Chapter 115
The capital’s social scene is abuzz.
Yesterday was just one day, but the aftermath of Archduke Halbern’s cheek sticker being everywhere was incredible.
He doesn’t know where they got it from, but within a day, every socialite was sporting a glowing sticker on their cheek.
Even some of the ladies joined in, sitting with stickers on their cheeks, and everyone was as fashionable as a morning knight.
“The Archduke is such a genius. How did he think of this?”
“I think it’s going to make makeup more fun with all the new decorations.”
“I’ve already bought a bunch of stickers. Some of them are out of stock in the capital, ho ho ho.”
As stickers are not an item that is in high demand, many stores are already sold out.
Duke Sperom was furious, saying, “Why the hell is this a fad?!” but quickly jumped on the bandwagon and created a team to sell stickers.
But that wasn’t the only news that had the capital buzzing…
The untimely scandal of Valar, the Albrecht Times’ “#1 Best Man for 10 years in a row,” and Mehen, the “#2 Best Man for 7 years in a row.
Surprisingly, however, the public opinion of socialites was not shaken.
Was it because rumors had already spread that the Archduke of Halbern had called Mehen ‘honey’ at the Gun International Imperial Ball?
“Of course…”
“He is…”
“You must be Mehen…”
Everyone had the attitude that what was coming was coming. This was despite the fact that the newspaper that published the story was a yellow journalism outlet with the lowest credibility, which specialized in social gossip and rumors.
“I think you two look great together.”
“Yeah, they really are a sight to behold when they stand side by side…”
“I love you two!”
And the finite reactions of the relatively open-minded youngsters.
“What a scandal to be attached to the Duke of Mehen.”
“And again the Archduke of Halbern must be at fault.”
“Still, I hope you two will continue your true friendship, ho ho.”
A warm response from the ladies, who are relatively well informed.
“No, I can’t believe our Archduke has such a scandal!”
“The Duke of Mehen would be appalled if he knew.”
“Duke Mehen has the wrong lord, what trouble is this?”
Thanks to the overwhelmingly male aristocracy of Mehen’s followers, there was no major backlash.
Rather.
“What?! Were you two like that?!”
Duke Sperom exclaimed, confused.
“That cannot be, Simon. Get a grip.”
The Duke of Mubisk said.
And their late Emperor, His Majesty…
“Valar, you bastard…”
“Madame” was Mehen.
He finally realized that he had been teased all this time.
***
On the second-floor balcony of a coffeehouse on one of the busiest streets in the capital city, bustling with the International Festival of Architecture.
A heavyset man, out of place on this vibrant street, tosses the newspaper he’s been reading onto the table.
The front page of the newspaper featured a stickerized picture of the Archduke of Halbern, a beauty that even a photograph could not do justice.
Behind it, the scandalous gossip.
“You’re looking good.”
The crooked smile looked quite uncomfortable.
The silver hair and jade-green eyes could not be concealed by the disguise of a magic tool.
Evidence of a blessing only the imperial family of the Southern Empire had received.
“As long as this bloodline remains unbroken, I will bless the land where you live forever.”
The message of the now-forgotten god was left in the sanctum sanctorum of the imperial family.
Archduke Locke, Ludwig, who had killed his insane brother and placed his nephew on the throne to claim the position of Regent, stared out over the bustling streets of Albrecht’s capital with a frown on his face.
Behind him, a man stood like a shadow.
“You have come, My Lord.”
“Yes.”
“It was not your business to come in person.”
“That was my decision.”
Reading the displeasure in the arrogant retort, shut up immediately.
Relations between the Albrecht Empire and the Southern Empire weren’t bad, but an unofficial visit from Regent Locke, who was all the Southern Empire had to offer, was certainly problematic given the delicate relationship.
Nevertheless, the servants had no choice but to comply because it was Regent Locke they were dealing with.
“And Duke Idikels?”
“He must have gotten the hint, because he sent a despatch, and he keeps asking about his master’s whereabouts. Shall we deal with him?”
“No, let him be.”
The man was neither favored nor disfavored.
But Ludwig remembered the Duke of Idikels’ efforts.
“There’s nothing I can do about it, anyway.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
A man who walked into the lion’s cage and tried to prevent war deserved to be honored, didn’t he?
“Where’s the investigation?”
“Here it is.”
Setting down his teacup, Ludwig skimmed the report.
It was a brief survey of the Archduke of Halbern’s activities. It hadn’t been easy, since he’d been so reclusive, but it was all there.
“The daughter he took in one day…”
Ludwig hadn’t paid much attention to Valar’s daughter. Not only because he didn’t care, but also because no information flowed through his ears and eyes, as if someone had plugged them.
He would not have cared this time, either, had it not been for the news of Archduke Halbern’s return from the Northern Castle.
“How fitting.”
The timing of Sione’s runaway.
Ludwig lowered his gaze as he considered the seemingly incongruous dates.
His rounded brow crinkled pleasingly against the dorky face in the article.
“A daughter…”
He doesn’t know why.
He suddenly realized he missed the Archduke of Halbern’s daughter.
He had no interest in her, but when the Archduke of Halbern returned and said he loved her, he suddenly became interested.
‘You can be happy.’
The smiling face in the article was disturbing.
‘I’m in hell.’
Even though he is on his balcony in the warm sunshine, he feels like he is trapped in a dark abyss.
Even now, if he closes his eyes, he can hear a feminine voice in the darkness, intermittently uttering someone’s name.
“Valar…”
He opened his eyes, and his expression became even more grim.
***
“The Archduke of Halbern’s true love is ‘this man’?!”
His eyes fluttered as he looked at the front page of the newspaper that hit the Halbern manor.
Why would an article like this…
The parenting group was not shaken by the news. On the contrary, they were in the middle of a heated discussion.
“Are you two really together, and that’s why you call him honey?”
“But Mehen never called you honey, he always slapped you.”
“Isn’t that because he’s embarrassed?”
No.
They were casually saying things that Mehen would have grabbed them by the back of the neck if he heard them.
“But you two seem to have a kind of private world that no one else can enter.”
“It’s inevitable, isn’t it, since you’re the one who picked him up and raised him.”
“You always say you’re going to quit, but you never did.”
“That’s right, you’re rich enough to quit.”
Yuni and Lena began to debate heatedly about what Mehen really meant.
He put the newspaper down, sighing heavily as he listened to their words, then froze in his tracks when he saw the door.
“Yuni, Lena.”
“Yes, what?”
“What?”
Shut up.
Yuni and Lena, who had been scratching their heads as he remained silent and staring at the door, did the same.
And…
“Hee hee.”
“Lord Mehen!”
“When did you get here…”
Mehen walked into the room, his warm smile shining brightly today.
“We were having an interesting conversation.”
“No, we were just…”
“How did it happen…”
He sighed again as he looked at the frozen group of parents. Unlike the frozen parents, Mehen’s smile was warmer and softer, like a spring day.
“It’s okay, I’ve already filed a lawsuit.”
“What?!”
“Us?!”
Mehen shook his head at the rattled nursery group.
“This newspaper.”
“Oh.”
“And this reporter.”
“Ah!”
“And.”
“And?”
“The Archduke of Halbern.”
“…”
Mehen laughed bitterly.
“Let them all watch their mouths.”
The Nurturing Corps said nothing.
He just sighed heavily.
