That Piece Of Trash Was Me - Chapter 35
—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————
Chapter 35
“…What?”
A hint of confusion flickered in Dave’s eyes as he ground his teeth and asked back.
“What did you say? Are my words wrong?”
“Yes. Your Highness was the first to put your foot on my body, weren’t you?”
“…What?”
“Your Highness was the first to put not your hand but your foot on a lady’s body.”
“….”
“Why are you suddenly getting angry?”
“Wh-what is this now….”
Right.
Dave is the epitome of a typical ‘rich young master.’
A young master of the Imperial Family who stands at the very pinnacle of having everything.
The Second Prince.
But he only has a lot of possessions and a foul temper, while his brain isn’t particularly good.
Just look at how he can’t immediately refute my words.
While Dave was at a loss for words, I quickly spoke with a pitiful expression.
“Has something unpleasant happened to Your Highness? As a noble of this country, I’m deeply worried about Your Highness’s well-being as a member of the Imperial Family, so please tell me everything without holding back. Otherwise.”
I paused for a beat before continuing.
“You wouldn’t have deliberately tripped a passing lady, would you?”
“Pfft.”
Suddenly, laughter could be heard from not far away.
Dave’s face, which had clearly been thinking only of yelling at my words, whipped around.
I also shifted my gaze in that direction and was immediately flustered.
‘Good heavens.’
When did so many people gather like that?
I had momentarily forgotten due to various incidents, but this place was the White Tower.
A repository of knowledge where countless scholars, geniuses, Pneuma, and the Dean resided.
Since it was none other than the Second Prince causing a commotion, quite a few scholars had apparently rushed over and were watching expectantly.
‘The Dean will probably come running soon too.’
And I was hoping the Dean would come running as quickly as possible.
Preferably together with Schulz Schmidt, who had been my Pneuma.
Dave’s face was bright red.
He looked like he wanted to shout to arrest all the scholars who had just laughed, but he was barely holding back, recognizing that this was the White Tower.
“Drag this insolent wench away for insulting the Imperial Family! How dare a lowly noble insult a prince?!”
I hadn’t expected that anger to escalate to ‘insulting the Imperial Family.’
Insulting the Imperial Family meant going to the Imperial Palace. More precisely, being dragged to the prison in the underground of the Imperial Palace.
It was said to be a terrible place where rats gnawed at fingernails and cockroaches scratched at toenails.
If he arbitrarily dragged me to the Imperial underground prison, Assis Grand Duke Frazier would formally protest, and the Second Prince would be severely scolded by the Emperor.
‘Of course, that would be more satisfying.’
I shuddered as I recalled the large cockroaches I had seen when living in my studio apartment.
I really can’t stand that. Just as I was about to reveal my identity immediately.
“Dave. That’s enough.”
An elegant and beautiful voice cut through like a ray of light. Dave turned around and shouted.
“Mother!”
“Getting into a petty argument with a lady in private, is that the example of a gentleman?”
Empress Carmi.
Behind her, the Dean was also standing with a surprised expression.
‘It looks like the Dean and the Empress were having tea together.’
And they seemed to have witnessed exactly this scene.
It felt strangely absurd how she had apparently beaten Ferdinand’s cheek to a pulp, then came here after having an elegant conversation with graceful laughter.
The same went for Dave, the Second Prince, who was making an expression full of injustice.
“But this lowly wench, this lowly noble from who knows where, insulted me….”
“Dave.”
Empress Carmi, who cut off the Second Prince’s words with a clear and gentle voice like rolling jade, looked at me.
Unlike Dave who had called me a little rat, she seemed to know who I was.
She had a benevolent expression completely different from the villain who had been striking the Crown Prince’s cheek with ice-cold eyes just moments ago.
However, a subtle sense of disgust was emanating from her gaze.
‘Well, she would have already grasped rumors that I’m not the real child of Marquis Frazier.’
Perhaps because there were many watching eyes, Empress Carmi continued gently.
“That lady is not a lowly noble. She is of Grand Duke Frazier House bloodline.”
“What?”
Suddenly, Dave made a dumbfounded expression.
“Mother, aren’t you mistaken?”
“Dave.”
Dave flinched slightly at Empress Carmi’s call. There wasn’t the slightest movement in the Empress’s smile.
“You must act befitting a noble member of the Imperial Family, Dave.”
“But with such shabby attire… And no attending court ladies or knights….”
Since I was soaked by rain, it was natural that my dress looked droopy and unsightly.
‘But it’s definitely not shabby enough to call it that. What an exaggeration.’
As befitting a prince who had been pampered and raised preciously, his character of treating someone like a beggar just because their clothes got a bit wet in the rain was remarkable.
The surroundings were quiet for a moment.
Actually, House Frazier’s knights had already found me right after I collided with Dave.
‘Wait for now.’
Understanding the instantaneous glance I sent telling them not to approach, they were just glaring this way intensely.
And for good reason, this place was the White Tower.
It wasn’t Frazier Domain.
Moreover, I was still a noble and an unmarried young lady who hadn’t even debuted, so there were many disadvantageous aspects in a situation of friction with the Imperial Family.
If the knights got involved too, one wrong move could really lead to accusations of threatening the Imperial Family.
“Dave, please show the etiquette of high society.”
At Empress Carmi’s voice, Dave reluctantly extended his hand to me.
“I regret that things turned out this way, Lady. What is your name? I didn’t know you were a branch member of House Frazier….”
“Not a branch member, but direct line.”
Suddenly, the words stopped. It wasn’t the Empress’s voice.
“Who dares to interrupt my words…!”
Dave’s voice, which was about to flare up in anger again, stopped abruptly.
Step, step.
I looked at the umbrella casting a shadow in front of me and the firm hand that grasped mine to help me up as if in a dream.
“Because Tulia is the legitimate granddaughter of this Assis Grand Duke Frazier.”
“Grandfather?”
Not expecting Assis Grand Duke Frazier to arrive this early, I was startled and just blinked my eyes.
‘Wait, did he come back without stopping by the Imperial Palace at all?’
But otherwise, the timing wouldn’t match.
Why did he come straight here?
However, the one more surprised than me was Second Prince Dave, who had been acting arrogantly right in front.
He looked up at the Grand Duke with a pale face like prey that had encountered a monster.
“G-Grand Duke Frazier…?”
“Grand Duke ‘Your Highness.'”
Even to my ears, it was a voice that sent chills down the spine like a lion’s roar.
“The Second Prince still seems clumsy with etiquette.”
In an instant, Dave’s face, which had been wearing a dumbfounded expression, turned bright red.
But regardless of that, Grand Duke Frazier continued speaking while looking down at him with cold eyes.
“According to the solemn national law established by the Briyang Empire, I, as Grand Duke Frazier, should rightfully receive honorifics from a mere prince.”
The guy who would have immediately started acting up again if I had said such words, considering the Empress’s mood and all, was now trembling like a deer before a tiger.
“Ruk Kelfosher.”
“Yes, Your Highness Grand Duke.”
“Demonstrate personally how the Second Prince should greet me.”
Ruk immediately stood next to the Second Prince.
Then, after giving a light bow, he opened his mouth.
“I greet Assis Grand Duke Frazier Your Highness. I am Second Prince Dave Evichkait.”
“…”
Compared to the formal greetings most nobles offer to the Imperial Family, this was much simpler, with many ceremonial formalities removed.
But the key point here was that this was a greeting from ‘Imperial Family’ to ‘nobility.'”
According to this greeting protocol, Dave would become a subordinate who must offer greetings to the Grand Duke despite being Imperial Family.
‘That is the game setting, after all.’
Since the game starts with Coriko entering this Grand Ducal House as a prospective daughter-in-law, the prestige of Grand Duke Frazier House is no joke.
The setting of being the only noble house that rivals the Imperial Family wasn’t just empty words.
“Now, Second Prince.”
“…”
“Greet me again as you just saw.”
“…”
“This Grand Duke does not have much patience.”
“…!”
‘The Second Prince was set to be the same age as Tulia, right?’
So he would be only 15 years old, and though he’s certainly different as Imperial Family, he’s ultimately just a scared kid in front of Assis Grand Duke Frazier.
“I-I greet Assis Grand Duke Frazier Your Highness. I am S-Second Prince Dave Evichkait.”
Dave, who was nasty but had decent intuition, tried to quickly retreat behind the Empress along with his greeting.
“Wait.”
“…”
“I’d like to ask why there are footprints on my granddaughter’s dress.”
“…!”
Dave’s amber eyes widened greatly.
I was quite surprised myself.
‘Well, as expected of someone who once made a name as a knight, his observational skills are incredible.’
Assis Grand Duke Frazier shifted his gaze. Against the backdrop of the sky just clearing after rain, a terrifyingly chilling voice continued.
“Why don’t you answer me, Second Prince, about why there’s such a clear footprint near my granddaughter’s solar plexus, not even at the hem of her dress?”
“That…”
“Or would you like to apologize to my granddaughter first?”
An intimidating sharp gaze headed toward the Second Prince without hesitation.
—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————