Chapter 157
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 157
Struck across the face, Dave couldn’t even muster a cry. His mouth froze, and he could only hang his head in silence.
“Tsk, you still haven’t grown up!”
“Imperial Father, th-that’s not it…”
“It’s not?”
Emperor Alexander’s voice thundered with rage.
“I’ve heard enough to know exactly what’s going on. How dare you try to play innocent? Do you even deserve to be called a prince of the Great Brillant Empire? How dare you come here and throw a tantrum at the Empress? And all because you’re jealous of a gift for your brother?!”
Dave froze completely at the Emperor’s words.
Judging by what he said, it seemed the Emperor had been listening to him shouting at Empress Carmi for quite some time.
Yet, a part of him felt wronged.
Usually, Emperor Alexander favored him over the "crippled" Crown Prince. While he was never a tender father figure, he had at least always maintained Dave’s dignity and cherished him.
This was the first time in his life he had ever been slapped.
“Go to your palace this instant and begin your confinement!”
“I… I obey your command…”
Dave trembled as he scurried out of the Empress’s Palace.
“...Your Majesty.”
Carmi finally let the tension bleed from her face. She managed a smile, but her eyes were filled with fear and bewilderment.
Just now, the Emperor had looked like a husband slapping his son to take his wife’s side, but the reality was different.
If he had truly wanted to take her side, he should have merely ‘admonished’ Dave—not resorted to such violence.
Furthermore, it had been a long time since Carmi had even seen the Emperor!
“You’ve been telling me you were too busy to grant an audience. What brings you to the Empress’s Palace today?”
Empress Carmi knew how to maintain a smile as soft as beach sand, no matter the situation.
Emperor Alexander, whose expression had been icy until then, finally softened slightly and spoke.
“I came to consult with the Empress on a certain matter.”
“Yes, please, tell me, Your Majesty.”
“It concerns Ferdinand.”
“Has something happened to the Crown Prince?”
A short while later.
After hearing everything Emperor Alexander had to say, Empress Carmi nodded with great effort.
She managed to keep a smile pinned to her lips, but it was as jarring as a crude scribble on a perfect statue.
Once the Emperor had departed.
Empress Carmi clenched her fists so hard her knuckles turned white. Her nails dug into her palms until they bled, but the Head Maid turned a blind eye, her own face pale.
“...Head Maid.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“Is there anything of value left in the palace storehouse?”
“As you know, after paying the fees to the White Tulip Salon…”
“Sell the Gibara Territory in the south.”
“...!”
The southern Gibara Territory was a breadbasket, one of the highest-grade lands the Empress owned. Selling it would immediately replenish the Empress’s empty coffers.
Of course, it was far more profitable to keep it and collect the annual revenue, but Empress Carmi’s eyes were currently bloodshot with desperation.
She needed money, and she needed it now.
“Dispose of it as quickly as possible, and order a tiara set with the most expensive diamonds.”
“A tiara, Your Majesty?”
“Yes.”
Empress Carmi rose from her seat, her eyes gleaming with a cold, predatory light.
“I believe I must pay a visit to Lady Tulia Frezier with that tiara in hand.”
* * *
A few days later.
Empress Carmi visited the Grand Ducal House of Frezier. She shared a pleasant conversation with Tulia Frezier and specially bestowed upon her a tiara crafted from exquisite diamonds.
“Since you have completed your debutante so wonderfully, I am granting this to you as a token of my congratulations.”
Carmi made her move before Tulia could even think of refusing.
“In the entire history of this Empire, no lady has ever rejected a gift from the Empress. Surely you will accept this with joy as well, Lady Tulia?”
Ultimately, on the day Tulia respectfully accepted the tiara with both hands, Emperor Alexander made a massive proclamation that turned the Imperial social circle upside down.
Since Crown Prince Ferdinand had received the same number of medals as the national founder, a formal Victory Banquet would be held in his honor by the Emperor’s decree.
The Temple, which had been on the Crown Prince’s side all along, was secretly pleased. However, since war itself contradicted the will of the gods, they couldn’t celebrate openly.
Instead, a mountain of tributes and gifts began arriving at the Crown Prince’s Palace.
Among them, the items that drew the most attention were, naturally, the large quantities of White Tulip Dye that Empress Carmi had been ‘forced’ to purchase.
The dyes, decorated with expensive lace and silk, were each contained in dazzling crystal bottles, looking like miniature works of art.
They were a sight to behold.
Amidst the shifting political tides, the nobles lamented that the Crown Prince still suffered from that sacred ‘disability.’
“Honestly, isn’t it true? If the Crown Prince didn’t have that Divine Power Hyperaffliction, why would he have ever gotten engaged to the daughter of a vassal like Lady Sophia?”
“Exactly. He would have been engaged to a Duke’s daughter at the very least, or a Marquis’s daughter at the worst.”
“But I saw them at the debutante. It seemed the Crown Prince was paying quite a bit of attention to Lady Tulia Frezier…”
“Shh. The Second Prince’s side is also putting a lot of effort into Lady Tulia.”
“Ahem, let’s discuss this more privately later.”
Regardless, a Victory Banquet held in the Emperor’s name was bound to be designated a national holiday.
Every noble family in the Brillant Empire had to decorate the front of their mansions with purple silk to celebrate the Crown Prince’s triumph.
And wouldn’t it be better to have a unique, beautiful purple fabric that stood out from the rest?
Because of this, the White Tulip Salon became so busy there was hardly room to step inside. However, few knew that the true owner of the salon, Tulia Frezier, currently looked as if she had swallowed a bitter pill.
* * *
“Lady Tulia. Shall I call for the Grand Duke?”
At Luc’s question, Max, who was standing beside him, shook his head.
“No. It would be better to call the Marquis than the Grand Duke. Lady Tulia, shall I summon the Marquis immediately?”
I looked at these two aides with an odd expression.
“Grandfather rushed down to inspect the territory, and Dad rushed down even faster to the border, and you want me to summon them?”
“Yes.”
“Yes.”
“All because of this one tiara?”
“Yes.”
“Yes.”
“...Sigh.”
Are these the sycophants I’ve read about in history books, flattering a tyrant?
“Why don’t you just bring the whole country to ruin while you’re at it?”
“Pardon?”
“Pardon?”
“Never mind.”
I just let out a short laugh.
I knew they were only saying these things because they were genuinely worried about me.
The diamond tiara.
A white diamond the size of a thumb was set in the center, surrounded by smaller diamonds meticulously placed like constellations to form a shimmering line.
Even sitting still, it emitted a tremendous radiance—a tiara with an overwhelming presence.
This tiara, which Empress Carmi had personally gifted to me, was the start of the problem.
“So, she wants me to wear this to the Victory Banquet and dance with that Dave fellow.”
No one flinched even when I referred to the Second Prince as a ‘fellow.’ Instead, they were glaring at the tiara with eyes even more fiery than mine.
“It’s framed as a suggestion, but in reality, it’s a command. What lady could refuse a request made personally by the Empress while receiving such a gift?”
“Exactly. Good grief. If it were the Founding Festival Banquet, it might be different, since Grandfather would be there.”
But since this Victory Banquet was a ‘special’ event on the schedule, Grandfather couldn't possibly make time. My father was even more out of the question.
That meant I would have to attend as the sole representative of the Frezier family, with no adult to protect me.
Empress Carmi had timed this perfectly to pressure me into the first dance with Dave.
“She still hasn’t given up on me…”
The Empress’s faction certainly had grit and courage.
Daughter-in-law?
Should I just throw myself onto the floor of the Empress’s Palace and scream, ‘Your Majesty! Feed me! Prepare a 528-course meal!’?
Sigh.
Regardless, it wasn't good for me to keep getting linked with Dave.
Charles, who heard many stories from noblewomen while serving as the chief designer of the White Tulip Salon, also informed me that the capital’s nobles were currently all ears regarding my relationship with Dave.
Empress Carmi was likely intentionally linking Dave and me, leaking rumors bit by bit.
It was like some kind of psychological warfare.
“If one thing goes wrong, I could end up walking straight into being that Dave bastard’s fiancée.”
“What will you do? Perhaps it really is best to inform the Grand Duke…”
Luc spoke with concern, but I shook my head.
“There is a way.”
“What is it? I will assist with the planning immediately.”
Max, my father’s aide, had a glint in his eye, but I shook my head again.
This isn't something ‘proper’ people like you can handle.
After all, Marquis Aster Frezier—my father—was the father of the ‘true male lead’ in Why Did That Lady Give the Handsome Man Milk Bread?
In short, he was a man with a moral compass.
Therefore, I couldn't possibly tell them the plan I had come up with as Tulia. My image would be shattered.
Luc and Max might look at me as if I were some world-class thug.
Anyway, I stood up with a smile. Of course, my smile didn't look much like a smile, as Luc and Max flinched and avoided my gaze.
That was right.
Even without this tiara business, I was already in a very foul mood.
“More importantly, I heard someone was sent urgently from the White Tulip Salon? Send them in and you two head out.”
I had just received some new news.
News that someone had secretly made off with White Tulip seeds.
* * *
“Lady Tulia. It has been a while. Have you been in good health?”
To the people of the Grand Duchy, he was introduced as someone from the White Tulip Salon, but the person who removed his robe was none other than Ramus Jeremiah, the head of the Information Guild.
“Of course. I’m healthy enough. Healthy enough to split the person who dared steal my White Tulip seeds in half.”
“Are you going to kill them?”
“Do I look like the type of person who would kill someone just over some stolen seeds?”
“Then…”
“I’ll just make them suffer until they wish they were dead.”
“...”
As I rested my chin on my folded hands and gave a wicked grin, Ramus Jeremiah broke into a cold sweat.
“Death might actually be preferable… but I suppose your choice is more appropriate. They would be difficult to kill anyway. They are of very high status.”
“Well, it’s not like some random nobody could steal strictly managed White Tulip seeds. So, Ramus Jeremiah.”
“Yes, Lady Tulia.”
“Who is it?”
I narrowed my eyes and let out a low chuckle.
“Which brazen bastard… I mean, which esteemed individual laid their hands on my source of income?”
“...”
Ramus Jeremiah took a sip of tea as if his throat were parched, then hurriedly held out a thick set of documents.
“It is this person.”
“So it’s this piece of work.”
I scanned the documents, a corner of my mouth curling up into a smirk. Blood trickled from my finger, cut in my haste to grab the documents, but I didn't even feel the pain.
“You’re dead meat, you bastard.”