Chapter 3

“So that’s how it is? Then let’s bring down my reputation.”

“What?”

All three of them looked at her in shock.

“Didn’t you say it yourselves? It’s faster to bring down my reputation than to raise His Majesty’s.”

“Do you really have to do that just for His Majesty’s paranoia?”

Alexa did not bother to hide her displeasure.

“It’s not something you can just dismiss as paranoia. Yesterday, Marquis Adamante brought a document sealed by the nobles.”

Adela’s eyes darkened.

“D*mn it. Why are they making such a fuss when you don’t even want it?”

“Dame Aubrey, that’s not good for the baby.”

As Alexa was about to start cursing in earnest, Logan gently stopped her.

Alexa and Logan were married.

Alexa, with red hair and orange eyes, was thirty years old, but perhaps because she was a knight who could wield aura, she looked younger.

By contrast, Logan, two years younger, looked more mature thanks to his prudent and model-student-like demeanor and speech.

Now an Earl, Alexa had been so free-spirited—almost wild—that she’d caused her parents a lot of trouble in her youth.

Despite having advocated for free love, for some reason she fell for Logan and aggressively proposed marriage.

Logan was a commoner, but his skills were outstanding and his conduct impeccable, so the Aubrey family gladly accepted him as a son-in-law. That was last year.

Since they were such opposites, Adela had initially thought they didn’t suit each other.

But now she saw they were perfect. Fiery Alexa was balanced by Logan’s calm, like water.

“Yes, Alexa. You should be careful with your words and your body. Hand over my protection to someone else and focus on your prenatal care.”

Compared to most noble ladies who had their first child in their mid-twenties at the latest, Alexa was quite late in having her first child.

That’s why Adela and Logan had always worried about Alexa since she became pregnant. The person herself, of course, didn’t care.

“No, thank you. Both my body and my baby are strong and healthy.”

“There’s no harm in being careful.”

“If the baby can’t handle even this much, they won’t be able to do their part when they’re born.”

“Madam, please, watch your words.”

Logan’s face went pale as he kept glancing at Alexa’s still-flat belly. If he could plug the baby’s ears, he would have done so right away.

“I’ll stop when my body feels sluggish. I’m still fine.”

At Alexa’s firm tone, Adela nodded as if she understood.

“Um, how about this?”

Still pondering something, Joy rummaged through her pockets.

“What is it?”

Impatient Alexa pressed Joy.

“This.”

What Joy brought out was a tabloid, full of sensational gossip, almost a work of fiction.

“This is a gossip magazine, isn’t it?”

Alexa tilted her head.

“Are you saying we should create a scandal worthy of a tabloid?”

Logan immediately grasped Joy’s intention.

“Oh? Is that it?”

Alexa blinked at Joy. Unlike Logan, Alexa hadn’t guessed at all.

“Yes, that’s right. That’s it.”

When Joy clapped her hands and agreed, Alexa, as if proud of her husband, exclaimed, “Oh,” and gave him a thumbs-up.

Alexa often worried that her husband was too frail, but she was very proud of his intelligence, so different from her own.

“A scandal, isn’t it wonderful? An impossible love.”

With a dreamy look, Joy clasped her hands together.

“An impossible love? There’s no such thing. If you set your mind to it, there’s no love you can’t achieve. Look at me.”

Alexa thumped her chest confidently.

“That’s right, your love story should be in a romance novel.”

Romance-novel fan Joy looked at the couple, so different in status, with envy. Their love story was perfect novel material.

“Why don’t you write it yourself? I saw before that you’re pretty good at making up stories.”

“Me?”

Joy seemed tempted by Alexa’s suggestion.

Logan let out a shallow sigh. The conversation was drifting again.

It was nothing new. Their talk was like a bouncing ball—you never knew where it would go, and if you didn’t cut in, they’d spend the entire meeting off-topic.

“Save that for later. This is a very important discussion right now, isn’t it?”

“Oh, right. We need to make a scandal.”

Alexa smacked her head.

“Why does everything end up with a scandal?”

Logan’s head throbbed at their inevitably scandal-centered conversation.

Today’s matter was quite serious and heavy, but thanks to the two of them, it felt endlessly light.

He didn’t know why Adela kept listening to their scattered, unproductive talk.

“It’s romantic.”

Joy blinked with an innocent, girlish face.

“Right, it’s romantic.”

“Romantic, my foot.”

Alexa and Logan spoke at the same time.

“Yes, that’s good. A scandal.”

Adela, who had been quietly listening, spoke in a calm tone.

“Why are you joining in, Your Highness? Does this make sense? A scandal, so dishonorable.”

Logan turned his head sharply toward Adela.

“If I need to lose my reputation, of course I have to do something dishonorable. The worst disgrace is treason, but that’s not an option.”

“Your Highness, you would become the Monarch right away.”

Alexa said casually.

That was the problem. Even if there was a rebellion, everyone believed Adela would win.

There simply wasn’t enough support for Holden.

“A scandal. It’s simple, quick, and effective. If I’m caught up in a scandal, the conservative nobles will be the first to turn away.”

The Edel Kingdom had strict standards regarding premarital affairs or adultery. It was one of the few Kingdoms that insisted on monogamy.

“No matter if I’m a Princess, if I’m caught up in a scandal, the nobles won’t want to marry their sons to me. If anyone does, their motives would be suspect.”

Though the topic was the same, when Adela spoke of the scandal, it felt heavy and serious.

“That’s a bit sad. For you to live alone forever, Your Highness.”

Upset, Joy pouted her lips.

“The Kingdom’s stability is more important than my marriage.”

“Why should you give up marriage, Your Highness? Just marry into another country and leave the Kingdom behind.”

Alexa’s face was sullen.

Adela had lived her whole life, from childhood until now, giving up her own happiness. Now she was expected to give up the rest of her life for the Kingdom as well.

Alexa didn’t like such thinking in Adela. Didn’t a Princess also have the right to happiness as a human being?

“It’s my country. It’s our country.”

Adela looked into the eyes of everyone in the room, one by one.

“The country must be strong to protect the people.”

“But why must you bear that alone, Your Highness? There’s a King for that.”

Alexa was frustrated.

During the time Adela had wisely governed the Edel Kingdom among the great powers, the Kingdom had been more peaceful than ever.

Now the one who should protect the Kingdom was the King. But because he was consumed by his inferiority complex and a mess, the nobles had every reason to be uneasy.

“His Majesty just needs time. He’ll become a great King.”

Adela’s trust in Holden was unwavering.

“Increasing His Majesty’s support base and stabilizing the royal authority. That’s my final duty as regent. When it’s all over, maybe I’ll finally be free too.”

Everyone fell silent at Adela’s gentle smile.

No matter how mature and wise, Adela had carried a heavy burden from a very young age. Regardless of how well she had done, walking that path made her look terribly lonely.

If only Adela had wanted to become the Monarch. Holden would have gladly given the throne to his sister.

But what Adela wanted was freedom after fulfilling her duty.

Adela thought herself selfish for this. She felt she was burdening her brother just to feel relieved.

That must be why she was so obsessed with making Holden’s throne secure.

Alexa, Logan, and Joy respected and loved Adela. That’s why they wanted her to gain the freedom she desired.

The three of them vowed not to let Adela walk that path alone.

“A scandal isn’t such a simple matter.”

Logan, having resolved to help Adela, pointed out the problem.

“Why not?”

“You can’t create a scandal alone, can you?”

“What about paying a tabloid to publish an article?”

“Would the nobles really be fooled by a rumor-filled article with only initials? Especially Marquis Adamante.”

“That’s true.”

Adela admitted readily.

“A visible counterpart is needed. And the scandal has to be intense.”

“To truly ruin your reputation, it has to be something like ‘The Debauched Princess’.”

It sounded a bit odd for Joy to say it so seriously.

“Who would dare create such a scandal with you, Your Highness? An actor wouldn’t be enough.”

Logan shook his head.

“Just find a suitable counterpart and make a contract.”

“Contracts can always be broken. If a better offer comes along.”

“A better offer?”

“If he wants to become your husband, Your Highness? If he’s smart, he’ll realize you are more attractive than money, Your Highness.”

“Who would dare!”

Alexa, who had been listening quietly, suddenly burst out.

“So, it has to be someone well-known enough to shake the Kingdom, smart enough to follow your plan, and able to keep his promise and leave without a fuss, right, Your Highness?”

Joy said.

“Or someone of such low status that he could never become your husband, Your Highness.”

Logan added.

“The conditions are pretty strict.”

Alexa scratched her cheek with her finger.

“Oh, I know someone.”

Finally, Joy, having found the answer, shouted excitedly.

“You do? Who?”

Alexa asked.

“The Colosseum of the neutral country Lasve.”