Chapter 17
The passage of several days brought the arrival of an unscheduled assembly for the Frazier house.
A crowd of retainers filled the chamber, yet the seat of honor was strictly reserved. Only those of the direct bloodline were permitted at the primary table. Even the most venerable elders, whose influence over the territory was legendary, found themselves relegated to the secondary sections this time.
The gravity of the day was undeniable; this was a session dedicated to one of the family’s most pivotal ballots.
Low whispers rippled through the gathered men. They marveled that the Grand Duke had finally put the Statis Plain on the table, noting how long that incredibly rich soil had been left to lie fallow. Others were more skeptical, suggesting the offer wasn’t as generous as it seemed. By making the decision subject to a vote among the direct heirs, the Grand Duke was likely leaving a backdoor open to see the motion fail.
Viscount Lilius Frazier sat at the head table, representing the only son of the Grand Duke currently present in the lands. His expression was a practiced mask of modesty and warmth, but it didn’t fool the older retainers. They caught the fleeting glints of pride in his eyes and felt a collective sense of weary disappointment.
The atmosphere shifted instantly when the announcement came that the Grand Duke had arrived. Every soul in the room, Lilius included, rose to offer a deep, respectful bow to Assis Frazier.
Assis took his place at the front and gave a sharp look around the room before granting them permission to sit.
Lilius was the first to speak, his voice dripping with filial concern as he asked if his father had enjoyed a restful night. The Grand Duke gave nothing more than a curt, silent nod, his eyes wandering over the seats.
The chairs designated for the direct line were strikingly empty. Lilius sat alone; the other sons and grandsons were scattered far from the territory. Even Tedrick Frazier was absent, having been stripped of his standing. According to the rigid traditions of the house, marriage did not grant entry to this circle; even the most prominent in-laws were barred from the vote.
The only person who could have sat there without the Frazier blood was a spouse of the family head. Assis looked at the vacant spot at his side, a place that had remained unoccupied for over a decade.
The elder acting as the session chair cleared his throat to break the silence. He announced that with the Grand Duke’s presence, the emergency session would commence.
Suddenly, a heavy door groaned open.
The sound was jarring in a room that had been deathly silent out of reverence for Assis. Every head turned as the rhythmic tap of heels echoed against the polished marble. A figure moved confidently past the rows of seated retainers, heading straight for the front.
Confused murmurs broke out. The men traded glances, noting the newcomer’s gender and her striking rose-colored hair. Ruk Kelfosher breathed her name in a low tone: Tulia.
Tulia Frazier, her pink hair styled in elegant braids, came to a halt at the head table. She stood directly across from a stunned Lilius.
She looked toward the high seat and offered a greeting to her grandfather. Then, standing just below the Grand Duke’s position, she straightened up. Her vibrant eyes shimmered with the intensity of sunlight hitting a lush forest.
She apologized for her tardiness, though her tone remained steady as she pointed out that she held a legitimate right to be there.
The chairman eventually recovered, coughing into his hand before resuming the proceedings.
I settled into the soft upholstery of the chair, keeping a pleasant expression fixed on my face while I listened to the opening statements. The topic was the granting of commercial development rights for the Statis Plain, located in the heart of the duchy.
A wave of excitement washed over the retainers. Beside me, Lilius was a study in shifting emotions—shock and annoyance had given way to a forced, upright posture. He had wanted this for a long time, and the hunger for success was written all over him.
The chairman called for the direct descendants in favor of the motion to signal their approval. Lilius’s hand shot up instantly. A moment later, a man sitting just below us followed suit. He was the proxy for Nigela Frazier, who apparently felt so certain of the outcome he hadn’t bothered to show up himself.
Observers whispered that the two young lords were likely plotting a joint business venture on that land. They concluded that with two votes, the matter was essentially settled.
The chairman called for order and then asked for any dissenting votes from the direct line.
I raised my hand.
Unlike the reaction to Lilius, my gesture didn’t cause a stir. Most of the retainers barely acknowledged me as a true Frazier, if they thought of me at all. To them, I was probably just a flighty fifteen-year-old girl who didn’t understand where she was or what she was doing.
They likely assumed I was just a single, insignificant vote.
But they were overlooking a crucial detail. I wasn’t just one person in the eyes of the law.
I had lived through this exact family meeting hundreds of times in the game. I knew the mechanics of this world better than anyone. Because of that, I knew exactly how to turn my lone presence into the weight of four people with a single declaration.
I spoke up, addressing the chairman. My smile was the picture of virtuous confidence, though I felt a flicker of playful malice beneath it. I announced that the entire House of Marquis Frazier was casting its vote in opposition.
The room went dead silent.
The meeting dragged on for another hour, descending into utter turmoil. But the conclusion was inescapable.
The chairman was forced to announce that, per the statutes of the family, the development permit for the Statis Plain was officially denied.
Lilius was livid, his face turning an angry shade of red as he argued with the chairman. However, his protest died in his throat when the Grand Duke intervened. Assis asked him in a freezing tone if he intended to challenge the very laws of their house. Lilius shut his mouth instantly, looking like a man who had been choked into silence, his complexion fluctuating between crimson and a sickly blue.
I felt a surge of private triumph. My obsession with that one game had finally paid off in a spectacular way.
In the original story, Coriko could never have played this card. She was always the outsider, the prospective bride who—by law—would never have a say in these meetings. Some of the game’s more difficult paths involved a male lead inheriting the title early just to give her power, a route that had been a nightmare to complete.
The man at the center of that specific ending was Tulia’s own brother, the older twin.
Lisian Marquis Frazier.
His vote was one of the three I had just wielded. The others belonged to Tulia’s other twin brother and her father, Marquis Aster.
Having powerful relatives was certainly a tactical advantage. I could essentially harvest their voting power for my own ends.
Granted, if I had the choice, I’d still rather be Coriko. Being Tulia meant living with a target on my back as a villainess. But for today, saving the Statis Plain and ruining Lilius’s day felt like a massive victory.
I was humming to myself, heading toward my quarters, when I suddenly froze.
My heart skipped a beat. Standing there, watching me with a gaze that could wither stone, was the Grand Duke.
A nervous hiccup escaped me, and I clamped my hands over my mouth in embarrassment. Assis Frazier didn’t say a word at first; he simply turned his imposing frame away.
For a fleeting second, I hoped he was just walking off.
That hope vanished when his voice cut through the air, commanding me to follow him. I scrambled to keep pace, trailing cautiously behind him.
