That Piece Of Trash Was Me - Chapter 30

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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 30

* * *

The Frazier Grand Duchy occupies one-third of the Briyang Empire.

However, since the Briyang Empire itself was originally vast in territory, the distance to the Imperial Capital was quite far.

‘Though we’ll arrive in less than a week by carriage anyway.’

“My trading condition is for you to proceed with your original plan, teacher.”

“…What do you mean?”

“Why would the youngest Pneuma be dispatched to the Frazier Grand Duchy, which doesn’t even have good relations with the White Tower?”

When a particularly outstanding talent from an organization is suddenly assigned to a remote region, it’s because greater compensation is promised afterward.

“Teacher, you’re going to the Imperial Palace next, aren’t you?”

“…Does learning a lot of Ancient Language also grant you knowledge of the world’s natural order?”

“I learned a lot from my grandfather.”

“Indeed, His Grace the Grand Duke seems to cherish you greatly.”

The Grand Duke?

‘I don’t know what kind of misunderstanding that is.’

Anyway, that day the deal between Schulz Schmidt and me was concluded.

Just like in the original game, Schulz Schmidt would go to the Imperial Palace as a Pneuma.

‘I was so startled when he told grandfather he’d settle down in the Grand Duchy to teach me.’

I need to see the Crown Prince through you!

Anyway, Schulz Schmidt was certainly skilled, or rather, a clever scholar.

He had obtained permission from Assis Grand Duke Frazier for my visit to the Imperial Palace.

‘What on earth did he say to persuade him? He’s quite impressive.’

I looked outside from inside the rolling carriage.

Thanks to riding in a very fine carriage with multiple layers of quality cushions, the week-long journey wasn’t too difficult.

Thanks to that, the Imperial Capital was right ahead.

‘But…’

I glanced over and looked at Assis Grand Duke Frazier sitting across from me, checking documents.

‘Why is the Grand Duke going to the Imperial Palace with me?’

I tilted my head but couldn’t figure out the answer.

* * *

“Grand Duke Frazier will arrive shortly.”

Alessandro, Emperor of the Briyang Empire, muttered as he entered the already prepared Central Audience Chamber.

Even to Alessandro, the current Emperor, Grand Duke Frazier was an elder.

Emperor Alessandro was actually similar in age to Marquis Aster Frazier, that is, Tulia’s biological father.

“Your Majesty.”

Then, a gentle voice was heard. A beautiful woman who appeared leading numerous ladies-in-waiting was dressed in noble attire.

“Empress.”

Empress Carmi.

Her reddish-brown hair gleamed with luster. A crown delicately crafted from flawless emerald and sapphire sparkled nobly atop Empress Carmi’s head.

“Your Majesty. I came to pay my respects before taking the Crown Prince and Second Prince to the White Tower.”

“Mm.”

“Pneumas with deep learning and wise insights will be assigned to the Crown Prince and Second Prince.”

Originally, the White Tower should have sent several Pneumas to the Imperial Palace. That was the custom.

However, when Empress Carmi heard the news that Grand Duke Frazier would personally visit the Imperial Family, she changed her plans.

Grand Duke Frazier disliked Empress Carmi. To be more precise, he despised her.

A woman who had trampled her honor as a noble into the mud.

She didn’t want to encounter Grand Duke Frazier, who would look her over with eyes full of such implications.

“Isn’t the Second Prince still too immature? He’s insufficient to face Assis Grand Duke Frazier.”

Empress Carmi’s voice as she made excuses about her son was elegant and humble.

Normally, the words ‘He’s just a noble beneath the Imperial Family’ should have burst from Emperor Alessandro’s lips, but not now.

Assis Grand Duke Frazier was old enough to be the father of the current Emperor Alessandro.

Moreover, the Grand Duke Frazier House had never once declined in power since its initial prosperity.

A giant dragon’s castle established on solid bedrock.

That expression was accurate.

The taxes that the Grand Ducal House paid to the Empire annually were enormous in amount, and above all, Marquis Aster Frazier, the eldest son of Assis Grand Duke Frazier, had been accumulating tremendous achievements at the border for over a decade.

Though Marquis Aster Frazier had definitely not left for the border due to burning patriotism, it was an undeniable fact that the status of the Grand Duke Frazier House had risen even higher as a result.

There wasn’t a noble who didn’t know that the Marquis’s twin sons were outstanding at the Academy.

‘Come to think of it, didn’t he have a daughter below them?’

They said she was accompanying the Grand Duke today, that daughter of Marquis Aster.

But Emperor Alessandro soon lost interest.

In this vast Briyang Empire, there were thousands upon thousands of nobles.

Even if they were children of great noble families, there was no reason for the Emperor to remember those rumored to be abandoned by their families.

“By the way, I’m worried about the Crown Prince.”

At Empress Carmi’s voice, Emperor Alessandro’s face instantly contorted.

“What are you talking about?”

“It’s obvious he’ll think he missed an opportunity to face a powerful figure like Grand Duke Frazier because of the Second Prince. As his mother, I feel so sorry I don’t know what to do, Your Majesty.”

Every word from Carmi irritated the Emperor.

The Emperor who had betrayed Empress Olivia and had secret meetings with Carmi, who was her lady-in-waiting.

Olivia’s body rapidly deteriorated from the shock of witnessing that scene while carrying the Crown Prince.

Eventually, after she died and Carmi was made the new Empress, it was Grand Duke Frazier who stood at the very front of all the nobles to criticize him.

‘He criticized me under the guise of advice. How dare a mere noble.’

When not only Grand Duke Frazier but also the Crown Prince, who had made him subject to criticism from people all over the world, became a topic of conversation, his anger was hard to contain.

Emperor Alessandro spoke in a voice mixed with fury.

“No matter how much Ferdinand is the Crown Prince, would he dare defy an imperial command? If that boy dares not listen, report to me immediately! Even if he ignores the Second Prince, report to me!”

“Calm down, Your Majesty.”

Carmi stopped him in a flustered voice.

“That’s not what I meant. I was just worried as a mother… Of course, since I’m not the Crown Prince’s birth mother, he doesn’t listen to me well, but still…”

“When I’m his real father?!”

“The Crown Prince is a child with great wounds in his heart.”

“What child at his age! He only looks that way on the outside!”

If only Olivia hadn’t infused Divine Power into the Crown Prince in her womb.

The problem was that the Crown Prince had become that way because of the Divine Power she had infused into the child in her belly while in shock.

That’s why people couldn’t forget what was already past and kept talking about it.

Emperor Alessandro muttered quietly, unbecoming of his position.

“That damn Divine Power.”

But none of the knights and servants present in the audience chamber were surprised. The same went for the nobles standing below like retainers.

An atmosphere that was neither frozen nor peaceful.

The Emperor’s brief profanity that happened quite often but no one could get used to.

Hatred and condemnation toward his own biological son.

In this ice-cold atmosphere, Empress Carmi also remained silent for a moment.

After some time passed, Empress Carmi continued speaking in her usual gentle voice.

“Then, I’ll take the Crown Prince and Second Prince to the White Tower. Your Majesty. It’s regrettable that I cannot personally welcome Assis Grand Duke Frazier.”

* * *

“As we get closer to the Imperial Capital, we can see many more villages.”

True to the setting of being the most prosperous empire, there were many thriving towns along the way.

It goes without saying that the journey was comfortable.

Now I was feeling half nervous, half excited at the thought of soon meeting the first male lead candidate, the Crown Prince.

It was then that I heard words like a bolt from the blue.

“We’re splitting up here? Going to the White Tower? Why?”

It was because of what Schulz Schmidt said when he came to find my carriage.

I was so surprised that informal speech slipped out naturally.

Schulz Schmidt, who had officially stepped down from his position as Pneuma of the Grand Ducal House, was my subordinate according to imperial law.

‘Of course, most nobles continue to speak respectfully to their Pneuma even after classes end, out of respect and reverence for their teacher.’

Tulia was originally set up as a villain who spoke informally and rudely, so she acted like this in too, so whatever.

Anyway.

“The Crown Prince is in the palace. The Second Prince is there too.”

Of course, Schulz Schmidt would end up teaching the Crown Prince for some reason, not the Second Prince who was the current Empress’s biological son.

In any case, it was certain that Schulz Schmidt would enjoy the honor of teaching one of the current imperial family members, befitting the youngest Pneuma.

“…?”

Suddenly, Schulz Schmidt made a puzzled expression.

“Miss.”

“Hm? What?”

“I said I was going to the Imperial Palace, but I never told you that I was scheduled to teach the imperial family members….”

Schulz Schmidt’s sharp eyes flashed.

“How did you immediately pinpoint and mention them?”

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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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