That Piece Of Trash Was Me - Chapter 109
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 109
“What did you say?”
“Now that Mother has become Countess Orquin, she’s one of Her Majesty the Empress’s close associates, right? Mother has never once set foot in the Grand Duchy, isn’t this our family being disrespected?”
Nigella frowned.
Grand Duke Assis Frazier absolutely despised Nigella’s mistress, Belladonna Mertung.
Even Nigella had never once considered bringing Belladonna to the Frazier Domain.
“The noble ladies have no reason to avoid Mother now, Father! I heard last time that all the ladies were envious when that wench Tulia received golden accessories from Her Majesty the Empress.”
“Yes… That’s right.”
Nigella stroked his chin and fell deep in thought.
His mistress Belladonna was certainly quite capable.
Swaying the opinions of the noble ladies staying at the castle…
‘It wouldn’t be too difficult.’
Nigella too had always harbored the desire to bring Belladonna Mertung to the Grand Duchy.
The problem was his father, Grand Duke Assis.
The Iron Blood Grand Duke’s ironclad fury made him dare not even attempt it.
‘But now that Belladonna has become Countess Orquin, I must confront him at least once.’
Father would have already obtained information that Belladonna Mertung had been granted the position of Countess Orquin.
He would naturally be shocked upon hearing it. The old man considers Belladonna’s existence a disgrace to the family.
However, he could guess why no advisor had been sent separately to lecture him.
‘Because he doesn’t know yet.’
What he had promised Empress Carmi in exchange for receiving the countess title.
But he wasn’t a fool either.
He had calculated thoroughly to benefit the Grand Ducal House when making the deal with Empress Carmi.
In the process, he had grown quite close to her, the Empress. This was something any noble of the Empire should naturally welcome.
From the beginning, Nigella disliked his father’s conservative tendencies.
‘Emperor Alessandro dotes on Empress Carmi, so what’s the point of taking the lead in criticizing her for adultery and such?’
He himself was also having an affair with Belladonna Mertung, so Grand Duke Assis Frazier’s criticism felt like a blade pointed at him.
That made him feel even worse, and ultimately led to criticism toward his father.
‘Father has aged considerably. He’s become unable to secure practical benefits.’
Empress Carmi was a remarkable woman, contrary to appearances.
The proof could be seen in Second Prince Dave.
Emperor Alessandro hadn’t produced a single bastard child since Second Prince Dave.
It meant Empress Carmi handled things well behind the scenes.
What reason was there to oppose such a woman, such a person of power?
Principles?
Morality?
Such things were all useless in the face of practical benefits.
Nigella himself had begun to forge a new path for the family.
And this path, these practical benefits, would ultimately guarantee him the Grand Duke position in the future.
When you see the forest, the trees appear small.
Thinking of himself as the future Grand Duke, even the fact that Grand Duke Assis Frazier shunned Belladonna Mertung began to feel insignificant.
‘Yes. It’s better for me to confront him directly and persuade Father. Father won’t be able to ignore chivalry either.’
He could also look forward to Belladonna’s support, having received the countess title as well.
The social activities of noble ladies greatly influenced the work of male retainers too.
High society itself was a political arena. The Grand Duchy was no different.
Just as Nigella had almost made up his mind to bring Belladonna to the Grand Duchy.
Sandra’s words struck a strong spark in Nigella’s heart.
“And you don’t know how much Tulia disrespected me, Father.”
“What? Tulia disrespected you?”
Immediately, flames of anger flashed in Nigella’s eyes.
Nigella had been born as the awkward second son, neither the eldest nor the youngest.
Perhaps because he had lived in an ambiguous position between his remarkably accomplished eldest brother and his cunning, politically savvy youngest brother, Nigella hated being disrespected most of all.
“When did she disrespect you? Was it at the Imperial Palace?”
“Yes! You and Mother were too busy talking with other noble ladies to notice, right? Whenever I tried to talk to her, she glared at me like she was going to grab my hair and shake me…”
Sandra, whose eyes resembled Belladonna’s exactly, continued with tears welling up.
“Unlike me, she doesn’t have a mother or father, right? I hate always being intimidated by her. Can’t you do something, Father?”
After careful calculation, Nigella put on a deliberately stern expression and spoke.
“I can’t let my daughter be intimidated. Yes. Let’s go. Father should see our family’s harmonious appearance to change his mind a bit.”
“Really?! Are you serious?!”
Sandra, who hadn’t expected Nigella to actually agree, jumped up and down in surprise.
“But you must dress as modestly as possible. You can’t pack any flashy dresses like you’re wearing now. Understood?”
“What? Then what should I wear?”
“Plain dresses. The same goes for your mother.”
Sandra was currently wearing a beautiful dress that even imperial princesses might wear.
If this was what she wore at home, there would be no limit when she dressed up seriously.
She only wore tremendously expensive clothes and accessories that even the most favored imperial princesses might wear.
This was one of the reasons she received quite a few party invitations outwardly, even while being looked down upon behind her back for being a mistress’s daughter.
Not being allowed to pack such things! She felt petty and annoyed, but Sandra quickly nodded, afraid her father might change his mind.
* * *
‘Now that Mother is officially Countess Orquin, I’m the biological daughter of a countess.’
How could he forbid her from packing pretty dresses befitting her status!
She understood it was out of caution to avoid the Grand Duke’s displeasure by being extravagant, but she was still dissatisfied with her father’s orders.
The maids, having already heard Nigella’s orders, were efficiently packing in her dressing room.
Seeing the trunks being filled with ordinary dresses instead of the finest dresses studded with fist-sized gems as usual made her feel petty.
Belladonna, her mother, seemed to have already received word from her father, as she was happily ordering the employees to pack.
The leather trunks used by nobles for travel were filled only with plain dresses as her father had ordered.
If even Mother had decided to obey Father’s words, there was really no way around it.
That’s when it happened.
Sandra’s eyes sparkled.
She had seen her mother’s senior maid ‘secretly’ packing flashy dresses.
‘Mother is also dissatisfied with Father’s orders! Well, it’s her first time going to the Grand Duchy, so she can’t let the noble ladies there look down on her.’
Nigella used to give Belladonna tremendous gifts every season.
The jewels and dresses he gifted her were all tremendously expensive things that even the duchesses of the Imperial Capital would envy.
She probably wouldn’t wear them openly, but if the Grand Duchy’s noble ladies showed even the slightest sign of looking down on Mother, she would immediately dress up in those dresses and jewels to put them in their place.
‘Then I should secretly pack a few as well.’
She had no intention of angering her father.
She was just packing three or four outfits as emergency backup for ‘just in case.’
Sandra hummed as she secretly added beautiful pink diamond accessories and dresses worth at least ten billion gold each to her trunk.
* * *
‘Busy, so busy, noble society…!’
Right after returning from what wasn’t quite a business trip to the Imperial Capital, I was handling domestic affairs without even a moment to catch my breath.
‘This passing trash is going to ascend to heaven from overwork.’
Just then.
“Lady Tulia.”
At the words that Ruk spoke as he entered with unusual urgency, I was slightly startled and found myself asking back.
“Huh? Uncle Nigella and Sandra are coming to the Grand Duchy?”
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Shushu
WTH did Nigella offer in exchange with the empress?