Chapter 175
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 175
Time passed quickly.
“Wow. The triumphal ceremony is already here.”
Since I had gone to bed early the night before, I was able to wake up much earlier than usual.
As I approached the window and pulled back the curtains, the sky, tinged with the light of dawn, immediately caught my eye.
My room had a large terrace attached to it, so I could have gone out right there to breathe in the fresh morning air, but today was different.
I wrapped the thick shawl hanging by my bedside tightly around my shoulders and stepped out of the bedroom.
The servants, who had been moving about quietly but busily, hurried to bow their heads to me.
I returned their greetings with a light nod and walked leisurely past them.
“Oh. Lady Tulia?”
“You’re working hard.”
“Not at all, My Lady!”
The servants stationed at the grand entrance recognized me and quickly stood up to open the doors.
In an instant, a fresh breeze carrying the scent of flowers wafted in.
It was the clear greenery unique to early summer.
Filling my lungs with the freshness of dawn, I walked a bit further out.
Only after putting some distance between myself and the mansion did I turn around to look back.
The grand mansion of the House of Grand Duke Frezier, the largest structure in the Imperial Capital after the Imperial Palace, was so vast that I had to stand this far back just to fit half of the building into my field of vision.
Unlike its usual appearance, the mansion was decorated entirely in purple.
I’ve been so busy lately. Just sourcing all that purple cloth was a task.
According to Imperial Law, for a triumphal ceremony held in the Emperor's name to celebrate military merit, every citizen of the Empire was required to display purple cloth.
Commoners according to their means.
Nobles according to their rank.
As the rank increased, the number and size of the purple cloths to be displayed skyrocketed. And for the one and only Grand Ducal House?
They had to spend hundreds of millions just to purchase that purple fabric.
It’s only this much because we have the White Tulip Dye.
Adel had told me that normally, it would have cost billions.
She mentioned that deep purple was a color that difficult to obtain.
Thanks to that, the second branch of the White Tulip Salon is thriving. Should I try opening the third branch in the wealthy commoner district?
While I was thinking about discussing this with Ramus Jeremiah, I saw a familiar figure in the distance.
“Adel!”
“My Lady. It’s dawn; aren’t you cold coming out like this?”
“It’s summer now. It’s refreshing.”
Adel was the one who hung a thick shawl by my bed every single day. She spoke with a soft smile.
“Shall we head back inside then? You need to prepare for your entry into the palace.”
“Right, right.”
As I walked back to the mansion, chatting with Adel about things like how great it was to rake in money and how I wished the Crown Prince would have a triumphal ceremony every day, I ran into an unexpected guest at the entrance.
A beautiful, glamorous, and sophisticated noblewoman quickly offered her greetings.
“Lady Tulia Frezier, it is an honor. I am Designer Charlong.”
“Oh. You’ve arrived early. It’s a pleasure to see you, Madame Charlong.”
Behind her followed a line of assistants and maids who appeared to belong to the Imperial Family.
The assistants’ hands were full of the heavy trunks that designers usually carried.
“I arrived early as I must assist Lady Sophia Frezier with her preparations. You have also risen early, My Lady.”
“The dawn air was so pleasant that I went for a short walk. Adel?”
I gestured with a smile.
“Please guide Madame Charlong to Sophia’s quarters.”
“Yes, Lady Tulia.”
Having received the order, Adel didn’t go herself. Instead, she signaled a few maids to lead Madame Charlong.
“Thank you, Lady Tulia.”
Madame Charlong gave a bright smile and followed the maids.
Sophia had moved her residence from the annex to the main building a few days ago.
Well, that’s because the Annulment Decree hasn’t been issued yet.
She was still technically the Crown Princess Candidate.
So, in accordance with etiquette, I had moved Sophia to a better room.
“It seems Madame Aubrey wants to move to the main building with you. What do you want to do?”
As if the rumors that she fought with Aubrey every single day were true, a haggard Sophia let out a sharp, cold laugh.
“I have to follow etiquette. My mother is someone who committed a crime and was kicked out by the order of the Family Head, so how could she possibly enter the main building?”
In short, she was telling me to keep her locked up in the annex.
I shrugged and did as she asked.
Regardless, Sophia was the prospective Crown Princess.
That was why Madame Charlong, one of the Royal Designers, had been visiting the mansion for several days, bringing dresses personally.
Aubrey hadn’t given up and tried to enter the main building several times, only to be blocked each time. Eventually, I had soldiers stationed to guard the annex.
By the way.
I wonder if Sophia still has her lovers?
* * *
“The Blue Diamond Necklace is so extravagant that the dress needs to be just as grand.”
“Instead of a dress heavily decorated with jewels, I think a dress with elaborate embroidery itself would balance it out well, don't you?”
“Looking at the color of your eyes, My Lady, wouldn't this be the best choice after all?”
From the moment Klaus sent the Blue Diamond Necklace, Adel and the other maids had been busy re-selecting my dress.
That deliberation continued until this morning, but in the end, the dress I had chosen on the first day was the one picked.
The seamstresses had a bit of a hard time altering it to match the necklace, though.
Klaus had grumbled that it had nothing to do with him, but...
This is the only dress that can handle such a magnificent necklace.
A massive Blue Diamond Necklace that protected my neck.
A dress with shimmering golden embroidery.
Pink hair styled in cascading curls.
Adel spoke in a voice that carried a faint hint of emotion.
“Seeing you like this, I realize once again how much you’ve grown, My Lady. After your coming-of-age ceremony, every man in the Empire will have eyes only for you.”
I don’t think that’ll be the case, Adel.
Not with my personality being what it is.
“Do you like it, My Lady?”
At Adel’s warm voice, I looked into the mirror and then slightly shifted my gaze to call up the status window.
• Beauty: 9 (Pending +1)
I had no idea when that stat had gone up.
“I like it.”
Regardless, Tulia was devastatingly beautiful.
* * *
The triumphal ceremony.
Numerous knights of the Imperial Family raised their ceremonial swords in a cross, showcasing the dignity of the Brillant Empire, while countless young ladies scattered flower petals along the streets.
The purple cloths hung from every house looked so lush that it felt as if one had stepped into a massive vineyard.
The highlight, of course, was the Imperial Palace.
Countless nobles, royalty from other nations, guests, and even several renowned merchants had already been invited, making it several times more crowded and noisier than a typical banquet.
Furthermore, the hall where today’s banquet was being held was not the Grand Banquet Hall where events were usually held, but a special hall named the ‘Golden Hall.’
It was a place opened only for the most significant celebrations of the Brillant Empire, holding such deep meaning that its doors were usually only opened for the Emperor’s coronation.
Consequently, there were quite a few nobles entering this place for the first time.
The hall, decorated day and night by the palace attendants and maids, was slick, clean, and beautiful. The attending nobles had also done their absolute best to dress exquisitely, so no matter where one looked, it was a feast for the eyes, as if one had arrived in heaven.
Among them, the one who drew the most attention was, naturally...
“Goodness, look at Lady Tulia.”
“As expected of the owner of the White Tulip Salon, she’s on another level. I wonder if the fabric used for that dress will be released as a product?”
“The question is whether we’ll even be able to buy it immediately.”
Every noble in the Brillant Empire looked forward to seeing what color dress she would showcase today.
And Tulia Frezier did not disappoint their expectations.
The dress was appropriately grand for the occasion, with several layers of tulle added to the hem of the skirt.
The beige tulle was subtly tinged with gold at the edges, and the nobles keenly noticed that this was also a new product to be introduced by the White Tulip Salon.
Gold was a color coveted by all nobles. However, it was also a color they couldn't use freely due to Imperial Law.
If they draped such subtly tinged tulle over their dresses, they could satisfy their desire for gold to some extent without drawing the ire of the Imperial Family.
Tulia knew that countless eyes were scanning her, but she stood with her usual composure.
After all, if one dressed up a bit flamboyantly, it was only natural to become the center of attention.
Besides, she had come today with a bit more resolve than usual.
“What is... that? Is it glass?”
“A glass necklace...? What noble would wear such a thing?”
Glass was, of course, on the expensive side.
However, it was used for windows or greenhouses; no noble made jewelry out of it.
Furthermore, what noble would wear such a massive glass necklace around their neck, a vital spot?
If it were to break, it would mean instant death.
And it wasn't as if she were a low-ranking noble lacking funds; she was the granddaughter of the House of Grand Duke Frezier, positioned at the very pinnacle of the Brillant Empire’s social ladder!
People’s eyes were soon captivated not by the dress, but by the massive blue gemstone encircling Tulia’s neck.
To call it a sapphire, the cutting method was extraordinary.
Which meant, surely...
“It’s a diamond...!”
“A blue diamond? One that large?”
Even a white diamond of that size was impossible to find.
Let alone a blue diamond that beautiful—it was a treasure among treasures that existed only in the fantasies of nobles and great merchants.
“Did His Grace the Grand Duke give it to her?”
“Marquis Aster Frezier is also a possibility.”
“Goodness, did they perhaps acquire a new mine?”
“No, it’s not even her birthday, so why is she wearing something so eye-catching herself?”
“Exactly. Technically, shouldn't Lady Sophia Frezier be the one wearing it?”
“If it’s a treasure from the Frezier vault, then yes.”
The room was instantly silenced by the words of a sharp-witted noble.
“Then it must be a personal gift after all?”
“I wonder which young lord offered such a magnificent thing?”
“Could it be royalty from another kingdom...?”
A few noblewomen with good intuition immediately whispered, sensing that the incredible jewel was a gift born of ‘affection.’
Everyone knew that because the Grand Duke doted on Lady Tulia Frezier so much, her marriage would likely be delayed.
And yet, there were already families making their moves.
The mouths and ears of the nobles moved busily.
* * *
Ugh.
Everyone is just looking at my neck protector.
I had hoped they would pay more attention to the dress, but I suppose it couldn't be helped.
Even I would have my jaw drop and be unable to look away if I saw such a massive diamond necklace.
In a way, I’m glad this necklace is mine.
Because I am, in fact, a bottomless pit of greed.
If I saw someone else wearing a necklace like this, I might have been drooling with envy. No, I definitely would have.
A pretty dress (which will bring in money).
A necklace envied by others (which is incredibly expensive).
The shoes Lisian sent all the way from the Academy (which he said wouldn't hurt much even if stepped on).
Everything was perfect.
It would have been truly perfect if it weren't for the guy standing next to me.
“Ahem. Lady Tulia Frezier.”
“Yes, Your Highness the Second Prince.”
I replied meekly, expressing a rotten heart and a smiling face at the same time.