Chapter 61
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 61
I had wondered if I would be seated in a defendant’s box or a plaintiff’s stand once I entered the Grand Council Chamber.
To my surprise, I was guided to a seat closer to the spectator section.
A significant number of nobles—especially the parents of those who had been beaten to a pulp by Leon Frezier that day—sat with eyes bloodshot with rage.
‘Well, you should have raised your children better.’
I had seen it with my own eyes that day.
It would have been one thing if even one or two of them had shown a hint of hesitation. But no. They all looked like they were having the time of their lives. They viewed me as nothing more than a toy, a piece of prey.
It was obvious they felt no pangs of conscience, believing Tedric would shoulder all the responsibility. Their eyes had glistened with a base, cowardly pleasure.
I could feel the nobles sitting near me grow flustered as I, a direct descendant of the Grand Ducal House and Leon Frezier’s biological sister, took my seat.
‘The people sitting around here must be the ones who had nothing to do with that day’s commotion.’
They likely only knew that Leon Frezier, relying on his family’s power, had committed severe violence against the children of the vassals. They had probably been summoned to this meeting in a hurry with only that much information.
‘Lilius Frezier, you piece of work.’
His ability to manipulate public opinion was truly top-tier.
To anyone with eyes, it was a malicious prank. Beyond just a prank, looking at the results alone, Leon and I were the clear victims. Since Tedric Frezier was the one who started it by firing the first arrow, that bastard’s wrongdoing should be the main topic of discussion.
Yet, in this short amount of time, Lilius had already managed to cloud the eyes and ears of the nobility.
Even though he was a scoundrel who deserved to die for bleeding Tulia dry, I couldn't help but admire his skill in shaping the narrative to his advantage.
Every time I saw this, I felt conflicted.
‘Grandmother, Grandfather.’
Did you succeed in raising your children, or was it a total disaster?
“Ahem.”
“Lady Tulia. Are you feeling alright…?”
A few vassals, who were offering polite greetings according to etiquette, suddenly let out low gasps.
“My goodness, Lady Tulia.”
“Your body…”
“The bandages are wrapped so heavily…”
They couldn't finish their sentences.
I gave them a weary smile and replied with a faint, hazy look in my eyes.
“Thank you for your concern. Thanks to the Thousand-Year Snow Leaves, Wood Flu, and Golden Lily Grass my grandfather provided… we used almost every medicinal herb available to barely save my life.”
“Heavens…!”
“Goodness gracious…”
Subtle murmurs of shock erupted immediately.
‘That’s right. You all know the rough price of those herbs, don’t you?’
Even people with no interest in herbs would hear about someone digging up a ten-thousand-year-old wild ginseng and think, “That’s incredible! They hit the jackpot!” wouldn't they?
Ninety percent of the medicinal herbs Grandfather gave me were that precious. There was a reason Leon Frezier’s chief physician had his head spinning and acted like my personal lackey.
At that moment.
“H-Heavens! Lady Tulia! B-Blood is seeping through…!”
“T-The physician! Quickly!”
The chief physician, who was standing by behind me, hurriedly tended to my bandages. His hands moved with frantic urgency.
‘Everything is going according to plan.’
The dress I wore today was slightly translucent against my skin. It wasn't a provocative outfit one might wear to a late-night ball. The fabric itself was simply a high-quality silk woven from threads as thin as spiderwebs, allowing a faint glimpse of skin.
In fact, the dress itself was the epitome of modesty, buttoned all the way up to the neck. It was, quite literally, the perfect garment.
‘It’s a bit cold for this season, though.’
I had come out today determined to "advertise" the arrow wounds on my body. There was no better outfit than this to subtly reveal the bandages wrapped around me, like the reflection of the moon shimmering on water.
I intentionally bowed my head to the vassals.
“I’m glad I brought the physician along. Thank you for telling me.”
“N-No. This isn't something you should be thanking us for…”
“Gasp! Lady Tulia! There’s blood on the top of your foot as well!”
“Good heavens. How on earth…”
“It’s alright, it’s alright.”
Supported by a few vassals, I caught a glimpse of Lilius walking up toward the head table. Despite having prepared everything, his face was incredibly pale.
‘You’re only a little pale now.’
By the time this meeting is over, every drop of color will have drained from your body.
While wearing a fragile and pitiful expression, I laughed wickedly on the inside.
Look here, mister.
‘You really thought you were the only one who knew how to play the public, didn't you?’
From this moment on, I’m going to show you exactly how a real public opinion war is won.
* * *
“Everyone, please take your seats!”
At the scribe’s booming voice, the massive council chamber, which had been as noisy as a marketplace, fell silent in an instant.
There were three people seated at the highest table.
Grand Count Nigella Frezier.
Viscount Lilius Frezier.
And the Young Lord of the Marquis, Lisian Frezier.
‘Grandfather’s seat is empty.’
And strictly speaking, Lisian wasn't sitting in the Marquis’s seat, but in a seat designated for a proxy. He sat in a chair slightly lower than the one Marquis Aster Frezier would normally occupy.
‘The attendance is roughly 800 people.’
It was a grand council in every sense of the word. Between those who were at the hunting grounds and the vassals who hadn't been there but showed up anyway, the crowd was enormous.
Lisian, sitting at the head table, looked much like his usual self. He was a far cry from the man I’d seen in his chambers, chewing on Loquium alone with a sad, heavy face.
He looked as composed and beautiful as ever. Even with the expressionless mask suited for the occasion, his characteristic gentle aura shimmered faintly in the depths of his eyes.
‘He looks like a celestial being living on the moon.’
A celestial man, I suppose.
The attending nobles were also busy stealing glances at Lisian. Some were openly admiring his pure, silver beauty.
Perhaps it was because I was staring so intently at him? He looked exactly toward where I was sitting.
I gave him a bright, wide smile.
For the first time, Lisian smiled back radiantly.
* * *
“Tedric has done nothing wrong!”
Lilius’s voice thundered through the Grand Council Chamber.
In this hall, which could accommodate over a thousand people, even those in the furthest seats could hear the speaker clearly. This was thanks to a special magic tool installed in the chamber that projected voices cleanly.
You could call it the magical version of a microphone and speakers.
‘It seems it even has a function to adjust the volume appropriately.’
The capital of the Grand Ducal House was truly something else. Thanks to that, I was spared the experience of having my eardrums shattered.
Lilius continued his passionate defense of his son, Tedric Frezier.
“However, Young Lord Tedric’s arrows accurately pierced Lady Tulia and Young Lord Leon.”
The matter seemed grave enough that even a few of the Elders had attended. Their voices were tinged with a subtle anger, but Lilius didn't seem flustered in the least.
‘He must have a card up his sleeve.’
Actually, I’d seen that card the moment I walked in.
“What if it wasn't Tedric’s fault, but the fault of the bow?”
“The bow?”
“Hmm?”
At that moment, Lilius pointed toward the mages in attendance.
“The bow Tedric used that day was a magic tool he was using for the very first time!”
“That’s right. I personally went to a branch of the Mage Tower and bought it for my son just a few days before the hunting competition,” Aubrey added, dabbing at her eyes with a handkerchief from her seat at the head table.
“There is no doubt that there was a problem with the magic tool!”
“What kind of outrageous claim is that?!”
There were two mages in attendance. Since mages were quite rare to begin with, having two was considered a significant turnout. It seemed the Mage Tower was also quite flustered, given that direct descendants of the Grand Ducal House had been injured by a magic tool.
A red-haired mage jumped to his feet and shouted.
“Magic tools sold to individuals are only finalized after thousands of tests! A misfire? That is impossible!”
The mage seemed furious, as if the Mage Tower itself had been insulted.
“The Young Lord of the Viscount’s house intentionally attacked the Lady and Young Lord of the Marquis’s house! How dare you try to shift the blame for such vile malice onto the Mage Tower?”
A wave of murmurs rippled through the room.
“Silence.”
Grand Count Nigella Frezier, who occupied the highest seat, raised his hand.
“The Runemaster’s choice of words just now could tarnish the honor of the Frezier Grand Ducal House, so please be mindful.”
Indeed.
It was said that even the Head of the White Ivory Tower had practically run out barefoot to greet Grandfather when he visited. In this world, the White Ivory Tower held more influence than the Mage Tower.
In other words, the Mage Tower was too weak to attack or disparage the Grand Ducal House. If the White Ivory Tower couldn't do it, how could the weaker Mage Tower?
With a face full of indignation, the mage slumped back into his seat.
Then, Nigella Frezier spoke again.
“Tedric Frezier. Step forward.”
‘Right. It’s finally starting.’
Let’s do this.