That Piece Of Trash Was Me - Chapter 125

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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 125

 

 

 

“…Here it is.”

Adel had generously covered me with blankets, and even brought two woolen blankets just in case, so there was plenty to cover myself with.

When I threw one of them to him, Leon Frazier quickly caught it and curled up like a caterpillar.

“…Those damn uncles! What are they thinking, making a kid sleep in such a cold place! I won’t let this slide. Those bastards below better know they’re all dead!”

Even while cursing with all his might, Leon Frazier looked much warmer than before.

Though it was a bit funny how his feet stuck out of the sofa because his legs were so long.

After some time had passed.

“Tulia.”

“What?”

“Let’s throw away everything here tomorrow.”

“Okay.”

They were all old things to be discarded anyway, so it didn’t matter. However.

“Except for one thing.”

“What? There’s nothing but junk here. Oh, the blanket? Ha, really! Are you saying that because I used it? That’s too much. I’ll buy you a better one.”

“No. Not the blanket.”

“Then? What is it? Is there some jewelry or something…”

Leon looked around.

I glanced at the beautiful tulip painting hanging on the wall.

 

[Tulia Frazier, 15th Birthday.]

 

I planned to keep that painting forever.

 

* * *

 

A few days later.

Randel Castle was completely restructured into a massive warehouse so it could never function as a castle again.

All the bedrooms and bathrooms were removed, making it literally just for storing goods.

“Tearing down the entire building would be a waste of materials!”

“A waste of materials?”

Adel smiled softly.

“There’s probably no young noble anywhere who speaks like you do, my lady.”

“I’m the lady who wields… no, who’s in charge of the internal affairs of the great Grand Duke Frazier House. This much is nothing!”

When I straightened my shoulders and spoke confidently, Adel and the personal physician chuckled. Even the assistant butler seemed to look away and smile slightly.

Now let’s go back and try the dessert Adel made.

Just as I was about to take a step.

“My lady, Lady Tulia! I was wrong!”

There was a man who came running frantically and clung to me.

Though before he could grab my skirt, the assistant butler and Adel made him kneel down.

I looked at the man and tilted my head.

“It’s been a while since I’ve seen your face?”

When did he stop scurrying around avoiding me like a rat?

The man whose face had turned pale was none other than the butler who had served as Viscount Lilius’s right hand when we stayed at Randel Castle, or rather Randel Warehouse.

 

“Perfect timing, my lady. Now the flour is all gone too, so there’s no bread or cake for breakfast. Where else could you find someone who cares for you as much as Viscount Lilius does?”

 

I had thought this guy was perfectly suited to be a sycophant.

“I was wrong, so please don’t dismiss me! You know how hopeless it is for a butler to be kicked out without a letter of recommendation, don’t you, my lady!”

That was right.

I had ‘finally’ become able to dismiss this butler.

‘I’ve already conducted several staff changes during this time.’

Just as there were hierarchies among nobles, there was also a pyramid-like class system among the servants of noble houses.

Even high-ranking servants of great noble families often had what was commonly called ‘connections.’

This sycophant was quite capable in his own way, flattering Viscount Lilius while also establishing connections with Nigella.

Moreover, a butler was typically a powerful figure in the household that even a newly married bride would find somewhat intimidating.

‘He’s not the head butler of the main castle, but still.’

For various reasons, I had postponed firing this bastard, but I was finally beginning my bloody purge.

“Did you think I forgot about you?”

“Ah, my lady…!”

“Do you know why I left alone someone who not only tormented me but was even disrespectful?”

“That, that is…!”

“Grans.”

Assistant Butler Grans immediately handed over a thick bundle of documents as if he’d been waiting.

“Taking bribes.”

Swoosh.

“Embezzling funds.”

Swoosh.

“Talking behind your master’s back.”

Swoosh.

I scattered the documents directly onto the butler who had turned pale.

“I left you alone to collect all this evidence.”

I said with a bright smile.

“To pay it all back, you’ll need to do some labor in the mines.”

“The, the mines…”

“Conveniently, Uncle Nigella has to transfer all his mines to me. I’m going to strip every bit of ore from those veins, you know? Still, I’ll show you special mercy and arrange a job for you in the mines.”

“Ah, my lady!”

For a butler who had lived comfortably in a warm castle, being sentenced to a miner’s hard labor was like booking a ticket to hell.

“If you work for about 90 years, you should be able to pay back all the money you embezzled. Cheer up?”

“Lady Tulia, I was wrong…!”

I didn’t even glance at the butler trying to cling to me again and quickly walked away.

Every servant I passed in the corridor hurriedly stopped and bowed their heads.

‘This is thrilling. The taste of power is the best.’

Although I had been delegated authority over internal affairs by Grandfather, I was still a young lady.

So those who had been watching my mood and cowering were mainly mid-level and lower servants.

Even after Viscount Lilius was expelled, the high-ranking servants who had connections with Nigella still walked around with their heads held stiffly high.

‘Yeah. But Nigella fell from grace too, didn’t he?’

Tulia Frazier (15 years old).

Trait 1. Soon to be 16.

Trait 2. Has the pitiful disadvantage of being tormented by a damn star.

Trait 3. Rose to power in the Grand Ducal House!

‘Hehe.’

If you have any brains, you should clearly know who your master is now, right?

I walked along cheerfully, humming to myself.

 

* * *

 

Assis Grand Duke Frazier was fundamentally a cold-natured person.

However, if he had been someone as perpetually winter-like, he would never have felt love in his lifetime.

He looked at the plum blossoms arranged in the vase and thought of his deceased wife.

“By the time I ascend, she’ll surely scold me terribly for ruining the children’s upbringing.”

The Grand Duke smiled bitterly.

“Still, fortunately my granddaughter is quite clever. Smart, flawless, and healthy. Rishian, you would have loved Tulia too if you had seen her.”

His longing gaze lasted only briefly.

With the sound of knocking on the door, Ruk Kelfosher entered.

“Your Grace.”

When Ruk suddenly visited at this hour, it was usually because there was something new to report within the territory.

He thought this time would be the same as usual.

“The weather has warmed considerably. Spring will be here soon, won’t it?”

“…?”

“Since Young Master Aster, no, the Marquis has returned to the main castle after so long, how about going on a picnic together to Gransha Park?”

“A picnic? With that guy?”

Assis Grand Duke looked at Ruk with an expression of disbelief as he spouted such absurd nonsense.

“You want me, of all people, to go on a spring picnic with that foul-mouthed, hopeless son of mine?”

“-is what Lady Tulia asked me to tell you.”

 

* * *

 

“Marquis. It’s been so long since you’ve come to the main castle, hasn’t it?”

Max, Aster’s chief advisor, said with a beaming smile.

“Unlike the border where summer lasts less than a month, even the spring breeze here is warm. Why don’t you take this opportunity to go on a spring picnic to Gransha Park with His Grace?”

At Max’s words, Marquis Aster immediately scrunched up his entire face.

“How old are you to be going senile already? If you’re going to talk nonsense, go to the Imperial Capital and get more dress catalogs. I heard muslin dresses are popular among the ladies these days, and there’s a famous designer who-.”

“-is what Lady Tulia conveyed.”

 

* * *

 

“…Tell her I’ll go.”

“…Clear my schedule.”

 

“His Grace said that.”

“Our Marquis said to clear his schedule.”

Ruk Kelfosher and Max reported to me side by side.

And so we came out to the park for a picnic.

The large Gransha Park with a clear pond at its center.

Tall poplar trees grew vigorously around the edges. Every time the warm spring breeze rustled, I could smell the refreshing scent of greenery.

Several nobles had already claimed spots here and there, enjoying the sunshine and picnicking.

“Spring seems to come early to the Grand Duchy, doesn’t it?”

When I asked excitedly, being my first time at Gransha Park, Grandfather and Father, who had been sulking, reluctantly nodded.

“How’s my hat today? I picked it out myself.”

“Very pretty.”

“It really suits you and is very pretty, my daughter.”

Grandfather and Father competed to answer, then ended up glaring at each other.

“Aster Frazier. Don’t you have anything else to say? Just copying this old man’s words.”

“What else should I say when the child looks good in it?”

Whether the two of them fought or not.

I was very pleased with my hat.

The wide-brimmed light green hat that tied with a ribbon under the chin sparkled with small beads embedded around the rim.

“Since it’s a picnic, I prepared mostly desserts. Is that alright with everyone?”

“Of course it’s fine. This old man has always loved sweets.”

“Should an elderly person eat so many sweets? Just have some sandwiches in moderation.”

“This rude child.”

“Yes. Your Grace’s child.”

The servants took out an armful of items from the basket: sandwiches with sliced ham, lettuce and cheese, cold omelets, salmon with tangy lemon sauce, pudding baked with fresh cream, and a large grape cake, among other things.

“Please eat plenty.”

Leon Frazier, sitting across from me, whispered to Lisian.

“Brother. I think we need to get on her good side now.”

“You’re already doing your best to live as Tulia’s servant, Leon.”

“Ah, Brother!”

The family spring picnic under the sunshine was enjoyable.

Of course…

“My goodness. Look over there. Isn’t that His Grace?”

“So it was true that Marquis Aster had returned?”

“When the Marquis’s wife was alive, we could see him fairly often.”

“But even then, he only went around with his wife.”

“Right. But for His Grace and the Marquis to come out for a picnic together… Were they perhaps threatened?”

“…Who in the Empire could threaten those two?”

Glances directed at us from here and there.

Overall, if there was one common point, it was that women’s gazes were fixed on different men according to their age groups.

Old ladies on Grandfather.

Noble ladies on Father.

Young ladies on either Lisian or Leon, depending on their preference.

‘Yes. Everyone must feel the same way.’

Those with faces as outstanding as sculptures.

But usually you couldn’t get a proper look at these sculptures, so enjoy the view.

A kind of welfare for the Grand Duchy’s nobles?

‘Hehe. How generous of me.’

Of course, I didn’t come out just to provide for their welfare.

‘I came out to take care of my own welfare too.’

Sometimes one action is needed more than ten words.

Like this spring picnic, for instance.

I took steps one by one and asked Adel in a small voice.

“Adel. How far do you think the rumors about today’s picnic will spread?”

“Hmm. I think they’ll easily reach the Imperial Capital, Miss.”

“Right?”

“First of all, all the gentlemen here have lived their entire lives without knowing the term ‘spring picnic’…”

Adel quietly responded to match my whisper.

“Even though they’re blood-related, they were distant from each other. Just gathering in one place today will be enough to stir up not only the Grand Duchy’s social circles but also the Imperial Capital’s social circles.”

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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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