TPTM 42

Chapter 42

Lilius was surprised to see Tullia enter the dining room, but he quickly changed his mind.

“On the contrary, this is good. I don’t know why she suddenly wants to have a meal with her twin brothers.”

His wife, Aubrey, was half-crazed at the moment.

And that wasn’t even an exaggeration.

Since childhood, Aubrey had been extremely protective and doting toward their only son, Tedric.

Now, that son was shivering in a freezing stone warehouse where even commoners wouldn’t live…

And the warehouse itself was a mess—both the kitchen and bedroom!

Cooking could be sent from Aubrey’s castle, but distance was a problem.

The Randell warehouse was far from their main residence and annexes. No matter how carefully the food was prepared and wrapped, it would grow cold and soggy before it arrived.

“It’s all because of that damned girl! My poor son… The direct line of the prestigious Frezier family can’t even have a proper meal…”

Tedric’s mother, Aubrey, always cursed Tullia with tears, her heart torn.

‘My wife will attack Tullia without restraint again today.’

Lilius’s mind worked quickly.

Tullia these days was different.

The old Tullia had been nothing more than an easy target.

A reckless, wild personality.

Even the Frezier household retainers had grown weary of her outrageous behavior.

But while Tullia acted like a wild child to others, she had always opened her heart, to some extent, only to Lilius and Aubrey—the “only” blood relatives who cared for her.

Thanks to that, she had brought in a decent amount of money when she extorted them.

Thinking of the lost income now, Lilius felt resentment toward Tullia again.

Tullia had completely changed these days.

‘What on earth did she receive as bribes or instructions from my father?’

She carefully returned their words, one by one.

She was by no means easy to manipulate.

So naturally, Aubrey and Lilius spoke sparingly…

There were two twins at the table.

Although to different degrees, neither liked Tullia.

Especially Leon Frezier, the younger twin, who hated Tullia as if she were mold on a wall.

‘It would be good if Tullia shows herself recklessly again like a wild filly.’

That would only further sour the relationship between the hated Marquess siblings.

Among the twins, Leon, known for his fiery temper, would surely lose patience and speak harshly to Tullia.

The atmosphere at breakfast would be a mess, but that would amuse Lilius greatly.

The stronger the discord between the siblings, the narrower Tullia’s position would become, and the more disadvantageous things would be for her.

Lilius glanced at his wife Aubrey sitting beside him.

It had been almost a month since Tedric had been banished to that shabby warehouse.

During that time, Aubrey, who hadn’t slept properly for a single day, glared at Tullia as if she wanted to kill her.

Up until now, Lilius had restrained her from tearing Tullia’s hair out, soothing her. But today was different.

“Darling.”

Lilius took Aubrey’s plate and sliced the steak himself, whispering gently.

“Please eat well.”

Eat your fill, and attack Tullia with all the elegance you like.

“Tullia, you’ve come to the dining table wearing Glory excessively around your neck. Haven’t you yet learned that excessive decoration goes against the virtue of modesty?”

“Ah, I’m sorry. I didn’t have proper jewelry, so I wore this. I won’t do it tomorrow.”

“Tullia, you’ve never eaten with your older brothers before. Why did you insist on coming today? The kitchen must have had a hard time preparing for this without notice.”

“Ah, I’m sorry. I’ll just have some salad and soup then.”

“Tullia, I heard you caught a cold. What if you pass it on to your brothers? How selfish can you be?”

“Ah, I’m sorry. I just wanted to have a meal with Lissian and Leon after a long time… But the physician said it’s hardly contagious.”

“There’s always the possibility! You’ve always been so selfish and mean!”

Finally, her true feelings came out. Lilius expected Tullia to respond with her usual sarcasm and defiance, but—

“Then…”

An utterly unexpected response struck them like a thunderbolt.

“I won’t eat.”

“…What?”

“Butler?”

“Yes, Miss Tullia.”

“Please bring me a veil from my dressroom.”

“Yes, Miss Tullia.”

Tullia smiled gently at Aubrey like a well-behaved fairy.

“I’ll cover my mouth, Aunt.”

“What… what did you say?”

Even Aubrey was momentarily at a loss for words. Lilius, needless to say, was stunned.

‘…What’s going on?’

This wasn’t right.

The Tullia who normally snapped back wasn’t showing at all.

Lilius and Aubrey slowly began to feel unsettled.

This was breakfast with the entire direct family gathered.

Some key retainers were also present, since last night’s formal dinner had been skipped.

And yet…

Tullia obediently sat there, covering her mouth with the veil passed by the butler, as if it were perfectly fine to eat nothing.

Aubrey’s words weren’t proper scolding.

They were stubbornness, nitpicking, nagging, and harassment.

Yet Tullia simply obeyed, covering her mouth, sitting quietly.

‘Why is she acting like this?’

Anyone could see this was extreme.

Anyone could see that Tullia, a fifteen-year-old niece, was being bullied by her uncle and aunt.

Even Leon Frezier, who had always been eager to get a rise out of her, put down his utensils with a strange expression.

Moreover, the retainers’ expressions… were not good.

It was obvious even from the subtle exchanges of glances.

‘This won’t do.’

At this rate, rumors could reach the Dukedom’s nobility in a strange way.

Outwardly calm and dignified, but inwardly anxious, Lilius suddenly realized:

‘I see.’

Tullia Frezier had turned her strategy to win favor with her brothers, the twins.

‘What kind of reward did that girl promise my father to behave so obediently? Or…’

Could there be a personal reason to gain the twins’ favor?

Whatever the reason, for now—

“Tullia Frezier! How dare you disgrace me at the dining table dressed like that…!”

“Darling.”

First, he needed to calm Aubrey, who trembled and eventually shouted.

“Let’s eat.”

“My husband!”

“…Darling.”

In the end, Lilius gritted his teeth and called gently.

Only then did Aubrey seem to regain some sense.

Clearing his throat, Lilius spoke to Tullia kindly:

“Tullia, you can remove the veil and eat. You know your aunt is only acting like this because she’s having a hard time, right?”

In a show of affectation, Tullia looked at Aubrey with a sympathetic expression.

“Of course I understand, Uncle.”

“Good, thank you.”

“Poor Aunt, please be strong.”

Aubrey’s fists, barely relaxed, trembled violently.