Chapter 55
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 55
"Wahaha!" Boisterous laughter rang out.
"Hey, Tulia!"
Tedric shouted as he approached, leading a group of nobles his age like the leader of a pack.
"That bet we made back then—want to settle it now?"
* * *
Tedric Frezier.
He was the prodigy of the Frezier territory, always receiving the highest marks from the White Ivory Tower Pneuma.
Until Tulia took that from him.
Tedric Frezier.
He always wore the Glory, the symbol of the direct line, proudly around his neck.
Until Tulia took that from him, too.
Tedric Frezier…
He was popular among his peers in the Grand Duchy.
‘At least for now!’
Tedric had a strong premonition. A sense of unease—no, a certainty—that even this would be ruined by Tulia in short order.
If that was the case, he would be the one to humiliate her first!
"You haven't forgotten what you said, have you? That all nobles below the rank of Marquis are useless vermin!"
* * *
"That’s right. You said it back then at Lady Lora’s party."
"The Lady only tried to stop you because you were dead drunk off a single glass of sherry."
"And you got so angry at that, you started screaming at the top of your lungs in the middle of the banquet hall."
"It made us all out to be useless human beings, but well… it’s not like you were wrong."
"Exactly. After all, Lady Tulia is the daughter of a Marquis."
At those words, someone added a quiet, sarcastic jab.
"Though who knows if she actually carries the Marquis's blood."
Wow, the hostility is insane.
I broke into a cold sweat inwardly.
Hey, crazy Tulia. When did you even do that?
No, when she did it wasn't the problem.
Why did you do it?!
Tedric’s murderous laughter rang out, accompanied by the cold stares of the nobles he had brought along.
No wonder the group of peers Tedric was leading looked at Tulia with such contempt.
Being a total menace really isn't for everyone.
To think she went around provoking people like that when she didn't have a single person on her side in this Grand Duchy.
Good grief.
Tulia Frezier had nerves of steel.
No.
At this point, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say her heart was made of diamond.
To throw out such vitriol in a place where she had no allies—that took a level of mental fortitude most people didn't possess.
It seemed Tulia had earned her title as the 'Menace of the Grand Ducal House' by sowing this particular brand of infamy so thoroughly.
…Right.
I get it now.
I suppose one had to be at this level to appear as the ultimate trash in The Milk Bread.
But why do I have to take responsibility for those words now?!
* * *
Amusingly, Tulia Frezier seemed slightly flustered.
I bet she is. She was completely wasted at the time.
It was hard to get that drunk off just one glass of sherry, even for someone her age.
Back then, Tedric and his followers had played a little prank on Tulia’s drink.
They had secretly mixed in a strong liquor, and watching her gulp it down and get drunk instantly was a sight to behold.
When he mocked her for being so pathetic, that girl, Tulia Frezier, flew into a rage and screamed those insults.
Insults that looked down on every noble born below the rank of a Marquis.
He had been pissed off at the time, but in the long run, it had worked out perfectly. Because she caused a scene at a prestigious lady's banquet, Tulia had been slapped with a confinement order.
She’s a girl who should have just frozen to death in the Randelleur Warehouse back then.
Tedric smiled outwardly while grinding his teeth inwardly.
Even so, one of his hands was busy fiddling with the bow and arrows he had made sure to bring along.
He could see Tulia Frezier’s mind racing.
An excuse? An apology?
She seemed to have realized quickly that neither would work.
He had intended to toy with her even more whether she apologized or made excuses, so it was a bit of a shame.
Tedric tapped his well-maintained bow with his fingertips and raised his voice.
"Since you are a no. ble. daughter of a Marquis, surely you won't lose your composure in any situation, right?"
Of course, for high-ranking nobility, maintaining a cold-blooded calm that didn't even allow for a blink in any situation was considered an essential virtue.
"Back then, didn't you tell Grandfather that you only caused a scene because you were drunk and didn't know what you were doing?"
As Tedric said this with a laugh, the young nobles in the crowd laughed along in agreement.
Allies who watched his every move and reacted exactly as he intended.
It was a stark contrast to Tulia, who had no one behind her.
According to the procedures of the hunting competition, most of the adults had already headed deep into the forest to hunt predators.
Lisian was with them.
He was the heir who would one day become the Marquis of Frezier.
It had paid off to keep a close eye on Lisian’s movements. Thanks to that, he was able to attack Tulia now that she was left alone.
And of course, Leon Frezier is nowhere to be seen.
The servants of the main castle had secretly informed him that, unlike Lisian, Leon Frezier still harbored hostility toward Tulia.
Regardless, now was the perfect opportunity.
"Tedric Frezier."
Finally, Tulia opened her mouth.
"And?"
"What?"
"Stop dragging this out and get to the point."
The way she pretended not to be intimidated was loathsome.
What was even more irritating was that, unlike him, Tulia was dressed impeccably.
Even in her pathetic past, Tulia’s beauty alone had left many noble boys speechless.
Even now, her voice sounded like rolling pearls, and he could feel a few young lords becoming awkwardly self-conscious.
Tedric spoke immediately before the atmosphere could shift.
"The point? I told you, let's do that bet from before, right now."
"And I'm asking you what that bet is."
"I guess you don't remember?"
Tedric Frezier’s smile flashed frivolously.
"You said the nobles beneath you were like bugs, and that it wouldn't be scary at all even if those bugs tried to shoot arrows at you, didn't you?"
Crazy. Tulia. Did you really say that?!
Yes!
Actually, it sounded exactly like something Tulia would do!
But why do I have to deal with this karma again!
A large bow, finished with high-quality tanned leather, glinted dangerously under the sunlight.
He’s going to shoot me with that scary thing?
My heart sank for a moment, but then—
Wait.
Is that a real bow?
The shape is quite different from the bows I know.
What is it?
The way three arrows were loaded at once…
And the strange thing carved into the center…
Ancient language?
As my eyes widened, Tedric shook the bow and spoke.
"This is a magic tool my father gave me as a gift. It’s a weapon that fires three consecutive shots with just one pull of the string."
"…And?"
"You said you weren't scared at all, right?"
Tedric gave a cruel laugh.
* * *
Under the solemn Imperial Law of the Brillant Empire, all nobles were divided into the Five Noble Ranks.
Duke.
Marquis.
Count.
Viscount.
Baron.
The Grand Ducal House had deep ties to the Imperial Family and was the sole family with enough power to be considered an independent nation.
"Below a Marquis, there are Counts, Viscounts, and Barons. Ah, I'll leave out the single-term titles and the knights. If I included them, there would be too many young lords lined up to shoot at you."
The words Tulia had said.
That nobles below the rank of Marquis were trivial and worthless.
Of all things, Tulia had to poke at Tedric Frezier’s weakness.
The supposedly drunk Tulia had apparently screamed something like this during her fight with Tedric:
"Why? Even if things like you swing swords or shoot arrows at me, I won't be scared."
"Go ahead, try shooting. Do you think I'm like you? But if I prove it, you have to crawl at my feet like a real bug. Are you acting so insolent toward me, the daughter of a Marquis, without even having that much courage?"
"Of course, the concentration of our blue blood is different, isn't it?"
Of course, she wouldn't have said those things out of nowhere.
Tedric must have been screaming and making a scene, telling her to watch her mouth and that a Marquis's daughter would die just the same if hit by a bow or a sword.
Sigh.
Anyway.
"How many shots are you going to fire?"
When I asked that, I saw the snickering Tedric falter slightly.
I'm sorry, but this kind of situation isn't entirely unfamiliar to me.
Back when I was Han Ina, my own family was the one threatening me.
Back then, I couldn't show any sign of fear. It only made me look like an easier target.
I had to act as indifferent as possible, pretending I wasn't afraid.
Unfortunately, for a noble like Tedric…
"I should fire twenty shots. Like a proper noble?"
It didn't seem like my act worked very well.
"Then promise me."
"What?"
"If I stay right here."
I glared at Tedric, pronouncing every single word clearly.
"And don't move even a single step, then it's my turn to shoot."