# 26 - 26
“Exam paper…? Oh, I see.”
Lilius quickly went and received the packet of papers.
He began to read aloud the letters written on it in a somewhat frantic manner, before he properly understood what was written on the exam paper.
“To Marquis Esther Fraser.”
“…!”
Marquis Aster. Are you healthy? Since you don't like me to call you father, I can't find the courage even in letters...
Lilius' voice began to tremble more and more.
“Please, with your kind understanding, this… understanding...”
Lilius's hands, holding the exam paper – no, the paper that was made of the same material as the exam paper – were already shaking terribly.
To Lilius, who could read no further, a cold voice fell.
till the end. Read each letter without deleting. Viscount Lilius Fraser.
This single statement was as heavy as a blade of judgment.
An order from Grand Duke Fraser that no one who sets foot in the Grand Duchy may disobey him.
“Winter weather is equally hard on everyone...please, please...”
Lilius's voice shook harder than a hammock swinging in a strong wind, and at last he read the last line.
“Also to this day, I dare not… send this letter, so I must end it here… Your daughter… Tu, Tulia Fraser, with all due respect...”
He glanced at all the papers that followed, but they all had the same content.
Concerning about the health of Marquis Aster Fraser and expressing regret about the letters he was unable to send.
They were nothing but touching letters filled with content that would truly move the hearts of “noble adults.”
Lilius was wearing a stunned expression.
He was born as the youngest son of the famous Grand Duke house. Has anyone ever been exposed to such a situation?
It was definitely the first time.
Viscount Lilius Fraser looked at Tullia in amazement, as if he were enchanted by something.
She was covering her mouth with her hand, looking sad and distressed.
Not a trace of a victorious smile or triumphant look was found.
But Lilius felt it clearly.
He was completely outplayed.
Cold sweat ran down Lilius's spine.
* * *
“I never expected it to be so pathetic.”
The Grand Duke's voice broke the heavy silence that prevailed.
Everyone sitting in the meeting room felt like their hair was standing on end.
The wrath of Grand Duke Fraser, the seasoned sage, was not as raw as the passion of the young man.
It was more like fear, like an endless tsunami. A massive natural disaster instantly stripped the masses of their fighting spirit and crushed them.
“Rock Kilfausher.”
Rock Kilfusher, who had been standing quietly the whole time, responded immediately.
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“We will resume the ceremony in 5 minutes.”
“I will arrange it immediately.”
At these words, the servants began to move in perfect harmony. They felt as if the stagnant air was beginning to flow again.
They removed the curtains that were hanging to create a solemn atmosphere.
Bright cream-colored ribbons were tied into plentiful flower patterns, and shuttered windows were opened to ventilate the stifling atmosphere.
The lighting is brighter than before. The orchestral melody that had stopped returned. The sweetest and most beautiful collection.
The servants had served Grand Duke Fraser for a long time and were exemplary nobles.
They correctly understood how to avoid disturbing their master's mood at this moment.
As if what had just happened had never happened, but he would occasionally cast warm, sympathetic glances towards Tullia, who was standing quietly.
Although Tulia Fraser stood alone without a family unlike Tedrick Fraser, she no longer felt lonely.
Most of those who gave her kind glances were sincere.
“She must have been lonely all this time.”
“They say that the more empty a child feels, the more he behaves extravagantly and misbehaves.”
Haven't you changed a lot? Just looking at her clothes today, they look pretty decent...
No one showed interest in Lilius, Aubrey, and Tedrick.
There was no employee trying to influence them or win their favor as usual.
Although they might have felt angry at being treated like completely invisible people, the Lelios were now facing a greater trial.
Grand Duke Fraser did not impose any punishment “immediately.”
In a public setting, Tedrick “falsely” accused Tulia.
Out of jealousy for his cousin.
It was this behavior that Grand Duke Fraser disliked most, indeed, he hated most. They could not even imagine the punishment that would befall Tedrick.
They felt like their heads were going bald as they tried to gauge Grand Duke Fraser's thoughts.
Dancing barefoot on a thorn-strewn forest path might be less painful than this.
While everyone's circumstances were very different.
Rock Kilfusher checked the pocket watch he was carrying.
Exactly 5 minutes have passed.
“Your Highness, the time has come.”
When Rock Kilfaucher officially announced this, the Grand Duke, who had been lost in thought and had an expressionless face the entire time, stood up from his seat.
“Tulia Fraser. Come forward.”
Tulia's eyes lit up as she immediately walked forward.
* * *
“Ha. That was long and drawn out.”
Lilius, Aubrey, Tedrick.
At most, they probably assumed I would make the exam paper disappear and pretend it never happened, right?
“If you hit first, you naturally have to get it back with twice the force.”
Given the current atmosphere, it seemed that I had caused them not twice as much trouble, but twenty times as much trouble.
I just smiled cheerfully unreservedly, pretending to be happy that I finally had the direct lineage pendant.
“This Glory car has exceptional craftsmanship.”
Grand Duke Fraser said as he took out the Direct Lineage Pendant from the golden box.
“Wow, Glory.”
A name that also appears in. The pendant's direct name was Fraser Lynage.
'If you think about it, Kuriko is the female hero after all.'
There is even a way in which she receives this glory even though she is neither a direct descendant nor a blood relative.
The hurdle to her getting that was incredibly low as well.
I had to go through all kinds of risks and difficulties to get this!
But the fruit is always sweet.
I got down on one knee and received the glory with both hands, following the etiquette I had learned from Rock earlier.
The necklace felt heavy on my gloved hands.
When I lowered my gaze to check the glory with my own eyes, my heart began to beat violently.
“It is actually decorated with light green and pink jewels.”
The glory was a necklace that was given to only one Fraser.
So everything was handmade and custom.
Jewels similar to the color of the eyes and hair of the Fraser who would be the owner were set in a golden necklace, but I had never seen the glory of Tullia before.
“I didn't particularly see that in The Secret Bread either.”
The fact that all of this jewelry was colored diamonds made me even more excited.
Pink diamonds and green diamonds.
Wasn't it a great combination?
“Tulia Fraser.”
After a while, the Grand Duke's assistant, Fraser, spoke briefly about the dignity that its bearer must maintain in the future, while observing the rules of proper etiquette.
“Now, try putting it down.”
The ceremony will end with me personally hanging this glory around my neck.
“Now I can go see the male actors.”
I will work hard to achieve first class.
A moment when she raised the gold chain from which the pendant hung with an excited heart.
Suddenly my hand slipped and Glory fell to the ground.
No, he almost fell.
I barely managed to catch him.
“….”
There was a moment of silence, but soon warm laughter poured out.
“Miss Tulia seems very nervous.”
It is understandable that she is losing her strength. She had an incident like this.
“Besides, Glory is very heavy. Haha.”
Fortunately, the servants who had become my supporters due to today's events offered me a bloody shield.
She smiled awkwardly and lifted Glory up again.
To make up for my earlier mistake, I lifted the necklace again as carefully as possible.
Sliding, thud.
“….”
“….”
“….”
This time, there was a deeper silence than before.
This damned glory of the direct lineage pendant had fallen to the ground once again.
No, depending on the angle, it looked like I threw Glory to the ground.
“…Miss Tulia…?”
Even Rock called my name quietly, in a confused, confused voice.
Miss, when you receive the word “glory,” you must wear it around your neck with care and caution. It is a ceremony that expresses your true acceptance of the honor and history of the Fraser family.
That's right, not long ago, Rock taught me this in a very serious voice.
“This will never happen, but if you fail to put it around your neck properly… it will be interpreted as an act of insult to the blessing of the Founding Patriarch and the glory of the Fraser family, so you must put it around your neck carefully, and carefully again.”
carefully.
And carefully again….
Cold sweat started flowing all over my body.
Even the servants who had been making excuses for my behavior with very nice attitudes earlier were now only raising their eyes.
mistake?
Power draining from her hands?
tense?
A rather heavy necklace?
However, is it possible for this to happen twice?
Unless you intend to insult this sacred occasion of receiving Frieza's necklace!
After a while, I realized the reason for this strange situation.
No, impossible. This isn't a penalty, is it?
As if praising my achievement, or like a robot that must perform its task, colorful texts appeared before my eyes.
(Warning: Your skill level is too low to perform the current action.)
(Warning: If you do not raise your skill stats, your reputation among the people around you will be reduced to a minimum!)
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