Chapter 4 – To The North (Part 6)

As Reubellina made it clear that she couldn’t step back, Tartenon no longer objected. When she beckoned, a shadow appeared and bowed before her. He was one of Reubellina’s hidden guardians, a top-notch knight from the Mysen trading post. Because she trusted him, even when the assassin’s sword was aimed at her, Reubellina could remain composed.

Her guard, who specialized in stealth, was so skillful that even the knights of the North had not noticed him. However, Tartenon knew of his existence. He was aware of his presence, but he did not speak to her, assuming she had plans. It was impossible for even the most skillful to escape Tartenon’s gaze.

Before departing for the North, arrangements for the hidden guard had been finalized. Therefore, Reubellina didn’t hesitate to summon him.

“Go and inform father. The life of the heir to the Duchy was threatened.”

“Understood.”

With a satisfied smile, Reubellina waved him off.  He disappeared from the room, presumably heading straight for the Duchy of Asillious. By the time news of the outcome reached them, Reubellina and Tartenon would have safely arrived in the North.

“Are you okay?”

“Of course. This is nothing.”

Reubellina casually unfolded a fan to cover her wound. It was just a minor scrape, so naturally, no scars would remain.

Given the severity of the situation, she could have been trembling, but Reubellina boldly handled the situation. Tartenon silently admired her swift action, quickly sending someone to handle the situation to avoid giving the imperial family another opportunity.

‘This will also serve as a warning to my knights’ 

The knights who chased after Phailus returned, but they ultimately lost him.

Reubellina had shown that replacements for his knights were ready at any time. Tartenon, noticing the tension in the knights’ eyes, looked away. His gaze fell on Reubellina’s eyes, which were scrutinizing each of his Northern knights, and he felt a chill.

As her golden eyes flashed, the Northern knights quickly averted their gaze, pretending not to notice, while Header exclaimed how impressive she was, her eyes lighting up once again. Reubellina remained frozen in place until Tartenon offered his hand to escort her to her room.

Two days later, an unidentified rumor circulated in the social circles of the Imperial Capital of Freynante.

***

“Extra! Extra!”

Boys selling newsletters went around the capital, handing out papers for money.  ‘The Scene’ was a favorite among the aristocracy and wealthy commoners. ‘The Scene’ covered not only the gossip of high society but also the power struggles among nobles in the Parliament and the money-grubbing schemes of the merchants.

And in today’s issue of ‘The Scene’, two very fresh pieces of news were featured.

<<Shock! Adultery Revealed as Fact…>>

A baron’s young lady was found to have deserted her fiancé and seduced another woman’s fiancé, leading to their engagement being broken off. The baron’s young lady tried to buy clothes at the city’s most expensive dress boutique but was driven away, being told that they couldn’t sell clothes to impure women…

<<Big Shock! Life of the Heir to the Duchy Threatened>>

In a shocking incident, the heir to one of the most influential Duchy in the Freynante Empire was attacked by assassins during a journey for marriage. An anonymous informant among the high-ranking nobles revealed that those targeting the heir were of higher status than them…

The first issue sold like hotcakes among noblemen and noblewomen, while the second was bought by noble heirs and those working in the imperial palace. It received immense attention, with stocks being replenished as fast as they were printed.

Although just a newspaper, the nobles, who knew that ‘The Scene’ didn’t fabricate news, couldn’t escape the shock.

“Have you heard the news?”

“Well, about that lord’s…”

When nobles gathered, they murmured among themselves, and the atmosphere was grim. For noble families, the most important thing was the existence of an heir, and if the heir’s life was targeted by the imperial family, they too had to come up with countermeasures. And the one most sensitive to the movements of these nobles was the Emperor.

“What on earth is this!”

Summoning Inferno and Monterno to his chamber, the emperor threw the newspaper.

“You should have handled the situation properly!”

Inferno trembled and couldn’t even raise his head properly, but Monterno was different. Born to be a crown prince, he had been raised to be unruffled, and the Emperor’s anger did not faze him.

“Although this incident ended in failure, next time…”

“There will be no next time!”

For the first time, the Emperor cut off Monterno’s words. The man who had always been a doting father to the crown prince was nowhere to be seen, replaced by an ambitious emperor who refused to relinquish his grip on power.

“The nobles’ sentiment is not favorable, so end this matter here.”

“But, Your Majesty!”

“If you’re going to do something, you should finish it perfectly!”

It didn’t matter that they were trying to kill Reubellina. Or that they tried to kill Grand Duke Tartenon. But the fact that it ended in failure was unforgivable. Monterno’s mistake provided grounds for the nobles to rebel and didn’t elevate the authority of the imperial family.”

The imperial family, which should always be flawless, now had two blemishes

The Emperor, who looked at Monterno, who was still pursing his lips and unable to speak, and Inferno, who had bowed his head deeply, with a glare, ordered.

“Inferno, you are forbidden from leaving the imperial palace for a month.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

The frightened Inferno quickly responded. Concealing his growing headache, the Emperor waved his hand. Quickly realizing the implied dismissal, Inferno hastily left his chamber.

The Emperor could not take his eyes off the unsightly sight of Inferno, who lacked the dignity befitting of a royal, even though he was of imperial blood. It was natural for a parent to be more concerned about the child who was lacking than the one who excelled.

Sensing the Emperor’s lingering gaze, Monterno cleared his throat. Snapping out of his thoughts, the Emperor turned to Monterno and warned.

“Make sure he doesn’t meet that baron’s daughter or whoever she is.”

“Understood.”

“With Reubellina around, there was no need for such worries…”

“Reubellina did well in disciplining Inferno.”

“Enough. The Duke of Asillious is no ordinary man, and now that his pride is wounded, we won’t be able to mend our relationship.”

“…”

Monterno agreed with the Emperor’s assessment. That’s why they had tried to deal with Tartenon’s party heading to the North. They couldn’t afford to send the dissatisfied nobility to the north, as the north was a region beyond the reach of the imperial authority, a territory that required caution.

“What about Selena?”

“She caused a disturbance at the Baron’s estate and returned.”

“She should have caused a disturbance at Duke Asillious’s.”

Monterno was silent at the Emperor’s lamentation; he had sent Selena for that purpose also, but his plans had gone awry.

With a headache, the emperor ordered Monterno:

“Track down and apprehend the publisher of this newspaper. We can’t overlook any blemish on the imperial family’s reputation.”

“I will do so immediately.”

“And what of the man who brought the news to the temple?”

“We’re still… searching.”

Monterno had spoken as if they would catch the person soon, but there was no progress in his work. When Monterno bowed his head, the emperor urged him.

“There’s still time, so prioritize urgent matters.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

In just one day after ‘The Scene’ was distributed, the imperial family moved swiftly.