Chapter 94
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 94
“Ah.”
Usually, the Family Head’s movements were considered a piece of ‘information.’
However, if Tulia was the one asking, it was only right to answer.
The Grand Duke had never issued such an order, but Luc Kelposher was very keen on understanding his master’s heart.
“He is currently at the Statis Plains.”
“Really? Thanks.”
“Are you planning to go there?”
A surprised voice escaped him before he could stop it.
“Let us go together. It is dark and cold out.”
“Hmm… Sure. Okay. Thanks.”
“One moment, please.”
A servant, quick to take the hint, hurried over with an overcoat.
“You should wear something as well, My Lady.”
“Then I’ll stop by my room first…”
“If you do that, you might miss His Grace.”
“Then I’ll just go like this!”
Luc Kelposher chuckled at her breezy response. He walked over to the wardrobe himself and pulled out a large jacket.
Thump.
It was clearly an adult man’s coat, and one belonging to someone of considerable stature at that.
Above all, it possessed an incredibly luxurious sheen. With precious marten fur lining the collar, the price of this single garment alone was enough to make one gasp.
“Isn't this Grandfather’s coat?”
“It is. You can wear it now and return it to him when we arrive.”
“Got it.”
Tulia skillfully wrapped the coat around herself, though it fluttered about her like a cape.
“So you’re saying I should give Grandfather his coat and then freeze to death right there?”
Luc and Tulia burst into laughter at the same time.
Thanks to the servant’s quick movements, the carriage to the Statis Plains was already prepared.
“Please, step inside.”
The way she accepted his escort and climbed in was that of a very practiced lady.
‘She is still young, but…’
He could already see that by the time she had her debutante, she would be a stunning beauty.
‘His Grace is going to have quite a headache when that time comes.’
Luc was smiling at the pleasant thought when Tulia spoke.
“Adel is really good to me.”
Her words fell suddenly.
“And I like Adel the best, too.”
Is there anything that hurts as much as an unexpected punch?
Especially when the subject was his hidden younger sister, his greatest weakness.
And so, though it was nonsensical, Luc Kelposher felt a strange illusion for a moment.
Did Tulia perhaps know about his relationship with Adel?
Had Adel told her about him?
“Is it my fault Mother and Father died?! Did I ask them to give birth to me at that age? Why are you always blaming me?!”
“What?! You ungrateful girl…! Your mother died because of you! Because she struggled to give birth to you at her age!”
Back then, Luc, who had returned from the training center at sunset, had been shocked and angry to see Adel’s bruised cheek.
“Grandmother! Did you hit Adel again?!”
“If it weren't for her, neither your mother nor your father would have died! A girl born from devouring her own mother has the audacity to run around wanting to be a knight like you! How could I ever look at her kindly?!”
“Grandmother!”
“You go tell her yourself! Tell her to stop dreaming about swordsmanship lessons! It’s hard enough for us to raise one eldest son in our situation—that girl must be insane!”
“…”
“Luc, our family will prosper only if you succeed. You know that, right? The dowry I brought is almost gone now. Hmm? You have to work hard. Understood?”
It was a story from a long time ago.
Luc Kelposher asked, clutching the faded past and his unextinguished guilt to his chest once more.
“Lady Tulia.”
The lady whose pale pink hair looked as fluffy as cotton candy.
“…Why do you bring up the Head Maid so suddenly?”
The light green eyes staring at Luc were unreadable.
She looked as if she knew their hidden story, yet she also seemed as pure as a fresh leaf.
“Hmm.”
Her pale green eyes shifted slightly.
“Just because?”
“…”
“Adel takes good care of my clothes, just like you do, Luc. I just thought of it suddenly.”
“I see.”
Luc wore the smile that habitually came to his lips whenever he looked at Tulia.
It was a smile slightly more bitter than usual.
“I am glad to hear that.”
And with complete sincerity, Luc managed to squeeze out one last sentence.
“If there is ever anything you lack, please tell me at any time, Lady Tulia.”
“Okay, okay.”
* * *
‘Huh. What on earth was that?’
I had a bewildered expression on my face.
I couldn't help it.
‘…Did I just see Luc and Adel’s past?’
My shock was brief, quickly replaced by a sense of emptiness.
No, it turned into a sense of being wronged.
It was all because of the text floating in the air.
[System] Favorability Check has been used.
[System] Cooldown time: 5 days, 23 hours, 55 minutes, 55 seconds.
‘…No. When did I say I was going to use it?!’
I felt so cheated.
Why would I ever think of using ‘Favorability Check’ on Luc, who isn't even a male lead or my grandfather?
‘Of course I wouldn't!’
Luc is already plenty nice to me!
Why would I bother?!
I had just gotten into the carriage and was trying to feel him out a bit.
‘I was actually trying to subtly reassure him that Adel is doing well, but…’
Somehow, whenever Tulia speaks, everything sounds like she has some dark, ulterior motive.
After that, I was just checking my status window!
‘But then, a sudden Click Miss…?’
Does this even make sense?
In all my life, it’s not like I ever accidentally tapped my phone screen wrong!
In that moment, the status window popped up very kindly.
[System] A ‘Click Miss’ event has been triggered.
[System] The probability of a ‘Click Miss’ event occurring is 0.01%.
‘…Is this thing seriously playing with me?’
My hands trembled.
That damn star, that damn stat window, slowly circling around me today as well.
Just wait until I reach A-Rank. You’re the first thing I’m getting rid of.
‘So even if the penalties are removed, you can still screw me over like this?’
I didn't know how many coins I’d need to raise my stats, so I had only cleared the penalties for now.
I felt like I should use this opportunity to raise my Luck stat a bit more.
After glancing through my stats, I crunched the numbers for my remaining coins.
‘I’ll raise them all as soon as I take out what I put in the Lead Bank.’
To prevent a disaster like last time, I hadn't put about thirty percent of my coins in the bank, just in case.
In a few days, I’d be able to withdraw the coins from the Lead Bank along with a hefty amount of interest.
Just let nothing happen until then.
I glared at the golden star.
‘…That crazy star.’
Once, I got so angry that I tried to grab that glittering star and break it in half, but it was useless.
I couldn't catch the star.
My hand just circled through the air as if passing through a shadow.
Fine.
What’s done is done.
‘Well, there isn't anyone else I need to check favorability for for the time being anyway.’
I’ve already checked Lisian and Leon.
Grandfather’s favorability passed 90% a long time ago.
‘Let’s just look on the bright side.’
I decided to be as positive as possible.
Unlike with Grandfather, it was very fragmentary, but I had definitely learned about the past between Luc and Adel.
‘No wonder there was such a big age gap between Luc and Adel.’
Adel must have been a very late-born child.
It seemed her mother died of puerperal fever.
And her father seemed to have passed away early from a broken heart.
So that’s why Adel was mistreated.
She originally wanted to be a knight, but because the family had no money, only the son, Luc, received an education.
‘Phew.’
At least Luc was a brother with a conscience.
He seemed to feel a great deal of guilt over it.
‘Han Ina’s brothers should see this and learn a thing or two.’
All those guys thought about was selling me off to some old man.
Thinking cynically, I recalled Adel.
She was always calm, and strangely, her ‘Skill’ was excellent.
To the point where she could perfectly carry out a secret mission, like when I told her to win Clara at the illegal auction house, without saying a word.
‘You wanted to be a knight, Adel…’
Knowing Adel’s past, it roughly made sense now.
‘I should buy Adel a New Year’s gift.’
An expensive sword or a spear? Or maybe… a mace?
Just as I was making up my mind to be even nicer to Adel.
Thud.
“Whoa.”
The rolling carriage came to a stop.
“We have arrived at the plains, My Lady.”
“Already? That was fast.”
“It is a bit far to walk, but it is close by carriage. Shall we disembark?”
I thanked him and stepped out.
And without realizing it, my eyes widened.
“Whoa…”
A plain filled with pure white snow.
And a magnificent view of red plum blossoms in full bloom.
The very place that my grandmother was said to have tended with her own two hands during her lifetime.
It was the Statis Plains.
* * *
Asis was looking out over the snowy field filled with plum blossoms.
The late Grand Duchess, Lisiyan, had truly loved this beautiful winter where the white snow and red plum blossoms harmonized.
Like people who couldn't even feel the biting cold, the two of them used to watch this spectacular view together for a long time without saying a single word.
Just then.
“Aren't you cold?”
Grand Duke Asis Frezier whipped around.
He was somewhat startled.
He had been relaxing with his escort knights, so he hadn't sensed anyone approaching.
“Tulia. What brings you here?”
“I came out for a walk.”
“All the way here? Isn't that my coat?”
“I ended up borrowing it… Should I give it back?”
“You must be determined to freeze to death. Keep it on.”
“Yes, sir.”
Tulia seemed to like the soft marten fur, rubbing her cheek against the collar several times.
She looked as fluffy and cute as a small kitten he had once seen while inspecting the territory.
‘This child.’
I should take some time to buy her a new, warm overcoat.
“Tulia.”
“Yes, Grandfather.”
“So. What is it that you are hesitating to say?”
Tulia gasped in surprise.
She looked flustered that her thoughts had been read.
But that was only for a moment.
“That is…”
Tulia hesitated, glancing at him before finally speaking.
“Are you upset because of me?”