That Piece Of Trash Was Me - Chapter 22

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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 22

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Briyang Empire.

In the Briyang Empire, the only empire on this ‘Spring Continent’, there are four massive pillars.

The first is the Imperial Family.

The second is the Grand Duke Frazier House.

The third is the four ducal houses.

Lastly, the White Tower.

The Temple transcended the Empire and extended its influence across the entire Spring Continent, but its secular influence was limited as it was an unwritten rule that they did not participate in politics.

The White Tower, one of the pillars supporting the Briyang Empire, promoted the Empire’s development through the continuous research and intellectual pursuits of the finest scholars.

The professors at the Academy, located in an independent region of the continent, were all from the White Tower, showing their remarkable influence.

The scholars of the White Tower could only leave the tower after receiving the title of ‘Pneuma’, and among all past Pneumas, the youngest was Schulz Schmidt.

Schulz Schmidt, who was naturally cold-natured and had no interest in anything other than academics, stared intently at Assis Grand Duke Frazier.

Assis Grand Duke Frazier was like a cunning old beast.

The king of wild beasts commanding vast plains.

The Empire’s greatest noble with exactly that impression and presence.

Before such Assis Grand Duke Frazier, Schulz Schmidt opened his mouth in a monotone voice.

“Perfect score.”

“….”

“Perfect score.”

“….”

“Perfect score.”

At the top of the exam papers, all with perfect scores and bearing the distinctive signature of a Pneuma, was written the name ‘Tulia Frazier’.

“I was appointed as a Pneuma only two years ago, and I have never taught noble young ladies or gentlemen from families other than the Grand Duke Frazier House.”

“….”

“However, I have never heard of a student receiving a perfect score on the first exam given by a White Tower scholar.”

Assis Grand Duke Frazier looked through Tulia’s exam papers without giving any particular response.

“I’m saying that Miss Tulia is an extraordinary talent, Your Grace.”

Ruk Kelfosher, standing at the office door, caught sight of it for a moment.

Assis Grand Duke Frazier’s lips twitching slightly upward.

Though no grandparent would dislike praise for their grandchild.

But for ‘that’ Grand Duke Assis to do so.

‘Well, if it’s Miss Tulia, His Grace might think differently about her.’

Among all the numerous children and grandchildren of this massive family, only Tulia recently began treating Assis Grand Duke Frazier like a real ‘grandfather’.

Ruk Kelfosher pretended not to notice Assis Grand Duke Frazier’s fleeting smile.

‘Many things have changed since Miss Tulia entered the main castle, or rather, since she had dinner with His Grace in the warehouse the night before.’

First of all, the very fact that these two were having a meeting was unprecedented.

A one-on-one meeting between a White Tower scholar and the Grand Duke Frazier would never have happened until the world split in two.

If Schulz Schmidt hadn’t unilaterally come today saying he wanted to meet Assis Grand Duke Frazier, he would have left the Grand Duchy without exchanging a single private word with the Grand Duke until all the direct and collateral line classes were finished.

Moreover, this Schulz Schmidt was scheduled to leave the Frazier Grand Duchy next week.

“Currently, there are only two direct descendants in this Frazier domain: Young Master Tedrick and Miss Tulia.”

Schulz Schmidt continued in a businesslike voice.

“I heard that Young Master Tedrick has as many as eight private tutors attached to him for advanced learning, in addition to the regular classes he takes with me.”

Such cases were common among decent noble families.

Of course, only truly great families with ducal titles or higher could afford to attach as many as eight private tutors.

Thanks to this, Tedrick’s individual scores were top-tier. Enough for Viscount Lilius and the Aubrey couple to be confident.

“What I’m curious about is what kind of private tutor is attached to Miss Tulia.”

What kind of teacher could it be, to get every single ancient language problem correct without missing one?

Schulz Schmidt, who had honestly almost fainted while grading the exam papers, immediately sought out the Grand Duke Frazier.

He had come straight to the Grand Duke, expecting that with such talent, Grand Duke Frazier must have sworn Tulia to secrecy.

Wasting time was exactly what White Tower scholars and Pneumas detested most.

“If you could connect us with that hermit sage, I would send the most knowledgeable elders from the tower to Frazier domain instead of myself, as a token of gratitude. One of them has even taught the Second Prince.”

Unlike Assis Grand Duke Frazier, whose expression showed no particular change, Ruk Kelfosher’s eyes widened greatly.

The offer to send a Pneuma elder who had taught influential royalty as a private tutor was so exceptional that even the Imperial Family would welcome it.

Especially considering the poor relationship between the Grand Duke Frazier House and the White Tower.

However, Assis Grand Duke Frazier did not answer immediately.

Instead, he turned through Tulia’s exam papers page by page.

Thirty percent of the problems were even in ancient language.

Some of those problems were truly high-difficulty ones that even he would find hard to interpret.

They seemed like problems mixed in for discrimination purposes, yet she got all of these correct too, no wonder that cold-looking Pneuma came running in such haste.

Assis Grand Duke Frazier muttered.

“I had a suspicion, but as expected.”

From the time they were alone together, Tulia had been strangely clever.

She had been like that since she fluently spoke about difficult ancient languages that hadn’t even been decoded yet.

But he hadn’t pried. Assis Grand Duke Frazier was well aware that his grandchildren feared and were afraid of him.

He hadn’t asked much, worried that Tulia might shrink away again.

But Tulia had refused expensive gifts, asked for the direct lineage necklace, and obediently took the exam.

The results exceeded imagination.

Assis Grand Duke Frazier swallowed his strange sense of pride and spoke to Schulz Schmidt.

“Schulz Pneuma.”

“Yes, Your Grace.”

“Tulia has no separate teacher.”

Schulz Schmidt’s eyes widened.

“None? No, that can’t be….”

If it were anyone else, or even a slightly more ordinary noble, he would have surely judged it to be a lie.

He would have obviously suspected it was a lie to draw out a more advantageous hand in this negotiation.

But his opponent was Assis Grand Duke Frazier.

A man in a position comparable to the Emperor. The old Grand Duke who firmly supported this massive family.

Schulz Schmidt’s ice-cold eyes had widened countless times today.

“Then you’re saying the young lady studied purely through self-study?”

“From what I hear, she went to the library alone all this time.”

“…Of course, I know that Frazier’s special library has many precious ancient books. But….”

“If I may, Your Grace, and Schulz Pneuma.”

Ruk Kelfosher interjected at an appropriate timing.

“Miss Tulia has never received access privileges to anywhere other than the general library.”

At that definitive statement, the expressions of Assis Grand Duke Frazier and Schulz Schmidt changed with different meanings.

Particularly strange was Assis Grand Duke Frazier’s expression.

The Grand Duke muttered in a complicated voice.

“So you’re saying she studied ancient languages through self-study in the general library, despite having such talent and passion for them.”

“….”

“Without making a single complaint.”

Contrary to her bold appearance of attending the Frazier Council and casting opposing votes, the image of Tulia quietly studying alone in the general library, which even collateral members could easily access, made him feel uncomfortable.

Even Tedrick Frazier had eight renowned private tutors attached to help with his studies.

No matter how much Assis Grand Duke Frazier was rumored to be cold-blooded, he couldn’t help but be concerned about his granddaughter.

Such unexpected contrast can be this terrifying.

“Ruk.”

“Yes, Your Grace.”

“Bring the Special Access Pass.”

Assis Frazier wrote Tulia’s name on the Special Access Pass that allowed entry to the Special Library at any time, personally stamped it with the Family Head’s Seal, and handed the pass to Ruk.

The Special Library in the Grand Duke’s Castle was rumored to house precious ancient books rivaling those of the Imperial Family.

Therefore, only a few exceptional scholars specially recognized by the family head could even enter.

In other words, this was equivalent to Assis Frazier granting Tulia an extremely exceptional privilege.

Among Grand Duke Assis Frazier’s grandchildren, only the exceptionally outstanding Lisian Frazier had received this Special Access Pass.

The eldest of Tulia’s Twin Brothers.

No one could have imagined that Tulia would be the second to receive it.

“Since Tulia is so passionate about Ancient Language and scholarship, we should request Pneuma from the White Tower again.”

Ruk’s eyes widened unusually large.

‘Today is full of surprises.’

Assis Frazier was famous for never looking back at relationships that had once gone wrong.

However, what he just said meant he would extend a gesture of reconciliation to the White Tower, with which relations had already reached a breaking point.

And from the Grand Duke Frazier House first, no less.

Assis Frazier had no intention of maintaining positive relations with the White Tower again in his lifetime.

He had been thinking and planning to leave it as a problem for the next Grand Duke Frazier.

In other words, it had long been a matter outside his interest.

Ruk Kelfosher also never expected Assis Frazier to make such a decision.

And because of Tulia, at that.

‘This will cause quite a stir throughout the Empire.’

Maintaining friendly relations with the White Tower again would be very beneficial for the Grand Ducal House in the long term.

‘And if His Grace’s current decision goes through…’

“Ruk.”

Grand Duke Assis Frazier rose from his seat. In those hands that usually held a sword, quill pen, or the Family Head’s Seal, he carefully held his granddaughter’s perfect exam paper.

To be honest, he looked somewhat like a doting grandfather.

“Ruk. Go to Tulia and tell her. The ceremony for bestowing the Direct Lineage Necklace will be tomorrow evening.”

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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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