Chapter 95
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 95
Asis Frezier did not answer immediately. He simply stared at Tulia with a lingering gaze.
“Indeed. I am upset because of you.”
“Gasp.”
Tulia immediately dropped to her knees on the snow-covered ground. Or rather, she almost did.
Asis Frezier blocked her with wind-like speed.
“These are my clothes. Do not soil them.”
“Then I shall kneel again once we return to the castle!”
“Why do you keep trying to kneel? No one has ever commanded you to do so.”
“Because you said you were upset because of me…”
Tulia’s voice trailed off as she tentatively searched Grand Duke Asis’s expression.
He knew.
He knew that all of the Frezier grandchildren feared him.
Among them, the twins were the most resilient, yet even Lisian and Leon tempered their words and actions in his presence.
He had never considered it pathetic.
Even his own children were terrified of him; how could grandchildren so much younger not feel the same?
The Tulia of the past had been no different.
She had trembled in fear of Asis, unable to even meet his eyes.
“Tulia.”
“Yes!”
That was likely why she spoke so easily of kneeling now.
“Never kneel before anyone again. Unless, of course, your intent is to upset the head of House Frezier.”
Tulia’s eyes widened into circles.
“I wouldn't dare! I’ll never kneel again, I promise.”
The way his granddaughter’s calculated social maneuvering was so transparent felt strangely adorable. Asis allowed a faint smile to touch his lips.
“Good.”
After a moment’s hesitation, Tulia spoke up again.
“But… then how should I apologize to you?”
“Why would you be the one to apologize?”
Grand Duke Asis Frezier shifted his gaze, looking at the snow blossoms resting atop the plum blossoms.
“The reason I am upset is that I remained ignorant while you were subjected to such abuse at such a young age.”
“…”
“I was simply feeling lost, realizing there is still so much I do not know even at this age.”
Indeed. The emptiness in his heart was not because of Tulia.
It was the remorse he felt for failing to properly raise his son.
He had already known his youngest son was overflowing with both an inferiority complex and ambition.
However, he had never imagined the man would commit such atrocities behind his back.
If Tulia had been just a little later in revealing the truth to him—if she had failed to overcome her fear—would that small, young thing still be alive today?
She might have frozen to death already.
Or perhaps she would have truly strayed onto a wicked path.
A path of darkness so deep that even Grand Duke Asis could not have redeemed her.
Therefore, strictly speaking, it wasn't Asis who had saved Tulia.
It was Tulia herself.
Because of that, Asis couldn't help but feel a sense of pride in this young granddaughter.
Interpreting his steady gaze in her own way, Tulia spoke cautiously.
“Grandfather. There is something I’d like to ask.”
“What is it?”
“According to the Frezier family law, you don't accept gifts on your birthday, but…”
Tulia watched his reaction before continuing.
“You do accept gifts on the ‘Founding Festival,’ right?”
The Founding Festival.
Just as the nation had its Founding Day, families of the rank of Count and above had their own Founding Festivals.
A day to commemorate the family’s establishment.
Or, a day to celebrate when the family received its current title.
For the Grand Duke of Frezier, it was the latter.
It was one of the traditions of the Brillant Empire.
“According to family law, I accept gifts from outsiders then. Most of it goes into the family treasury.”
Asis continued, feeling a bit pleased.
What a remarkable child.
“It hasn't been long since you were granted sovereignty over internal affairs, yet it seems you’ve been studying hard.”
‘No. I just saw it while playing the game.’
Unaware of Tulia’s inner thoughts, Asis decided that a hardworking genius like Tulia was truly the best kind.
“Grandfather.”
However, Tulia’s next words caught him off guard, causing a rare moment of fluster.
“If you give these plum trees to me, I’ll give you a truly wonderful gift for the Founding Festival.”
“The plum trees? Are you asking for this land?”
The Statis Plains?
“No, no. Just the plum trees.”
“Are you planning to cut the wood to carve a statue for me?”
“No? I want the fruit of the plum blossoms.”
“…The fruit?”
Grand Duke Asis couldn't understand her at all.
“Are the fruits of the plum blossoms not discarded because they are inedible?”
They were nothing but astringent and sour.
Even if one waited for them to ripen until they were sweet, they would rot and fall to the ground, betraying all expectations. That was the nature of the plum blossom’s fruit.
For that reason, plum trees were rarely planted in the kingdoms of the Spring Continent, let alone the Brillant Empire. Culinary techniques involving the fruit had hardly developed.
The same was true for the Summer Continent across the sea.
“Our relationship ends like this, Asis. Do you understand? Like the fruit of these plum blossoms, a result that holds nothing but bitterness and astringency—that is our end.”
Something that falls to the ground uselessly, only to rot away.
An ending welcomed by no one.
Grand Duchess Lisiyan had once compared their relationship to the fruit of the plum blossom.
Perhaps that was why.
He had filled the Statis Plains, which his late wife had cherished, with plum blossoms and visited them every winter.
He wondered if she had resented him so harshly until the very end before leaving.
Him, who used territorial inspections as an excuse to wander far away on winter days.
Him, who fled from this castle as if escaping, if only for a moment.
And yet, he always ended up returning to these Statis Plains, filled with the very plum blossoms she had screamed were ‘their end’…
As if facing his own uncomfortable reflection.
“No one likes such sour and astringent fruit, Tulia.”
Asis spoke, somewhat expecting her response.
Judging by Tulia’s usual attitude and tact, his granddaughter would surely ask tentatively:
‘Then do you also dislike the fruit of the plum blossoms, Grandfather?’
But it was different from what Asis expected.
“No, no.”
Tulia said something entirely unexpected.
“I’ll turn them into a wonderful gift that even you will like, Grandfather.”
“…Hmm?”
“You just need to give me the plum fruits. I won't leave a single scratch on the flowers or the trees.”
Did she mean she would make some good fertilizer out of the rotting plum fruits?
Asis didn't quite grasp Tulia’s intention, but for once, he didn't want to ask for clarification.
He wanted to savor the pleasure of being surprised by her brilliance.
“Very well. They are yours.”
It was an ending that would have resulted in them rotting on the ground anyway.
“I shall look forward to seeing what gift you bring me.”
Seeing his granddaughter’s eyes sparkle as she spoke made him feel a flicker of anticipation.
And…
He felt a strange, novel sensation, as neither his children nor his other grandchildren had ever watched the red plum blossoms with him here on the Statis Plains.
Was this what it felt like to be proud?
“Tulia.”
“Yes?”
“Shall I summon your father for your birthday?”
Tulia’s pale pink eyelashes fluttered in sudden consternation.
“Pardon? But Father won't budge from the border front.”
“There is a forced summons that only the Family Head can issue.”
“Pardon?”
“With that, even a Commander-in-Chief in the middle of a war must return to the Family Head if they are of the Frezier direct lineage. Family law is solemn.”
“……Pardon?”
Tulia’s eyes went wide. She looked genuinely horrified.
“I’m perfectly fine without that! It’s okay, Grandfather…!”
Seeing his granddaughter’s expression shift from shock to a look that screamed, ‘What is wrong with this old man?’ Asis found himself laughing for some reason.
Since when had it been?
Since when had he been able to share such sincere jokes with Tulia, who used to tremble at the sight of him and do nothing but grab the vassals by their hair?
“By the way, Grandfather.”
Furthermore, the Tulia who used to tremble had almost entirely vanished.
No, she was gone completely.
It even felt as though she had the ability to peer into his inner thoughts. Even the nobles were always uncertain while trying to gauge his mood.
Tulia was like a herbivore who possessed the absolute certainty that Grand Duke Asis Frezier would ‘not harm’ her.
No, rather than a herbivore…
She was a pink carnivore that was still growing.
When she grew older, she would become a high noble with a spirit and momentum that surpassed his own.
Grand Duke Asis Frezier was a keen judge of character.
“It’s so cold. Can’t we go back to the castle now?”
In this entire continent, this granddaughter before him was likely the only one with the nerves to say something even Luc wouldn't dare.
Grand Duke Asis Frezier laughed.
“Shall we go and share a cup of tea?”
* * *
As I shared hot tea and cocoa with Grandfather, I thought to myself.
‘Actually, this is a strategy usually reserved for the ending where Corico succeeds as the Grand Duke.’
Plum fruit.
Plum extract.
A strategy to create and gift an item that resolves indigestion, one of the chronic ailments of the elderly.
It was a method to raise the Grand Duke’s favorability to its peak.
Since I had already achieved over 90% favorability with the Grand Duke, it wasn't something I absolutely had to do.
‘…Well. Grandfather’s expression while looking at the snow-covered plum blossoms was just so bitter.’
So, perhaps it was an impulsive thought.
I simply wanted to gift him a useful result from those plum fruits.
Knock, knock.
It was then that an aide brought an unexpected letter.
“What is it?”
“An urgent message has arrived, Your Grace.”
‘Huh? That’s the Imperial seal.’
The orange envelope, signifying solemnity, was heavily dusted with gold powder.
Usually, noble families were only permitted to dust their stationery and envelopes with pearl powder. Only the Imperial Family and a few high-ranking nobles were allowed to use gold dust.
There was no particular change in Grandfather’s expression as he read the Imperial letter.
Or so I thought.
Thud.
The way he set the letter down after finishing it seemed somewhat angry.
‘What is it?’