Translator: Nox

Chapter 24

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The Frazier bloodline gathered in its entirety only on three specific occasions.

The first was the celebration of the patriarch’s birth.

The second was the annual New Year’s gala.

The third occurred only when the head of the house issued a mandatory, high-priority summons.

Consequently, the audience for today’s intimate family banquet—held specifically for my investiture with the Direct Lineage Necklace—did not include every member of the extended family.

Even so, the atmosphere was undeniably magnificent.

Passing beneath a towering arch of polished marble, I looked up to see the ceiling ablaze with chandeliers that shimmered like a cascade of liquid light. Since this celebration followed the formal evening meal, heavy curtains of crimson damask had been drawn across the tall windows, lending the room a regal warmth.

The space was overflowing with floral arrangements, a fitting touch for a commemorative event. The crisp scent of blooming roses mingled with the sugary aroma of ripened fruit, transforming the hall into something resembling a mythical glade.

While billed as a private family affair, several prominent vassals had secured invitations. They approached me with various expressions of praise, and I maintained a polite facade, offering a practiced smile to each one.

“My thanks. You are far too kind,” I repeated.

In the midst of these pleasantries, a familiar figure broke through the crowd.

“Lady Tulia. My sincerest congratulations on being granted the Direct Lineage Necklace.”

Ruk Kelfosher offered a courtly bow and reached out his hand. Yet, in that brief window of greeting, I caught a flicker of hesitation in his gaze as it landed on Adel, who was standing just behind me.

I found myself burning with curiosity. What sort of history existed between this brother and sister?

I let my eyes wander subtly. The Golden Star was there as always, drifting lazily in my periphery.

Hey. Why don’t you fill me in?

If it could provide the sordid details of the Grand Duke’s marriage, surely it could shed some light on this sibling rivalry. Understanding their dynamic would certainly make managing them easier. I even tried to intimidate the Golden Star with a sharp look, but the celestial object remained indifferent.

It seemed the system only found joy in providing prompts for tasks that made my life difficult. I realized then that I could only rely on my own intuition.

Stuck with a completely useless Status Window.

I suspected that, much like before, I would need to unlock some specific perk before the history of Ruk and Adel became accessible to me.

“Lady Tulia?” Ruk prompted.

“Ah. My apologies,” I replied, snapping back to the present.

“Shall we proceed?”

“Lead the way.”

I placed my hand in his white-gloved grip and allowed him to escort me. In moments like these, the reality of my noble status finally felt tangible. I wasn’t walking a debutante’s path, but the sky-blue silk beneath my feet made it feel as though I were drifting through the clouds.

Of course, the man waiting for me at the end of that carpet wasn’t a charming prince; it was the formidable, almost demonic presence of Assis Grand Duke Frazier.

“Grand Duke,” I said, offering a respectful greeting.

I thought it was the appropriate way to address him given the setting, but something felt off. For a fleeting second, his expression shifted. Or had I imagined it? If I were still playing the game, I could have paused the screen to analyze the artwork, but in this physical world, time didn’t stop. I couldn’t quite decipher the strange, momentary look that crossed his face.

“Tulia Frazier,” he stated.

“I am here, Grand Duke.”

There it was again. A subtle tension in his features suggested he was dissatisfied with my choice of words. We were in a semi-public setting, so the formal title should have been sufficient.

What does he want? Should I call him ‘Your Grace, the Valiant and Mighty Assis Grand Duke Frazier’?

Even the protagonist, Coriko, never went that far in the original story. As I struggled to pinpoint his annoyance, a voice interrupted the silence.

“Father.”

Viscount Lilius, seated in the most prestigious position after the Grand Duke himself, spoke up.

“I am afraid there is a matter of great urgency that requires your attention.”

“It can wait until the investiture is complete,” the Grand Duke replied, his voice flat and dismissive.

However, the Viscount refused to be silenced.

“Forgive my boldness, but I must inform you that my niece is currently unfit to wear that necklace.”

The room went cold. Roughly twenty high-ranking officials and dozens of knights and attendants fell into a stunned silence.

Assis Grand Duke Frazier’s brow furrowed as he stared his son-in-law down. “Explain yourself.”

“I am well aware that Tulia achieved remarkable marks on the lineage examination. A perfect score, in fact,” Lilius said, casting a look toward me that radiated false pride. It sent a shiver down my spine. Men who wore a mask of virtue while plotting were far more dangerous than those who were openly hostile. To any observer, he looked like a doting uncle.

“But Tulia has been quite isolated, hasn’t she? Her father, Aster, is stationed at the distant border, and her brothers are away at the Academy. She has lacked proper guidance for some time.”

I felt a surge of annoyance. Why did he feel the need to highlight my loneliness? I was well aware of Tulia’s isolation, and having lived that way as Han Ina for years, his words didn’t wound my pride. They were just irritating.

“Driven by a desperate need for your approval, Father, she committed a lapse in judgment.”

“Enough with the metaphors, Viscount Lilius. Get to the point,” the Grand Duke commanded.

Lilius didn’t answer directly. Instead, he gestured toward his son. “Tedrick. Step forward and give your grandfather the full account.”

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It is customary for a nation to grant amnesties during times of great celebration. In that spirit, Tedrick’s house arrest had been terminated to mark the occasion of my ceremony.

He had arrived dressed in uncharacteristically sober clothing, looking like he was trying to blend into the masonry. Now, he swallowed hard and shuffled toward the center of the room.

“G-greetings, Grandfather.”

I had to hand it to Lilius and Aubrey; they were thorough. They must have heard me using that familiar term and coached Tedrick to do the same to bridge the gap. Of course, the Grand Duke was his grandfather too, but Tedrick’s voice was so thin and wavering that the effect was lost.

“I… that is…”

He sounded like a frightened animal, showing no more backbone than he had before his punishment.

“It’s alright, darling,” Aubrey whispered, squeezing his hand.

I was standing close enough to catch her honeyed tone. It was a performance of motherly comfort.

“Speak up. This is for your cousin’s own good. We must help her find the right path.”

What a load of sanctimonious garbage.

Flanked by his parents, Tedrick finally found enough courage to speak.

“Grand…father! Tulia Frazier stole my notes! She cheated on the exam!”

The hall erupted into a low, frantic murmur.

“Cheating?”

“Lady Tulia did that?”

The gazes directed at me, which had been neutral moments ago, suddenly turned sharp and accusatory.

“I knew that perfect score was suspicious.”

“But wouldn’t Pneuma Schuls have used different questions?”

“It doesn’t matter. If she saw the material beforehand, she had an unfair advantage. It’s fraud, plain and simple.”

“And to steal from her own family? That speaks volumes about her character.”

The whispers swirled around me. No one stepped up to defend me. At best, the few who remained silent were simply waiting to see which way the wind would blow.

Tulia’s reputation had been in the gutter only months ago, and I knew exactly how a cornered villainess was expected to react. But before I could open my mouth to defend myself, a heavy, resonant voice cut through the chatter.

“Where is your evidence?” Assis Grand Duke Frazier demanded, his tone like a weight dropping in the room. “Do you have any proof that Tulia Frazier committed such an act?”