Gossip articles are often focused more on drawing people’s interest than delivering facts, so there were many instances of attaching absurd stories.
The gossip magazine that covered the love affair between Herald and Fredrick was no exception. Herald’s eyes narrowed as he read the article thoroughly from beginning to end.
“It’s worse than I thought.”
Out of the two-page article, one page was false, and the remaining story was entirely exaggerated. Meanwhile, the most important part about Fredrick Benjamin’s wrongdoing was not mentioned at all.
Based on the article’s content, Liliana was a femme fatale who had the two men wrapped around her finger, and Herald was a complete fool bewitched by the seductress and getting into fistfights with Fredrick Benjamin.
The writer of this should have become a novelist instead of a journalist. Herald checked the name of the journalist written at the end of the article with a chuckle. Bernard. It meant ‘truth’ in the ancient language. Whoever gave that name had a twisted sense of humor.
The article was also maliciously targeting Liliana Benjamin. As Liliana’s image was already not good, people unanimously cursed her.
“They say a quiet cat is the first to climb the fireplace. That saying fits perfectly. How dare she look down on Count Braden?”
“That’s what I’m saying! She has nothing to boast about, and she’s even married!”
“They say couples resemble each other. That woman is doing exactly what Marquis Benjamin does.”
“I don’t understand how the Count fell for that woman either. She’s prettily featured, but she’s not a striking beauty.”
“She must be good at night work. Men always fall head over heels for that sort of thing. She may be a Marquise in title, but her conduct is no different from prostitutes.”
A dark shadow fell over Herald’s face as he directly heard what people were gossiping about while walking around the square and streets. Herald, who got back on the carriage with his back to the setting sun, let out a deep sigh.
“This won’t be easy.”
It was easy to cover Liliana’s ears, but the shelf life was short in return. He couldn’t prevent Liliana from going out forever. At most, it would be a week. Herald tried to quell the rumors within that time, but judging from the situation, it seemed difficult.
“No other choice.”
There was no other way but to use that method. He needed the help of his father, Duke Maximilian, so he wanted to avoid it as much as possible, but there was no other way. Herald tapped on the window connected to the coachman’s seat and ordered,
“Let’s go to the Maximilian duchy.”
[This is the timeline separator]When Herald arrived at the duchy, the Duke and Duchess Maximilian were having an intimate dinner. Although it was an urgent matter, it wasn’t something that would be resolved immediately even if he told them now. Moreover, it was a topic he couldn’t discuss in front of his mother, so Herald planned to meet his father separately after dinner.
“The master is looking for you, young master.”
However, upon hearing the news that Herald had returned, Duke Maximilian immediately summoned him. Herald’s exclusive servant, who was following behind him as he headed to his father’s study without even washing up or changing clothes, discreetly explained the reason.
“The two of them heard the unsavory rumors.”
Only then did Herald understand why his father had stopped in the middle of dinner and called him to the study. He clicked his tongue, feeling pathetic for thinking his parents wouldn’t know when the rumors had spread widely throughout the empire.
It was a bit disconcerting that his parents already knew everything, but thanks to that, he could bring up the topic more comfortably.
“The reason I fought with Fredrick Benjamin that day was because that jerk was plotting something strange.”
Herald spoke without hesitation about the things he had thought of in advance.
“So, there’s a favor I’d like to ask of you, Father.”
His father, who had shown interest in Herald’s words about Fredrick Benjamin plotting something strange, gave a hollow laugh.
“There’s no way you would ask me for a favor because of some obscure Marquis plotting something. There must be another reason.”
“Yes.”
Rather than making a poor excuse that wouldn’t work on his father and potentially go against his mood, Herald confessed the truth.
“The Second Prince is conspiring with Fredrick Benjamin to harass the Marquise Benjamin in order to achieve some goal. Not only are they spreading malicious rumors involving me, but they even dug up the grave of her late father.”
“Oh my.”
Duke Maximilian sighed deeply and rubbed his furrowed brow.
“…Are you saying the Second Prince is really the one who started the rumors?”
“Yes. I’m certain.”
It was a guess, not a certainty, but Herald brazenly lied. The Duke’s forehead, who had no way of knowing that fact, wrinkled even more.
“Listening to you, it seems the Second Prince’s target is the Marquise Benjamin… But why is the Second Prince interested in such a humble family?”
“The Second Prince is not interested in the Marquise Benjamin, but her father, Madison Benjamin.”
“You mean the previous Marquis Benjamin?”
“Yes. Madison Benjamin worked as an imperial archivist when he was alive. Under Count Stacy.”
Duke Maximilian’s eyes momentarily turned sharp, not knowing who Madison Benjamin or the Benjamin family was, but knowing who Count Stacy was.
“Is the Benjamin family on the Second Prince’s side?”
“No. They are not on the Second Prince’s side. Madison Benjamin became an imperial archivist because he was exceptionally skilled in foreign languages. Especially Garta, I heard he was extremely proficient in it.”
“Garta… Isn’t that the language of the Herta Kingdom?”
“That’s right.”
Herald added with the corner of his lips tilted diagonally.
“And a few days ago, the Herta Kingdom sent a marriage proposal. Saying they want to marry the Second Prince.”
There was no connection between Madison Benjamin and the Second Prince alone, but inserting the Herta Kingdom in between created the link of ‘Garta language’.
Herald was convinced that Madison Benjamin’s death at the hands of the Second Prince was also connected to that. For instance, maybe Madison Benjamin found out about the secret conversations between the Second Prince and the Herta Kingdom.
“As you have probably already guessed, Father, the Herta Kingdom sending a marriage proposal is not simply because they want to maintain a close relationship with the empire. It’s to put the Second Prince on the throne.”
“And they’ll probably use that as an excuse to wield power in the empire.”
Duke Maximilian’s eyes crinkled.
“As expected, we must stop the marriage between the Second Prince and the Herta Kingdom’s princess at all costs.”
“No. I think it’s better to accept the marriage proposal for now.”
“What?”
When Herald suddenly changed his attitude as if flipping his palm, after speaking as if he would strongly object until a moment ago, Duke Maximilian looked at him in bewilderment. Herald did not avoid that gaze and stared back at each other as if having a staring contest. In the midst of it, the Duke, who saw through his son’s intentions, laughed.
“You’re thinking of using this to cover up your rumor.”
Herald affirmed with a bright smile.
“Then will you persuade the others?”
“Well, I don’t know if they will yield to my persuasion.”
Duke Maximilian continued while stroking his chin.
“As you know, there’s nothing good for us if the Second Prince and the Herta Kingdom’s princess get married. Rather, it will only hinder His Highness the Crown Prince from ascending to the throne.”
Realizing that his father’s words were not because he was reluctant to grant the request, but had another purpose, Herald asked straightforwardly.
“What should I do?”
Duke Maximilian laughed, pleased with his quick-witted son, and patted Herald’s shoulder.
“You should marry the Herta Kingdom’s princess instead of the Second Prince.”
[This is the timeline separator]“What, marriage?”
Early in the morning, before the dawn’s first light had even faded. Crown Prince Austin, who was about to go to morning training, was startled by the story suddenly brought up by Herald and asked again.
“So, Duke Maximilian told you to marry the Herta Kingdom’s princess in exchange for covering up that ridiculous rumor?”
Herald answered with silence and drank his coffee. Drinking the bitter coffee without adding a single spoonful of sugar seemed to awaken his hazy mind from not sleeping all night.
“I understand the Duke’s desire to get you married somehow, but… I don’t think the Herta Kingdom’s princess is it. If you marry that princess, you’ll become the royal son-in-law and have to go to the Herta Kingdom.”
“Father seems to think the Herta Kingdom is much better than sending me to a dangerous border area.”
“That may be true, but…”
Austin continued, scratching his head.
“Still, I don’t think the princess is it. It’s not that I don’t think so, I’m sure it’s not. I can’t watch my dear friend being sold off to a far-off foreign country.”
“I haven’t agreed to the princess yet. The princess hasn’t said she’ll marry me instead of the Second Prince either.”
“You may not know, but the princess will definitely choose you.”
Austin looked Herald up and down and shrugged.
“You’re much better than Derius in looks, status, and abilities.”
“The Second Prince has a higher status though.”
“He’s still a bastard. A bastard born from a filthy relationship not permitted by God.”
Not permitted by God. Those words struck his heart particularly hard, and Herald stared blankly at his own face reflected in the calm, black water surface. He seemed to understand why he looked so miserable today, but he didn’t want to know.
“And just leave the rumors alone. I heard hardly anyone is cursing you. They’re all cursing the Marquise Benjamin.”
“That’s…”
“Or is there a reason you absolutely must quell the rumors?”
Herald flinched at the question that cut off his words. Austin’s eyes were filled with solid trust as he looked at him.
“…No, there isn’t.”
Looking into those eyes, Herald couldn’t find the courage to tell the truth and hid it.
Only then did he understand Liliana’s attitude of saying she could never accept his feelings because she was afraid of other people’s gazes.
Top Celebrity Younger Brother Bears Her Child (Female-dominant)
One-line summary: Forced to live stream romance with a top celebrity in a female-dominant world.
Yan Jin transmigrated into a brothel, with a fellow transmigrated junior beside her.
Hearing the obscene words coming from outside, the unfortunate junior covered his ears tightly, his cheeks flushed red, and whispered to comfort her, “Don’t worry, I will definitely help you escape.”
“Don’t worry, I will definitely defend your chastity.” Yan Jin looked at the flawless and delicate features of the unfortunate junior and gently comforted, “Because we have transmigrated into a female-dominant world.”
※※※
Top celebrity Yu Shu suddenly fell into a coma during a concert.
Research scientist Yan Jin fainted in the lab after working overtime.
Two people with no connection were rushed to the same hospital.
Three days later, neither of them had woken up.
Suddenly, the entire nation discovered that a live streaming app had been forcibly installed on their phones.
Upon opening it, they heard the two discussing how to escape from the brothel.
The entire internet was in an uproar.
After the two successfully escaped from the brothel, Yu Shu’s fan group rushed to make a banner and sent it to the hospital overnight.
“Big sister bravely took action to defend the chastity of our idol!”
※※※
When Yu Shu was diagnosed with pregnancy, Yan Jin stared at his belly for a long time.
Covering his stomach, he muttered gloomily, “If you don’t like it, I’ll go get an abortion.”
“It’s not that I don’t like it.” Yan Jin hugged Yu Shu and said softly, “I just feel like I’m not human.”
Yu Shu comforted Yan Jin, “I was already an adult when we got together.”
Yan Jin hesitated, “But you won’t be of legal marriageable age even after giving birth to the child.”
At the same time, a flood of bullet comments appeared in the live streaming room that the two couldn’t see.
[Although it’s inappropriate, I also want a young and handsome boyfriend to have my child.]
①Male pregnancy (highlighted)
The female lead is five years older than the male lead, and the male lead is already an adult when he appears.
