# 36 - 36
“…!”
This time, Dave's face really turned red and blue.
A face that clearly shows humiliation.
I could read his thoughts easily.
“They want me to apologize to an ordinary Marquise’s daughter, who is the subject of all kinds of rumors being spread behind her back?!”
That was exactly the expression on his face.
His face was very similar to Empress Karme, but it seemed that he did not inherit his mother's genes for facial expression.
First of all, there are rarely spoiled children who have a lot of patience.
The person who knows this better than others, of course.
“Grand Duke Fraser.”
Empress Karmi, Dave's biological mother.
“The daughter of a prince or a marquis, they are still children who have not yet attended their introduction to society.”
As she took a step forward and shot him a look, Dave backed away through gritted teeth.
“It's just a misunderstanding between them, a clash of wills. What if we leave it at that?”
Grand Duke Assis Fraser cast his gaze towards Empress Karmi.
There was a short silence.
It wasn't tense. It was even comfortable, but that was because Grand Duke Fraser's eyes were indifferent.
One side was holding the rope with both hands, doing their best, while the other side was holding the rope with only one hand.
An atmosphere in which it was not difficult to know who had the upper hand.
Empress Karme's smile did not change, even though she was the first to realize that Grand Duke Assis Fraser's gaze made her inferior to him.
That smile, so warm and devoid of any coldness, honestly made me feel uncomfortable.
“Maybe she was brutally torturing the Crown Prince behind the scenes while acting like this. Without anyone finding out.”
“The Empress’s son.”
The highest noble among all the nobles of the Briang Empire, the only one who did not need to add the title “Your Majesty” when addressing the Empress.
“You kicked someone in the stomach because of a clash of wills?”
A great duke whose gaze resembled the gaze of a bird of prey.
"This was a woman's solar plexus area. If this is a man's etiquette, who taught it?"
Even with Grand Duke Assis Fraser's every word as sharp as a sword, not a single crack appeared in Empress Karme's smile.
“It is natural that His Majesty the Emperor himself was the one who taught the Second Prince fine etiquette.”
She was indeed worthy of being a woman who achieved the position of new empress through eloquence and beauty.
Whew! I brought the Emperor into this conversation.
At this point, even if he was a Duke of the Empire, he would have retreated appropriately.
“But Empress Karmi.”
I underestimated the status of Grand Duke Fraser, the most feared person ranked #1 (by my standards) in!
“Then let me go with you to the Imperial Palace now and ask His Majesty directly.”
“…!”
"Before she is a lady, she is a noble; and before she is a noble, she is a human being. My granddaughter combines all these positions and statuses."
For the first time, cracks appeared in the smile on Empress Karmi's face.
“I must ask His Majesty directly if he taught the Second Prince the etiquette of kicking my granddaughter’s stomach in a battle of wills.”
“…Grand Duke Fraser!”
For the first time, the calm disappeared from the Empress's voice
The smile finally disappeared from her face, which was full of affection and kindness, and her hands trembled.
“I am at fault for not teaching the Second Prince properly. If His Majesty, who is preoccupied with affairs of state, hears about this matter...”
“This is a matter that concerns the citizens of the empire as well, shouldn’t His Majesty naturally be aware of it?”
Empress Karme wanted to smooth over this incident somehow, but the Grand Duke's intentions were clear.
Since even the justification that the Second Prince had kicked me was perfect, Empress Karme finally shouted sharply at Dave with a pale face.
“…Dave!”
“Yes. Mom?”
“I apologize to His Highness the Grand Duke immediately! And to Lady Tullia Fraser as well!”
* * *
"serious."
In the carriage on the way back, I asked cautiously
“You didn’t go to the Imperial Palace, you went straight back to the White Tower.”
“Tsk.”
Grand Duke Assis immediately clicked his tongue.
“That rook. His mouth is open too.”
“But that's true, isn't it, Your Highness? You said it would be uncomfortable to leave your little granddaughter, who hasn't even had her graduation ceremony, alone outside, and then you changed the subject.”
“A man whose mouth would still flutter even if he were drowning.”
Rock let out a laugh, but secretly I was a little confused.
So, what that means is.
“Was he worried about me?”
Is he the great Duke of Fraser's older brother?
It was surprising.
Of course, I had something I was worried about too.
“Um, grandpa.”
I opened my mouth cautiously.
“Weren’t you too hasty with the Empress and the Second Prince?”
Grand Duke's assistant Fraser, who was sitting in front of me, asked me.
“What was so powerful?”
“I don't think you needed to force them to apologize to me...”
As I stopped speaking, Grand Duke Assis looked at me carefully. His dark green eyes were more sunken than usual.
“Are you afraid of the Second Prince?”
“No, it's not really scary – I mean, Your Royal Highness isn't really scary.”
He's just an idiot with too much on his hands.
“I am afraid of Empress Karme.”
Since the Grand Duke had defended me so much, I had to be honest as well.
Grand Duke's assistant Fraser, who was staring at me, asked an unexpected question.
“Did you like the hairpin you received from the Empress?”
This is correct.
In my hand is a beautiful hairpin made of pure gold
This was what Empress Karme had personally placed in my hands earlier.
The solid gold hairpin studded with rubies and diamonds looked obviously expensive, and she gave it to me.
"You will certainly become extremely beautiful. This is a gift I am giving in advance to the lady who will become the next jewel of high society."
It was a great honor for the Empress to personally gift a piece of the accessory she was wearing.
If only it wasn't for a situation where she was trying to cover up her son's mistake.
Instead of accepting him graciously, she first looked at Grand Duke Assis.
“May I kiss her, grandfather?”
It was a bit confusing when Grand Duke Fraser's Assis, who had been observing the situation, suddenly laughed.
My heart sank when I turned to see that the Empress's gaze had turned cold.
Right now, Grand Duke Assis is the one holding the reins for me, and he's the one I need to impress, you know?
Most important of all…
I didn't want to desperately try to curry favor with the Empress who was smiling so sweetly while slapping Ferdinand's cheek until it bled.
This was my honest feeling.
"Yes. I really like the hairpin."
I said that with all my heart, hoping that the Grand Duke would give me something similar, but Grand Duke Assis looked at me with that strange look again and asked.
“Tulia Fraser.”
“Yes, grandfather?”
“Is the reason you didn't accept the hairpin you liked so much right away because you were afraid I would scold you?”
"Sorry?"
The direction of the question, which was a little different from what I expected, confused me, but I quickly shook my head
“Since I am my grandfather’s granddaughter, it is natural that I should seek my grandfather’s opinion before the Empress’s opinion, right?”
She indirectly emphasized the word “granddaughter.”
Although rumors are spreading in high-class circles that Tullia is not the daughter of Marquis Aster Fraser, I also do not know what lineage Tullia is from, but in any case, I am your granddaughter.
They say that the love of raising someone is stronger than the love of having children, so I hope you can look at me with approval in some way.
please.
Our eye colors are fairly similar too, aren't they?
Grand Duke Assis Fraser showed no reaction to my words. Only Rock Culfusher who was next to him burst out laughing
“Our young lady speaks very fluently. There is no one who can equal her eloquence.”
“Hmm hmm...”
Grand Duke Fraser said nothing, but seemed satisfied with my answer. I could tell by the way his lips curved slightly upward
"Eloquence is a noble talent indeed. How did that empress we saw before appear to you, Tullia Fraser?"
It was a surprising question.
I blinked and answered.
“She seemed noble and beautiful, but cold and cruel.”
“Tough, you say.”
I wasn't going to mention what happened with Ferdinand. But that much is enough to say
If I spoke more frankly, I would say that the Empress is very cruel, contrary to her appearance.
If I had said that much, Grand Duke Assis Fraser would have definitely thought that something else had happened.
I added quietly.
“But since she is that kind of person, she must be at the top of the current Briang Empire’s Noble Ladies…right?”
Grand Duke Assis Fraser, who had been staring at me intently for a moment, opened his mouth.
“Expensive decorations and controlling etiquette are only secondary matters, Tulia Fraser.”
"Yes!"
Before I shouted that my grandfather's words were absolutely true
“If one is truly a blue-blood, one must have absolute integrity, great purpose, and...”
Grand Duke Assis Fraser continued his speech as he looked out the window where the rain was easing.
“A generous blessing in their hearts for life. Only such a person is truly at the pinnacle of nobility.”
What my grandfather said is absolutely true!
I was about to scream that.
But the image of Grand Duke Assis Fraser looking out the window seemed strangely lonely, unbecoming of a great noble leading an empire.
I fiddled with the solid gold hairpin fit for mature noble ladies, and then I spoke.
“Like my grandmother?”
Upon hearing these words, the Grand Duke turned to look at me sharply.
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