Why Is Everyone Hiding Everything? - Chapter 17

Chapter 17

The voice Lucian had used so lightly and arrogantly until moments ago suddenly carried a heavy weight.

He looked toward me as though inviting me to play along.

Well, there was no helping it.

Smiling faintly, I continued the conversation.

“Because it benefits them. Their own survival and profit are more valuable to them than the truth.”

Jade and Hayley merely blinked in overwhelmed silence, unable even to question why Lucian had suddenly dropped formal speech.

“Exactly. Rumors about the Third Prince make it easier for the Crown Prince to eliminate potential threats. Undermining House Ginevra weakens both the Mage Tower and the neutral noble families at once. And whether House Delphoi is recruited or discarded, either outcome still strengthens the Crown Prince’s faction… so there would be no reason not to spread such rumors.”

Lucian gracefully set down his teacup and looked at Jade.

Unable to hold back any longer, Jade finally spoke.

“I understand all of that. However, I came here hoping to request Lady Rosena’s assistance……”

“Yes, that assistance. In truth, dealing with false rumors is quite simple. Before the rumors spread, you merely present a truth that completely contradicts them.”

In the end, I could only shake my head in disbelief.

Still, I couldn’t stop the corner of my mouth from twitching upward.

“What do you mean by—”

Before Jade could finish speaking, both his and Hayley’s expressions transformed instantly into shock.

At that exact moment, everyone except the two of them rose from their seats and respectfully bowed toward Lucian.

With impeccable formality, Haston spoke.

“His Exalted Highness, the Third Star of the Empire—Prince Lucian Edvain.”

I didn’t even need to look to know his eyes had turned red.

I had hinted that he should receive a knight’s oath of loyalty, but I never imagined he would use this kind of method.

I thought he would choose something far more moderate.

This time, I had been completely outplayed.

“We greet Your Highness the Prince.”

“Please forgive our disrespect.”

“What disrespect is there for me to forgive? The one who spoke those insults was me, and the only thing damaging my honor are the rumors following me around. Do I truly seem like the sort of person who would condemn others over something so trivial?”

The prince with crimson eyes stood before them.

There was no one in the Empire who did not understand the meaning behind those eyes.

And likewise, no one could misunderstand the meaning behind placing a daughter of House Rosena at his side and using the Rosena estate as the site of this gathering.

“Jade Delphoi, swear your loyalty to me as my knight. If you become my knight, then Paneschula will no longer dare target either you or Ginevra.”

At the sudden proposal, Jade’s body trembled.

Hayley, too, could not fully hide her shock; her hands shook faintly.

“Your Highness.”

Lucian remained standing as he looked down at the kneeling Jade.

“Am I the sort of lord who would stain the pride of House Delphoi?”

“No, Your Highness.”

“Do my eyes disgrace the legitimacy of the Imperial bloodline or the right to the throne?”

“……No, Your Highness.”

“And after shaking my hand yourself, do you still believe I am a depraved wastrel drowned in vice and alcohol, a useless and powerless prince?”

The victim of rumors questioned a man now standing on the verge of being destroyed by rumors himself.

He had intentionally shown his strength.

Enough for Jade to feel the sword aura filled with an almost painfully pure spirit.

Jade exhaled roughly. The young loyal knight who had only recently earned his title now stood at a crossroads.

“No.”

And at that firm answer, Lucian smiled in satisfaction.

“Then I shall ask you one final time. There will not be a third offer, so answer carefully.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“Jade Delphoi. Will you become the knight of Lucian Edvain?”

“My sword belongs to Your Highness.”

It was an oath of loyalty heard only by a select few.

Hayley’s gaze turned toward me. I gave the slightest nod, barely visible, and she spoke with a trembling voice.

“House Ginevra shall follow Your Highness’s glory as well.”

The next day, the story spread throughout the entire Empire.

Rumors possess a truly astonishing power.

Especially because once they spread, surprisingly few people actually care whether they are true or not.

“So in other words, that young knight of House Delphoi swore loyalty to the Third Prince, correct?”

“Yes, exactly! Since it’s practically certain that Sir Jade will inherit House Delphoi in the future……”

An elegant lady laughing behind her fan, and a lofty gentleman shrugging as though he knew nothing at all.

‘Honestly, I wish we could hear even more unfiltered gossip.’

‘Tie, if you ever went to a tavern in the streets to hear those kinds of stories, you’d faint on the spot.’

‘But I already went once with you and Sister.’

‘That was different. Trust me.’

My plan to directly observe how the rumors were spreading had collapsed instantly thanks to Minabel desperately stopping me.

She insisted that if I was truly curious, she would investigate herself.

Though I doubted such ugly words would be pleasant for Minabel to hear either.

‘Don’t worry. I used to work in the service industry.’

‘…I see.’

At this point, I had decided not to ask “What does that mean?” anymore. If I pressed further, I would only end up watching Minabel panic and cover her own mouth again.

In any case, I assumed it meant she had experience hearing harsh words from people.

“My lady, over there……”

“Yes, I’ve been listening to them as well.”

Hayley, seated beside me, nodded.

Behind the green butterfly mask that suited her so well, her eyes sparkled with concentration as the conversation nearby continued.

“But what could the reason be?”

“What reason do you mean?”

“Why that young knight would make such a decision, of course.”

Several more days had passed, and eventually I found myself here.

It was a kind of charity event where possessions once belonging to deceased empresses and imperial consorts were auctioned off, with the proceeds distributed among the people.

The masks concealing everyone’s faces were merely ceremonial; once the auction ended, everyone would gather openly for a banquet anyway.

Because it was an imperial auction, invitations were distributed mainly to nobles known for great wealth or active political involvement. It seemed the Cherita family, lacking much political influence, had not received one.

House Rosena naturally received invitations every year. Occasionally my parents attended, though once my health deteriorated severely, even that became rare.

Still, invitations continued arriving every year almost like pressure.

And this time, I had taken their place.

‘Previously, Crown Prince Vincent personally sent handwritten invitations. They always said participation was encouraged for the harmony between noble houses and the peace of public sentiment.’

‘But this time, none arrived?’

‘No. Yet other houses, including Paneschula, apparently received theirs.’

It seemed House Paneschula had retaliated immediately after news of Delphoi’s oath spread.

House Ginevra, despite its immense wealth and influence, had also received no invitation whatsoever this year.

Since the Crown Prince effectively held real authority now, invitations likely depended entirely upon his approval.

The Emperor himself had long since stopped attending such “minor” events in practice.

“I wish we could simply ask Sir Jade directly why he made that choice.”

“You aren’t personally close with Sir Jade?”

“We’ve spoken several times before, but at this point even contacting him directly has become difficult.”

“I suppose that’s true……”

Normally whispers exchanged from this distance would be impossible to hear, but thanks to a magical tool Minabel invented, other people’s conversations came through clearly.

She had called them Redtooth Earphones or something like that.

Truly a revolutionary spying device.

It automatically detected keywords like Delphoi, Ginevra, and Paneschula, then whispered only those relevant conversations into our ears.

“Apparently the moment Sir Jade completed his oath of loyalty, he immediately began residing in the Third Prince’s Palace?”

“Yes. After all, a knight remaining beside his lord is considered a virtue.”

“Still… doesn’t it seem rather hasty?”

So this was how the story was spreading.

Lucian, seated behind the auctioneer enthusiastically presenting the items, wore an utterly bored expression, while the emotionless Jade stood guard beside him.

Nearby sat Vincent, alongside two empty chairs.

One belonged to the Emperor.

The other belonged to the Second Prince, who had vanished without a trace.

Now that he had become Crown Prince, Vincent sat there alone without even a single guard at his side, his expression cold and rigid.

“To bring him to such a major event immediately after receiving his oath… truly, as expected……”