# 16 - 16
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So, this huge space can only be filled with gold and ivory marble. The guidance desk is so spacious that it can be used as a bed.
A giant ebony table that can easily seat eight people and chairs surrounding it.
The tapestries on the wall were embroidered with threads of gold and silver, and even the slightest movement of my sight made the trails of stars seem to shine dazzlingly.
The sunflower statue adorning the treasury was unmistakably made of real gold and diamonds, and through the wide windows, the vast garden of the main castle appeared like a painting.
I was standing there with my mouth open and my eyes wide in amazement at the size and magnificence of the office.
“I thought the picture was fictional...but the real thing was so much more?”
In 2011, Kuriko succeeded in capturing the heart of Aces Grand Duke Fraser with only a few choices.
After that, she could freely come and go from the Grand Duke's office, a place that even most nobles could not enter carelessly.
Tulia will need to put in more effort just to get in.
It was a strange feeling that this place, which I was seeing for the first time in my life, had become so familiar to me.
"my dad."
At Lilius's call, the Grand Duke, who had been looking out the window, turned around
Grand Duke Fraser's eyes were dark green.
'Just by looking at the color of the eyes, I can definitely say that he is a relative of Tullia.'
Of course, Tulia's current eye color was a soft light green like spring buds.
When I played, I saw many illustrations by Tullia.
This official villain had many illustrations in particular where her eyes would go wild with madness, and when this happened, Tullia's eyes would turn the same dark green as Grand Duke Fraser's eyes, glowing ominously.
In other words, doesn't this mean that Grand Duke Fraser naturally possesses the level of insanity that Tullia, the greatest villain in the game, possesses when she goes insane?
...As expected, it's rather scary.
“It might be a bit scary if the Grand Duke gets angry with me.”
I thought that if he asked me what right I had to enter here, Lilius would bear the responsibility as I heard before, but the Grand Duke did not particularly reprimand me.
He glanced at the basket I was carrying and then turned his gaze to his usual indifferent expression.
“What's wrong?”
“Dad, the representative sent by Big Brother Nigella has just arrived at the main castle.”
My ears became more alert.
“If Big Brother Nigella…”
Grand Duke Fraser had four children with his deceased Grand Duchess.
Eldest daughter, Hyacinthia Fraser.
Second son, Aster Fraser (Tulia's father)
Third son, Nigella Fraser.
and lastly, the youngest son of Lilius Fraser, who was the father of that scoundrel Tedric.
The Grand Duke and Grand Duchess Fraser were highly fertile, but only three of their children survived.
The eldest daughter and Grand Duchess Hecinthia Fraser died at the age of 20 due to some accident.
The Grand Duchess was shocked by this event, and died soon after as well.
After that, Grand Duke Fraser never married again or took any mistress.
Well, what woman would want to remarry a man with such terrifying eyes, she thought.
She'll be lucky if she doesn't get eaten.
'But what kind of representative am I sending?'
My question was answered quickly.
“Should this be Earth?”
Grand Duke Fraser's voice pierced my ears.
“Should you and Nigella use that land to build stables like the nobles in the Imperial Capital?”
Father, of course, since it is land that you have always enjoyed as an ornamental flower garden, I completely understand your hesitation...
said Viscount Lilius, wiping the cold sweat from his face.
Didn't the Empress state that she would only sell breeding horses to families that built licensed stables within her territory? Thoroughbred horses have been one of the most important elements of family prosperity throughout generations.
“Tsk.”
Grand Duke's assistant Fraser clicked his tongue loudly. Immediately, coldness flowed from his eyes.
“When it is clear that the Empress is trying to burden us, what is the point of buying horses that may be barely distant relatives of war horses at high prices?”
It was clear in his voice that he was not satisfied.
“And these things are entirely within the Emperor’s authority, so how could a mere Empress who entered as a second wife dare to step forward?”
“Dad...”
“Tsk. What’s the difference between her and a legal partner?”
Could it be that Tullia's Infernal Mouth actually inherited it from Grand Duke Assis?
“But Dad, even if it is not for raising horses, using the still plain commercially is absolutely necessary in the long run.”
Viscount Lilius hastily persuaded him.
I paid attention to my ears.
“If it's about the still plain, I know it well.”
When playing, the land was absolutely necessary to get the ending called “Kuriko, the True Frieza Family.”
It was well located, the terrain nice and flat, and the soil fertile – blessed land where simply growing expensive crops would cause their value to rise dramatically the following year.
But most importantly...
It has been described as a wasteland miserably deserted by the failure of stable businesses
Of course, this wasn't really my interest.
Even if that was the case, the granddaughter who was shunned within the family had no say in the matter.
An established business will fail miserably, but that's okay. They will be the ones responsible.
Of course, even when playing, the still plain was beneficial in many ways.
It would be good to grow a lot of profitable crops for the empire, and since the location was good, if the roads were built properly, a lot of tolls could be collected from the trading companies.
If I think about it, I desperately needed the still plain for my mission.
When stable business fails miserably, the value of land becomes so cheap that I buy it with the money I have hitherto carefully saved.
Then suddenly, Lilius changed his tactics.
“Dad, please look at Tulia.”
Lilius was holding my hand and speaking in a pleading tone.
“The poor child is still so young.”
I? Why me?
“Big Brother Aster also needs better horses to show those barbarians on those cold frontiers what he's all about, Dad!”
Wasn't it you who was gradually embezzling Tullia's assets?
Grand Duke Fraser looked at me. I, who had been staring at Viscount Lilius in amazement, belatedly adjusted my expression.
At this moment, my ultimate goal and Lilius' goal were partially compatible, so I remained silent, but inside I was truly amazed.
How can a person be so rude?
While I was calming down, anticipating his future, which would certainly end in destruction.
Whatever he was thinking, Grand Duke's assistant Fraser, who was constantly looking at me, finally opened his mouth.
“Officially put it on the agenda for this weekend’s meeting.”
“…!”
Lilius' face lit up.
"Yes, Dad! Excellent choice!"
“Father, you are truly wise!”
Viscountess Aubrey Fraser, who stood beside me so anxiously and so quietly that I hardly noticed her presence, also had a brighter complexion.
Of course, when she received the Grand Duke's gaze, she immediately trembled and lowered her eyes.
Aha.
I almost get the picture.
In fact, even if the spouses manage the internal affairs of the household together, the housewife bears much greater responsibility for the living conditions of the immediate family and the comfort of its members
While my living in such miserable conditions was certainly the common business of the couple, Viscountess Aubrey Fraser would have received more of the blame.
But she probably dismissed arbitrarily cutting my budget and lying about indefinite house arrest as merely mistakes committed by her subordinates.
Thus she was able to boldly enter the office of Grand Duke Fraser (although she brought her husband with her).
But it seems that she has not yet fully received the Grand Duke's forgiveness.
Instead of crawling for forgiveness and risking uncovering more hidden crimes, she seemed to keep a wary distance from others.
“Having stakes and putting up beams on the plains of Statis—your mother won't be happy about that.”
When the suddenly deceased Grand Duchess was mentioned, the reactions of the listeners were completely different.
First, Viscountess Aubrey.
Although she bowed her head respectfully, her expression showed no emotion at all
Next was her son, Viscount Lilius.
Although his expression was somewhat uncomfortable, he seemed to quickly finish his calculations and wore a resigned smile.
Then I.
“I have no idea.”
Why was the Grand Duchess mentioned?
Even in, that was the extent of the setup.
The story only mentioned that the deceased Grand Duchess had a bad relationship with Grand Duke Assis, a typical political marriage.
What could someone like him have to do with such an important land, the Statis Plain…?
“Of course, States Plain was the land my mother cherished most during her life.”
Knock.
My heart sank at Lilius's words as he forced a smile.
This was not Tullia's heart. It was the heart of the Korean Confucian girl
“That was the land that your mother personally took care of.”
“…”
“She did it despite her precious status.”
Grand Duke Assis's voice sounded a little bitter
It was so subtle that for a moment I wondered if I had heard wrong.
B- But the mother will be very happy to see her children’s business flourish. Dad!
“…”
If he was truly the son of a poor family, he could act like this while thinking about the future.
Whether it is his future or the future of his children, living mouths are more important than dead ones.
But for the youngest son of the Grand Duke Fraser's family, who has enough to own and enjoy, this behavior is just his personal greed.
This is rather ugly greed.
Instead of flowers and the like, seeing thoroughbred horses growing strong will be more enjoyable. It's more practical, isn't it, Dad?
Whisper.
This bastard.
In the name of the Confucian girl, I don't want to forgive him.