Chapter 80
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 80
While most nobles euphemistically whispered about "Divine Power Hyperaffliction," Tulia knew they secretly referred to it as "Cupid’s Disease" or "Eros Syndrome."
This was because Crown Prince Ferdinand still looked like a young boy, even though he was nearly twenty years old.
No matter how much of a divine figure the Crown Prince was—with his statue-like features, immense talent, and guaranteed power—in the eyes of the conservative nobility, he was nothing more than "defective goods" suffering from an excess of divine power.
However, because those "defective goods" were so breathtakingly beautiful, and because the Temple treated him with the reverence due to a descending celestial god, everyone maintained a facade of respect.
Regardless of his condition, he was the legitimate eldest son of the late Empress Olivia.
Ferdinand’s signature cold and chilling aura also played a part. No one, save for Emperor Alexander himself, dared to slight the Crown Prince to his face.
Never.
"Haaa."
Lilius swallowed a sigh.
"It feels like a bit of a waste to let Sophia go like this."
There was a hint of sincerity in his voice.
A proposal from the Crown Prince was, of course, a momentous affair. However, even a royal proposal found it difficult to exert coercive force when faced with the name "Frezier."
Since Sophia was around the same age as Tulia, Lilius had intended to eventually weigh her options against even wealthier tycoons or more powerful figures for her marriage.
If his influence hadn't suddenly waned this much—if this dire crisis hadn't struck—he wouldn't have accepted the Crown Prince's proposal so readily.
"You!"
Aubrey shouted, her voice sharp.
"Our son is in danger right now, so this is actually a blessing! Don't go putting useless ideas in Sophia's head!"
"Do you take me for a fool? Of course I know that. I'm just saying it's a shame to lose so much because of the timing."
"Hmph..."
Aubrey inwardly agreed, but she soon shook her head.
It didn't matter. The only thing that mattered now was her only son, Tedric. She spoke with deep conviction.
"I can't tell you how glad I am that we adopted Sophia."
Lilius nodded vigorously in agreement.
"That was your foresight."
In truth, after giving birth to Tedric, Aubrey had no intention of having more children. She believed one son was the perfect number. The more children there were, the more a father's love was divided, leading to nothing but useless conflict between siblings.
Just like Father's situation right now.
One son to inherit the position of successor was enough.
Besides, a woman risks her life to give birth.
Of course, thanks to the divine power of the priests and the exceptional doctors of the Grand Duchy, no Frezier woman had ever lost her life during childbirth. Still, the horrific pain of labor was something she only wanted to experience once.
Moreover, that child was a son who looked exactly like her—the apple of her eye!
However, there had been a decisive incident that changed Aubrey's mind.
To think that much dowry was allocated to Grand Princess Hyacinthia.
Hyacinthia Frezier, the eldest daughter of Grand Duke Asis Frezier.
It started when Aubrey accidentally saw the list of dowry items assigned to her. That was when she realized: if Grand Duke Asis Frezier allocated '1' to his sons, he set aside '10' for his daughter.
Of course, Grand Princess Hyacinthia Frezier was a woman of immense talent, whispered to be the next family head. However, the dowry amount the Grand Duke had set for her was money she would receive even if she didn't take over the family.
It was a staggering sum, enough to buy an entire Ducal House.
At that moment, Aubrey realized that Grand Duke Asis Frezier was a man who envisioned dowries for his daughters and granddaughters on a terrifying scale.
That was why they had adopted Sophia, a girl from a distant branch of the family.
"Just look at how Father—the Grand Duke—only dotes on that girl Tulia even now."
Aubrey wore a look of resentment.
She knew, of course. Even if Sophia rushed back from the Academy, she wouldn't receive as much favor from Grand Duke Asis as Tulia, who possessed the true direct lineage.
Furthermore, Sophia was just as terrified of Grand Duke Asis Frezier as Tedric was. She had barely shown her face since leaving for the Academy.
But it doesn't matter.
Because Aubrey and Lilius only wanted one thing from the start.
"Father gives a gift whenever a direct descendant of Frezier enters an engagement."
Lilius himself had received the gold mine mining rights when he got engaged to Aubrey. Compared to that, what Sophia would demand from the Grand Duke now was a very modest engagement gift.
It was a loss equivalent to losing a gold mine, and the more he calculated, the more he regretted it, but it couldn't be helped.
Is this loss unavoidable?
Lilius glanced at Aubrey. His wife looked ready to pour poison into Tulia's cup if they couldn't save Tedric.
He didn't blame her. He wanted to do the same more than anyone!
Yet, on the other hand, he found Aubrey a bit pathetic. Her eyes were so bloodshot and wild that one might think Tulia had already ordered Tedric's execution. Aubrey had always coddled Tedric, but lately, it felt like madness.
She refused to have another son even if it killed her.
Lilius wisely swallowed the words he wanted to say and prepared to head out for the first time in a long while.
He had been unable to leave his room due to the confinement order following the scheduled trial. However, after he intentionally leaked the news that Sophia had received a proposal from the Crown Prince, the guards began to walk on eggshells around him.
It meant that as long as he wasn't too obvious, he could move about discreetly.
"I'll head out first to deliver this news to Brother Nigella. I should also leak it to the elders who support me while I'm at it."
And regardless...
"Since my daughter Sophia is set to become the Crown Princess, Brother Nigella won't be able to look down on us like he used to."
Their positions could be swapped in an instant. His mood, which had been plummeting, began to soar at the thought of Nigella having to watch his step around him.
"Adopting Sophia was truly a stroke of genius."
Lilius left the room with a smile on his face for the first time in ages.
*
And finally.
The carriage carrying Sophia Frezier arrived.
"Welcome back, Lady Sophia."
Aubrey's maids, who had rushed out to meet her, bowed in greeting.
Sophia tossed her ornate hat to the maids as if throwing it away and surveyed the beautiful, grand castle.
"The Frezier Main Castle is as impressive as ever. Then again, my parents don't have this kind of taste."
Aubrey's maids could only offer awkward smiles.
"What are you doing? Let's go. I assume my room has been well-maintained?"
"Of course, my lady."
As she always had, Sophia walked with the effortless confidence of a princess of the Frezier House.
*
"So, all the 'Frezier grandchildren' are here now?"
"Yes, Lady Tulia."
There were quite a few Frezier grandchildren.
First, there was me and the twins.
Then there was Kiel Frezier, the legitimate heir of Grand Duke Nigella Frezier.
Also, Kanes Frezier, the second son Nigella had with his mistress.
And Sandra Frezier, the mistress's daughter whom Nigella had officially registered.
Tedric was... well, he was out, so he didn't count.
The biggest catch right now was the adopted daughter of Lilius and Aubrey, the one who received a proposal from Crown Prince Ferdinand...
Sophia Frezier. That was her.
"Sophia Frezier is here too?"
"Yes. Lady Sophia went straight to pay her respects to His Grace the Grand Duke."
"She's suddenly going to become the star of Grandfather's birthday banquet."
I had worked so hard to prepare this for Grandfather. I felt it was a bit of a waste.
Though Grandfather himself wasn't the type to care about such things.
"My lady. Shall we change the decorations in the hall?"
"Hmm..."
I pondered Adel's question for a moment. It was true that a major celebration had suddenly fallen upon the family. In such cases, it was customary to change the decorations of a scheduled banquet.
"No. I won't change them. Now that I think about it, why should I?"
"What if Viscountess Aubrey asks to change them?"
"Then tell her I'll let her use 'Prano Hall' and she can decorate that."
Adel chuckled.
The Prano Hall I mentioned was a small-scale hall. It was about the size of a dining room, suitable for maybe twenty people. It was incomparable in scale to this Grand Banquet Hall, which could hold hundreds.
"And don't give her the warehouse keys even if she asks."
"Yes, my lady. Understood."
If I gave her the keys, she might take all sorts of precious decorations to deck out her space. I had absolutely no intention of showing that kind of mercy.
"Oh, and Adel."
"Yes?"
I lowered my voice and asked her.
"Is 'that thing' ready?"
Adel gave a subtle smile.
"Of course it's ready, my lady."