That Piece Of Trash Was Me - Chapter 294

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Special Side Story Episode 1
Side Story 3. Let’s Go on a Trip Together—Honeymoon
“Gasp!”
Tulia’s eyes snapped open from sleep.
Dark night.
A familiar ceiling.
Moonlight rippling through the half-drawn curtains…….
It was her bedroom in the Frazier Grand Duke Estate.
Tulia blinked blankly. Thanks to the moonlight leaking in, she could see the clock.
“Three in the morning…….”
She rose from bed and reached for the water cup on the side table. After wetting her throat with the half-cooled water, her mind cleared a little.
Tulia muttered, furrowing her brow.
“It’s been a week now—Ferdinand keeps showing up in my dreams.”
With the coronation approaching and her planned marriage to Ferdinand, it wasn’t strange for her betrothed to appear often in her dreams.
In an ordinary case, it would have been so.
But her betrothed in the dream…….
“Why does he always appear like that?”
Tulia ran her fingers roughly through her pink hair. For a week straight, Ferdinand appeared the same way in the recurring dream.
‘Why does he die so horribly…….’
On the first day, she’d felt uneasy but dismissed it as a meaningless dream. Yet with each passing day, the dream grew sharper in detail.
Today, even the shadow of the Sacred Tree Beta Crucis rippled across it.
Tulia rested her chin in both hands and pouted her lips.
“I’m not a priest.”
They can’t understand even with such a complicated explanation. Why are they insisting I interpret the divine oracle?
“Ferdinand…….”
Why was he dying?
Why was she having such nightmares?
‘The Sacred Tree wouldn’t just appear like this.’
Not in a nightmare that had persisted for a week.
“Could it be…….”
Was Ferdinand about to be assassinated?
Tulia’s brow furrowed sharply. The thought that suddenly occurred to her sent shivers down her spine, yet at the same time, she felt indignant.
“Didn’t I see the ending? Has some new quest appeared?”
When would she finally be able to enjoy a carefree life as the future empress?
Tulia, now downcast, blinked a few times before looking up at the ceiling.
Kim Ddongbyeol sparkled soothingly above her.
“Star.”
Tulia pulled Kim Ddongbyeol close to her chest and spoke miserably.
“If something bad happens, know that you’ll be disassembled in my hands. Understood?”
“…….”
* * *
‘What if something really does happen?’
The next day.
Tulia let out an exasperated sigh.
At that, the knights before her flinched visibly.
“……Lady Tulia. Have we perhaps made some mistake?”
“No.”
Tulia was soon to be invested as empress. Moreover, the reputation of “the Continent’s Savior” had elevated her in some people’s eyes to near-divine status.
Even her crude nature and the faded infamy of her past were being elevated to the elegant arrogance that a being beyond human naturally ought to possess.
Quite apart from such matters, the knights of the Imperial Palace could not help but defer to Tulia Frazier.
The knights glanced backward.
Even though they had come today to deliver Ferdinand’s Imperial Decree, they did not carry their usual pride.
Why?
Because of the flowers that the Imperial Ministry of Ceremonies had sent in the Crown Prince’s name.
Seventeen carriages brimming with fragrant blooms drew the curiosity of countless nobles the moment they passed through the palace gates. No doubt this quarter’s social circles would be abuzz with talk of those seventeen flower carriages.
When Tulia herself saw the flowers being unloaded from the carriages, her mind grew dizzy. The many servants of the Grand Duke Estate were relentlessly carrying flowers into the mansion.
Lilacs, peonies, pale blue hydrangeas, field daisies, and plate roses famous for butterflies alighting on them, lilies in clear tones, marigolds, lavender, and uniquely deep purple violets—the varieties were endless. It was like watching a vast wave of color dance.
Tulia found herself staring, her mouth falling open.
“……Delivery people.”
“Pardon?”
“Oh, no. Lords.”
Tulia coughed and collected herself. She’d nearly forgotten her business, captivated by the flowers.
“So, His Highness is going to ‘that sort of place’? In secret?”
“Yes, Lady Tulia.”
The knights quickly gathered their wits and answered. Tulia, mindful that they were in the heavily trafficked first floor, led them to the reception room.
Only once she confirmed the reception room was empty did the knights kneel on one knee and relay the Imperial Decree from beginning to end.
“…….”
Tulia sat for a moment, then rose. As she pulled the bell cord, maids entered.
“I’m going to the palace. Get me ready.”
The knights and maids exchanged glances with one another.
* * *
Ferdinand had already finished his preparations for departure. He gazed out the window, reviewing the urgent letter the tracking unit had sent earlier.
He was the Crown Prince, but not the Emperor.
Tulia, despite her transcendent position, was not yet the Empress.
In other words, the two of them could not yet fully control the Imperial Palace.
The deeper a pool, the longer it must bask in sunlight.
This vast Imperial Palace still had Empress Carmi’s hands and feet scattered like mold throughout.
Ferdinand possessed considerable patience.
In childhood, there were days he crawled through filthy underground passages for hours on end, and winters he survived in caves with one arm in tatters.
So Ferdinand did not act rashly, remaining in the Crown Prince Palace and careful not to expose his movements to the enemies who still remained.
Tulia, though…….
Ferdinand smiled faintly.
She was a person of very high combat ability. Being born of a noble house, she did not seem averse to the secret struggles of the Imperial Palace at all. No, from Ferdinand’s perspective, quite the opposite…….
She seemed to anticipate such struggles.
This was no mistake.
Because Ferdinand had hovered near Tulia for a very long time.
And had spent considerable effort observing her deeply.
The reason Ferdinand acted this way was simple.
He truly…….
He truly wished to be loved by Tulia.
He had thought a thousand times over that he wished she would love only him.
They had spent so little time together.
How could he become the most important person to the woman who would become his wife?
Ferdinand fastened the buckle of his glove with his teeth, lost in thought.
Knock, knock.
The sound of the door being tapped came then. Ferdinand opened his mouth without even turning around.
“Come in.”
Click.
The door opened and footsteps were heard.
Ferdinand, seated on the desk gazing out the window, did not know who had entered.
Indeed, he was scarcely concerned. The “incident” that had erupted a week ago meant he received reports frequently, so he assumed this fell into that category.
However…….
When he heard no presence whatsoever—unlike usual—he felt puzzled.
Ferdinand turned his head, and in an instant, something unlike his usual demeanor flashed across his red eyes.
He sprang to his feet and moved in a single stride.
“Tulia?”
“Ferdinand.”
Tulia glanced around furtively, then covered her mouth with her hand. The manner in which she spoke suggested she was sharing a secret, and Ferdinand instinctively bent his waist closer.
“Listen.”
“Yes.”
Tulia spoke in a hushed voice.
“Is it true that the crown’s diamond for the coronation has really disappeared?”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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