That Piece Of Trash Was Me - Chapter 36

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

Chapter 36

“…!”

This time, Dave’s face truly turned red and blue.

A face openly displaying humiliation.

I could easily read his thoughts.

‘They want me to apologize to some mere marquis’s daughter who’s the subject of all sorts of rumors behind her back?!’

That was exactly the expression he wore.

His face resembled Empress Carmi quite well, but it seemed he hadn’t inherited his mother’s genes for Facial Acting.

To begin with, there are hardly any spoiled sons who have much patience.

The one who knows this best is, naturally.

“Grand Duke Frazier.”

Empress Carmi, Dave’s birth mother.

“Prince or marquis’s daughter, they’re still children who haven’t even had their debutante balls yet.”

As she stepped forward and gave him a look, Dave retreated with grinding teeth.

“It’s just a misunderstanding between them, a battle of wills. How about we let it go at this?”

Assis Grand Duke Frazier cast his gaze toward Empress Carmi.

A brief silence flowed.

It wasn’t tense. Rather, it was loose, but that was because Assis Grand Duke Frazier’s eyes were indifferent.

One side was gripping the rope with both hands, doing their utmost, while the other side was casually holding the rope with just one hand.

An atmosphere where it wasn’t difficult to read who held the upper hand.

Empress Carmi’s smile remained unchanged, though she would be the first to grasp that Assis Grand Duke Frazier’s gaze placed her beneath him.

That smile, warm without any coldness, honestly made me uncomfortable.

‘She probably tormented the Crown Prince viciously behind the scenes while acting like that. Without anyone else ever finding out.’

“The Empress’s son.”

The highest noble among all the nobles of the Briyang Empire, the only one who didn’t need to add the honorific ‘Your Majesty’ when addressing the Empress.

“Kicked someone in the stomach over a battle of wills?”

And a Grand Duke whose very gaze was like that of a bird of prey.

“And it was a lady’s solar plexus at that. If this is gentlemanly etiquette, who taught it?”

Even at each of Assis Grand Duke Frazier’s blade-like words, not a single crack appeared in Empress Carmi’s smile.

“The one who taught the Second Prince gentlemanly etiquette would naturally be His Majesty the Emperor himself.”

She was indeed worthy of being a woman who had secured the position of new Empress through Rhetoric and beauty.

To think she’d drag the Emperor into this conversation.

At this point, even if he were a duke of the Empire, he would have appropriately backed down.

‘But Empress Carmi.’

You’ve underestimated Assis Grand Duke Frazier, the most frightening person ranked #1 (by my standards) in !

“Then let me go to the Imperial Palace with you right now and ask His Majesty directly.”

“…!”

“Before being a lady, she’s a noble; before being a noble, she’s a person. My granddaughter encompasses all these positions and statuses.”

For the first time, cracks appeared in the smile that had been settled on Empress Carmi’s face.

“I must ask His Majesty directly whether he taught the Second Prince the etiquette of kicking my granddaughter’s stomach in a battle of wills.”

“…Grand Duke Frazier!”

For the first time, composure disappeared from the Empress’s voice.

The smile finally vanished from her face that had been full of affection and kindness, and her hands trembled.

“It’s my fault for not properly teaching the Second Prince. If His Majesty, who is so busy with state affairs, hears about this….”

“This is also a matter concerning the Empire’s citizens, so shouldn’t His Majesty naturally know about it?”

Empress Carmi wanted to smooth over this incident somehow, but the Grand Duke’s intentions were clear.

Since even the justification that the Second Prince had kicked me was perfect, Empress Carmi finally shouted sharply at Dave with a face drained of color.

“…Dave!”

“Y-yes. Mother?”

“Apologize to His Grace the Grand Duke immediately! And to Lady Tulia Frazier as well!”

* * *

“Grandfather.”

In the carriage on the way back, I asked cautiously.

“You didn’t go to the Imperial Palace and came straight back to the White Tower instead.”

“Tsk.”

Grand Duke Assis immediately clicked his tongue.

“That Ruk fellow. His mouth is loose too.”

“But it’s true, isn’t it, Your Grace. You said it would be troublesome to leave your young granddaughter, who hasn’t even had her debutante ball, alone outside, and changed the subject.”

“A guy whose mouth would still be flapping even if he were drowning.”

Ruk let out a laugh, but I was secretly a bit flustered.

So, what that means is.

‘He was worried about me?’

The great Assis Grand Duke Frazier?

It was surprising.

Of course, I had something I was worried about too.

“Um, Grandfather.”

I carefully opened my mouth.

“Didn’t you come on too strong with the Empress and Second Prince?”

Assis Grand Duke Frazier, who was sitting across from me, asked.

“What was too strong?”

“I don’t think you needed to force them to apologize to me….”

As I trailed off, Grand Duke Assis looked at me intently. His dark green eyes were more deeply sunken than usual.

“Are you afraid of the Second Prince?”

“No. He’s not really scar— I mean. His Royal Highness isn’t really scary.”

He’s just a fool with a lot in his hands.

“I’m afraid of Empress Carmi.”

Since the Grand Duke had stood up for me this much, I needed to be honest too.

Assis Grand Duke Frazier, who had been staring at me, asked an unexpected question.

“Do you like the hairpin you received from the Empress?”

That’s right.

In my hand was a beautiful hairpin made of pure gold.

It was what Empress Carmi had personally pressed into my hands earlier.

This Pure Gold Hairpin embedded with Sapphire and Diamond looked obviously very expensive, and she gave it to me as a gift.

“You will surely become a great beauty. This is a gift I’m giving in advance to the lady who will become the next jewel of High Society.”

For the Empress to personally bestow an accessory she was wearing was a great honor.

If it hadn’t been in a situation where she was trying to smooth over her son’s wrongdoing.

Instead of accepting it graciously, I had first looked back at Grand Duke Assis.

“May I accept it, Grandfather?”

It was a bit bewildering when Assis Grand Duke Frazier, who had been watching the situation, suddenly chuckled.

And my heart sank when I turned back to see the Empress’s gaze had grown cold.

Right now, Grand Duke Assis is the one holding my leash, and he’s the one I need to impress, you know?

Most importantly….

I didn’t want to desperately try to win favor from that Empress who could smile so sweetly while slapping Ferdinand’s cheek until it bled.

That was my honest feeling.

“Yes. I really love the hairpin.”

I said it with all my heart, hoping the Grand Duke might give me something similar, but Grand Duke Assis looked at me with that strange expression again and asked.

“Tulia Frazier.”

“Yes, Grandfather?”

“The reason you didn’t immediately accept that hairpin you liked so much—was it because you were afraid I might scold you?”

“Pardon?”

I was flustered by the direction of the question, which was slightly different from what I expected, but I quickly shook my head.

“Since I’m Grandfather’s granddaughter, it’s only natural that I ask for Grandfather’s opinion before the Empress’s, right?”

I subtly emphasized the word “granddaughter.”

Though rumors are rampant in high society that Tulia isn’t Marquis Aster Frazier’s daughter, and I don’t know whose blood Tulia carries either, but anyway, I’m your granddaughter.

They say the love of raising someone is stronger than the love of giving birth, so please look favorably upon me somehow.

Please.

Our eye colors are somewhat similar too, aren’t they?

Grand Duke Assis Frazier showed no reaction to my words. Only Ruk Kelfosher beside him burst into laughter.

“Our young lady certainly speaks very well. There’s surely no peer who can match her rhetoric.”

“Hmm hmm….”

Grand Duke Frazier said nothing, but he seemed satisfied with my answer. I could tell from the way his lips were subtly curved upward.

“Rhetoric is indeed a noble talent. How did that Empress we saw earlier appear to you, Tulia Frazier?”

It was a sudden question.

I blinked and answered.

“She seemed noble and beautiful, but cold and ruthless.”

“Ruthless, you say.”

I had no intention of mentioning what happened with Ferdinand. But this much should be fine to say.

‘If I spoke more bluntly, I’d want to say that Empress is severely cruel, contrary to her appearance.’

If I said that much, Grand Duke Assis Frazier would surely think something more had happened.

I quietly added.

“But since she’s that kind of person, she must be at the pinnacle of the current Briyang Empire’s noble ladies…right?”

Grand Duke Assis Frazier, who had been staring at me intently for a moment, opened his mouth.

“Costly adornments and etiquette for commanding people are merely secondary things, Tulia Frazier.”

“Yes!”

Just before I was about to shout that Grandfather’s words were absolutely right.

“If one truly has blue blood, they must carry supreme righteousness, great purpose, and….”

Grand Duke Assis Frazier continued while looking out the window where the rain was subsiding.

“Dignified grace in their heart for life. Only such a person is truly at the pinnacle of nobility.”

Grandfather’s words are absolutely right!

…I was about to shout that.

But the profile of Grand Duke Assis Frazier looking out the window seemed strangely lonely, unbefitting a great noble who commands the Empire.

I fidgeted with the pure gold hairpin that would suit adult noble ladies and spoke up.

“Like Grandmother?”

At those words, the Grand Duke turned to look at me sharply.

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