TL: Zimmings
Count Arabel looked at Nos with cleched fist, he didnât know what to do as he looked around in embarassement.
âNo way. How could gossiping be punished! If thatâs the case, the formal complaint ar the imperial palace wonât stopâ
Some people nodded at Count Arabelâs words.
Nobles often gather, so they must have said a word or two of gossip. People started supporting him.
âYes, Dubbledeâs response is too much.â
âItâs not uncommon for us to gossip. How could they accuse a 14-year-old girl as the source of rumours?â
âBut we have a more definite proof.â
I glanced at Nos and he replied to Count Arabel.
âA relative of the contestant has spread malicious rumors about the other participant and Lady Dubblede. How could we let go of this?â
What they mean was the runours about me being Cecilia and my dadâs illegitimate child.
Those rumors were done on purpose.
They cannot avoid punishment.
It was Blake who spread rumors and pushed me to edge. But it was Count Arabel who protected her, so he cannot avoid responsibility.
Count Arabel tried to make excuses in a hurry, but I quickly intercepted him.
âI was questioned by Cardinal Reginald because of the rumors spread by Arabel. They said that the temple would supervise me, and if I did not comply, I would be held responsible for ruining the templeâs trust.â
If this nonsense is not resolved, the damage will be huge to me.
In other words, it meant that we had to overreact a bit to settle the rumors.
âThere was a justification for the accusation. And-â
I glanced at Nos again, and he looked at the girl who was accusing me.
âHis Excellency said that we will also report everyone involved in the rumours.â
âHowever, we will be merciful to those who report on the rumours.â
âWe never expected it to spread this much.â
âI will not forgive those who made fun of me for a momentâs fun and personal desires, even though I fully anticipated the situation.â
âNever.â
The complexion of the girl who had been accusing me in front of Nos and I became pale.
âLord Ecuador, Lady Philia, and Lord Lucitereal.â
I remember you all.
âIf you tell me the truth, Iâll make your punishment be lighter.â
When I opened my eyes, the complexions of those who had criticized me in excitement just a little while ago became pale.
Not to mention the faces of Count Arabel and Blake.
âLetâs go.â
âYes!â
I answered excitedly.
***
Back in the mansion, the children apologized to me with their parents.
âAs a child, she was swayed by rumors. Please forgive usâ¦â
âItâs all Ms. Arabelâs fault. Otherwise, how could my good-natured son doubt lady?â
âI had nothing more to say. But please take into account that my son is only 13. The accusationâ¦!â
âProtests kept coming in. At this rate, I canât even save my place in the association. Lady, please have mercy on me.â
The adults were desperate in front of me, and the children who looked at their parents were ready to burst into tears. Some even cried bitterly, saying it was all Blakeâs fault.
Dad never said he would forgive them.
They had been begging all day in front of my dadâs office, and then they returned like a defeated soldiers.
And then Blakeâ¦
âYour Excellency, Your Excellency! Please listen to me. Just a few words is fine. Ah, Your Excellency!â
As soon as Count Arabel was allowed to enter the mansion, he knelt down and clung to my dadâs trousers.
Dad reported him to the imperial palace. Not only that, he stopped all business related to the Arabel family.
âDo you know how much I invested in this trade? If this is the case, weâll end up the street. Blake, why canât you apologize sooner-!â
He dragged his daughter roughly in front of me.
Blake bit her lips several times.
âBlake!â
Blake, who turned her head, forced herself to speak.
ââ¦Iâm sorry.â
âThis girl! Keep your head down!â
âI said Iâm sorry! Iâm sorry! How much more do I have to say it?! Itâs too much! I also suffered damage because of the lady. I was abandoned by my godnother and was warned that I canât enter parties againâ¦â¦!â
Slap!
Blakeâs cheeks turned red due to the impact.
Count Arabel slapped the child.
âAre you still going to be like this?!â
âAh father, how could you to meâ¦!â
âLook at the damage our family has suffered because of you!â
Isaac and Henry burst into laughter when they saw the two fighting.
âItâs a live show huh.â
âIsaac.â
When Johann said in a low voice, Henry glanced at Blake, who was pale, and said âItâs not wrong.â
Blake who was flushed with shame, ran out of the mansion.
Count Arabel did not even hold her daughter bacj, but clings to my dad.
I followed Blake.
Blake who was squatting near the garden, was crying without a sound.
âHey.â
ââ¦â¦.â
âHey, Lady Arabel.â
Blake slowly turned her head.
âWhy? Are you trying to mock me more?â
âYes.â
âWhat!? But whyâ¦â¦!â
âI canât?â
âOf course! I am much older than lady. You canât speak rudely to an elder without permissionâ¦!â
I said, slumping down next to Blake.
âThen allow me.â
ââ¦â¦ Why should I?â
âThen I will forgive you.â
Blakeâs eyes widened and I smiled.
âIâm Leblaine. Nice to meet you.â
Saying hello again, even though we knew each other meant that I wanted to restart our relationship again.
ââ¦â¦ What are you plotting?â
âYou donât want it? Alright then.â
As I stood up, Blake quickly grabbed my wrist.
ââ¦â¦ Itâs not that I didnât want it.â
I smiled and sat back down.
âAre you a prideful person? Youâre strong to the weak, yet weak to the strong.â
âEveryone is like that.â
âNo, youâre more than that.â
âAre you really trying to mock me?!â
âYes.â
Blake glared at me, but she didnât say anything and kept her mouth shut.
The girl who was squeezing her skirt, glanced at me.
âDonât you hate me?â
âI do.â
âBut why are you forgiving me?â
âDid I say Iâll forgive you? Youâre my subordinate from now on.â
Iâm a naughty kid with no such thing as compassion. There is no way that I can forgive Blake casually for spreading malicious rumors.
âI have some task for you.â
ââ¦â¦ What?â
âHereâs the thing. What exactly would happen after you left Dubblede? Your fatherâs business and sisterâs chance as an empress would be ruined.â
ââ¦â¦.â
âYouâre the one driving the rumour, but thereâs someone else who told you so right?â
Blake grabbed the hem of her skirt.
âI knew it.â
Blake was very hostile to me from the start. From the moment we first met, she stood up as if she was determined to push me.
I didnât thought of it at first but a person came to mind.
âEmpress Yvonne.â
ââ¦â¦!!â
âDid the empress said it? If you want your sister to become an empress, you have to target me. Right?â
ââ¦â¦.â
âThe empress and Duke Marche said theyâll stop Dubblede thatâs why youâre so fearless right? But after we formally protest to the Imperial Palace, didnât the empress change her mind?â
âHow did youâ¦â¦.â
Blake, who muttered, quickly covered his mouth.
âWell then.â
As I crossed my arms, Blake quickly clung to me.
âDonât protest the empress, and please donât tell the empress about me. Otherwise, my sisterâ¦!â
Blake was a very arrogant person. She never hesitate to attack the weak.
But she could change for her sister whom she cherished.
âTell me what the empress threatened you witj. Then I wonât touch your sister.â
ââ¦â¦.â
âIâm the type of person who would keep my word.â
Blake hesitated and glanced at me.
âThe empress said she will make sure my sister win. I didnât think much about it and do what she saidâ¦â¦.â
Thatâs why malicious rumours about Cecilia were floating around.
So that Cecilia, the emperorâs sweetheart, will never become the empress.
âSheâs mean.â
I got up from my seat and patted my dusty skirt.
âGet up.â
ââ¦â¦ Huh?â
âI still wonât forgive you.â
ââ¦â¦ I never asked for it though?!â
The girl screamed, and I smiled.
âBut I can help you with the situation. This time, take my hand I have something for you to do.â
âWhat?â
I replied Blake.
âLetâs go get revenge on the empress.â
âHow?â
Blakeâs eyes widened as I whispered in her ear.
âNo way! If you did something like thatâ¦!â
âTrust me.â
Iâm going to start preparing for our independence properly from now on.
To do this, it was necessary to ruin the temple, which would be a hindrance, and then Duke of Marche and Empress Yvonne.
âLetâs take Empress Yvonneâs land first.â
Dubbledeâs territory is rather vast, but itâs a little lacking to establish an empire.
I smiled viciously.
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