Chapter 25
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 25
While the others fell silent, overwhelmed by the Grand Duke’s heavy voice, I held my tongue for a different reason.
The fact that he didn't suspect me immediately but demanded evidence first made him feel, just for a moment, like a real grandfather to me.
The strange sensation made me hesitate.
“Of course there is evidence, Father.”
Aubrey, who was still clutching Tedric’s hand tightly, looked at me with pitying eyes.
“As you know, Father, I’m the one who has to look after Tulia’s clothing and daily necessities. But… Tulia’s maid came to me, sounding quite distressed, and told me something.”
“And what was that?”
“She said that hidden deep inside the wardrobe in Tulia’s bedroom are Tedric’s exam papers.”
“Are they in your hands now?”
“Goodness, no, Father!”
Aubrey immediately recoiled with a fragile expression.
“How could I possibly rummage through Tulia’s room as I please? I scolded the maid after hearing it, but when I checked Tedric’s room, the exam papers were indeed gone.”
Aubrey let go of Tedric’s hand and pulled out a handkerchief to dab at the corners of her eyes.
“It’s all our fault. Tulia is our niece, so we should have looked after her as if she were our own daughter. We failed to properly supervise the servants, who neglected her out of spite… It’s only natural that Tulia would commit such a wicked deed just to get some attention.”
Aubrey’s sorrowful, sobbing voice was cut short by a single word from Grand Duke Asis Frezier.
“Tedric Frezier.”
“Yes…! Grandfather…!”
Perhaps because the word wasn't yet familiar to him, the title "Grandfather" tumbled clumsily out of Tedric’s mouth.
Of course, no one in the room was in a position to care about that.
“Was it not you who placed the exam papers in Tulia Frezier’s room?”
My eyes widened at his words.
I probably wasn't the only one. No one expected Grand Duke Asis Frezier to take my side so blatantly over the Lilius family.
‘It was different in the game….’
In The Milk Bread, Lilius was portrayed as the diligent and kind youngest son, the one who held the Grand Duke’s utmost trust. The reason he had been granted half of the Grand Ducal House’s internal management—this precious power that controlled the purse strings of a territory spanning a third of the Empire—was based on the Grand Duke’s affection for his youngest son.
“I—I couldn't even go outside because I was under confinement! Grandfather! You can even ask the soldiers!”
‘He probably made Lilda do it. Aubrey and Lilius are on the same side, after all. It’s a joint effort by that family.’
“Father.”
At that moment, Lilius, who had been watching the situation unfold, intervened.
“Instead of doing this, why don't you just go and check for yourself?”
After a brief silence, Grand Duke Asis Frezier spoke.
“…Luc Kelposher.”
“Yes, Your Grace.”
“Go and check for yourself—”
As was his habit, Grand Duke Asis Frezier stopped mid-sentence while speaking in his commanding tone.
Then, he suddenly called out to me.
“Tulia Frezier.”
“Yes?”
“May Luc Kelposher and his direct aides search your room?”
“…….”
His voice wasn't kind at all. Grand Duke Asis Frezier was never a man of kind words or a gentle personality.
And yet, the fact that he asked for my thoughts first, that he seemed to care about my feelings…
The fact that this person, of all people, was Tulia’s family.
It felt like something was caught in my throat. Fearing that I might burst into tears if I choked up, I quickly bowed my head.
“Of course. I want to prove my innocence as well, Grandfather.”
“…Very well.”
“However, please grant me one request.”
“Speak.”
Sentiment is sentiment.
But I hadn't forgotten my vow to pay that bastard Tedric back twofold.
I continued, putting on the most sorrowful expression I could muster.
“Because of Tedric’s false accusation, the people gathered here in this hall doubt me so much.”
“…….”
“For the sake of the most impartial result, I would like any vassals who wish to do so to go and see for themselves.”
The eyes of several vassals widened at the suggestion that they should go and see for themselves if they wanted to.
You didn't expect me to go this far, did you?
“That way, no false rumors will spread—like how Grandfather was simply being lenient and forgiving of my immature behavior.”
* * *
‘That brat Tulia must have found out about the plan beforehand. She definitely got rid of the hidden exam papers already.’
Lilius was quick-witted.
From the moment Tulia responded with such excessive composure—even suggesting that the vassals search her room themselves—he realized that this plan had gone south.
“I knew it. Look, honey. Our son is so smart.”
He had felt a sense of foreboding from the moment Aubrey excitedly told him the plan, but since she said the exam papers had already been planted in Tulia’s room, he figured they had to push through.
‘I knew this would happen.’
He immediately began looking for a way to withdraw.
Fortunately, Aubrey was the one who claimed to have received the tip-off. It would be best to frame it as Aubrey being deceived and passing on the wrong information to him.
‘Lilda or Lalla or whatever her name is. They said she was a useful maid, but she’s completely worthless!’
Lilius wanted to glare at Aubrey, but half of the vassals were still in the hall.
Furthermore, his father, Grand Duke Asis Frezier, sat in the center like a lion dominating the room.
It was vital that he didn't let his true expression show.
‘Or perhaps that maid has already been bribed by Tulia? That girl herself is useless, but her father must be sweeping up all sorts of treasures at the border.’
Marquis Aster Frezier, who guarded the border against countless barbarians every day, discovered ancient relics several times a year and sent them to the Imperial Family.
Thanks to that, his reputation was sky-high, not just in the Imperial Capital, but throughout the entire Empire.
No matter how hard Lilius tried, he could barely reach the soles of his brother's boots.
Naturally, his resentment toward his brilliant eldest brother was partially directed at Tulia.
That was why he had tried so hard to raise Tulia to be a fool.
Lilius wasn't stupid enough to openly abuse the child of a sibling he envied and hated.
It is candy, not the rod, that ruins a child.
Of course, if one were determined to act like a mad dog, one could kill a child with the rod, but this was the great Grand Ducal House. There were too many eyes watching and too many mouths talking for such violent measures.
If Tulia developed a fatal health problem, he wouldn't be able to escape suspicion, so he used a method that was soft yet sharp.
He simply raised Tulia to be stupid, extravagant, and dependent on them.
And yet, what on earth was this situation…?
It was then.
“Ah! The Chief Designer is returning.”
“Gasp, he really has them in his hand…”
The sound of murmuring filled the room.
“Aren't those the exam papers?”
At someone’s small voice, Lilius’s head snapped up.
A bundle of papers was held in Luc Kelposher’s hand. There was no doubt.
They were Tedric’s exam papers!
A surge of immense joy washed over Lilius.
Because he had strictly warned Aubrey and Tedric before coming here, the two of them were also maintaining near-perfect control over their expressions.
They wore looks of great shock and somber eyes, but as family, they could sense each other’s hearts. The joy and the smiles of victory filling their insides!
“Your Grace.”
Luc Kelposher walked over with the solemn expression he always wore when performing a duty and held out the bundle of papers.
Being solemn meant he was maintaining his gravity; in other words, Luc Kelposher’s expression looked somewhat mournful.
‘Now that I think about it, he seemed to be looking out for Tulia last time. It’s only natural he’d be mournful.’
Unaware of Lilius’s gleeful thoughts, Luc Kelposher continued.
“We found these deep inside Lady Tulia’s wardrobe.”
Grand Duke Asis Frezier took the bundle of papers with an unreadable expression.
Lilius knew. Tulia had managed to find some favor with the Grand Duke.
So, while there might not be a thunderous scolding, the necklace ceremony would be canceled, and she would be placed under confinement.
The confinement probably wouldn't be lifted until it was time for her debutante ball.
Of course, even then, Marquis Aster Frezier would remain ignorant of Tulia’s news, as he always was.
As Lilius hid his smile while indulging in these pleasant thoughts…
He noticed something strange.
“Would you like to borrow a handkerchief?”
“Ah. Thank you.”
“To think, at such a young age… I had no idea the young lady was so pitiable…”
Several of the vassals were dabbing at their eyes.
What they had in common was that they were the ones who had followed Luc Kelposher to Tulia’s room with her permission.
Furthermore, the glances they cast at Tulia were filled with deep sympathy.
‘What is this?’
A chilling sense of foreboding washed over Lilius. A beat later, Aubrey and Tedric also seemed to realize that the atmosphere was unusual.
The intuition that something had gone wrong.
No, at the very moment he felt a strong sense that he had fallen into a trap.
“Lilius Frezier.”
Distracted by the vassals’ reactions, Lilius flinched involuntarily. Grand Duke Asis Frezier’s dark green eyes held a strangely sad and dangerous light.
“Come and read this yourself. So that everyone may hear.”