
‘This couple is truly a pair of low-lifes.’
I suppressed the coldness creeping into my eyes.
And then.
“Aunt Aubrey.”
I softened my expression into one of bewildered hurt.
“A lie? What do you mean?”
I kept my hands politely folded, looking exactly like someone who had just heard something shocking.
Viscountess Aubrey gave my forehead a light, playful flick.
“You little rascal. Are you flustered because you were caught?”
“Aunt Aubrey. I haven’t told a single lie.”
I didn’t forget to continue in the most polite and cautious voice possible.
“I saw Tedric get scolded terribly by Grandfather right in front of me for lying, didn’t I?”
“…!”
“Knowing that, how could I possibly lie in front of Grandfather’s office?”
In an instant, Viscountess Aubrey’s face turned deathly pale.
Naturally, the same went for Lilius, who had been maintaining a benevolent smile and acting like a warm uncle the whole time.
“Hmm? Young Master Tedric was scolded for lying?”
“Not just scolded, but terribly scolded? What on earth…?”
“Could it be related to the Grand Duke confiscating his Lineage Pendant?”
I could hear the vassals whispering behind us.
If this were a place with only servants, it might be different, but this was the front of Grand Duke Frezier’s office.
It was a place where countless vassals passed through.
‘Go ahead, keep trying to call me a liar.’
I’ll make sure that brat Tedric never shows his face in public again.
Despite my hardened inner resolve, I looked up with fearful eyes. Viscountess Aubrey belatedly turned to look at her husband.
“Ahem! Cough, cough!”
Only then did Lilius hurriedly step forward and take my hand.
“Yes, yes. Our Tulia is such a good, quiet child.”
In truth, even those words from Lilius were meant to put me in a difficult spot.
Even before she spiraled into true villainy, Tulia was famous for throwing tantrums at various banquets.
I had no choice but to maintain the posture of a dignified lady, acting as if I had reflected on my past and become a new person.
“My dear, how could you tease the child so?”
Aubrey’s face turned beet red, but she was forced to squeeze out a smile. Lilius quickly patted my shoulder affectionately.
“Now, now, Tulia. Since you’re here, let’s go pay our respects to the Grand Duke together.”
“Pardon? Right now?”
“Yes, right now. Come, let’s go inside.”
He clearly thought that if he left me behind, there was no telling what else I might blurt out in front of all these vassals.
Because of that, I was internally panicking.
‘Wait, I’m not mentally prepared to face the Grand Duke yet…!’
However, the one who blocked Lilius as he tried to lead me into the office was none other than Leuc.
“Viscount Lilius. His Grace did not specifically summon Lady Tulia.”
His words were polite but strictly followed protocol. It was a response perfectly characteristic of Leuc Kelposher.
“Ahem.” Lilius cleared his throat and spoke. “She is his granddaughter paying her respects to her own grandfather. Would His Grace truly find fault with that? I shall take full responsibility, so do not worry!”
“If you say so.”
The response was surprisingly easygoing.
And in contrast, his movements were incredibly swift.
“Now, please enter quickly, Lady Tulia.”
“…?”
“And deliver this to His Grace personally.”
“…”
As if his firm blocking just a moment ago had been a lie, Leuc even gave my back a slight nudge.
Was it just my imagination, or did it feel like he had deliberately baited Lilius into giving the answer he wanted?
And so, quite unexpectedly, I found myself entering the office of Grand Duke Asis Frezier.