Chapter 77
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 77
“I have convened this emergency family meeting to discuss Tedric’s punishment.”
A full house.
I sat proudly at the head of the massive mahogany table, which could seat about twenty people, and smiled.
With the exception of my grandfather, every direct descendant of the Frezier family currently capable of moving about the main castle was in attendance.
That included Grand Count Nigella Frezier and Viscountess Aubrey.
In other words, they were all sitting in seats lower than mine.
They looked incredibly displeased, matching how good I felt, but what could they do? This was the Family Law.
‘Of course, I’d have to vacate this seat if Grandfather showed up.’
Luc Kelposher had arrived earlier to deliver a message.
“The Family Head has stated he will not attend the family meeting.”
That message felt very much like something Grandfather would say.
It was a situation where I had to use the ‘Family Law’ to suppress those ranked higher than me in his absence.
And I had to do it solely through my own strength and eloquence.
‘I suppose a lion really does raise its cubs strictly.’
A lion—or a tiger—that pushes its cubs off a cliff to make them strong.
But I was Tulia Frezier.
‘It’s not like I haven’t brushed with death a few times already.’
As the official villainess of this world, known for being more vicious than any lion, I had nothing to fear.
Of course, this confidence was bolstered slightly by the presence of Lisian and Leon Frezier, who were also seated at the table.
“What do you intend to do with Tedric, Tulia?”
Grand Count Nigella Frezier was the first to speak.
His voice was more solemn and heavy than usual, but I replied without a hint of agitation.
“Tedric Frezier has committed an unpardonable sin.”
“What did my son—!”
“As has Uncle Lilius, of course.”
“...!”
Aubrey ground her teeth.
‘She has nothing to say to that.’
Lilius was not present.
‘Naturally. In a way, his crimes were even worse than Tedric’s.’
Late that night, after the previous council meeting had ended, Luc Kelposher had come to me privately to inform me of Lilius’s fate.
“Embezzlement. Double bookkeeping. Assault. Attempted murder.”
“...”
“Viscount Lilius Frezier will stand trial. This is the will of His Grace the Grand Duke, and the result of the solemn National Law.”
‘Grandfather must have agonized over it.’
But Grandfather was the King of Frezier.
It seemed he had decided to proceed according to both Family Law and National Law.
‘If he goes to trial, Lilius is pretty much finished.’
Because of that, he couldn't even attend this meeting. He was currently under confinement.
They called it confinement, but in reality, he was locked up like a prisoner awaiting trial.
I looked at Aubrey, who was glaring at me as if she wanted to kill me.
“Auntie.”
I kept the smile on my face, of course.
“I am speaking as the person who has been granted sovereignty over internal affairs, am I not?”
Tulia’s unchanging smile was likely more terrifying than beautiful.
“Sit down. According to the Family Law.”
“You...!”
“Uncle Nigella.”
I lightly cut Aubrey off and continued.
“If Aunt Aubrey continues to disrupt this meeting, I will proceed with Tedric Frezier’s punishment right here without any further notice.”
Nigella’s eyes widened slightly.
He probably hadn't expected me to be this assertive after calling the whole family together.
“Tulia Frezie—!”
“Enough! Let us hear her out first!” Nigella shouted authoritatively.
Only then did Aubrey sit back down, her breath coming in ragged gasps.
“I am sending Tedric Frezier to the border front, where my father is the Commander-in-Chief, to serve as the lowest-ranking knight.”
“Wh-what?”
“He needs to be re-educated. He almost killed his cousins for fun; his personality is clearly rotten, isn't it?”
This was something I wanted to say to the absent Lilius as well. Since he wasn't here, Aubrey would have to hear it instead.
‘They both probably want me dead anyway.’
I sneered inwardly.
“Tulia Frezier!”
It was a voice that was almost a shriek. Aubrey’s demeanor was anything but noble as she bolted upright from her seat.
“Do you—do you honestly think that makes any sense?!”
“Yes. Since I’m the one saying it.”
Aubrey trembled as she screamed.
“Absolutely not!”
“Why? Is there a reason it shouldn't be allowed?”
“Of course there is! To which border are you sending my precious son? And as what? A low-ranking knight?! Tedric is of the direct Frezier lineage! There is no reason for him to suffer in such a desolate place!”
“Why not?”
Finding it difficult to keep up the act of smiling, I simply tilted my head, my lips curled into an eerie smirk.
“This is the authority...”
“...”
“Grandfather...”
“...”
“Gave to me.”
Clink.
The Glory, the Lineage Pendant I had worn prominently around my neck, swayed.
And that wasn't all.
“Why wouldn't it be allowed?”
A glittering ring was also on my finger.
The very ring that Lilius and Aubrey had been wearing until just recently.
It was the special Ruby Ring that could only be worn by the one who held sovereignty over the Grand Ducal House's internal affairs.
It was enough to make even Aubrey, who looked ready to lung and strangle me, hesitate for a moment.
Not that I was particularly scared.
Out of the corner of my eye, I had seen Lisian and Leon Frezier tense up the moment Aubrey stood.
I was certain that even if things went south, Aubrey wouldn't be able to lay a finger on me.
All thanks to the twins guarding their seats.
“Tedric Frezier will be expelled to the border within a week.”
Aubrey’s face, along with the faces of the high-ranking maids standing behind her, began to turn deathly pale.
Since I was already playing the part of a ruthless CEO, I decided to go all the way.
I thudded both arms onto the table.
Interlocking my fingers and resting my chin on them, I gave the most obnoxious smile I could muster.
“Then, this family meeting is adjourned.”
* * *
“Hey, are you really Tulia?”
After a staggering Aubrey was eventually carried out after fainting, Leon Frezier came over to my side and started acting casual again.
“How did you think of kicking Tedric Frezier out to the place where Father is?”
“Ah. You couldn't even think of that? Are you an idiot?”
“Are you calling me an idiot right now?”
“That’s not even worth answering.”
“A-amazing, Tulia.”
Lisian smiled at me.
“To think of sending him as a lo-low-ranking knight. You’re like a student who has ma-mastered political theory, Tulia.”
I gave Lisian a bright smile in return.
“I have to be smart since I’m Lisian’s sister.”
“The discrimination here is seriously intense,” Leon Frezier muttered, but we both ignored him.
‘Anyway, that bastard Tedric’s life is over.’
Actually, Leon Frezier was a big part of why.
The border front where Marquis Aster Frezier—the father of Tulia and the twins—served as Commander-in-Chief was, naturally, teeming with the Marquis’s knights.
‘And those knights deeply respect Leon Frezier.’
Leon’s swordsmanship was second to none, after all.
In most endings of The Milk Bread, even if the title of Marquis went to the eldest, Lisian, Leon always became the Knight Commander.
He took first place in every Academy swordsmanship exam.
The son of their lord, a genius of the sword? Of course they would love and respect him.
‘And that bastard Tedric shot that very Leon Frezier with an arrow.’
It was now an established fact that Tedric had targeted us intentionally.
Would Marquis Aster’s knights leave Tedric alone once they found out?
Normally, they might have hesitated because he was a direct Frezier and a knight himself.
‘But I specifically said he was being sent as a low-ranking knight to prepare for that.’
I chuckled to myself.
The knights would never go easy on Tedric. Just thinking about it felt refreshing.
“F-father will be angry, too.”
“Of course he will,” I replied with a grin.
“He turned Leon Frezier’s shoulder into that mess. Tedric’s life is half-over.”
“...Huh?”
“Hmm?”
Lisian blinked a few times and stared at me.
“What is it, Lisian?”
I asked, but Lisian soon shook his head.
“N-nothing.”
“...?”
‘What was that about?’