Chapter 113

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter: 113

Chapter Title: The Lady and the Knights

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The news that Aaron Muzen had ascended to the Sword Master realm spread like wildfire.

It was only natural that the gossips' tongues were wagging nonstop.

"A Sword Master at his age? That's truly impressive!"

"Everyone said if a Sword Master emerged this generation, it would be from House Muzen—but I never thought it would actually happen."

"The young Duke Teslan must be feeling a real pang of envy."

"Well, he was renowned as a knight on par with a Sword Master himself. Though there's no word yet that he's actually become one."

Two additional pieces of information latched onto the rumor.

First, Duchess Muzen—the mother of the newly minted Sword Master—had officially become the Crown Princess's lady-in-waiting.

"What about Grand Duchess Axion, then?"

"No way things soured between Her Highness the Crown Princess and the Grand Duchess in the meantime...?"

"They say she only took the role temporarily to help her granddaughter-in-law."

"Truth be told, the Grand Duchess's status and age make her overqualified for lady-in-waiting anyway."

Even Duchess Muzen becoming the Crown Princess's lady-in-waiting was a bit excessive.

After all, the Crown Princess's lady-in-waiting outranked even the Empress's.

This fact alone showcased Crown Princess Hilia's current prestige.

Then one more tidbit was poured on, setting the rumors ablaze.

"But is that story really true? That the moment young Lord Muzen became a Sword Master, he swore his knight's oath to the Crown Princess?"

"No way..."

"It's true. My friend, Countess Lasht, witnessed it herself."

"Good heavens!"

The palace's internal affairs had already been handed over to the Crown Princess.

And now a brand-new Sword Master had become her knight.

Some were even thinking this:

'Isn't the power tilting a bit too heavily toward the Crown Princess?'

If it weren't a love match (that had escalated into a bride abduction marriage) but a political one, it wouldn't be surprising to hear whispers that the Crown Prince might check his consort.

In the midst of all this, a new romance serial in the gazette spread through the salons and quickly became the talk of the town.

The title was The Lady and the Knights.

The noblewomen and young ladies passed around the salon copies with eager interest.

"Oh my, reading ? Didn't they get that article about Her Highness the Crown Princess completely wrong last time?"

"Exactly. The dress business, and that nonsense about 'let them eat cake' if there's no bread."

The truth about the dress feud between Hilia and Evangeline Ruth had spread far and wide.

Frida Wes's atelier—the very one that made the rumored dress—was still open for business.

Wes's shop was already booked solid for years, and the influx of customers inevitably led to questions about the gossip for Frida herself.

And naturally, Frida Wes (aka Isepin) had diligently explained the facts on Hilia's behalf, helping spread the real story.

"The rumors are true. The dress Her Highness wore was made by me, and of course, she didn't copy Lady Ruth."

"Still, how did print an article about something that hadn't even happened yet?"

It was a mystery that puzzled everyone.

The article had been distributed to salons on the morning of the Artanus Hall banquet.

Factoring in printing and delivery time, it must have been written before the incident even occurred.

"It feels like someone predicted it would happen and leaked it to the gazette in advance."

"Quite the enigma."

Thanks to that, 's credibility had hit rock bottom since its first issue.

Fortunately, its popularity held steady.

They'd issued apologies and corrections, and there hadn't been any more errors since.

Above all, there were no real alternatives.

was still the fastest and simplest way to learn society or palace news.

The young ladies giggled as they chatted.

"I was pretty disappointed back then, too. I even considered canceling my subscription."

"And yet..."

"But look—this isn't reporting facts. It's just a novel. Something to enjoy for fun."

"Well... true."

Even the young lady who'd been criticizing was quickly captivated by the gazette's lavish, pretty illustrations and tantalizing story.

"Oh my, oh my. This is genuinely fun. I might subscribe after all."

The plot of the budding hit romance serial The Lady and the Knights was straightforward.

A noble lady of high birth, already married, receives courtship from exceptional knights.

The lady in the novel had a love marriage with her husband but garnered the admiration of countless knights.

Among them was one knight from her family home who had faithfully served her...

And it turned out that during their engagement, she and that knight had already been lovers.

The husband in the story learned this fact and flew into a rage.

Everyone was dying to know what happened next.

"Hm... this is fun."

Crunch. A ripe green grape burst between Hilia's teeth.

Arpad, who had personally fed her the grape, asked in a somewhat sullen tone.

"You can laugh at that?"

"Of course— the intent is so obvious, it's hilarious."

The buzz about Aaron the Sword Master becoming Hilia's knight was already everywhere.

And now The Lady and the Knights?

The title alone felt scripted. The content was even more blatant.

Hilia, who knew of Evangeline and Wilhelm's collusion, had half-expected something like this. She'd prepared countermeasures accordingly.

'But using fiction as the method? That caught me off guard.'

This indirect approach via a novel didn't fit Hilia's image of Evangeline's usual tactics.

'She would've spread outright rumors.'

Hilia sensed she needed to stay a bit more vigilant.

Evangeline seemed to be approaching more cunningly and cautiously than before.

With that judgment, Hilia dropped the paper she held onto the table with a thud.

The latest issue of , featuring the offending romance serial.

Arpad eyed the novel's illustration with a face full of displeasure.

It depicted the protagonist's husband witnessing his wife in a tryst with a knight, stricken with shock.

That scene grated especially because of a recent event.

A few days ago, he'd had to watch Aaron Muzen offer his sword to his wife.

And moreover...

He flicked his gaze toward one of the guard knights standing in the corner of the drawing room.

Sir Beltein, with his pale complexion.

Arpad turned away, grinding his teeth low.

"The husband in this illustration looks just like you. Anyone could see it."

"But we can't punish for that. You know that, right?"

They could just claim it was coincidence.

Even if had deliberately slandered Hilia by tailoring The Lady and the Knights's plot and art to her, there was no proof.

"They'd throw a fit, crying that the power-drunk Crown Princess is suppressing the press."

She couldn't hand them the pretext to play victim.

Arpad sighed lowly.

"But I could make a fuss over some other pretext. If the mad Crown Prince flips out over something trivial again, no one would suspect a thing."

Hilia's eyes widened round.

"You hate it that much?"

"Obviously!"

Hilia nodded.

"Fair enough. It's trying to tarnish your reputation too..."

"They're outright smearing my honor!"

Hilia's and Arpad's words crossed almost simultaneously.

They looked at each other.

"?"

"?"

Hilia soon grinned mischievously.

"Worried about me that much?"

"Isn't it obvious? A husband's supposed to worry about his wife. My reputation? I don't care. Never had much to begin with."

Hilia's eyes went wide again.

Meanwhile, Arpad picked up an apricot from the fruit plate in front of him.

Using his aura, he peeled it, split it in half, removed the pit, and brought it right to Hilia's lips.

"Here, ahh—"

"..."

Hilia furrowed her brows and asked.

"How long do I have to keep taking snacks from you?"

Arpad's perpetually arched brows drooped sadly.

"Don't like it?"

"No, it's not that I dislike it—but it's weird! It's been three days already!"

Indeed. Arpad personally feeding Hilia fruits and various snacks had gone on for three straight days.

It started three days ago.

The day after Aaron swore his knight's oath to her.

Over something utterly trivial, they'd made a bet with Arpad. Which way a falling petal would drift.

Arpad won. The loser had to grant the winner one simple request.

"You didn't cheat, did you?"

"Haha. You wouldn't go back on your word just because you lost, would you, Hilia?"

"Who said anything about going back on my word? So, what do you want?"

She'd braced for something utterly absurd, but Arpad surprised her.

"Eat everything I give you, no pickiness."

"...Pardon?"

"You're too skinny."

Hilia pondered briefly, then nodded.

She figured it'd be him shoving veggies he hated into her mouth, like last time.

'Not a big deal. Palace food is delicious anyway.'

But Arpad didn't make her eat anything he disliked.

'Huh?'

Oddly, he even finished his own broccoli cleanly.

Instead, during meals, what he offered her was his favorites: meats and fish.

"Here, ahh—"

"Eh?"

"You promised, right? Ahh—"

After that, he'd deliver desserts or fruits like now straight to her mouth.

Always peeled, pitted, and perfectly prepped for easy eating.

'At this rate... it doesn't feel like punishment for losing a bet. More like Arpad unilaterally doting on me.'