Chapter 71
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 71
“My Lady. Please, never do that again.”
I expected Adel to be on the verge of tears.
“I was ready to hand in my medical license, My Lady. Ughhh-huhu.”
I didn’t exactly expect the chief physician to be wailing, but he seemed like a sensitive middle-aged man, so I let it slide.
“You are truly a wicked person, My Lady.”
However, I never imagined even the assistant butler would be sniffing back tears.
What is this?
Usually, assistant brawlers—I mean, assistant butlers—are supposed to be thorough, possess nerves of steel, and support their masters with an iron-clad mentality, right?
Isn't that the image?
He’s usually like that, so why is he sniffing now?
Regardless, I did my best to soothe them.
“I survived, didn’t I?”
“But you were injured!”
“A person’s life isn’t just about whether their heart is still beating!”
“You almost lost the ability to walk!”
I was actually a bit intimidated because they were the ones getting angry at me.
Good heavens, what kind of master feels intimidated by her employees?
“I almost couldn't walk?”
Of course, that part was a bit scary.
“Yes! So please, My Lady, take better care of yourself,” Adel said, clutching my hand tightly. I nodded, feeling a bit sheepish.
“Thank you for treating me so well. It doesn’t hurt that much, thanks to you.”
“I was sweating bullets, Lady Tulia. I’m not joking.”
My chief physician was certainly skilled.
“Now I understand why His Grace the Grand Duke practically emptied his medicine cabinet for you. He must have recognized his granddaughter’s reckless personality in advance.”
“I agree.”
Whether the physician and the assistant butler were teaming up to diss me or not, it didn't really register.
My thigh, which had been pierced through, was healing beautifully thanks to their divine skills.
And above all...
Everything went perfectly.
Very perfectly, indeed.
“What about my younger uncle?”
“All access to his quarters has been completely cut off.”
“Is that so?”
Well, I suppose he’s busy blocking the servants' movements and frantically starting to hide his assets?
I wasn't sure about the details.
I just thought that Grandfather needed to get here quickly.
Though Lisian went to fetch him.
That’s right.
Just before I put on the show of being shot by Lilius’s arrow in front of everyone, I had made a request to Lisian in advance.
If.
If I were to be hit by Lilius’s arrow.
Could he move me and then immediately go fetch Grandfather?
Without being noticed by others, and while everyone was distracted.
As quickly and promptly as possible.
I told him I’d give him all the money I had if he did me that favor...
I was currently a temporary millionaire thanks to the money I’d squeezed out of Leon Frezier.
Perhaps that was why the ‘Wealth Stat’ in my status window hadn't changed.
Either the amount wasn't enough to increase the stat by another point, or there was a more concrete set of criteria.
I wasn't sure which it was, but it didn't quite click yet.
More important than that, however...
Was Lisian’s attitude.
“...Money?”
“Yeah, yeah.”
Lisian hadn't reacted to those words at all.
He had just stared at me blankly before suddenly breaking into a faint smile.
“Tulia.”
It was a smile that carried a hint of subtle pain.
“Where in the world... is there a brother... who takes... m-money... for a f-favor... from his sister?”
I chewed over those words.
I had no choice but to dwell on them, even if I didn't want to.
I hoped Lisian would return soon, and I hoped Grandfather would return soon as well.
But...
The territorial inspection takes time, so he probably won't be able to come back immediately, right?
Still, I expected him to send a key aide like Luc Kelposher first to detain Lilius, Aubrey, and Tedric and begin a rigorous investigation.
Or maybe not. Maybe detention is a bit much.
I wasn't entirely sure.
I gazed out the window while sipping the warm tea Adel had personally brewed.
In any case, nothing would truly be settled until Grandfather—the powerhouse of this Grand Duchy and my greatest ally—returned.
I gripped the teacup and muttered to myself.
“I wish Grandfather would come back soon.”
“Ahem. Is that so?”
“Huh?”
A familiar voice.
Startled, I snapped my head up.
“Grandfather?!”
Grand Duke Asis, who was supposed to take at least a week to return.
Walking in with his hands behind his back, his face was more solemn and serious than ever.
But my feelings were different.
The thought that my ultimate backing had finally returned made a bright smile burst across my face involuntarily.
“Grandfather! You’re back!”
In that moment.
Strangely—or rather, very rarely—a satisfied smile spread across Grandfather’s face as he gazed at me.
“Yes. I have returned, Tulia.”
* * *
Meanwhile, at Lilius Frezier’s quarters.
He was pacing the room with anxious steps. His lips, which he had bitten several times already, were raw and swollen.
“My Lord!”
Lilius’s aide rushed in and spoke.
“For now, we have moved about twenty percent of your major assets into alias accounts.”
Twenty percent.
At first glance, it seemed like a sluggish pace, but Lilius didn't blame him.
It was because the amount of wealth he had skimmed off in secret was truly astronomical.
Until now, no one had dared to touch his share. No, they hadn't even dared to dream of it.
But now, he was on the verge of being brought before the vassals' tribunal.
At a time like this, the most important thing was to move his hidden wealth deeper into the shadows as quickly as possible.
“We must process as much as possible before Father returns. Go back and help with the rest immediately!”
“Yes, My Lord!”
It had already been three days since the hunting competition.
Three days had passed, but Lilius had spent another night wide awake.
The same went for Tedric and Aubrey.
They instinctively felt that they were about to lose a great deal of what they possessed and enjoyed.
Thus, Aubrey was also frantically hiding the family jewels, and Tedric was doing something similar.
They weren't grand counts or marquises; they were merely viscounts.
Even with the name Frezier, once Marquis Aster Frezier ascended to the position of Grand Duke, they would be demoted to a ‘collateral branch.’
Because it was a minor position to begin with, they had craved to climb higher!
Tulia Frezier. That wretched girl.
Lilius ground his teeth.
“Why on earth did you go so far as to call Tulia’s biological mother a practitioner of sinister tricks! There were many Elders of Frezier present; since you insulted her so publicly, no one will be able to take your side!”
“Brother!”
“Enough! Do as you please!”
“Brother Nigella!”
“Those old fogeys are stiff-necked as it is, and they hate nothing more than talk that tarnishes the honor of Frezier! To think you would blather such things publicly! Tsk!”
His older brother, Count Nigella Frezier, had even gone so far as to harshly criticize Lilius and distance himself.
He was always so busy using me whenever he needed something!
He wouldn't let himself be destroyed like this.
They were still tied together by a collective debt resulting from the failure of the Statis Plains horse ranch business.
He had no choice but to hide as much capital as possible and wait for his chance.
It was then.
“My Lord!”
Lilius snapped back to his senses at his aide’s call.
“Yes. Where did you say that brat Lisian is?”
Even in this situation, Lilius intended to negotiate with Lisian.
However, Lisian was nowhere to be found, so he had sent people out to search for him.
The answer that came back was unexpected.
“What? He left the castle the day Tulia was moved to the cabana and hasn't returned?”
“Yes, that is correct, My Lord.”
“Those rat-like bastards...!”
He had been so distracted that he hadn't noticed at all.
Lisian leaving could only mean one thing: he had gone to tattle about everything to Grand Duke Asis.
“And to think they used to ignore each other like strangers!”
Even Leon Frezier, who had been busy growling at her, had personally picked up and carried Tulia the moment she collapsed.
They were, after all, the children of a Marquis.
No matter how much Tulia had been mistreated and despised, she was ultimately a lady of higher status than Tedric.
And certainly higher than Count Nigella Frezier’s children.
“Fine, good. Let it be.”
Did they think only he and his family would sink?
He might as well take everyone down with him this time.