~Chapter 52~
“Was… was that Father’s voice just now?”
“Yes! Oh dear, it seems the Baron must have seen the article!”
The only one in the mansion who could shout loud enough to make the whole house tremble was none other than Baron Garnet.
I pulled a troubled face, while Sophia looked torn between hiding me or panicking with me.
“…This is a nightmare.”
All this trouble, just from attending one social party.
It was truly disaster upon disaster. But I couldn’t possibly go downstairs in my nightgown.
With Sophia’s help, I quickly washed up and changed into my usual clothes.
“Amelie Garnet!”
Since I didn’t show myself, Baron Garnet ended up storming into my bedroom.
His face was fierce, dripping with sweat—he must have rushed over as soon as he read the article.
“W-What brings you here so early?”
Ugh. I should have stood tall and confident, but I stammered instead under his pressure.
He glanced around the room, then spotted the newspaper lying on my bed. He snatched it up at once.
“Explain this article! How long has it been since I told you not to get close to that prince, and now this scandal! Is every filthy word written here true?!”
Crushing the paper in his fist, he fired questions at me like bullets.
His voice was so loud, I thought even soldiers at war might speak quieter.
“You actually believe this? It’s just baseless gossip!”
“Then is it false that you secretly went to a party? False that you slipped away with the prince?”
“…That part is true.”
“Amelie Garnet!”
The moment he shouted my name, the newspaper was crumpled beyond recognition.
The sheer volume of his voice made me worry for my eardrums—and my face scrunched in pain.
“Please calm down. Yelling won’t erase the fact that I attended the party.”
“That’s what you dare say to your father? Don’t tell me you went there to rendezvous with that prince?!”
“Of course not! Father, how can you even say that to your daughter?!”
“Enough, both of you. Calm yourselves.”
Amidst the shouting, Baroness Garnet entered my room.
With her composed expression, she soothed my father and even made him sit down.
Honestly, I wondered how the Baron managed to run the guild with that temper. It seemed Mother’s skill at taming him was the real secret.
Still—did they really drop their work just because of a single article?
“Mother, you too? Over one silly article?”
“One silly article—!”
“Dear.”
He almost exploded again, but the Baroness gently squeezed his hand to stop him.
“Amelie, we came because we’re worried. The whole capital is in an uproar over this article.”
Her eyes brimmed with concern.
Even her sharp features softened into nothing but kindness.
That was when the true weight of the situation hit me, and I felt a pang of fear.
“Is it… really that serious?”
“The Crown Prince may be suppressing things, because this is the only newspaper that printed it. But the rumors have already spread everywhere. It’s the only thing people talk about now.”
“How did that paper manage to publish it? Richard wouldn’t have allowed it…”
“That paper is backed by Duke Jizir. No doubt the Duke, who was fuming over his son, took this chance to act.”
My father cut in, scowling.
That damned Jizir.
A ducal house wouldn’t care much about royal pressure, and sponsoring a newspaper meant they wouldn’t be punished so easily. Of course they’d stir up trouble.
I had thought they’d gone quiet, but clearly, they’d been waiting for revenge.
“Even if the Duke pushed this through, once the royal family takes action, it won’t matter. Until Richard responds, we can only wait.”
My chest burned with anger, but since Jizir was behind this, acting rashly could only backfire.
For now, the wisest course was to wait for the Crown Prince and the royal family to issue a statement.
“Baron, someone from the palace is here!”
Just as I managed to calm myself, a maid rushed in.
From the palace?
Instead of denying the rumor in the paper, the palace had sent someone directly—my heart thudded in alarm.
Surely I wouldn’t be dragged away for having a scandal with the Crown Prince…?
Anxious, I followed my parents downstairs.
“Greetings. I am Kenrick Greenwell, aide to His Highness Prince Richard.”
The visitor wasn’t a knight or a messenger—it was Richard’s personal aide.
After a curt bow, he pulled out a copy of the same newspaper, crumpled and pitiful, just like the one in my room.
“I’m sure you’ve already seen this article.”
“It’s full of nonsense, but unfortunately, yes, I’ve seen it.”
Baron Garnet’s reply was dripping with irritation.
Kenrick gave a small, understanding smile, then continued.
“His Highness suggests that House Garnet publish a denial article first.”
“From our side first?”
That answer surprised me.
Normally, the royal family would release a statement as quickly as possible, to shut down rumors before the other side could twist the story.
So why were we supposed to publish first?
“Is there a reason?”
“His Highness worries that if the palace denies it first, Lady Amelie will be looked down upon.”
“Why would I be looked down upon?”
“If His Highness issues a denial, then regardless of the truth, Lady Amelie will be seen as the woman rejected by the Crown Prince. It would be as if you confessed and were refused. To prevent that, His Highness asks that you act quickly. The paper is already prepared.”
“If the palace denies it, you’ll seem like the woman rejected by the Crown Prince.”
So that was it?
I was struck speechless at Richard’s thoughtfulness.
I had only been worried about silencing the rumors, but even now, he was considering my reputation.
“I understand. I’ll prepare the article and send it to the paper at once.”
“Yes. And His Highness also left a personal message for Lady Amelie.”
“Oh… what is it?”
I straightened up, bracing myself.
“I would read it aloud, but His Highness asked that no one else hear it. Here it is.”
Kenrick smiled and handed me a small, neatly folded note.
My father’s glare could have burned a hole through it, but I turned my back and opened it quickly.
Thankfully, Kenrick drew my father away with talk of the article, and Mother politely looked away.
Alone, I carefully unfolded the paper.
[You were right. I only made things harder for you.]
The letter began with his admission of fault and regret. Then, it reassured me—no matter what, he would handle everything, so I had nothing to worry about.
When I reached the final line, my racing heart finally began to settle.
It’s fine. Richard said not to worry. It’ll be fine.
Clutching the note, I recalled the vivid blue eyes I had seen yesterday.
Because of that, I didn’t notice the firm, resolved expression my father wore as he looked at me.
