That Piece Of Trash Was Me - Chapter 16
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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 16
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So this massive space could be filled with nothing but gold and ivory marble.
A desk so spacious it could be used as a bed.
A giant ebony table that could easily seat eight people and the chairs surrounding it.
The tapestry hanging on the wall was embroidered with gold and silver thread, and even the slightest movement of my gaze made the traces of stars seem to sparkle blindingly.
The sunflower sculpture decorating the cabinet was unmistakably real gold and diamonds, and through the wide windows, the vast garden of the main castle came into view like a painting.
I was standing there with my mouth agape, eyes wide with amazement at the scale and luxury of the office.
‘I thought the illustration was fancy… but the real thing is even more so?’
In , Coriko captures Assis Grand Duke Frazier’s heart with just a few choices.
After that, she could freely come and go from the Grand Duke’s office, a place where even most nobles couldn’t enter carelessly.
Tulia would need to put in much more effort just to gain entry.
It was a strange feeling that this place, which I was seeing for the first time in my life, felt familiar to me.
“Father.”
At Lilius’s call, the Grand Duke, who had been looking out the window, turned around.
Assis Grand Duke Frazier’s eyes were dark green.
‘Just looking at the eye color, I can definitely say he’s in the category of being Tulia’s relative.’
Of course, Tulia’s current eye color was a soft light green like spring buds.
When I played , I saw many illustrations of Tulia.
This official villain had particularly many illustrations where her eyes were wild with madness, and whenever that happened, Tulia’s eyes would darken to the same dark green as Grand Duke Frazier’s, glaring ominously.
In other words, doesn’t this mean that Assis Grand Duke Frazier naturally possesses the level of madness that Tulia, the game’s greatest villain, has when she’s gone crazy?
…As expected, it’s somewhat intimidating.
‘It might be a bit scary if the Grand Duke gets angry at me.’
I thought that if he asked what right I had to dare enter here, Lilius would take responsibility as I heard earlier, but the Grand Duke didn’t particularly scold me.
He just glanced at the basket I was holding and shifted his gaze with his usual indifferent expression.
“What is it?”
“Father. The representative that Elder Brother Nigella sent has just arrived at the main castle.”
My ears perked up.
‘If it’s Elder Brother Nigella…’
Assis Grand Duke Frazier had four children with his deceased Grand Duchess.
Eldest daughter Hyacinthia Frazier.
Second son Aster Frazier. (Tulia’s father)
Third son Nigella Frazier.
And lastly, the youngest son Lilius Frazier, who was the father of that bastard Tedrick.
The Grand Duke and Grand Duchess Frazier were so fertile, but only three sons survived.
The eldest daughter and Grand Duchess Hyacinthia Frazier passed away at the young age of not even twenty due to some incident.
Shocked by that event, the Grand Duchess also passed away not long after.
After that, Assis Grand Duke Frazier neither remarried nor took any mistresses.
Well, what woman would want to remarry a man with such terrifying eyes, I thought.
She’d be lucky not to get devoured.
‘But what kind of representative did he send?’
My question was quickly answered.
“Must it absolutely be that land?”
Assis Grand Duke Frazier’s voice pierced my ears.
“Must both Nigella and you use that land to build stables like the nobles in the Imperial Capital?”
“Father. Of course, since it’s land you’ve long enjoyed as an ornamental flower garden, I fully understand your reluctance…”
Viscount Lilius said, wiping away cold sweat.
“Doesn’t the Empress say she’ll only sell breeding horses to families that build regulation stables within their territory? Good bloodline horses have always been one of the major elements of family prosperity for generations.”
“Tsk.”
Assis Grand Duke Frazier clicked his tongue loudly. Instantly, coldness flowed from his eyes.
“When it’s obvious the Empress is trying to burden us, what use is it to buy horses that might barely be distant relatives of war horses at high prices?”
His voice was clearly displeased.
“And such things are entirely the Emperor’s authority, so how dare a mere Empress who entered as a second wife step forward?”
“Father…”
“Tsk. What’s the difference between her and a legal affair partner?”
Could it be that Tulia’s hellish mouth was actually inherited from Grand Duke Assis?
“But Father, even if not for breeding horses, using Statis Plain commercially is absolutely necessary in the long term.”
Viscount Lilius hurriedly persuaded him.
I perked up my ears.
‘If it’s Statis Plain, I know it very well.’
When playing , it was land that was absolutely necessary to obtain the ending called ‘Coriko, Frazier’s True Family.’
It had a good location, gentle and flat terrain, and fertile soil – a blessed land where just planting expensive crops would make their value skyrocket the following year.
But more importantly…
‘It was described as desolate land that was miserably abandoned due to the failure of the stable business.’
Of course, it wasn’t really my concern.
Even if it were, a mere granddaughter who was ostracized within the family had no say in the matter.
‘The stable business will fail spectacularly, but well. They’ll be the ones responsible.’
Of course, even when playing , Statis Plain was useful in many ways.
It would be good to plant lots of profitable crops from the Empire, and since the location was good, if roads were built properly, lots of tolls could be collected from trading companies.
Come to think of it, I absolutely needed Statis Plain for my quest.
When the stable business failed miserably, the land value would become dirt cheap, so I could just buy it with money I’d carefully saved up until then.
Then, suddenly, Lilius changed tactics.
“Father, please look at Tulia.”
Lilius, holding my hand, spoke in a pleading tone.
“The poor child is still so young.”
‘Me? Why me?’
“Elder Brother Aster also needs better horses to properly show those barbarians at that frigid border what’s what, Father!”
Weren’t you the one who was gradually embezzling Tulia’s assets?
Grand Duke Frazier looked at me. I, who had been staring at Viscount Lilius in disbelief, belatedly composed my expression.
Right now, my ultimate goal and Lilius’s purpose partially aligned, so I stayed quiet, but inwardly I was truly astounded.
‘How can a person be so shameless?’
While I was calming myself by anticipating his future that would surely end in ruin.
Whatever he was thinking, Assis Grand Duke Frazier, who had been looking down at me continuously, finally opened his mouth.
“Put it officially on this weekend’s meeting agenda.”
“…!”
Lilius’s face brightened.
“Yes, Father! An excellent choice!”
“Father, you are truly wise!”
Viscountess Aubrey Frazier, who had been anxiously beside me so quietly I barely noticed her presence, also had a brightened complexion.
Of course, upon receiving the Grand Duke’s gaze, she immediately flinched and lowered her eyes.
‘Aha.’
I roughly got the picture.
In truth, even if the couple managed internal household affairs together, the lady of the house bore much greater responsibility for the direct family’s living conditions and the convenience of family members.
While my living in such wretched conditions was certainly the couple’s joint work, Viscountess Aubrey Frazier would have received more of the blame.
But she probably brushed off cutting my budget arbitrarily and lying about the house arrest being indefinite as mere mistakes by her subordinates.
So that’s how she could boldly enter Grand Duke Frazier’s office like this (though she brought her husband along).
But it seemed she hadn’t completely received the Grand Duke’s forgiveness.
Rather than groveling for forgiveness and risking exposure of more hidden crimes, she appeared to be cautiously keeping her distance.
“Driving stakes and erecting beams in Statis Plain—your mother wouldn’t be pleased.”
At the sudden mention of the deceased Grand Duchess, the reactions of those listening were vastly different.
First, Viscountess Aubrey.
Though she bowed her head respectfully, her expression showed no emotion whatsoever.
Next was her son, Viscount Lilius.
Though his expression was somewhat uncomfortable, he quickly seemed to finish his calculations and wore a resigned smile.
And then me.
‘I have no idea.’
Why the Grand Duchess was being brought up.
Even in , that was about the extent of the setting.
The story only mentioned that the deceased Grand Duchess had a poor relationship with Grand Duke Assis, a typical political marriage.
What could someone like that have to do with that important land, Statis Plain…?
“Of course, Statis Plain was the land Mother cherished most during her lifetime.”
Thump.
My heart sank at Lilius’s words as he forced a smile.
This wasn’t Tulia’s heart. It was the K-Confucian Girl’s heart.
“It was land your mother personally tended.”
“…”
“She did so despite her precious status.”
Just slightly, Grand Duke Assis’s voice sounded bitter.
It was so subtle that for a moment I wondered if I had misheard.
“B-but Mother would surely be happy from heaven to see her sons’ business flourishing. Father!”
“…”
If he were truly a poor family’s child, well, he could act like this thinking of the future.
Whether his own future or his children’s future. The living mouths are more important than the dead ones.
But for the youngest son of the Grand Duke Frazier House, who has enough to possess and enjoy, this behavior is purely his own greed.
And quite an unsightly greed at that.
“Rather than flowers and such, seeing thoroughbred horses growing strong would be much more pleasant to watch. It’s far more practical, isn’t it, Father.”
Hiss.
This bastard.
In the name of the Confucian Girl, I don’t want to forgive him.
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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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