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Chapter – 04
I decided to spread a rumor. No matter how much the Crown Prince was interested in that land, and even though it belonged to the royal family, if interests were tangled up, the situation would be different.
Above all, the thing the royal family values most is honor and reputation. They couldn’t openly oppose a philanthropist rebuilding the uncomfortable slum areas with their own money.
I can’t know what they might do behind the scenes, but at least in terms of public perception, I need to act first.
“Rodel.”
“Yes, Miss.”
“Take this to the newspaper. Since it’s best to reach the commoners first, the Atyen newspaper would be ideal. Tell them you’re here on behalf of the Earth Foundation to see the editor, and say this pouch is a small token of gratitude for the article—they’ll understand.”
“Understood, Miss.”
The next day, a front-page exclusive ran in Atyen, the paper most read by the common people.
[Free Library for Commoners to be Built in Eastern Outskirts Slums?]
“For nearly two years, the Earth Foundation, dedicated to philanthropy in slum areas, has announced plans to rebuild the eastern outskirts. According to the foundation, they plan to establish a library open to all since the foundation’s inception, and after careful review, they’ve finalized this area as the site.
The foundation also mentioned that construction would employ local residents, creating much-needed jobs.
This is expected to be the empire’s first library built specifically for commoners rather than the nobility.”
The article was exactly as I requested.
The library would serve as a welfare space for the underprivileged, but to the commoners, it’s clearly a “space for them.”
It would also provide jobs for slum residents, who are less concerned with literacy than earning money immediately.
“Rose, this should be enough. With so many eyes watching, as you said, the royal family won’t be able to interfere.”
“The biggest fire with the royal family seems out for now… but now that more people are watching, there may be more minor obstacles.”
“There are always people who see everything in a twisted way. Can’t your brother help?”
“…It seems that many people want to help me lately, brother.”
Gerard tilted his head as if I was saying something strange.
“Of course, Rose. Who wouldn’t want to help you?”
Hmm… sometimes he’s worse than father.
“I need to go out.”
“Shall I come with you?”
“It’s fine. I’m just going to the foundation office.”
“You should rest today. There will be many visitors because of the newspaper article.”
“I’ll just enter through the back and handle things quickly. There are many matters that need my approval; Lennon can’t handle them all on his own.”
“…Then take Dean instead of Amy or Rodel. Having a guard will make me feel better.”
“Don’t worry, brother. I’ll be fully disguised.”
“Disguised…? Rose, are you still pretending to be a reporter?”
A high ponytail. A riding outfit any female reporter might wear. Not something an ordinary noblewoman would be seen in.
It’s a light disguise and allows free movement. The foundation office is on a commercial street, so anyone passing by would think we’re just two reporters out for leisure.
“…Marie…”
“You’ve gotten quite used to calling me that, Dean.”
“It still feels strange.”
“It would feel much more natural if you just called me Marie.”
It seems too difficult for him to call me by a name instead of “Miss.” Even though it’s an alias.
I smiled and teased Dean, then mounted my horse.
“Marie, wouldn’t it be better not to go today?”
“Don’t worry. There’s usually no one at the back entrance. Do we need to snoop behind the foundation building where charity work is happening?”
And soon, I regretted it.
Just as Gerad and Dean had worried, we shouldn’t have come near the foundation today…
The moment I noticed a shadow leaning against the wall, Dean, reacting faster than anyone, leaped from his horse and drew a sword he rarely uses.
“Who are you?”
Even though Dean asked, the man standing behind the foundation building didn’t move, only staring at us.
Unfortunately, I knew him. We—well, Dean knew him, but… his reflexes were sharp, his awareness surprisingly dull.
This empire has a well-known person with burgundy-red hair.
“Lower your sword, Dean.”
“But—”
“You’re the Delua Commander, aren’t you?”
“What?”
Oh my, Dean even spoke casually now. He’s gotten really good at acting, hasn’t he?
I hid my panic and dismounted smoothly. Any unnatural movement would ruin the disguise, and my riding skills were excellent. I could even appear as a competent knight.
“Do you recognize me?”
The voice was unfamiliar, but perhaps because of how husky it had been described in the novel… it somehow sounded familiar. Or maybe it was just the words themselves.
When I first met Eclat, Luke Ventus had asked the same thing:
[“Do you recognize me?”
With a harshly husky voice, Eclat shook her head. His blood-red hair, dark eyes, broad frame, sun-kissed skin—all unfamiliar and frightening. If he hit her, it would hurt more than when the baron hit her. Terrified, she shook her head and whimpered.]
Anyone else might have failed to recognize him, but I couldn’t.
Even from a distance, I would remember a key character’s appearance to avoid them. Especially when disguised as a knight, I couldn’t fail to recognize him.
Luke Ventus was revered even by knights of humble origins. Of course, exceptions exist—like Dean—but still…
“Should I pretend I don’t know you, like I would with a companion?” I asked.
“No. If you did, I’d have drawn my sword immediately. It’s suspicious that two knights didn’t recognize me.”
Luke Ventus tilted his lips into a small smile and glanced at the foundation building.
“You seem to have business here.”
“Yes. But Sir Ventus, why have you come all the way here?”
“I already asked you that.”
“…I have some obligation to this foundation. I came to help, but I didn’t expect to meet the Delua Commander behind the back gate.”
“Obligation… So you know the foundation’s representative?”
Luke Ventus asked that. It seemed Duke Kaisus hadn’t told him about me.
The Duke had kept his promise. Even though Kaisus and Luke Ventus both aimed to protect Eclat, they cooperated without sharing everything.
“Of course. I see him often.”
“How would I meet the representative?”
“You’re asking the obvious,” I said, smiling, and pointed to the front.
“Enter through the front and say you want to meet the representative. It’s fully open to everyone.”
A moment of silence fell between the three of us. Dean slowly repeated my words, trying to process them.
I was essentially telling him, while disguised as a knight, not to sneak around behind the scenes but to formally request a meeting.
Dean finally found words:
“…Marie… right now, are you…?”
“Hm?”
“…how do I put this…”
Before Dean could finish, the low, beast-like exhale across from us grew louder and then—
“Sir Ventus…?”
“Hah, really. Wait a second, heh, this is hilarious.”
His laughter turned into a loud guffaw.
“Ah, it’s been a while since I laughed like that. Marie? That’s your name?”
“…Yes, it is.”
“And you are?”
“Dean.”
“Right. Dean, your companion just handed me something, didn’t they?”
Dean finally relaxed, though he had been struggling to find the right word. He glanced at me secretly.
I smiled at Luke Ventus, who was being generous, and Dean squeezed his eyes shut.
“You don’t need to be on guard. I’m not the type to draw my sword over a good warning.”
“But I have my grievances. I already went to the front this morning. But the person who acted as the representative didn’t have authority. Then a telegram came… and just seeing it, I could tell the real representative would arrive.”
Lennon! You handled foundation matters so well!
I thought Dean was the better actor, yet he spoiled it right in front of Luke Ventus!
