Chapter 93
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 93
Lilius felt as though even this assistant was starting to look down on him.
Gers Territory was located in the high mountains. It was a castle built of stone walls, perched atop a peak so high it was a struggle even for a freight carriage to reach!
“Are you mocking me?! This is a mountain! A mountain! There are trees everywhere, so just go out and chop some firewood!”
“T-that’s the problem, my lord. The ‘Kinggrium Wood’ that grows around here produces smoke so spicy and thick it’s hard to breathe. Even the locals never use it for firewood. Besides, it’s so incredibly hard that it barely catches fire anyway…”
“King of what?! It’s a tree; of course it smells when it burns! Have you never heard of smoking food? And if that wood doesn’t burn well, then find another kind and chop that!”
“M-master. Nothing but Kinggrium Wood grows in this vicinity…”
“Shut up!”
Lilius’s eyes blazed as he screamed.
“If you don’t bring me firewood this instant, I’ll use you as kindling!”
Startled, the assistant scrambled out of the room.
A short while later.
“Dammit!”
It was exactly as the assistant had said.
No matter how much he tried to light the wood, it wouldn’t catch. True to its reputation, Kinggrium Wood was so dense that a normal flame did nothing but leave a few scorch marks.
That wasn't all. A horrific, sour, and spicy stench filled the air, making his eyes and nose stream uncontrollably.
Finally, with eyes bloodshot from the pungent fumes, Lilius let out a piercing shriek.
“Tulia Frezier! Argh!”
Because the castle was situated at such a high altitude, supplies only arrived once every two months. They couldn't even bring much of anything heavy, like firewood. Even if he wanted to pay extra to have it delivered, this was effectively a place where direct descendants of the family were exiled as punishment for their crimes.
Since he held the status of a criminal, it was difficult to purchase additional supplies at will!
‘And on top of that, I have no money!’
Goddammit!
The money in his alias account had been discovered by Luc Kelposher, and the funds he had hidden elsewhere had all been seized by that brat, Tulia!
“Dammit! Dammit!”
The castle was a fortress of ice-cold stone.
At this point, the Randelleur Warehouse where Tulia had been imprisoned felt like it would have been warmer. He didn't even have his family by his side. Tedric had been sent to the border as a low-ranking knight without a single servant to attend to him. And the last time he had seen Aubrey, she was practically a shell of a person, consumed by worry for Tedric.
Only Sophia had sent a letter.
However, the letter was filled with nothing but worried platitudes. It was of no help at all. It didn't even contain a few measly banknotes, which left him utterly disappointed.
‘It would have been nice if she’d sent some before her father had to ask!’
In the end, swallowing his pride, he wrote to Sophia, asking her to secretly send some money past the surveillance.
—Father, in my heart, I want to send you every penny I have to fulfill my filial duty.
However, for the time being, I cannot withdraw any funds because Grandfather’s aides are co-managing the commercial district with me.
I will send as much as I can as soon as the capital becomes easier to move, so please bear with it for a little longer.
Instead, I send this token of my devotion, folded by my own hands, to convey my love.
Sincerely, Sophia.
The gift Sophia had sent was a paper flower. To be precise, a rose folded out of paper.
“…”
Was her head filled with flowers? What the hell was he supposed to do with this!
But soon, a cold draft blew in, and he began to shiver. The poorly maintained stone castle was filled with a biting chill. By noon, it was actually warmer outside in the sunlight, which said everything that needed to be said.
Lilius roared at the top of his lungs.
“Bring me matches this instant!”
“Y-yes, sir!”
Grinding his teeth, he set fire to the paper rose Sophia had sent. But the paper flower vanished into a pitiful pile of ash before it could even begin to warm his frozen hands.
“Dammit, dammit!”
Cursing repeatedly, Lilius began to punch the innocent stone wall like a madman.
It was his total defeat.
* * *
“Lady Tulia. How is the taste?”
“Tell the chef,” I said, taking a sip of the broth. “That I shall grant him a bolt of silk as a reward.”
“Yes. The chef will be most pleased.”
Assistant Butler Grans went to deliver the order immediately.
“I didn't know you liked spicy food, my lady.”
Adel, who was attending to my meal, looked on with a curious expression. I nodded. She stared at the mussel kalguksu, which was topped with a generous amount of sliced chili peppers, with a strange look in her eyes.
“The chef seemed to find it quite spicy himself, though.”
“Eating things that are too spicy isn't good for your stomach, Lady Tulia.”
“Then I’ll just eat this much.”
I answered the chief physician’s warning obediently, but I was laughing on the inside.
‘I used to eat food way spicier than this every single day.’
Back when I was Han Ina, that is.
It relieved stress and worked up an appetite. I had even worried about myself a little because I kept seeking out spicier and spicier food.
Anyway.
Right now, I was eating the mussel kalguksu the chef had prepared. Even if they weren't quite at the level of Grandfather’s personal chefs, the chefs of the Frezier household were fundamentally skilled.
“Make me some mussel soup.”
“Ah, yes, my lady. Do you mean a mussel stew? With tomatoes? Or perhaps cream?”
“No, no. Clear and rich.”
“Understood. A clear mussel soup…”
“And slice some chilies into it to make it spicy.”
“Spicy…”
“And then, knead some flour and water together to make noodles about this thick—chewy and plump…”
“Chewy… plump…”
The chef, who had listened to my explanation with a puzzled expression, brought out the dish a while later.
“No. Spicier than this.”
“Pardon?”
“This is too bland. I want something with a kick.”
“…Pardon?”
In the end, the chef produced the spicy mussel kalguksu I wanted, coughing incessantly the whole time.
“My lady, how can you eat something this spicy so well? Cough, cough…”
It seemed he had tasted the broth a few times to check the seasoning, and even that was too much for him to handle.
‘Is it really that spicy?’
Hmm. If so, I wondered if I should try eating it in front of Leon later. Even if I didn't offer him any, Leon would surely try to copy me if he saw me eating it with such gusto. Just like how he was already picking up my way of speaking.
The thought alone made me giggle.
The people around me seemed startled by my sudden smile, but I just continued to happily slurp my noodles.
Tedric had been kicked out, and Lilius had been found guilty at his trial.
‘It was a declaration that the family would no longer protect Lilius.’
Grandfather’s decision meant that Lilius’s punishment would follow national law rather than family law. As a result, Lilius was exiled to the middle of nowhere. It was a very heavy sentence.
‘Well, the official reason is that he’s governing a new territory.’
Gers Territory, which had fewer than fifty residents. A stone castle on a high mountain. Lilius had been completely ousted.
‘I heard it’s a freezing cold castle. He should get a proper taste of the suffering the young Tulia went through.’
I should ask Leon later how Tedric is being put to work at the border.
“What about Aunt Aubrey?”
“I am told she is still bedridden.”
“I suppose so. And Sophia has left for the Academy.”
She claimed the Dean had summoned her urgently, but I knew very well that was just an excuse.
The family was in utter shambles.
‘This is the price for secretly abusing and tormenting your young niece.’
Slurp.
This was a victory won through all sorts of hardships. I could afford to enjoy it a little more.
“Hmm…”
I stared quietly out the window. Winter was almost over, but perhaps due to the fickle weather, it had been snowing in the Grand Duchy since yesterday.
Gazing at the window frosted over in white, I stood up. I couldn't help but feel a bit restless.
* * *
Knock, knock.
A knock at the door. It was late, so the resident aides had already gone home for the day. A servant sitting by the door went out to answer it in their stead.
A moment later.
“Lady Tulia?”
Luc Kelposher stood up at the sight of the unexpected guest.
“Sit, sit.”
She waved her hands frantically, telling him to stay seated, before asking, “Do you happen to know where Grandfather went? He wasn't in his room.”