Chapter 4
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The sheer scale of the arrival was breathtaking.
If I could somehow make off with the horses and the carriage that Assis Grand Duke Frazier had arrived in, the proceeds would likely wipe out every debt I owed. Of course, since Viscount Lilius held the mortgage on all of Tulia’s property, I would still be left wondering where my next meal was coming from even if I settled the accounts.
The aura radiating from Assis Grand Duke Frazier was simply that dominant. He wasn’t dripping in obvious gold or draped in gaudy silks, yet every thread he wore was unmistakably of the highest caliber. I estimated his current ensemble cost upwards of a hundred million gold.
In my old life as Han Ina, a hundred million gold would have been roughly equivalent to a hundred million won. Although the economy of a game world never perfectly mirrors reality, I had developed a habit of using that conversion rate whenever I played. To think a single outfit was worth that much—and he likely owned thousands of them.
It was sickening that Tulia was literally starving when her grandfather possessed such obscene wealth.
“Take your seats,” a heavy, commanding voice rumbled through the chamber.
I obeyed instantly, slipping into my chair. Being the daughter of a marquis meant I wasn’t relegated to the far end of the table; instead, I was positioned quite near the Grand Duke. I was actually seated much closer to him than Tedrick was. It seemed they couldn’t get away with blatant disrespect while the head of the house was watching.
Since the banquet had been arranged on such short notice, the only immediate family members present were Lilius, Tedrick, and myself. I glanced toward Tedrick and noticed his hands were visibly shaking. He kept darting anxious looks my way, clearly terrified. He was likely losing sleep over the possibility that I might expose his recent behavior to the Grand Duke.
However, running to Grand Duke Frazier with complaints wouldn’t actually help me. In fact, it would probably backfire. The Grand Duke held a deep disdain for family members who tattled on one another, viewing it as a lack of dignity beneath the Frazier name. Since winning his approval was the only way to secure a successful conclusion in the game, I knew exactly which behaviors to avoid.
It was a pity, really. Had I been reincarnated as the heroine, Coriko, instead of Tulia, I was certain I could have wrapped the Grand Duke around my finger within a week.
When the servants began setting plates before me, I had to catch my breath. The salad featured crisp, vibrant greens, garnished with fresh lemon. There were even portions of cheese and honey. Any other aristocrat would have found my excitement pathetic, but my entire diet lately had consisted of a single piece of bread paired with a slice of cucumber so thin it was translucent.
The hunger was so deep that it had almost turned into a dull numbness. The Grand Duke’s personal staff moved with a cold, practiced efficiency, serving a meal that felt like a miracle to me but was merely a Tuesday to them. I took a bite of sliced pine mushrooms, savoring the earthy, expensive flavor. This single sitting probably cost as much as a commoner earned in six months.
When the steak arrived, still steaming, I felt a lump in my throat. It had been an eternity since I’d had any real protein. My internal instinct was to tear into the meat like a wild animal, but I forced myself to maintain a mask of noble grace. Fortunately, Tulia’s upbringing had ingrained proper dining etiquette into her muscle memory, allowing me to eat with sophistication without having to think about it.
The combination of high-quality butter, pepper, and tender beef was heavenly. This was the true standard of the Frazier household. As I moved on to a dessert of rare melon, my resolve hardened. I had to reach an A-grade ending. In the game, that rank unlocked the most luxurious lifestyles. I wanted to be rich enough to hire my own chef. I wanted to spend my mornings eating massive croissants stuffed with figs, ham, and honey without a care in the world.
The Grand Duke’s house was supposed to be Coriko’s stage, and the Empire was her playground. Even the Marquis’s family, who should have been Tulia’s protectors, would eventually become Coriko’s most loyal supporters. They could all have their happy ending together for all I cared. My only goal was a comfortable, wealthy retirement.
I had no delusions about returning to my life as Han Ina. My family situation back there was a disaster, and I had lost touch with all my friends while drowning in part-time work and school. There was nothing left for me there. In this world, luxury items like sugar and ice were status symbols. I planned to buy a warehouse full of ice and spend my days reading and eating ice cream in total peace.
For that to happen, I needed my next move to be perfect. Assis Grand Duke Frazier held power that rivaled the Emperor himself. He was the key to surviving this nightmare of a quest.
I took a sip of post-dinner champagne and let my eyes wander, only to freeze mid-swallow. Grand Duke Frazier was staring directly at me. I looked down immediately, my heart hammering against my ribs. It was a sharp reminder that he wasn’t just a collection of pixels and dialogue anymore. Making eye contact with him made it very clear why everyone in the game feared him so intensely.
I wondered if I had looked too desperate while eating. I thought I had been polite enough, but when I peeked at Tedrick’s plate, he had barely touched his food. Old-fashioned etiquette suggested that leaving half a meal was a sign of refinement, but Tedrick wasn’t being refined—he was simply too terrified to swallow. Besides, he ate like this every day; the food wasn’t a novelty to him.
A new dessert was served, but with the Grand Duke watching me, I didn’t dare reach for it. I couldn’t risk offending him. While Tulia was already an outcast and her father was the Grand Duke’s sworn enemy, I still needed the old man if I was going to build my fortune.
The oppressive silence of the meal finally ended, and we transitioned to the drawing room. The space was as opulent as any high-ranking noble’s home in the capital. While Tulia’s own quarters were rotting away, the first floor had been kept in pristine condition. It usually took half a day to prepare for a visit like this, and Lilius’s staff had done a remarkable job polishing the place. The room was filled with ebony furniture, velvet upholstery, and silver-plated lamps.
I looked at the jeweled tapestries and wondered if I should just pocket some of the decor later. Technically, I was the mistress of the house, so it felt only fair. Yet even the glittering room felt small compared to the Grand Duke. He looked like something out of a nightmare—an imposing figure that demanded submission. His hair was a shock of icy white, and his eyes were a piercing, poisonous green. He had the gaze of a predator.
Long before Tulia was born, the Grand Duke had famously tortured temple spies to death within his own walls. It was why even the Imperial family avoided his gaze. It made me realize how insane Tulia’s father actually was. To openly defy and antagonize a man this dangerous was suicidal. While everyone else trembled, her father refused to even acknowledge the Grand Duke’s birthday.
He didn’t send money for his daughter, and he didn’t send gifts to his father. He was a complete villain, and I was stuck as his child. Achieving an A-grade in these conditions felt nearly impossible.
It really wasn’t fair that Tulia was the only one being treated like garbage.
