Chapter 38
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 38
“Cough, cough.”
As I let out a string of coughs, Adel quickly patted my back.
“And how does it feel, My Lady, to have the romance of running through the rain returned to you in the form of a cold?”
Naturally, I hadn't told Adel that I’d met the Crown Prince.
I had simply offered a vague excuse. Something along the lines of sneaking out alone because I wanted to catch a glimpse of the Imperial family, only to get lost.
Fortunately, Adel seemed to believe me without much suspicion.
“I suppose I’ve realized that all romance comes with a price…”
When I replied between coughs, Adel let out a small chuckle.
“You’ll have to stick to stew for the time being. A bowl of hot stew will chase that cold away in no time.”
“Mm-hmm.”
I hacked up a few more coughs, but honestly, I felt like I was walking on air.
‘90%.’
Wow.
It was a number that made me feel secure just thinking about it. To think that Grand Duke Asis Frezier’s favorability toward me was a whopping 90%!
If I could, I would have shouted it from the rooftops, but since that would get me treated like a madwoman, I had to keep it bottled up inside.
‘Plus, Luc gave me some amazing news.’
“Lady Tulia. Starting this month, your Dignity Maintenance Allowance will be doubled.”
“Doubled? Why?!”
“You received the Glory of Frezier’s Necklace, did you not? According to the Family Law, the budget allocated to you increases twofold.”
Imagine someone who used to earn two million won a month suddenly getting a raise to four million. Wouldn't you be thrilled?
Thanks to that, I spent the whole day grinning like a fool despite my cold, to the point where Adel eventually started looking genuinely worried.
“When will Grandfather be back?”
“His Grace will likely return before the banquet. It should take about a month.”
“I see.”
Right now, Grand Duke Asis Frezier was—no.
‘He’s a grandfather who cherishes me at 90%. I shouldn't be so cold when I address him.’
I changed the title I had been using in my head.
Grandfather.
Grandfather, Grandfather.
“Grandfather…”
“Yes? My Lady? Did you say something?”
“No, it’s nothing.”
I gave Adel a dismissive shake of my head and leaned back against my pillow.
Grandfather, huh?
I had always called him that outwardly just to stay on his good side, but perhaps because my mindset had shifted, the word felt warm and fuzzy. It felt like my palms were filled with soft feathers.
At any rate, Grandfather had left the main castle a few days ago.
‘It’s not like he’s the type to stay cooped up in the castle all day anyway.’
The Grand Duchy was massive, spanning nearly a third of the Empire. Consequently, a single territorial inspection took at least a month.
One might think it tedious, but they say Grandfather conducted these inspections every year unless something major happened. Perhaps that was why talents like Luc Kelposher and such exceptional knights respected and followed him as their lord.
‘He does have a surprisingly sweet side, too.’
Grandfather hadn't even returned to the main castle before heading straight out for his inspection.
When our paths diverged, I had bid him farewell.
“Thank you for taking me to the White Ivory Tower. I’ll study hard once the new Pneuma arrives, Grandfather.”
At that moment, having just heard from Luc about the ‘doubled allowance,’ my cheeks were practically splitting from how wide I was grinning.
I had offered that flattery with the utmost sincere politeness, but Grandfather had unexpectedly glared at me.
“What do you mean, study? You’re hacking up a lung! Take care of your body first!”
Thanks to that, the arrival of the new Pneuma was pushed back a bit. Since the Grand Duke’s word was law in this territory, I was currently enjoying a period of legally sanctioned rest.
“I’m so glad His Grace assigned a personal Assistant Butler to you before he left,” Adel said, bringing in a tray with several silver dishes. “Thanks to him, the chef isn't playing any tricks with your ingredients anymore.”
Adel’s words were polite, but they were a direct jab at Lilius and Aubrey, who had been subtly mistreating me until now.
After all, not too long ago, my private kitchen had been stocked with nothing but bruised apples, wilting vegetables, and low-quality meat that smelled foul.
A noble lady’s kitchen filled with such things—it had been quite pathetic, but that was no longer the case.
“The chefs can’t even squeak, probably because Luc personally handpicked the man.”
This was an undeniable fact.
And…
I had intentionally brought up Luc’s name because I was curious about Adel’s reaction.
For a split second, the expression of the ever-kind Adel darkened. But it was only for a moment. Soon, she wore her usual warm smile.
“It’s wonderful that the Chief Advisor is paying so much attention to you, My Lady. Thanks to the Assistant Butler, we have no shortage of medicinal herbs or ingredients.”
Since Aubrey had been stripped of her sovereignty over internal affairs, the Frezier main castle had been in a bit of a state of disarray. With the noblewoman who held final approval gone, the butler and the servants must have been quite flustered.
‘Besides, most of them are Lilius’s people…’
Grandfather likely knew this, which was why he had Luc Kelposher assign an influential Assistant Butler to me.
‘I suppose even Grandfather can’t cast his own son aside immediately.’
Half of the management rights of the Grand Ducal household.
And half of that half consisted of the authority to purchase and manage food, daily necessities, and luxury goods for the family members.
‘The authority that the mistress of a house usually cares about the most.’
That was the power Aubrey had held all this time. And she had been stripped of it.
However, Lilius still held the other half of the internal management rights. The authority he held involved the repair of the castle walls, the management of the family’s horse ranch, the salaries of the vassals…
Technically speaking, it was more of the ‘external authority.’
Still, in this state, Lilius’s standing would inevitably shrink. If he reflected on his actions and stayed quiet, he might be able to keep his current level of power and wealth.
If he reflected and if he stayed quiet.
But…
‘Is Lilius that kind of person?’
When I played The Milk Bread as Corico, everyone in the Frezier family was easy. Even those who were cold to Corico at first would melt and take her side after choosing the right dialogue options a few times.
But maybe because I was Tulia, everyone seemed intent on melting me down in lava no matter what I did. Reflecting on everything that had happened so far, I didn't think Lilius would stay quiet.
‘Whatever he does, I just hope he waits until my cold is gone.’
I wished I had the infinite, monstrous stamina of the male leads in The Milk Bread. Unfortunately, while Tulia had the crazy eyes and the personality, her body was that of an ordinary lady, and her stamina wasn't particularly great.
‘It’s probably even weaker because of the years spent shivering in that damn Randelleur Warehouse.’
Well, Tedric was the one shivering there now, so whatever.
“My Lady, would you like to eat in bed?”
“Yes.”
Adel brought the tray before me with a smile. As she lifted the silver lid, steam wafted up immediately. The delicious scent of cream made my stomach growl.
Adel watched with a smile as I took a large spoonful of stew.
“How does it taste?”
“It’s delicious.”
“I’m glad you haven't lost your appetite.”
Adel said as she set the lid aside.
“Just the other day, the kitchen tried to give us stew filled with nothing but chicken leg meat. This time, perhaps because I went with the Assistant Butler, they made proper chicken breast stew right away.”
“I actually like the leg meat better.”
Adel laughed as I spoke while chewing on the meat and broth.
“You’re only saying that because I’m from the Borderlands, aren't you?”
“I mean it. I like the legs and wings better than the breast.”
“Really? A noble wouldn't say such a thing…”
Adel looked slightly bewildered.
It made sense. The nobles here—or more accurately, the nobles in The Milk Bread—did not eat chicken legs or wings. They considered the breast to be the finest cut.
Even commoners held this prejudice. It was a setting in The Milk Bread that legs and wings were only eaten by the lower class from the Borderlands.
‘Well, according to the game’s progression, that’ll change later because of a certain member of the Imperial family.’
But that wasn't happening yet.
After finishing every last drop of the stew, I took my medicine and lay down.
I found myself thinking that the ceiling above the bed was remarkably ornate. As I scanned the luxurious decorations, a memory suddenly surfaced.