Chapter 84
Clarification
Daphne blinked and slightly twisted her shoulder to look at Loren.
“Was it three? Four years ago? The entire Barony of Denver burned down. It was huge. Burned down the forest and even some buildings in the neighboring town. Do you remember?”
“Yes, three years ago. I remember.”
That was around the time Daphne had brought Kisha and Misha from Tenzen, so it was impossible to forget.
“And then the next month or so, Psyche Denver made her debut in the capital’s social scene with that whole ‘Sapphire of Society’ title.”
Up to this point, it was all information Daphne already knew.
Despite having lost her entire family, Psyche didn’t collapse—instead, she had the nerve to request a contract relationship with Romeo Rodriguez. That Psyche.
“It wasn’t really a scandal—just rumors.”
“What kind of rumors?”
“Hmm, hmm. That they were siblings.”
“What?”
Daphne nearly burst out laughing.
“They both have that rare almost-white blonde you hardly see in Secradion, and word got around that they grew up together in Denver. There were even rumors that for a few months, she was sponsored by the Prince’s Palace…”
“……”
“You look absolutely entertained, Daphne.”
It was the very definition of a scandalous, trashy drama. Daphne tapped her cheek lightly to compose her expression.
“As you know, Theriosa is the son of Princess Helena, and Psyche is the daughter of Tatiana Lionel, a former queen candidate. That part is accurate, so don’t get confused.”
Daphne held her breath and nodded.
Tatiana Lionel, who looked exactly like Psyche but had black hair. She had been a famous actress—impossible not to know. But that she was once a queen candidate—that was new information.
“Then why did Denver burn down?”
“Oh? I don’t know that far. The exact ‘why’ has never been revealed. Some knights’ testimonies pinned it on Theriosa, so that became accepted fact.”
“Knights?”
“Denver was famous for its knights. After the knight system was abolished, the territory completely collapsed.”
As Daphne blinked in confusion at this entirely new revelation, Loren sipped some tea, perhaps thirsty.
“Seems Psyche didn’t tell you. Well, it’s not exactly something one needs to bring up. It’s not a pleasant story—and she works especially hard to manage her image around you.”
“…She probably has her reasons.”
Even now, Daphne Beaucater was profiting off the wrecked image of being “a wealthy heiress carrying the child of a traitor.”
So, whether someone’s family had fallen or whatever—it didn’t really matter. Knowing it wouldn’t change how Daphne saw Psyche anyway.
What mattered most now was whether Celestian had feelings for Psyche…
“When all those stories died down, the rumor shifted to Theriosa being in love with Psyche. But soon after, the prince publicly denied it.”
Daphne tilted her head at Loren’s words.
When?
She had never seen or heard of such a clarification.
“…Why have I never seen that?”
“That was two years ago. He put a stop to the rumor right as it started. Before the royal birthday celebrations, maybe? You were busy then—keeping up your rivalry with Psyche.”
Which meant it was probably before the day she first met Celestian at the townhouse.
Back then, Daphne barely even knew who Celestian was, so it was unlikely she would’ve read such a minor article.
“Did it ever make it into print?”
“Mm, probably? But it was tiny. If you go to the national archive where they store every printed newspaper in the kingdom, you could find it. Might take a while, though.”
As facts that completely contradicted what she thought she knew started pouring into her head, Daphne’s vision began to waver from confusion.
What even is this…?
“Oh, Daphne. It’s okay. Don’t get overwhelmed. People only care about the boiling point of a story. Clarifications? Those belong to the boring category. Of course you wouldn’t have seen it.”
“……”
“I make a living off readers who only get fired up over outrageous stuff.”
Loren winked with her left eye. Daphne let out a sigh, feeling more and more cornered.
The reporter in front of her clearly knew all the facts and still managed to maintain perfect objectivity. It was no wonder Daphne was breaking into a cold sweat—having all the things she thought she knew overturned like that.
“Hey, Daphne.”
“……”
“You were curious about the relationship between the Archduke and the Crown Princess, right? I get it. They’re both stunning, and they even lived together for a while. Maybe something happened, once upon a time.”
Loren took Daphne’s clenched fist and gently held it. She fussed over how cold Daphne’s hands were, insisting she should drink only warm things.
“Daphne, but the past is the past. Anyone can see that the man now—he likes you. This photo proves it, doesn’t it?”
With those words, Loren held up the photo, her face glowing in delight.
“Ah, I really nailed this one. A true masterpiece.”
She glanced at her wristwatch as she said it. But even with the kind words, Daphne couldn’t bring herself to be fully pleased.
“You’re heading to Herbon soon, right? When you do, stick close to the Archduke. Let everyone see you as a couple. That’ll create a great ripple effect in public. And I’m busy, so…”
“Wait, Loren.”
“Still curious about something? Your sister is on a deadline, the paper’s going out soon.”
Still, Loren waited a few more minutes. With her brows gently furrowed, Daphne hesitated, then asked—unusually shy for her.
“Did you… happen to get a photo of Celestian tripping?”
“Eh?”
****
The Shasha brothers dragged a half-asleep Celestian off to the tailor shop like they were escorting a criminal and didn’t return until they’d spent the entire morning there.
When Daphne received the catalog with roughly sketched outfit samples, most were the kind of tight-fitting suits you’d expect only capital city actors to wear.
“I told him multiple times to dress properly, but that guy never listens.”
Misha ground his teeth as he pointed at Kisha.
“I picked things I thought you’d like, Miss. And I ordered the Archduke’s clothes in the size you gave me. They said they’ll deliver them to Herbon by tomorrow.”
“That fast?”
“I, uh, spent quite a bit of allowance. I’ve realized anew—if you’ve got money, there’s nothing you can’t do.”
Kisha made an O-ring with his fingers to symbolize money, then gave a sunny grin as he hugged the sword he’d been carrying around tightly to his chest again.
“Why are you the one spending money?”
“Call it payback for the solid gold sword.”
He had a giant bandage on one cheek and even wore an eye patch.
Mom, seriously…
She still needed to go demand compensation or something, but after Amber left the arena first yesterday, all news of her had suddenly stopped. The last Daphne heard was that she’d gone to another hotel in the capital.
“You’re seriously going to carry that heavy thing all the way there?”
“Yes. A gift from the Archduke—I plan to show it off to everyone in Herbon. I mean, it was bestowed upon me by the greatest swordsman, and April’s father.”
Daphne pushed a macaron into his mouth as if to say shut it. Kisha went quiet and began chewing diligently.
He was like a boy who’d received the perfect Children’s Day gift, and Daphne couldn’t help but smile a little. Especially since for Shasha, this trip was practically his first time leaving the country by legal means.
“How’s your eye?”
“Oh, yes. I went to the hospital yesterday. The doctor said it’ll be fine. Feels like there’s wind leaking out of my eyeball sometimes, but for a knight, this kind of wound is…”
“If you’re that desperate to be a knight, want me to buy you a title?”
Kisha looked up at her with a soft glow in his pale blue-gray eyes—but the light quickly faded.
“…I don’t have the background for that, do I?”
“I’ll get you one when I gain Irenian citizenship after going independent.”
“Well then. Guess I’ve got another thousand years to wait.”
Daphne shot him a glare like she couldn’t believe he doubted her.
“To be honest, I’m not that into knights. Maybe it’s because the system got abolished—it just feels kind of outdated.”
Although, the middle-aged knight she saw at the arena had been really cool. And Celestian, gracefully dueling with him, had been just as impressive.
“But you do like princes, Miss.”
Narid let out a strained groan as he walked in, apparently done packing, and flopped down beside Kisha. He jumped right into the conversation, hitting Daphne right in the thoughts she was just having about Celestian.
“Sorry. I grew up marinated in classism, so no man under the rank of prince could ever satisfy me. You simple folks just wouldn’t understand.”
“Oh, is that really what it is? But you know, there’s nothing we don’t know about you, Miss.”
Narid said that as he looked past Daphne—above her. Kisha’s eyes followed the same path. The two of them smiled slyly, like smug cats.
“Mmm~ I get it now.”
“You’re quick on the uptake, Kisha. No wonder the girls love you.”
“That face—you two are so annoying.”
They bumped fists and giggled. Daphne pouted and scolded them not to laugh.
“Who do you like?”
Daphne flinched at the voice that came from behind her.
In front of her was a chest as solid as a wall. He was standing so close that she almost smacked her forehead into him, but managed to dodge just in time and looked up.
A man with green eyes was staring down at her, expressionless, from just above.
