That Piece Of Trash Was Me - Chapter 295

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

Special Side Story: Episode 2
“……Did you come because of that?”
“How could I not? It’s an event that will be recorded in the history books.”
As Tulia countered, Ferdinand let out a short laugh. At the mention of history books, their teacher, Schulz Schmidt, suddenly came to mind.
That harsh Pneuma who had subjected him to incredibly rigorous studies. When Ferdinand, whose body never seemed to grow and who remained perpetually young, grew exhausted and began to rebel, Schulz had struck him with cold words.
“Your Highness’s senior was very accomplished. Objectively speaking, she is a genius, and you should bow your head when you meet her.”
Even if history books were rewritten, this brilliant student would memorize every word without omission.
Ferdinand suddenly felt a bit pleased.
“Tulia.”
“Yes?”
“At our wedding, the Royal Wedding…….”
Those two are apparently coming as well.
Each claiming diplomatic necessity.
Could I tell them to leave?
I hate it when you think about those two, even for a moment.
If I could, I’d prevent them from ever setting foot in this Empire again.
But not a single word of what his mind churned escaped his lips.
His pride, like grains of sand, caught roughly in his throat.
In the end, Ferdinand spoke with a faint smile.
“Never mind.”
“What do you mean?”
Tulia furrowed her brow.
“You’re not saying the wedding won’t happen, are you?”
“Absolutely not.”
Ferdinand reflexively denied it, then swallowed a sigh. With those furrowed eyes fixed on him, he felt, somehow, really.
Really like he wanted to bare every secret.
“……Tulia.”
At last, Ferdinand opened his mouth.
“Is there anyone else you’d like to invite?”
“Anyone else? I think we’ve invited everyone I know. And it’s a Royal Wedding anyway. Haven’t the Imperial Etiquette Bureau already sent out official invitations?”
“You’re right. Everything you say is right.”
Ferdinand laughed softly and pulled Tulia into an embrace. He felt her slight surprise, but he couldn’t bring himself to let her go.
“Tulia.”
“Yes?”
“I love you.”
“…….”
“That’s why I’ve been desperately praying that you would only see me.”
Ferdinand rested his forehead against Tulia’s shoulder.
“I’ll give you everything I have. Won’t you love me in return?”
“…….”
Tulia’s heartbeat quickened. The rough, heavy thump-thump. Waves of heat rising. The line connecting her neck and shoulders burned like a fireplace, and Ferdinand couldn’t help but laugh.
“Why are you laughing?”
At her petulant tone, Ferdinand answered in a low voice.
“Because I’m happy.”
“But I haven’t given you an answer yet.”
Ferdinand spoke with a rare, deep smile.
“You don’t have to say anything.”
“…….”
“That’s fine, Tulia.”
Ferdinand wrapped his arms firmly around Tulia’s waist. Her hesitant arms slowly rose to embrace him in return. When Ferdinand buried his face in the nape of her neck, she murmured.
“Do you think I’m so mad I’d marry a man I don’t love?”
“……No.”
“Then that’s enough. Don’t harbor unrequited love alone from now on.”
At her proud reply, Ferdinand laughed. He held Tulia even tighter. She was truly a woman who trampled carelessly through others’ hearts and invaded them.
“Yes.”
* * *
Tulia was sprawled across Ferdinand’s desk. Drowsiness washed over her in waves, her eyes growing heavy, but when she saw him absently touching her hair, a pressing matter suddenly came to mind.
“Ferdinand!”
Tulia sat up abruptly and demanded.
“Why didn’t you answer me? Is the Imperial Crown Diamond really missing?”
Ferdinand, who caught her as she swayed, let out a hollow laugh.
“Yes. It’s been lost. About a week ago.”
‘The abdicated former Emperor is quite something.’
The secret errand the Knights had brought to Tulia today—along with an enormous quantity of flowers—was this.
The core of the Coronation and the treasure of the Briyang Empire, the great diamond on the Emperor’s crown had gone missing.
The culprit was, unsurprisingly, the former Emperor Alessandro. Though he had been shamefully abdicated and driven to the Borderlands, he was still an Emperor, and the confidants he’d placed were no small number.
‘Tsk, tsk.’
Consumed by a thirst for revenge, Alessandro had given orders to his subordinates, and exploiting a gap in the security of the vast Imperial Palace, they had succeeded in stealing the enormous diamond attached to the Emperor’s crown.
“He was planning to ruin the Coronation.”
“It’s my fault for not knowing he harbored such malice.”
Though Ferdinand spoke calmly, Tulia was not pleased.
Alessandro, as a man who had once been Emperor, had thrown away even his last shred of dignity.
Tulia raised her brows slightly.
Once she recovered the diamond and the Coronation proceeded safely, Ferdinand’s position would solidify and stabilize…….
She laughed wickedly in her heart.
‘That’s Tulia. She was always trash trash villain trash.’
Besides, as the Empire’s only Grand Duchess and the future Empress, what did it matter if she took a little wickedly satisfying revenge? Tulia recalled a few episodes of and her eyes glittered.
Of course, only in her mind.
‘Oh right. I almost forgot my original purpose again.’
“Ferdinand.”
Tulia walked toward the cloak hanging in Ferdinand’s study as she spoke.
“I’m going with you. Don’t say no. The Sacred Tree warned me in a dream, so I’m definitely going. If it’s really dangerous, I’ll stay put, but please don’t say you’re going alone.”
“Tulia.”
Ferdinand laughed in exasperation.
“You’ve already made up your mind to go. Were you ever planning to listen to me?”
“I was, but not right now.”
‘The Sacred Tree isn’t a fool. And neither am I.’
The way the Sacred Tree had appeared in her dreams again and again with such warnings made it clear.
The Sacred Tree had wanted to tell her something: stand by Ferdinand’s side and remove any danger that would harm him.
In other words, Ferdinand could only survive if Tulia was there.
‘Hmm.’
She was displeased that circumstances had come to this.
Yet it didn’t seem so bad either…….
Tulia stole a glance at Ferdinand.
‘……It’s a bit much.’
Wrapped in the plain black garments that Knights typically wore when carrying out covert operations, Ferdinand was truly striking to look at.
‘He’s almost too handsome…….’
With a subtle flutter in her chest, Tulia greedily enjoyed the moment as Ferdinand himself draped the cloak over her shoulders.
The next day.
Tulia decided that following Ferdinand had been one of the best choices of her life.
* * *
“I can’t believe there’s a ship this big!”
Tulia stood on the deck, her eyes sparkling. The sea breeze blowing from the east sent her long pink hair rippling.
She had also put on a wide-brimmed outdoor hat that her lady-in-waiting had packed. It felt exactly like being the protagonist in a black-and-white film.
“Is it really okay to travel on a pleasure ship like this?”
“It’s the fastest ship to our destination.”
“I thought small swift boats would be faster. But it feels like a proper journey. I expected to ride horses all day.”
Watching Tulia smile brightly, Ferdinand’s lips curved into a faint smile as well.
The location of the confidant who had stolen the Imperial Crown Diamond on orders from the former Emperor Alessandro had been discovered.
According to the latest report, the former Emperor Alessandro possessed many valuable treasures, including a special enchanted strongbox with various spells placed upon it.
The confidant had put the diamond in the strongbox and stolen both, making his escape.
So Ferdinand had to go himself.
Most Imperial treasures responded to the blood of the Imperial Family’s direct line. This enchanted strongbox too was the kind that could only be opened if Ferdinand shed his blood.
The longer the unlock was delayed, the greater the chance of complications. They had to move as quickly as possible.
His mind had been grinding away with all manner of calculations, but seeing Tulia laugh beside him made his heart soften.
“Do you like this pleasure ship?”
“Wouldn’t anyone? Don’t you like it?”
“I do.”
“See?”
Tulia turned her gaze forward again and laughed with delight.
The finest timber used without restraint, steel refined thousands of times into a smooth deck, and elegant golden accents scattered throughout—along with the solid sensation beneath her feet with each step—created the feeling of having stepped into a great noble’s castle.
The ship’s function of draining the wealth of the Continent’s highest echelon was palpable in every fiber of her being.
Tulia felt the refined extravagance with her whole body. Ferdinand gazed at Tulia quietly, then suddenly opened his mouth.

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