# 82 - 82
* * *
“So, Adel is now the head butler in charge of the main castle.”
“Thank you, Miss Tulia.”
“Clara?”
"Yes!"
“You will serve as my main maid.”
Clara, who was trembling with fear, hunched her shoulders even more fearfully upon hearing those words.
"Afraid, aren't you? Keep being afraid."
Clara.
One of the maids that Opry bribed to put me in danger.
The same maid whom Opray, after being attacked by Anna, beat mercilessly in a fit of rage and then sold to an illegal slave auction house.
It was one of the border areas.
Clara had recovered with a large sum of money – or rather, with the money she had obtained from dismantling and selling the solid gold hairpin she had received from Empress Karme.
I made her my main maid.
As if he was showing off.
“Miss Tulia.”
The butler's assistant approached and whispered in a low voice.
I looked in the direction the butler's gaze was pointing and asked him.
“Aunt Opry's gone, isn't she?”
“Yes. She just saw Clara, her face turned as pale as a corpse, and she immediately left.”
“Good. Well done.”
The assistant butler bowed his head slightly and disappeared with Clara.
“She must be terrified, haha.”
I could imagine Opray's expression without even seeing her.
Illegal auction house for slaves.
Of course, the Briang Empire does not recognize slavery.
But as everywhere, the wealthy often indulged in exotic tastes as open secrets.
A good number of these nobles are also mentioned.
But selling the family “maid” openly to such a place was a very big problem.
This could irreparably damage Viscountess Aubrey's reputation and deal her a major blow.
Depending on how I use Clara's card, Opry might be completely different...
Hahaha.
I almost burst out laughing without realizing it.
“Tulia. Shall we go, shall we go to the banquet hall now?”
I nodded my head when I heard Lycian's words.
“Put your shoes back on.”
“Okay.”
Since I was sitting in a wheelchair, I took off my shoes and was moving my feet comfortably.
Even though I had to stay in the wheelchair for the time being, I couldn't even be barefoot in the banquet hall.
While Adel was about to put my shoes on for me.
"brother?"
I blinked in confusion.
Because Lycian got down on one knee himself to help me put on my shoes.
"comfortable?"
"Huh? Yeah."
I nodded awkwardly.
For a high-ranking noble like Lycian to simply kneel down and put boots on someone else.
Wasn't this kind of thing an exclusive privilege of Kuriko?
I felt a little embarrassed, but I had other ideas, too.
Yes. This kind of thing should have been shown in places like the Academy with large audiences.
Or at least at a big ball crowded with ladies and noble women.
I knew very well how immensely popular these twins were in the upper class of the Briang Empire.
Oh God, what am I thinking about again with the angelic Lisien?
Tullia's usual evil personality must have appeared. Yes, yes. It is impossible for me to think about such things.
Whew! I got to show off to countless ladies the sight of a very handsome man kneeling down to put my shoes on for me.
No, it was a sinister ulterior motive, not just an idea?
“Hyung, have you finished putting her shoes on?”
A suddenly appearing voice interrupted my endlessly flowing thoughts.
Leon Fraser's voice was coming from directly behind me.
“Yes, I'm done wearing it.”
Lycian smiled sweetly as he got up.
"truly?"
From Leon Fraser's questioning tone, I sensed a tremendous sense of pessimism.
"…Hey."
“Then we should go to the banquet hall.”
“Oh…”
“Hold tight.”
"Hey! Let go of me!"
But Leon Fraser wasn't the type to listen to what I said in the first place.
"Yes!"
The wheelchair started to move at breakneck speed like a runaway locomotive, just like the previous time.
I shouted and gripped the safety handles attached to the wheelchair tightly.
"Hey! Slow down!"
"Huh? You hungry? Run faster?"
"Leon! Hey!"
The sound of Leon Fraser bursting out laughing happily rang in my ears.
* * *
Banquet hall.
Grandpa sat at the head of the table.
Below, the seats are arranged according to generational order.
I sat in a rather high place and looked at the delicious food that was placed in front of me.
I took a spoonful of soup and shoved it into my mouth.
Beef cooked until it was so tender that it fell apart, rich butter, and delicious cream blended together to stimulate my appetite.
There was also a basket full of bread with a light brown crust and a white, flaky core.
I took a fist-sized piece of bread and spread it with sweet cranberry jam before eating it.
Since this was a feast held among family members first to celebrate the grandfather’s “birthday.”
All drinks were standardized under the name Champagne.
Among them were several types of sweet champagne that perfectly suited my taste. Of course, it was very expensive.
“300,000 gold coins per cup, equivalent to about 300,000 won?”
One glass of champagne costs 300,000 won...
I had already ordered and drank three glasses of that expensive champagne.
The servants politely and respectfully offered me a glass of cold champagne.
If I had just said the word, they would have definitely brought me the whole bottle.
Gulp, gulp.
The bursting bubbles excited my tongue and throat as they descended refreshingly.
Then I shoved the newly arrived sweet and spicy shrimp dish into my mouth. There was no smell.
Nothing pleased my mouth except the firm and delicious texture of the shrimp.
When eaten with leafy greens topped with snowflake-like shredded cheese, the taste was completely different.
How could the main castle chefs, working directly under Grandpa, cook this well…?
They were on a whole other level, nothing compared to the cooks in my kitchen.
I enjoyed the next meal very pleasantly.
Unlike others.
Tedrick couldn't even join this gathering.
The same applies to Lilius.
Aubrey and Sophia.
These two people were the only members of the Viscount House who could have a place in this banquet hall.
Perhaps it was because the head of the family and the Crown Prince were unable to attend.
Both Sofia and Aubrey looked wary.
“…”
O'Pray looked particularly ill.
Oh, my God.
Not being able to properly enjoy such expensive and delicious food.
It was so pathetic that I felt full.
After the main meal was over, we moved to the dining room.
Outside, it seemed that the guests had already begun to arrive, as some noise could be felt behind the thick doors.
“Since it is Grandpa’s birthday banquet, many people must have attended.”
Moreover, the news of Sophia receiving a marriage proposal from Crown Prince Ferdinand must have already spread widely.
This Christmas party is going to be huge in so many ways.
While I was recalling the various preparations made in the grand banquet hall, my grandfather called Sophia.
“Sophia Fraser.”
“Yes, my great-grandfather.”
Sophia was no different from the rest of the grandchildren.
Her voice trembles a little. But compared to the previous Tedric or Tullia, her posture seemed much better.
“You must have already received a call from your mother.”
“…?”
“Crown Prince Ferdinand has proposed to you.”
“…?!”
And at that moment, when I saw Sophia's eyes widen immediately, I could tell right away.
The fact that she was hearing this news for the first time.
If you notice it, how come no one else in this place doesn't notice it?
Grandpa also seemed to realize that Sophia was hearing about this proposal for the first time here.
“Didn't you tell Sofia already?”
Opray hurriedly rose from her seat and spoke with a respectful posture.
“Ah, since the matter is this important, I thought it would be best for Sophia to hear it directly from Father...”
"Hmm. So what do you think?"
“She and I have decided to accept the offer.”
“…!”
Sophia's eyes widened as much as they could.
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