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Chapter 15
Larisa’s snow-white silver hair and clear blue eyes were unmistakable proof of her identity.
Even though it was a banquet, she wore not a dress but an elegant black military uniform reserved for formal occasions, with a sword hanging at her side.
There was no doubt.
She was Larisa Harriet.
The moment Larisa appeared, Rose ran over to her.
Contrary to her reputation as the Ice Knight, Larisa smiled shyly and opened her arms.
Rose happily threw herself into Larisa’s embrace like a child, grinning brightly, and both Larisa and Marguerite smiled warmly at her.
Anyone could tell they were close friends.
Which made absolutely no sense considering the political factions their families belonged to.
“We’re going to Marie’s house for a pajama party tonight. You’re coming, right?”
Larisa answered without even thinking.
“That sounds much better than this banquet.”
“Exactly!”
“But Marie, aren’t you the Crown Prince’s fiancée? Is it okay for you to leave your post?”
“My dear fiancé isn’t anywhere to be seen either, so it’s fine.”
At that carefree answer, the absent fiancé unknowingly became the target of ridicule.
“But shouldn’t we at least stay for a little while? What about you, Rose?”
Rose’s face immediately twisted into a grimace.
“You want me to go back in there? I’d rather walk into the Monster Forest than throw myself into that pack of wolves.”
“It’d be much more efficient.”
She ground her teeth as she spoke.
Smiling helplessly, Larisa turned to Marguerite.
“What happened?”
Marguerite answered brightly.
“Rose got caught in Enoch Chester’s clutches and ended up dancing with him.”
That single sentence was enough.
Even if Larisa had little interest in high society, she understood exactly what Enoch Chester’s reputation meant.
“Looks like you’re going to have a rough time, Rose.”
“I’m trying to figure out how to get revenge. There’s no way I’m letting him get away with this.”
Rose declared with absolute determination.
Larisa sighed softly at the blazing fighting spirit in her friend’s eyes.
Marguerite, on the other hand, looked delighted.
“So? What’s your plan? It’s Enoch Chester. Ordinary tricks won’t even faze him.”
Heraise nodded in agreement as he looked toward Enoch.
Just as expected, Enoch remained completely calm despite Rose’s passionate declaration.
Either he was confident she couldn’t hurt him…
Or he simply didn’t care.
Whichever it was, he looked like an impossible wall to overcome.
Heraise clicked his tongue, not expecting much.
Then—
A bombshell dropped that shocked even Enoch Chester himself.
“No one is perfect. Everyone has a weakness.”
“If you ask me, he’s practically perfect. Annoyingly so.”
“His personality is catastrophically defective.”
“Does he even have one?”
Heraise nearly burst out laughing.
No one had ever spoken about Enoch so bluntly.
Even though she had no idea he was secretly listening.
It was unbelievably satisfying.
Years of pent-up frustration melted away.
Hearing Heraise struggle to suppress his laughter, Enoch shot him a murderous glare.
Heraise couldn’t have cared less.
“So what’s the plan?”
Then Rose casually dropped another bomb.
“I’m going to spread rumors that he’s impotent.”
“…What?”
“Huh?”
“…!”
The women in the room stared blankly.
The two men hidden on the balcony widened their eyes in complete shock.
Even Heraise forgot to laugh.
Rose proudly explained.
“I’m going to spread rumors that Enoch Chester is impotent.”
Marguerite looked skeptical.
“If your goal is to attack his pride as a man, that’s clever… but no one will believe it.”
She was right.
Who would ever believe Enoch Chester was impotent?
Even if it were somehow true, nobody would accept it.
Heraise felt a little disappointed—
Until Rose smiled again.
“Of course nobody will believe it.
“But they’ll still talk about it.
“If people can gossip endlessly because Enoch Chester yawned somewhere, do you think they won’t gossip about this?
“They’ll all say,
‘Did you hear the rumor that Enoch Chester is impotent? Isn’t that hilarious?’
“They won’t believe it.
“But it’ll be entertaining.
“And that’s enough.
“They’ll repeat it over and over for fun.
“Do you think it won’t eventually reach his ears?
“Even if nobody believes it…
“Even if everyone knows it’s fake…
“What man would enjoy hearing his own name constantly linked to rumors that he’s sexually incapable?
“Not even Enoch Chester.”
Marguerite and Larisa immediately understood what Rose was aiming for.
So did the two men hiding on the balcony.
Enoch’s eyes widened.
Heraise’s jaw dropped.
Grinning triumphantly, Rose continued.
“I’m not going to say,
‘Enoch Chester is impotent.’
“I’m going to say,
‘I heard a rumor that Enoch Chester is impotent. Isn’t that funny?’
“No one believes gossip like that.
“But they’ll repeat it because it’s amusing.
“Some people will eventually start believing it.
“Others won’t believe it, but they’ll use it to mock him anyway.
“When people whisper behind his back, even someone like Enoch Chester won’t be able to ignore it.
“I really wish I could see his face when that happens.”
Heraise was genuinely amazed.
This woman is a genius.
How could she think of something like this?
She was far too talented to be wasting her life hidden away in a noble lady’s drawing room.
He was convinced of it.
Her plan had already begun succeeding.
Because Enoch Chester was standing there…
His fists clenched so tightly they were trembling.
Marguerite smiled slyly.
“…That actually sounds fun.”
“…Right?”
At that moment, Rose had gained the perfect accomplice.
With Marguerite involved, the rumor would spread like wildfire.
Heraise was certain it would reach Enoch’s ears within three days.
Excited, Rose enthusiastically continued outlining her strategy.
“If the rumor keeps spreading, eventually someone will believe it.
“And even people who don’t believe it will use it to insult him.
“No matter how composed he is, hearing people whisper behind his back can’t feel good.
“Ah…
“I really want to see the look on his face.”
“What if he comes after you?”
“Come after me?
“He should be thanking me.
“I’ll be reducing the number of noble ladies throwing themselves at him.”
“…That’s actually a fair point.”
Marguerite nodded thoughtfully.
Then Rose burst into cheerful laughter.
“And then some young ladies will probably rush in saying,
‘I’ll cure your impotence!’
”
“…Ah!”
Marguerite burst into laughter.
“Hahaha!
“I’d pay good money to see the expression on his face while he tries to fend them off.
“We should record it with a crystal recorder.
“It’d be worth every coin.”
“It’d become a priceless collector’s item.”
The two girls laughed together.
Watching them, Heraise struggled desperately not to explode with laughter.
He had already exhausted himself holding it in earlier.
Enoch Chester… impotent…!
He wanted to roll across the floor laughing.
Glancing at Enoch, whose entire body trembled as he squeezed his fists, only made it worse.
At last, Enoch couldn’t take it anymore and started moving.
Heraise hurriedly grabbed him.
“Stop.
“Are you trying to get caught?”
“So I’m supposed to just let this happen?
“Let go, Heraise.”
“If you rush out now, you’ll only embarrass yourself.
“I became Crown Prince today.
“At least think about my dignity.”
Of course, Heraise didn’t actually care about his own dignity.
He simply needed an excuse.
Enoch didn’t care about Heraise’s dignity either—
But for whatever reason, he finally stopped struggling.
Completely unaware of the chaos unfolding on the balcony, the girls continued talking.
“I need to buy a crystal recorder.”
“Definitely.
“Carry it around with you.
“You never know when you’ll witness something once-in-a-lifetime.”
“Maybe give one to Father too.”
“Good idea.
“If anything happens, tell everyone to record it.”
“You know…
“If we made copies and sold the recordings, we’d make a fortune.”
“I bet people would line up to buy them.”
“So I get ten percent of the profits?”
“Deal.”
“I’ll make sure you get your share.”
Rose happily raised both hands in celebration.
As Enoch’s body began radiating an ominous black aura, Heraise quietly stepped backward.
But suppressing his laughter was impossible.
“K-Kuh… hah…”
“Shut up.”
I’d love to.
Unfortunately, I physically can’t.
Sorry, my friend.
Heraise silently apologized while clutching his aching stomach.
Finally, the only truly sensible person present, Larisa, asked cautiously,
“But…
“What if he actually retaliates?”
Marguerite and Rose answered in perfect unison.
“Hey.
“If he tried getting revenge for every rumor about him, he’d have to wipe out every noble in the Empire.”
“Exactly.
“That’s why people say gossip is terrifying.”
Cruel.
Realistic.
Absolutely true.
Larisa accepted the logic immediately.
Meanwhile, Heraise was on the verge of suffocating from laughter.
“Oh…
“My stomach…
“I’m going to die…”
Completely unaware of the men secretly listening, Rose confidently defended herself.
“Maybe other people shouldn’t do something like this.
“But I can.
“Do you know how much trouble that man has caused me—and is going to cause me?
“Out of everyone…
I’m the one who has every right to get even.
