# 31 - 31
“Wow!”
I realized my mistake.
correct. Schultz-Schmidt never said such a thing.
But my recovery was fast.
“If the most prominent members of the Binyuma clan do not teach the imperial family, then who will they teach?”
Wait, no. Was I quick to give compliments?
Schultz-Schmidt, who had been staring at me intently, burst into a sarcastic laugh.
Fortunately, he didn't ask any further questions and answered my original inquiry.
“I have just received news that the Empress will come directly to the White Tower accompanied by the Crown Prince and the Second Prince.”
"What?!"
“Why are you surprised?”
Well, I'm supposed to go to the Imperial Palace to meet the Crown Prince, but the Crown Prince won't be there!
All I asked of Schulz-Schmidt was to take me to the Imperial Palace, without explaining all these details.
But now I had to tell him.
“Actually, I wanted to meet the Crown Prince.”
Schultz-Schmidt showed a rarely tense expression.
“Miss Tulia.”
No, let me correct that.
It was a serious expression.
“Do you perhaps have an interest in His Highness the Crown Prince?”
Do I have an interest in the Crown Prince?
Certainly, absolutely.
My life depends on it.
“But if it had been anyone else, I wouldn't have minded, but you shouldn't have done that...”
“I have my circumstances, my circumstances!”
"love?"
"conditions!"
When I shouted loudly, Schultz-Schmidt laughed lightly.
His usual cold, expressionless face, with only slight wrinkles in the corners of his eyes from laughter, was absolutely ridiculous.
Is this person really the same cold, handsome genius scientist she knew?
I thought we only became somewhat close while decoding the ancient language's message, but apparently this level of familiarity was enough to show me this playful side.
Maybe because we shared some family information about his father that he couldn't easily tell others, he feels more familiar with me?
'...Huh?'
Suddenly I started questioning my thoughts.
Because I got a perfect score on the exam, Schultz-Schmidt came looking for me.
Up until this point, it's the same as the game.
But in 1996, despite getting perfect marks on countless straight-line tests, Schultz-Schmidt never showed his father's letter to Koriko...
'...Wait?'
What is this?
Why?
Why do I see something as Tullia that I never saw when I was playing as Kuriko?
What's different?
I looked at Schultz-Schmidt in great confusion.
A slight hint of mischief spread across his usually cold and rational eyes.
In 1999, Schulz-Schmidt did not become close to Coricó so quickly either.
Yes, that's how it was.
There is something different.
Did the Grand Duke spread rumors in the neighborhood that I was a genius in ancient languages?
No, definitely not. That person would not do such a thing.
“So, are you also planning to visit the White Tower, Miss?”
I suddenly regained my attention when I heard Schultz-Schmidt's words. After blinking a few times, she asked.
“Can I also go to the White Tower?”
“If you accompany us, you can take a tour of it. But Grand Duke Fraser will be the problem.”
As expected.
I nodded and immediately walked towards Grand Duke Fraser's aisle.
Of course, taking a few deep breaths.
“Grandpa.”
Grand Duke's assistant Fraser, who was talking with Rock Culvoucher and several advisors, turned to look at me.
"What is this?"
“Okay...”
“We are about to arrive at the Imperial Capital. We will arrive in half a day, so be patient.”
No, I didn't mean that...
But was the Grand Duke always someone to say such warm words?
He was like a bird of prey, radiating nothing but coldness and anger towards his children and grandchildren.
It was confusing, but that wasn't the point at the moment.
“Well, I, uh, me.”
As I made it clear that I had something to say, a faint question appeared on Grand Duke Fraser's brow.
“If you have something to say, say it.”
“Grandpa, may I… take a tour of the White Tower with Schulz-Pnomma?”
The Grand Duke made a slight expression and asked.
“Tulia Fraser.”
“Yes, grandfather?”
“Did you hear that the Crown Prince and the Second Prince are going to the White Tower?”
“Ah. Yes. I heard.”
“…hmmm.”
The Grand Duke frowned and stared at me intently, thinking about something.
It seemed that he had already heard that Schultz-Schmidt had hurriedly changed the destination from the Imperial Palace to the White Tower.
But there was no way I could be included on that modified flight.
What if it seems like I'm being selfish?
While I was preparing different excuses.
While he was thinking about something, Grand Duke Assis Fraser stared at me with his dark green eyes and said something unexpected.
“Tulia Fraser.”
“Yes, grandfather.”
“Did you enjoy reading romance novels about class differences in the library?”
“What are love stories?”
“You know, what do young people like these days? Love stories between lovers from different social classes.”
Romantic stories that deal with class differences?
Was that just my imagination?
Grand Duke Fraser's words slightly overlapped with what Schulz-Schmidt had said earlier.
impossible.
Does the Grand Duke also think that I want to go to the White Tower because I am interested in the Crown Prince?
Of course, since Tullia is the granddaughter of the Grand Duke and the daughter of the Marquis, even if there is a class difference with the Crown Prince, it is not as if it is a completely impossible relationship.
But since everyone knew that Tullia was not the biological daughter of Marquis Esther Fraser, perhaps he was referring to that.
I quickly shook my head.
“Absolutely not.”
It's not like I'm Kuriko or anything like that.
Besides, the Crown Prince is… it doesn't matter.
Usually in this type of movie, the male protagonists are the ones who kill the female villain more than others.
“No, this is not true. This is not true. Tulia will be executed by everyone.”
Tears blurred my vision, but as the Grand Duke stared at me without saying anything, I shook my head again.
“Impossible, impossible, impossible. Grandpa.”
“Ahem.”
“Ahem?”
While the Grand Duke was clearing his throat, Rock, who was standing behind him, suddenly spoke with a gentler smile than usual.
“Miss Tulia, romance in books is just romance in books.”
“No, I'm telling you, I'm not interested in that kind of thing.”
“What I mean is that there is no reason to endure hardships and tribulations just for the sake of romance.”
“…Huh?”
“Why would you need to run away and secretly marry a handsome man you like but who belongs to a different social class?”
“…?”
Sorry? An escape love story?
Am I just imagining the conversation is getting weirder?
“There are quite a number of royal family members in the Summer Kingdom living with many handsome men with talents and beauty who gather in a place called the ‘Harem.’ It is said to resemble ancient harem palaces.”
Why does the summer continent suddenly appear here?
The Summer Continent, the neighboring continent of the Spring Continent, where the Priyang Empire is located.
The fact that some kings there had harems is not new, I saw that story too.
"…truly?"
I looked at Rock with an expression that showed I didn't know why I was bringing this topic up.
"Just something to keep in mind. It's a story from the Summer Continent, where there's still no proper state-level exchange, but it's very interesting."
“…?”
When I made an expression that indicated I did not understand, the nearby advisors laughed.
Usually, what Rock said often reflected the will of Grand Duke Fraser's aces.
Surely he's not asking me to create a harem and put the terrifying Crown Prince in it...
I tilted my head. Grand Duke Fraser's assis, who had been watching me with a similarly bewildered expression, opened his mouth.
“I'll assign you a mission to Rock and some knights, so go and watch.”
"truly?!"
My eyes widened as I held the Grand Duke's hands.
Thank you, grandfather! Be careful on your trip too!
It was a spontaneous act, something I would not have done under normal circumstances.
Grand Duke Fraser's eyes rarely widened, but fortunately he did not let go of my hand.
Was it because Grand Duke Fraser's attitude towards me had become softer than before?
I was also able to process the Asus Grand Duke Freezer more comfortably.
Only a few weeks ago I was trembling in fear that the Grand Duke would cut off my head.
I bowed enthusiastically and turned around, humming.
“We will take good care of her, don’t worry...”
“We will keep a close eye on that man named Nyuma so that he cannot flirt with the young woman, so don’t worry...”
The words of Rock and the counselors that I could not hear clearly were scattered in the wind.
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