Chapter 52
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 52
Grand Duke Nigella Frezier.
He sat in the large drawing room, sipping tea.
And across from him...
‘That bastard Tedric is here.’
Tedric Frezier was engaged in a heated conversation with Grand Duke Nigella, his face flushed with excitement.
“Brother. The children have arrived.”
The conversation came to a dead halt.
It wasn't a natural lull in the dialogue; it was an unnatural silence, as if they had both clamped their mouths shut the moment they heard the "traitors" had entered.
‘No one in this room is stupid enough to miss that blatant hostility.’
I didn’t think they were like this in the original story of The Milk Bread. At least, not on the surface.
‘But then again, the Statis Plains horse ranch business went up in smoke, didn't it? Because of me?’
I didn't know the exact figures, but Lilius and Nigella must have suffered significant losses.
‘In reality, they should be thanking me.’
If that project had gone through, it would have been a failing venture that caused hundreds of times more damage than they were currently facing.
But there was no way these people would know that. And even if they did, they didn't seem like the type to be grateful.
One look at the cold, lifeless eyes directed at me was enough to confirm that.
“It has been a long time. Lisian, Leon. And... Tulia as well.”
Grand Duke Nigella Frezier’s voice was low and heavy.
How should I put it? He was the quintessential sharp, middle-aged aristocrat.
Nigella scanned us for a moment before gesturing with his chin toward the seats opposite him.
“Sit, all three of you. You too, Lilius.”
“Yes, Brother.”
This was high society. It was a place where "lady first" was the rule, and it was taken for granted that a lady would be escorted by a gentleman.
Because of that, as the lady, I was supposed to sit down first.
Unfortunately, the person already seated was that prick, Tedric Frezier.
‘Ugh, I really don't want to sit next to him.’
Just seeing him look at me with eyes full of mockery and rage made my irritation spike.
As my footsteps slowed, dreading the prospect of sitting next to that unpleasant person, someone suddenly strode past me.
It was Lisian.
Lisian had always been a beautiful angel—no, a beautiful young lord—who escorted me with a smile. But now...
‘Did he notice I didn't want to sit next to Tedric?’
No matter how perceptive Lisian was, he couldn't possibly know everything that had happened between Tedric and me. Lisian and Leon Frezier rarely visited the Grand Duchy's main castle.
They spent most of their time at the Academy or the Marquis’s castle in the Imperial Capital.
Unless they had planted spies in the main castle, there was no reason for the twins to know. They had no rivals to keep in check, and Tulia, their only sister, wouldn't have been worth the effort to monitor back then.
Since there was no need, they wouldn't have wasted the manpower.
Above all, Lilius, who still held considerable influence over the main castle, had done his best to cover up Tedric’s flaws.
‘And I didn't exactly tell Lisian either.’
What would be the point? It felt like dumping filth onto pristine, white snow.
Furthermore, because of me, Lisian had left a dark bruise on his twin brother Leon’s cheek.
‘Well, technically, it was because Leon Frezier was being a brat.’
Regardless, I wanted to keep the unpleasant talk to a minimum with Lisian.
I wanted to talk about reading books together, how a book was too difficult, or how smart he was. I wanted to tell him today’s dessert was delicious and what I wanted to eat tomorrow.
Just ordinary things...
‘The kind of things I wanted to do with my family when I was Han Ina.’
I wanted to pass the time idly with those kinds of conversations, as if there were no schemes or power struggles here. Those peaceful moments were as precious to me as a sunny spot on a winter day.
‘Of course, I didn't hold back with Leon.’
I’d dropped hints to him about how our relatives were wary of us and so on.
‘...Hmm.’
I followed behind Lisian, feeling puzzled, when another wide stride suddenly passed me.
‘What the—?’
It happened in an instant.
Lisian sat next to Tedric. Leon Frezier sat next to Lisian.
And I ended up sitting next to Leon.
“...?”
What was he up to? Just as I was about to scowl inwardly at his intentions...
“...I see. I heard you took first and second place at the Academy again.”
“Brother is always like that. His reputation as a genius is well-known,” Leon replied.
“Lisian. What was your exact score?”
“Brother always gets a perfect score. I missed two questions.”
‘He’s taking all the questions himself?’
Grand Duke Nigella Frezier.
This man, Tulia’s eldest uncle, was distinctly different from Lilius.
Lilius was the type to act like a kind uncle, smiling brightly while being insidious behind one's back. But Nigella was a nobleman with a heavy, somber gaze and a dignified voice. He wasn't the type to bother with kindness or consideration for children.
In short, he was the difficult type to deal with.
‘But Leon Frezier is handling him quite well.’
It was obvious he was doing it for Lisian, who struggled with his stutter, but still. It wasn't a bad sight. I could feel that his habit of looking out for Lisian was ingrained in him.
Thanks to that, I was able to lean back and relax a little.
To be honest, I had been slightly nervous about Nigella Frezier’s arrival.
“...It is good to have the Academy’s top scholars as my nephews,” Nigella said, his cold eyes scanning Lisian and Leon.
Then, his gaze stopped on me.
“In contrast, you, Tulia...”
“...”
“You have achieved nothing compared to those two.”
I hesitated for a moment.
Should I snap back at him like I did with Aubrey or Lilius? But I quickly changed my mind.
‘There’s no need for that yet.’
Unlike Lilius and his wife, who had the glaring weakness of Tedric, Nigella didn't have any major weaknesses that I knew of. At least, not yet.
As I quietly lowered my head, a low voice spoke up.
“Tulia is...”
It was Lisian.
“Still... young... after all.”
I blinked slowly.
Because of his stutter, Lisian rarely spoke in front of many people unless it was absolutely necessary.
‘That means he thought it was absolutely necessary to speak up right now.’
Just because he didn't want these people to discourage me.
And one more thing.
‘...He barely stuttered.’
Lisian’s stutter improved when he spoke slowly, but it also significantly lessened when he was angry and his voice dropped. Just like now.
‘Is he angry over just that?’
That level of disregard was nothing.
Even as I thought that, I felt a strange, ticklish sensation in my chest.
Nigella spoke slowly.
“...I did not realize you three had become so close.”
Perhaps because Lisian was hailed as the greatest talent in the Academy’s history, Nigella decided to take a step back.
“That aside, Lilius?”
“Yes, Brother Nigella.”
“The servants tell me the weather the day after tomorrow will be clear with little wind—perfect for the occasion.”
Grand Duke Nigella Frezier was certainly a high-ranking noble who lived in the Imperial Capital. His ability to change the subject was incredibly smooth.
“There is a week left until Father’s birthday banquet, so I intend to gather the vassals of the territory for a hunting competition before then.”
“It’s already hunting season, I see.”
“What do you think, Lilius? Can the preparations be made?”
“Of course, Brother Nigella. It’s an annual event.”
Lilius Frezier counted on his fingers as he spoke kindly.
“The awnings, the tents, the snacks, and the seating have all been prepared. We can send out the invitations this very day.”
“Good. As expected, you are the one who should be handling internal affairs.”
As he said that, Nigella Frezier cast another glance at me.
‘He’s saying that for my benefit.’
Good grief, his gaze was freezing.
I felt a sudden sense of futility.
‘Why do all the older men in this family hate me?’
Because I stopped the Statis Plains project?
‘But that was their own fault.’
I had simply scolded them with the heart of a K-Confucian girl.
‘I was the one scammed by Lilius and forced to live in a warehouse. I was the one who lived while being bled dry of my money.’
They showed no remorse for that; instead, they looked at me like I was some foreign object. It was impressive, in a way.
It felt a bit unfair. But since I didn't have a proper adult on my side, my best bet was to just sit quietly.
‘Still, though.’
It was better than listening to this alone. Having my twin brothers—Lisian, who took my side, and Leon, who at least had a presence—here with me made it better.
...Much better than I expected.
“Tedric.”
Nigella called out to Tedric. Tedric answered as if he had been waiting.
“Yes, Uncle Nigella!”
“Hmm. You are as energetic as ever.”
“It is all thanks to your care, Uncle.”
“And well-mannered, too.”
Nigella Frezier nodded with satisfaction, his attitude the complete opposite of how he had treated me and the twins.
Tedric, who had been shooting sidelong glances at me and the twins until a moment ago, lifted his chin boastfully.