Chapter 216
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 216
“This is truly wonderful news! To think the Grand Princess’s daughter was alive all this time!”
“Weren’t we searching for her so desperately?”
“Young Lord Tedric has truly performed a great service. I heard it was he who found her.”
“But is it certain?”
“Yes. His Grace the Grand Duke and the Council of Elders have already completed the verification. They say it’s definitely her...”
“The Grand Princess was such a whimsical yet affectionate soul. To think she even named her daughter ‘Hyacinthia,’ just like herself...”
“Regardless, it is a joyous occasion now that Lady Hyacinthia has returned. His Grace will finally have some life breathed back into him.”
The mansion was in an absolute uproar, like a stirred-up beehive. Some suggested holding a festival in the territory, others insisted on making a grand announcement to the Imperial Capital’s social circle immediately, and some argued that Tedric, having performed such a feat, should be properly reinstated as a young lord of the house.
“By the way, once Lady Hyacinthia settles in, shouldn’t Lady Tulia hand over at least half of the sovereignty over internal affairs?”
“Technically, Lady Hyacinthia’s generational rank is higher, isn’t it?”
“Hmm...”
A few vassals who had been glancing upward caught sight of Leon glaring at them as if he wanted to kill them, and they quickly scattered in surprise.
“Those rats. Higher generational rank? Why on earth would Tulia give up her sovereignty over internal affairs?”
“It’s not... exactly wrong. It’s true that her generational ra-rank is higher...”
“Brother! Are you taking that Hyacinthia girl’s side right now?”
Leon’s eyes turned into slits as he snapped at Lisian. However, Lisian ignored him, looking down with an observant gaze.
“Tulia.”
“Yeah?”
“Later... if Hya...cinthia le-legitimately demands the sovereignty over internal affairs... give her a-about half. Once her stu-studies... are fi-finished, that is...”
“Once her studies are completely finished?”
“Yeah.”
Only then did Leon smirk.
“Right. She has to finish her studies to be qualified to take over internal affairs. Noble etiquette and knowledge are incredibly demanding. I guess you’ll just have to hold onto that power for another fifteen years or so, Tulia.”
His mood instantly improved, and Leon beamed at Lisian.
“As expected of my brother! I knew I could count on you!”
Leon was the only one laughing.
“...”
Lisian remained silent, continuing to observe the scene below as if deep in thought.
‘Ddong-byul.’
I, too, was observing the ‘girl who appeared so specially one day’ in my own way.
‘Read it out.’
[System: Profile]
The system window, displaying the girl who wore Han Ina’s face in a translucent pane, began to faithfully list the text.
Name: Corico
Age: Immeasurable
Feature: Wearing your mask.
Reason: To... (See More)
I noticed the profile display had changed slightly, and a sense of ‘I knew it’ washed over me.
‘So it is Corico.’
But why was she wearing Han Ina’s face?
And why was her age listed as immeasurable?
Furthermore, she didn’t appear as Lisian’s fiancée, but as a cousin?
Good grief. Really.
‘This is way too suspicious.’
I habitually poured coins into the system to check the ‘See More’ section.
This time, however, a notice appeared stating that a cooldown period was required for verification even after spending coins. I decided I could wait a day or two.
‘Corico as the villainess of all villainesses, huh...’
Just then, Hyacinthia—no, Corico—who had been shrinking under the weight of the vassals’ attention, lifted her head.
Our eyes met, and Corico quickly looked down. On her neck, a pretty, flower-shaped mark was delicately etched.
* * *
“Hyacinthia.”
Her frightened eyes quickly turned toward Grand Duke Asis.
“...”
He was swept by a wave of complex emotions.
He never imagined the bloodline Hyacinthia left behind would be alive. No, he hadn’t even known she had successfully given birth to a daughter.
“Hyacinthia. That flower pattern on your neck must be a mark your mother left intentionally.”
“Yes...”
Asis glanced at Luc Kelposher. Luc gave a slight nod.
Hyacinthia hadn’t come empty-handed.
Tedric had discovered her, and the reason he recognized her as a member of the Frezier bloodline was thanks to a very expensive leather pouch she carried.
To be precise, he had recognized the exquisite Frezier family crest embroidered on that pouch.
Inside the pouch were a ring and a piece of crumpled paper protected by numerous high-level preservation spells.
The ring was a cherished possession of the late Grand Princess Hyacinthia, and her name was written on the paper.
Grand Duke Asis observed the girl before him once more. The flower-shaped mark on her neck was none other than a simplified drawing of a hyacinth.
His daughter, Hyacinthia, had loved her name dearly, and she was equally fond of the hyacinth flowers she was named after.
When she was a bit older, she had even sought out an expert in the Imperial Capital to commission a simplified hyacinth design, which she turned into a seal and carried with her everywhere.
And the ring bearing that very seal had come out of the pouch around the girl’s neck. Since the verification was already complete, it was undoubtedly authentic.
And as if that wasn’t enough, she had even tattooed the design onto her daughter’s neck...
“Hyacinthia.”
“Yes, Grandfather...”
Grand Duke Asis was momentarily struck by a strange sensation.
Tulia was the only one who called him ‘Grandfather.’ Because everyone else addressed him as ‘Grand-grandfather’ or ‘Your Grace,’ he had long considered that specific title to be Tulia’s alone.
“Others will find it improper, so address me as ‘Grand-grandfather’ from now on.”
Technically, Hyacinthia had lived as a commoner before coming here.
If she gave the impression of being lacking in etiquette, it would only lead to unnecessary gossip.
Since her eyes looked so fearful, he had instructed her as gently as possible, but...
“But Sister Tulia calls you Grandfather...”
Unexpectedly, Hyacinthia spoke up.
“Please don’t discriminate against me just because I grew up outside... Grandfather...”
Tears began to fall from her brown eyes like pearls. While Grand Duke Asis felt conflicted, he also felt a strange surge of irritation.
He spoke in an unintentionally solemn voice.
“Do not speak of your sister so lightly. Speaking that way only gives people with idle thoughts the wrong idea.”
Hyacinthia’s face flushed with deep embarrassment.
“You must be tired from your journey, so go in and rest for today. If you need anything, tell Luc.”
“This way, Lady Hyacinthia.”
Luc led Hyacinthia out with a composed demeanor.
The office fell silent.
When the special curtain at the back was drawn, Marquis Aster, who had been watching the situation from within, stepped out.
“Father.”
“What do you think?”
“What is there to think? Didn’t the Council of Elders already verify that she is indeed Sister’s daughter?”
“Yes... She must be Hyacinthia’s daughter. It must be certain.”
“I didn’t know Sister had a daughter. I didn’t expect Tedric to be the one to find her, either. Quite a coincidence.”
Aster tilted his head as he looked at the closed door.
Regardless, the evidence was solid. Even if there had been some scheme involved, the fact remained that the girl was the daughter of his deceased sister.
“Tell the kitchen to prepare dinner with things Tulia likes.”
“The formal banquet menu is always fixed to our daughter’s favorites, so stop worrying about useless things and look after Sister’s daughter instead. Haven’t you spent half your life pining for her?”
Grand Duke Asis didn’t snap back with his usual ‘You impudent brat! Get out!’
He merely reflected on his newly appeared granddaughter with a strange look in his eyes.
It was true. Grand Duke Asis had always wished his most beloved eldest daughter, Hyacinthia, were alive.
At the very least, he had hoped her bloodline remained in the world. He had always dreamed that if he found his daughter’s child, he would cherish them more than any treasure and even pass down the title of Grand Duke to them.
But strangely...
Now that the dream had come true and he had finally met the little Hyacinthia.
‘I am not as happy as I thought I would be...’
It was a bizarre thing.