Secrets with Crown Prince 18

<Man of Frederica>, after being written in published in the newspaper once every week, was completed after 16 episodes.

As for the reason for only 16 episodes, there are quite a few. However, the biggest one was the anticipation and resilience of rumors. If it went on for too long, people would get bored. 

The novel began with the story of a heroine named Frederica, who was betrothed to the soon-to-be ruler of the empire. However, she loved a commoner.

It turned out that the prince had another woman, creating intense drama.

Of course, it was due to my dramatic descriptions, but also because reality is often stranger than fiction – these were all true stories.

Prince Verdi actually had another woman.

"Isn't it really amazing? I can't believe they both had lovers."

Do-Hyuk responded indifferently to my muttering without lifting his eyes from the newspaper he was reading.

"It's common for nobles in this world…"

After suddenly blurting out these words, Do-Hyuk's expression suddenly darkened. He spoke mindlessly and voiced his fuzzy thoughts.

Sometimes he looked as if he had no idea what he was saying, just like now.

He wrinkled his nose, trapped in his own world, and said.

"Honestly, I don't think this story just applies to aristocrats in this world."

"What do you mean?"

"My parents in Korea were like that too."

Do-Hyuk's calm reply left me speechless.

It's as he says. PD Cha Do-hyuk's parents had an arranged marriage, as was the case for children from chaebol families.

Since it was a chaebol family, their matters were so exposed to the public eye that even I, an ordinary person, knew about their situation.

Do-Hyuk lowered his gaze again to the newspaper in his hand casually.

I was at a loss for words at his indifferent reply, even though he was obviously in a situation where sympathy was required.

Do-Hyuk was reading an episode of the novel I wrote for the newspaper.

I couldn't control my body, shrinking my shoulders with embarrassment. After organizing my thoughts, I opened my mouth.

"Starting with media manipulation, all the corruption committed by the two ends with a catastrophe due to the young lady's accusations. It's a tightly closed sad ending."

And like the ending in the novel, after the finale, the contents of my interview, "A Certain Noble Lady," would be released in the paper.

"It's going the way you want it to."

Do-Hyuk smiled lightly. It was generous; he hadn't been worried in the first place.

In addition, an interview with reporter Eleanor was released a week before the final episode was published.

In the interview, he said he had been instigated by Lady Serine to publish an article defaming Lady Lubiche.

Under the pressure of the Marquis of Serine, several articles were stopped from publishing. However, rumors spread quickly thanks to the people who got their hands on the articles first.

Soon after, Eleanor disappeared, and the Serine family filed a complaint against the Alpine newspaper.

And since Director Harold was from the bourgeoisie, he was found guilty of harboring contempt for nobility. That's how Harold, the newspaper's director, was brought to trial for defamation.

I lay down on the picnic mat spread in the Lubiche Mansion garden and gazed at Do-Hyuk sitting next to me.

A handsome silver-haired man sitting with his back against a large wooden pillar was reading the newspaper with a straight face.

"It's fortunate that things are progressing as well as PD-nim expected."

Now, all I had to do was insert the evidence Do-Hyuk had collected and bring down Prince Verdi using the eyewitness's statement.

It's perfect. How could my situation and that of Do-Hyuk be so closely aligned?

At my words, Do-Hyuk glanced at me from the newspaper and smiled.

"It's thanks to someone who set the stage for me."

Having said that, he folded the newspaper he was holding.

His attitude, relaxed and full of composure, like a well-fed predator, was trustworthy.

Even if I didn't set the stage, I knew he could handle his business by himself.

Also, he had a history of dismissing reporter Eleanor for publishing an article that disparaged me.

He would also take care of my affairs if I asked for help and do it neatly.

Nevertheless, it must have been out of respect for me that he didn't handle matters. Because I didn't want him to.

"Tomorrow is the day when the final episode will be released. Will it include the content of yesterday's interview as well?"

I nodded quietly.

As Eleanor's article spread, attention peaked, and the interview had to go out as Director Harold was being put on trial.

"Will the response be good?"

Even though I spoke calmly, I wasn't.

He stared at my face for a while, then reached out and stroked my hair affectionately.

"It'll be fine. Don't worry about anything. No matter what happens, you don't have to worry."

Those words were like a mantra, inspiring a certain courage in me.

And as he said, the reaction was similar to his expectations.

『The surprising identity of the author Kaden is revealed!? The author Kaden was Lady Lubiche all along! Everything about Lady Serine was revealed by Lady Lubiche ・・・・・⋯!』

Contrary to the negative title, I gave all sorts of compliments to Lady Serine in the article.

And at the end, I expressed regret.

'I've been asked a lot about whether the main character in the novel is Lady Serine, but I'll skip this question.'

At my words, the reporter in charge of the interview asked.

"Lady Serine has done many interviews disparaging Lady Lubiche. Didn't you do this as part of revenge on her?"

I laughed, unfazed by those words.

"Not at all. She seemed to be very jealous and hated me, but I didn't hate her. I even forgave her for disparaging me, so please refrain from malicious criticism of her."

The acting was so pretentious that even Do-Hyuk, who accompanied me to the interview, clicked his tongue.

Because I had not commented that the female lead in the work was Lady Serine, everyone assumed she was.

"Your talent for acting and talking really blossoms when you're in tight situations in front of people."

"When people stand on the edge of a cliff, they also gain strength that they didn't have."

Do-Hyuk didn't refute the remark.

After that interview, reporter Eleanor immediately left the Alpine Empire, and my public image reversed entirely.

『Crown Prince Reynolds volunteers every week with Lady Lubiche… … … … … Free food distribution and medical service in the slums?!』

I have never done medical service myself. What kind of medical knowledge did Do-Hyuk and I have to volunteer for medical services?

However, regularly sending medical staff was still a medical service, and word spread as if we had treated those people ourselves.

『Lady Serine deliberately devalued the good personality of Lady Lubiche! Is it really jealousy? What is the real face of Lady Serine …?]

The title of the article was well chosen.

I burst out laughing at the headline of the article Do-Hyuk passed me.

Initially, the difference between poor and favorable reviews was one point.

"Prince Verdi’s soon-to-be fiancée, Lady Serine … … … . Was there a political reason behind her open persecution of Lady Lubiche?!"

"Prince Verdi, who expressed a neutral stance, put political pressure on the Lubiche family! The chaotic political situation of the Alpine Empire… Is it okay as it seems?'

To summarize the article: It claimed that Lady Serine, a member of Prince Verdi's faction, persecuted Lady Lubiche, a neutral party, and applied political pressure to bring her into Prince Verdi's faction.

Thanks to this article, the nobles of Crown Prince Reynolds' faction and those who had maintained neutrality moved.

The incident that started with Lady Serine's interview caused a great uproar following a butterfly effect.

Did she finally realize that she single-handily caused all of this?

As soon as I set foot at the Imperial Academy, people who saw me encouraged me.

Among them was a young lady who said she liked my novels. She brought a newspaper in which the stories were serialized and asked for an autograph.

With one week left before her exam, Lady Serine was constantly absent.

She only showed up to attend the test, then suddenly disappeared.

Armand enjoyed seeing Lady Serine like that more than anyone else.

"Oh yeah. Did you hear that Alpine Newspaper's director, Harold, has been put on trial?"

I was having a conversation with Armand while looking at the test results.

"Ah. I got five points off my math class. Huh? What did you say, Lady Ovidus?" I sighed while looking at the test results table, then looked at Armand.

She turned her result sheet over on her desk to see if she did poorly.

"Marquis Serine and Count Zenith sued the head of the Alpine newspaper, Harold, for contempt of nobility and manipulation of the press. It was brought to trial, but instead, evidence was revealed that Lady Serine and Count Zenith had encouraged the fabrication of articles, and reversed the tides, which led to a reverse trial."

Armand's eyes twinkled with great interest.

"At this level, isn't Lady Serine at a point where she won't be able to make a comeback? I don't think we'll see her in the social world anymore."

Hearing that, I remembered what Armand had explained about Lady Serine at first.

'Lady Serine has a fairly large position in the social world. In addition, rumor has it that she's getting engaged to Prince Verdi soon. She will become a Princess. This meant that her social life would be difficult going forward.'

Now the situation was turned on its head.

                                                                  *****

The empress sent me a letter asking me to visit the palace, saying she wanted to see me.

To her well-intentioned letter, I sent a reply full of answers she would be satisfied with.

Come to think of it, I am still waiting to hear from the Duchess of Roadwald, and what was Argan doing?

I sat at the desk, leaving Maria behind, who had been in and out of my room since morning, making a fuss.

It was to write a letter. One was to be sent to Alpine Newspaper, and the other was to Argan.

"My mother seems to really like you."

Do-Hyuk sat quietly on the sofa in my room and looked at me while reading a book.

I dipped my quill into the ink bottle and wrote a long letter. I made it look as concise and neat as possible.

"I heard that Her Majesty the Empress had dreamed of traveling the world since she was a child, that she longs to see other countries. Well. I just told me a few stories about the kingdom of Nayden."

Upon my answer, Do-Hyuk closed the book he was reading with a face full of questions.

"There are many young ladies who have been to Nayden. How come only your story managed to intrigue my mother ?"

I glanced at the book in his hand. It had a boring title: "Financial Science, Public Policy, and Taxes."

Moving the quill again, I answered Do-Hyuk's question.

"I know an old friend of Her Majesty the empress. She mentioned what her  Majesty was very interested in. So I knew already."

I thought of Erin, the wizard that had saved me when I first fell into this world.

At the time, she even brought food and clothes to the abandoned house I was living in.

"By the way, her Majesty the Empress is a graduate of Alpine University. She said that she would write me a recommendation letter."

"A letter of recommendation?"

After Do-Hyuk placed the book on the table at a random spot, he approached me.

"Yes. The entrance exam is just around the corner, and Her Majesty's letter of recommendation would be of great help."

Come to think of it, I heard that Lady Serine was determined to humiliate me during the graduation ceremony.

Now that my identity as 'Author Kaden' has been revealed, I've received considerable attention.

No matter how much of it was intentional, it was also painful to be in the spotlight.

But will I have to put down my spoon because of that? ¹

One should know that I have a disease that kills me if I attract attention.