“Your Highness, my words have been of help to you! I am deeply moved.”

“Help? If someone heard you, they’d think I’m taking responsibility because of what you said.”

“Isn’t it so? You asked me what to do, and I gave you an answer.”

“Even if you hadn’t advised me, I would naturally take responsibility for my own blood. It’s not that your words helped, but that they coincided with what I was already thinking from the start.”

“Either way, it’s the same result that matters.”

Clovis laughed heartily. His laughter was genuine; he was truly delighted.

Our Highness is getting married! Finally!

Although Karl was perfect in every way, the only flaw—if it could be called that—was his distance from relationships and not having his own family. Now, Karl was about to mend even that single flaw.

With the marriage, he would also have an heir. Karl, now with a robust family, became the perfect candidate for the next Emperor. Clovis felt like clapping.

Scandal threatens to bring down the wealthiest in the capital: The wild and profligate heir of the Count’s family

Whether in the real world or in books, people’s fascination with rumors and scandals is the same. Today’s newspaper also featured a prominent article about me and Valerie.

“Why bother reading this, Count?”

“I can’t help it. I’m curious about how people see me outside.”

“Who cares what they say or think? It’s not even true.”

“Even if it’s not true, if enough people talk about it, it becomes ‘true.'”

As soon as I put down the newspaper, Hanna quickly gathered all the newspapers on the table and disposed of them. She intended to make them disappear from my sight. But what’s the use? I’ve already seen them. A deep sigh escaped me.

From the moment I appeared at the train station with Valerie, I had anticipated some backlash, but I hadn’t realized it would be this extensive.

“But why exaggerate to this extent? The family in decline, wild and wanton… It’s ridiculous.”

As someone who had never even held a man’s hand, I was the epitome of innocence and purity. Yet, in an instant, I was labeled as a reckless and irresponsible noble lady. Such an unjust accusation.

“Gossip articles are always like that. They write as provocatively as possible to increase sales.”

“It’s the same everywhere. Whether people suffer or not, they just blabber anything to make their profit.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. They don’t even spare the royal family.”

“What? They dare to insult the royal family? And still continue to publish?”

“Not exactly ‘continue’… A long time ago, the former Emperor once took action when a slanderous article about the beloved princess appeared.”

“They dared to touch the princess?”

“Yes, but it sparked controversy. Eventually, it led to criticism of the Emperor’s control over the military.”

“What does that have to do with it?”

“In neighboring countries, royal and military powers are separated. But in our empire, it’s not the case. There has always been talk about the Emperor having too much power. When the Emperor tried to exert pressure on the newspaper, people protested, saying it was an attempt to control the media too, claiming the royal power was becoming too vast.”

“That’s a bit of a stretch, isn’t it? What father wouldn’t react to insults about his daughter?”
“Exactly. I think so too. Anyway, after that incident, the royal family officially announced they wouldn’t interfere with the media again.”

“There’s nothing to be done about it, even if you want to protest.”

Even the Emperor had to endure insults about his daughter, so what could a mere noble do?

I was angry about the spread of false information, but even more frustrated that I couldn’t do anything as the rumors spread uncontrollably.

“But there’s been no word from the palace.”

Hanna, who had thrown the newspapers away, grumbled. I was also puzzled by this.

Karl rushed here as if he couldn’t wait a moment longer to confirm his paternity with Valerie, but now, days had passed without a trace of him.

“I thought he would take some action after confirming that Valerie is his kin.”

I thought so too. Maybe he had been so eager to confirm the paternity for that reason.

“Did he just poke around out of curiosity?”

“No way! Valerie is now a legitimate part of the royal bloodline. There’s no way Karl, understanding the significance of inheriting royal blood, would just ‘poke around.’ That’s nonsensical, Count.”

“Then why hasn’t he said anything? I can’t understand Karl’s psychology at all.”

“I wonder if… maybe he’s preparing to formally welcome Valerie into his family?”

“What kind of preparation takes days?”

“Of course, it would take more than a few days! Karl is unmarried. Bringing a newly discovered kin into his household must involve a lot of procedures.”

Really? It was frustrating. He brought me to the capital in such a hurry, and now there’s no news. Why did he bother to rush me out of Urentum?

“Can I go out today, at least?”

“No, Count!”

“Why? Why can’t I even go outside? I’m suffocating.”

I was promised a prompt summons for investigation regarding Duke Schwaben’s death, but that too had gone quiet. It was so frustrating that I was almost eager for an investigation or anything of that sort.

Why the frustration? Because the Count of Louijette, the capital’s wealthiest, appeared unmarried with a child, making her the talk of the town, which led to my being prohibited from going outside.

If I went out now, I’d be volunteering as perfect fodder for gossip, as Hanna, Kendrick, Liv, and Cecil all blocked my way with wide eyes, vehemently protesting my leaving.

The four of them, acting as one, blocked my path, insisting I shouldn’t go out. What could I do against them? For days, my routine was limited to sneakily looking out the window.

“People say you can’t just sit back and ignore gossip.”

“Me?”

Hanna nodded emphatically.

“If someone gossips in front of you, you remember their face and name and get back at them twice as hard.”

“Me? Really?”

“Even if you’ve lost your memory, you can’t deny that, Count. They even nicknamed you ‘Sniper Count’ because once you’re targeted by the Count, you’re pursued until the end.”

“Sniper Count? What’s that?”

“That’s your nickname, Count. Once you’ve marked someone, you relentlessly seek justice.”

“Ah…”

I had forgotten. Celeste was known as the ultimate villainess of this world. She couldn’t stand anything harmful to herself. But “Sniper Count,” really?

“Am I not different now?”

I’m a different person from that Celeste. Plus, I’m a timid commoner; I can’t blatantly punish someone.

“No matter how much you’ve lost your memory, a person’s nature doesn’t change. It’s impossible for you not to act that way.”

“What kind of life did I live before, Hanna…?”
“Hmm, was it like a dream for you, bantering with me like this?”

“I wasn’t nice to Hanna, was I?”

“You were kinder to me and the household staff, not as much as now, but you were definitely friendly. It was a cold wind blowing towards everyone else.”

Was I the so-called ‘Ice Queen’? Like a rose with thorns? The more I hear about Celeste’s past, the more bewildered I become.

But chatting and joking with Hanna like this does seem to make the monotonous hours pass a bit quicker.

“How’s Valerie?”

“She’s taking her nap right now.”

Ever since I arrived here, Valerie hardly needed my hands. In Urentum, she was always in my arms all day long, but here in the Count’s house, there were more than ten eager hands vying to care for her.

I was always last in line. Apparently, nobles aren’t supposed to be directly involved in childcare. Sometimes it felt relieving to have others help, but at other times, it felt bleak not being with my child as a mother.