Translator: Nox

Chapter 18

* * *

I questioned if I had wandered into some hidden eden.

As I moved forward, I fought the urge to gape at my surroundings like a wide-eyed tourist. Walking across this massive hall felt exactly like treading upon the gentle swells of the ocean. The floor was crafted from pale blue marble, each slab etched with rippling wave motifs that connected so seamlessly it defied logic.

The result was a space that felt like a dream—a magnificent chamber floating atop the tides.

The atmosphere was a strange blend of isolation and grandeur. Crystal-encrusted drapes flowed from the pillars and walls, adding to the conflicting sense of intimacy and scale. It felt as though this vast room, shrouded by heavy fabric, had been slumbering for centuries. Despite the obvious wealth on display, the air was heavy with the stillness of a place without a master.

There were no delicate trinkets or small luxuries here. Instead, the room was occupied by silent, looming giants: a grand piano in somber tones, a massive harp adorned with a golden goddess, and a porcelain vase of milky white that matched my own height. They stood like relics in a forgotten tomb.

Life seemed to have no foothold here.

Assis Grand Duke Frazier, whose long legs easily outpaced my own, walked toward the far wall and gave a creamy silk tassel a firm tug. A sharp snap echoed through the silence, and the gloom was instantly chased away by a flood of brilliant sun.

I was stunned.

Much like his private study, this room featured a wall made entirely of glass. In this era, glass of consistent clarity was a luxury beyond reach for most. The larger and more transparent the pane, the more the cost reached astronomical heights. A single sheet in that massive window likely carried a higher price tag than the heavy damask curtains woven with gold thread that reached the ceiling. By modern standards, this was the equivalent of a presidential suite in the world’s most elite hotel.

Amidst this display of staggering wealth, the Grand Duke stood with his fingers interlaced behind his back.

“Tulia Frazier.”

His tone carried a hint of danger, prompting me to respond with immediate decorum.

“I am here, Grandfather.”

I felt a sudden flicker of confusion. Until this moment, I had been so busy playing the role of a submissive servant that I hadn’t truly looked at him. Now, catching his reflection in the glass, I saw something unexpected. It felt strangely familiar—like the way a stray cat might pause to show affection to a stranger, even if that person has no food to offer.

Of course, unlike my own empty pockets, the Grand Duke possessed a fortune that could buy kingdoms. The thought vanished as the shifting light caused his reflection to fade into the glare. Perhaps I was simply seeing things.

“You have never once been present for a Frazier Council session,” his deep, commanding voice broke the silence. “Explain how you were aware of the right to vote by proxy.”

“I came across the specifics in the family statutes while studying in the main library, Grandfather.”

I was relieved that I had prepared a plausible story earlier. Tulia was known for her frequent visits to the library, making my excuse nearly impossible to pick apart.

“The library? That is peculiar,” he countered, his voice tinged with skepticism. “Lilius has frequently informed me that your reading habits are limited to superficial ancient dialects—useless trivia meant for social climbing and nothing of actual substance.”

My jaw tightened. That miserable man had actually been reporting on a young girl’s reading choices? What kind of relative acts that way? It was true that Lilius viewed Marquis Frazier, the Grand Duke’s heir and Tulia’s father, with deep suspicion. Still, I couldn’t understand why he felt the need to be so petty toward Tulia, a child her own father had already discarded. I made a silent vow to ensure Lilius faced a much more painful reckoning in the future.

“I admit many of the books were like that,” I replied smoothly. “However, I felt a desire to understand the history of House Frazier, so I researched it during my breaks.”

“During your breaks?” The Grand Duke turned to face me fully. “Then tell me, which generation of leaders do I represent?”

“The seventeenth, sir.”

“And when did our house rise from a mere Duchy to the status of a Grand Duchy?”

“That occurred during the fifth generation, beginning with the patriarch Solei Frazier.”

He paused, his eyes narrowing. “For what achievements was he granted such a hereditary honor?”

“Publicly, he crushed the northern invaders at the frontier. Privately, he mastered a lost language and successfully unearthed a complete set of dragon remains in the desolate territories.”

“Where exactly were those remains located?”

“At the base of the westernmost cliffs?”

Silence followed. The Grand Duke scrutinized me with an unreadable expression. “Those details are recorded exclusively in the ancient tongue. When did you acquire the ability to read it?”

A cold sweat broke out under my skin. I had slipped up. The facts I’d just recited were things I knew from my time playing the game. In that world, players often had to pass history tests to unlock specific endings. Having played through the narrative countless times, the answers were etched into my brain. Half of the lore was written in what the game called ‘ancient language’—a script some believed belonged to a vanished empire or a fallen royal line from across the sea.

“I encountered symbols I didn’t recognize,” I lied, trying to sound casual, “so I used the library resources to decipher them.”

In my mind, the characters I’d mentioned were actually quite basic. I hoped it was believable that someone could teach themselves the fundamentals. However, judging by his face, I was the only one who thought it was a simple feat.

“You continue to catch me off guard today,” he said, a brief look of melancholy crossing his features before his mask of ice returned. “Tulia Frazier, you took it upon yourself to ignore the consensus of the vote today.”

I remained silent.

“Your uncles all gave their consent.”

I kept my gaze steady.

“Despite your father’s rank, you are beneath your uncles in the family hierarchy. That is the law of our house. Your actions today were nothing short of a rebellion against that order.”

He paused for emphasis. “And you did so in front of everyone.”

A patriarch cannot allow his authority to be undermined, and Assis Grand Duke Frazier was no exception. I understood this perfectly. He loathed public displays of familial discord. Knowing this gave me the confidence to speak my mind.

“I voted against them precisely because I refuse to tolerate insubordination, Grandfather.”

“Explain yourself.”

“My Grandmother holds a higher station than my uncles,” I stated firmly. I knew that when one lacks their own strength, they must borrow the shadow of a greater power. “Does it truly make sense to sell off lands that an elder loved and nurtured just to satisfy my uncles’ petty greed? That is the real act of defiance, not my vote.”

Now that I had committed to this path, I made sure my voice was clear and unwavering. “We have a duty to honor Grandmother’s legacy. My uncles already possess more than enough.”

If they were starving, selling the land might be justified. But these men were living in comfort. To discard their own mother’s work for a small step up the social ladder was wrong. Besides, I knew for a fact that their proposed business venture was destined for a catastrophic failure. In truth, I was saving the entire family from a disaster.

Suddenly, the Grand Duke let out a soft, dry chuckle.

It was a tiny sound, but it made my heart race. The ‘Ice Duke’ was famous for his frozen demeanor; he almost never showed amusement.

“There is logic in your words,” he admitted.

In that moment, as if by some strange magic, a glowing status bar materialized above his head.

I stared at it, breathless. ‘Is that…?’