Chapter 217
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 217
However, Asis soon changed his mind.
How much had Tulia feared him in the past? And how much had he regretted those actions later?
Ultimately, the problem lay in his own inability to treat his young grandchildren with gentleness.
Grand Duke Asis soon went to find Hyacinthia.
“Do you like your room? If there is anything lacking or anything you need, tell me now.”
Hyacinthia hesitated. Just as he was thinking he shouldn't press her, since she still seemed quite afraid of him—
“In that case, Grandfather…”
Hyacinthia gave a shy smile.
“I would like to visit the White Tulip Salon, the one Tulia says she owns. Together with you, Grandfather…”
* * *
“Sister!”
I looked up at Corico as she burst into my office. She was wearing Han Ina’s face.
Even though it was my own face, seeing those Western features was a visual I could never quite get used to.
“Welcome. Is Grandfather here too?”
“Yes, Tulia. Have you had lunch? I hope we aren't interrupting your work?”
“It’s fine. You’ve both come as customers, haven't you? My shop treats big spenders with the utmost respect.”
At my playful words, the tension in Grandfather’s face seemed to melt away, and he soon let out a hearty laugh.
“You truly sound like the owner of a grand salon. Very well, this Grand Duke intends to properly boost the sales of the White Tulip Salon today.”
“It is an honor. Your Grace, I shall prepare only the finest items for you.”
While exchanging jokes and laughing with Grandfather, I signaled the manager to display the new, expensive dyes and fabrics on the first floor.
‘Time to empty Grandfather’s pockets!’
It was then.
“Sister Tulia.”
Corico called out to me. In her hands, she held three dolls lined up together. In an instant, my face turned to stone.
“I want these dolls.”
Before I could even respond, Grandfather’s cold voice echoed through the office.
“Hyacinthia. Where did you learn the habit of meddling with someone else’s desk? Put them down this instant!”
Startled as if burned, Corico immediately set the dolls down. She hung her head low, her voice thick with a sense of grievance.
“I’m sorry, Grandfather. But everything in this salon looks so expensive, and I felt like these shabby dolls suited me best…”
Tears dripped onto the floor. Internally, I had a different thought.
‘Calling someone else’s dolls shabby?’
Those dolls each had different hair colors.
Gold, ash-white, and cocoa.
They were dolls I had made myself, modeled after the three male leads.
I had worked on them bit by bit whenever I had a spare moment, and having only recently finished them, they always stood guard on my desk at the salon.
Of course!
I wasn't exactly a master doll-maker, so their appearance was a bit humble, but anyone could see they were well-loved. Calling them "shabby" was an extreme insult.
‘I even commissioned master artisans from a doll workshop to make their clothes. Are they really that bad? Good grief.’
I grumbled inwardly while feigning embarrassment outwardly.
“Are those dolls really that shabby? I made them myself.”
“Ah…!”
In an instant, Corico snapped her head up in surprise.
Her clear eyes, brimming with tears, sparkled like a freshly discovered spring.
Seeing Han Ina’s face enhanced by The Milk Bread buff made me feel strange all over again; she really was beautiful.
“I’m sorry, Sister. I suppose that’s why I wanted them even more. Actually, I wanted to become close with you… I have a handkerchief I embroidered myself. Would you like to trade it for your dolls?”
Corico shyly held out an embroidered handkerchief from her bodice. Even at a glance, the needlework was incredibly sophisticated.
“You’re good at embroidery.”
“Until I came to the Frezier Grand Ducal Mansion, I could barely get enough to eat by selling my needlework…”
Her pitiful voice was enough to evoke sympathy in anyone. Grandfather seemed to be feeling a pang of guilt.
‘We can’t have our big spender feeling guilty.’
“What a lovely handkerchief. Thank you, I’ll accept it.”
I gave a beaming smile as I took the handkerchief and affectionately grasped Corico’s hand.
“But those dolls are far too humble to be given as a gift. You’ll be entering high society later; if other nobles find out I gave you hand-worn dolls as a present, they’ll try to drive a wedge between us.”
I looked at Grandfather, who was silently observing us, and asked, “Isn't that right, Grandfather?”
“Indeed. Hyacinthia, if it’s dolls you want, I shall buy them for you. Choose something else from here.”
“But I… I’m not used to such flashy things like Sister Tulia is, Grandfather…”
“You’ll have to get used to it now, Hyacinthia.”
I looked deep into her eyes as I spoke.
“A direct descendant of Frezier must never be intimidated by any treasure. The name Frezier holds a value higher than any precious object. How can you call yourself a direct line of Frezier if you lose your nerve over a mere trinket?”
“…”
“Right? Hyacinthia.”
Corico’s lips quivered, but she didn't answer.
‘If she doesn't answer, it’s her loss.’
I turned back to Grandfather. Usually, the head of a great family doesn't let even the most trivial conversation slide.
He had likely listened to our exchange with great scrutiny.
I intentionally spoke in a cheerful voice, pretending to be oblivious.
“There’s no need to go to a doll workshop, Grandfather. It just so happens that the White Tulip Salon has dolls made of jewels. They’re exhibition pieces, but since Hyacinthia wants them, I should give them to her as a gift.”
Before Corico could say anything else, I grabbed her hand and led her down to the first floor.
There were quite a few customers browsing on the first floor, and they recognized Grandfather and me instantly.
If someone approached Grandfather to pay their respects, it would never end, so I walked straight to the center and ordered a large glass case to be opened.
Inside the glass case, secured with triple silver-embossed locks, were dolls crafted from gemstones.
I stroked the head of a gemstone doll—which felt heavy even just to look at—and held it out to Corico with a smile.
“Here, Hyacinthia. This is a gift from me.”
Small gasps of admiration erupted from all around. Of course, they were followed by a string of curious whispers.
“My… who is that lady to receive the White Tulip Salon’s seasonal signature piece as a gift?”
“I’m not sure. It’s a face I’ve never seen before… Oh, come to think of it, Hyacinthia was the name of the late Grand Princess.”
“Ah! Now that you mention it, I heard the Grand Princess’s daughter had been found. Could that lady be her?”
“She’s receiving an enormous gift. That isn't even for sale; did she perhaps demand it…?”
The quiet murmurs reached me in fragments. Most of it was inaudible, but it didn't matter.
“Aren't you going to take it? My arms are getting tired.”
“Sister Tulia, something this precious is…”
I maintained my smiling face and spoke tenderly.
“I told you upstairs, didn't I? We are the direct lineage of Frezier.”
“…”
“Must I repeat myself?”
Before Corico could say a word, Grandfather’s stern voice rang out.
“Accept the gift Tulia is giving you, Hyacinthia.”
“Ah…”
Corico finally took the doll into her arms.
“Thank you, Sister Tulia.”
Perhaps because she had been on the verge of tears for a while, she didn't look particularly happy even though she was smiling.
Of course, I didn't care. I had given her an expensive gift and saved her face.
‘No matter what tricks she tries to pull in high society later, there are plenty of nobles here today who witnessed this scene.’
For me, it was a form of insurance.
Intentionally showing the nobility that I was treating Corico well.
‘Because in <The Milk Bread>, Tulia tormented Corico in all sorts of ways…’
Isolating Corico from high society wasn't even considered the worst of it.
In other words, it was a very common method of ‘Corico-bullying.’
‘Since I might be the one on the receiving end now, I have to be prepared.’
Unlike in The Milk Bread, Corico had appeared as the sole blood relative of the deceased Grand Princess.
“Shall we go have some tea then? Let’s go to the drawing room on the second floor. I’ll call for you once the tea is ready, so Hyacinthia, feel free to look around the salon some more. You said you begged to come out specifically to see the White Tulip Salon.”
Since she had told Grandfather herself that she wanted to come, it would be strange if she didn't look around.
I assigned a well-dressed manager to her side before she could refuse and asked Grandfather.
“Would you like to look around too, Grandfather?”
“I’ve seen enough. Just select some dyes that would suit me and send them over.”
“I shall choose them with the utmost care, Grandfather.”
Rubbing my hands together like a fawning courtier, I glanced back as I headed up to the second floor with Grandfather. Already, quite a few noblewomen were approaching Corico.
“Hyacinthia is quite immature, having grown up outside,” Grandfather remarked.
I shifted my gaze back to him and replied, “She can always learn the ways of the nobility.”
“That gemstone doll looked incredibly expensive even at a glance. Don't worry about the cost; this grandfather of yours will pay for it.”
“No, it’s fine. I truly intended to give it as a gift. You don't have to pay.”
Of course, as Grandfather said, that doll was an incredibly expensive item that easily exceeded 1.5 billion Gold.
It was a good thing I had held back on the diamonds when I first ordered it; otherwise, there would have been another zero at the end of the price tag.
If that had been the case, even my hands would have been shaking.
‘It hurts my heart, but I can afford that much as an investment.’
As for what I was investing in…
“Grandfather, what do you think about changing Hyacinthia’s name?”
In an instant, Grandfather’s eyes flashed with a sharp glint.