Chapter 62: The Price of Dignity

“In any case, if we delve a little deeper into the implicit meanings within these seemingly objective lines, it suggests that an accredited institution—the ‘Center,’ I presume—is being referenced. This Guide, who hasn’t even undergone the Center’s matching test and received no Guide training, is supposedly living in lavish comfort under the patronage of the Moore family, relying solely on ‘physical guiding.’ The Kingdom, in its folly, bestowed upon such an individual the titles of ‘Distinguished’ and ‘Flower of the Empire’—epithets once held by Her Royal Highness, Princess Rosalyn Green, and acknowledged by all citizens of the Empire.”

“Ethan, that’s a bit too bold…”

Usually so adept at maintaining his composure, he was now uttering words that even Enoch wouldn’t dare speak in front of the Empire’s First Prince.

While Enoch and Bliss, as central grand nobles who had practically grown up with Herace, could treat the First Prince with a certain degree of informality, such familiarity was a privilege strictly reserved for them, appearing as an exclusive right in the eyes of other nobles.

Moreover, Ethan Prescott was merely a commoner.

A flustered Enoch briefly interrupted Ethan’s unreserved speech, but Herace merely chuckled, finding the situation amusing, and subtly gestured for him to continue.

“I do not believe Ethan Prescott has committed any rudeness towards my consort or me.”

“Thank you, Your Highness. Your magnanimity will surely be widely celebrated throughout your future reign.”

The sudden shift to a deferential, aristocratic tone, laced with a touch of flattery as he expressed his gratitude, caught both Enoch and Herace off guard, leaving them with stunned expressions.

“Given your confidence, I am curious if you have a solution in mind. Issuing a rebuttal article has its limits and could even backfire.”

At Herace’s observation, Ethan politely clasped his hands and replied in a composed voice.

“Your Highness, if a former public relations employee, now a fugitive, has committed a crime against the Royal Family—a transgression far exceeding any rudeness I might have displayed—to whom would the investigative authority be transferred?”

“…!!!”

A brief silence settled over them. A pretext for investigative authority.

Currently, the general guard and Procyon held investigative rights over the crime of leaking royal secrets and violating a confidentiality agreement. While the nature of the offense was more severe due to the royal secrets involved, it ultimately fell under a breach of employment contract.

Ethan pointed to the article’s headline.

“While the newspaper certainly used a provocative title, it also included the convenient loophole, ‘according to sources.’ Isn’t it true that such things are often open to interpretation?”

“…What charge would be needed?”

When Bliss asked, Ethan shook his head.

“I’m not sure what specific charges might exist here, but by subtly leveraging this headline and the article’s flow, couldn’t we imply something else? If the title for the strongest Guide were to be transferred to the Moore family—the head of the Empire’s most powerful Esper army and producer of its most formidable weapons—this headline could be interpreted as….”

Enoch muttered, dumbfounded.

“It could be framed as incitement to rebellion.”

Ha. Herace let out a small exclamation of awe, revising his assessment of Ethan. Bliss’s Guide was a lucky charm, indeed, possessing even a cunning wit.

“…The investigative authority should be transferred to Lieutenant Colonel Arthur Swan’s Royal Guard.”

As Herace prepared to conclude their meeting, Enoch rose to offer his farewells. Yet, for some inexplicable reason, Ethan was still intently staring at Herace.

“Do you have something more to say?”

A pleased Herace inquired in a gentle tone. He was now entirely amenable to granting Ethan any request, prompting him to glance once more at the vexing article Ethan was still pointing to.

“While the article, with its lengthy details about relying on the Empire’s foremost family, the Moores, living in luxury, and even attending the academy through nepotism, appears to be mere celebrity gossip, I discern two additional intentions here.”

Herace let out a faint chuckle. It seemed this audacious young man wished to resolve not only the investigative authority but also a personal grievance.

“Indeed, there’s a clear tendency to disparage the Moore family, who support me, and sow discord.”

Ethan gave a slight grin and nodded.

“More precisely, it seems designed to make the Moore family’s next head—who is difficult to mention directly—appear incompetent by suggesting he’s infatuated and swayed by a ‘physical’ Guide. And, perhaps, there’s an underlying desire to somehow drag me into the ‘Center’.”

At this blunt remark, Enoch and Herace both glanced at Bliss, gauging his reaction. Bliss, however, remained utterly still, his intense gaze fixed on Ethan.

‘[…Hey. You really need to watch your words. Bliss looks incredibly angry. It’s a bit scary, isn’t it?]’

Dongja’s words made Ethan flinch. It was clearly a transparent ploy by Devon Green or other nobles who supported him, crafted to resemble a trivial gossip article, making it easy to deny. Yet, the fact that he himself was the subject of the piece provoked a sudden surge of temper, making his tone excessively sharp.

“Are you suggesting you’ll attend the Center just to spite them?”

At Herace’s words, punctuated by a slight cough to lighten the mood, Bliss’s gaze finally shifted away from Ethan.

“…Do not speak to Ethan as if coaxing a pre-determined answer from him, Your Highness.”

Those cool blue and gray eyes conveyed a clear warning to Herace. It was a caution against manipulating Ethan into agreeing to attend, only to later dismiss it as ‘Ethan’s choice’ should anything go awry, effectively cutting him off. Under the intense gaze of the Esper, who clearly wished to eliminate any threats around his Guide, Herace swallowed a hollow laugh.

“You ask me not to scheme, yet I’m a prince raised in the Royal Family, sharing a boat with you all. Why not simply suggest we transform all noble houses into honest and transparent systems? Regardless, I’ll make a definite request: whatever the article’s true intentions, Ethan, would you consider undertaking Guide training at the Center? If you agree, I will ensure an article about you is re-released through the Royal Palace’s Public Relations Office, irrespective of the reports concerning the criminal charged with inciting rebellion.”

Hmph. Enoch snorted.

“An article refined and released by the Royal Family would feel utterly textbook. Would the imperial citizens truly react to it as strongly as they did to the current one? No, no. I’d stake my entire acting career on it.”

“Dignity, it seems, can go to the dogs.”

Herace cast aside the solemn princely facade he had painstakingly maintained, and ordered the chamberlain, who had been attending to them alone until then.

“Devil, I need strong coffee and something sweet.”

The chamberlain, who had remained silent until then, smiled gently and refused.

“You have already consumed your allotted sugar for the day, Your Highness. And, Your Highness, I have been telling you since you learned to speak, my name is ‘Dev’.”

“…Oh.”

Ethan, who had been forcibly suppressing laughter during the humorously deadpan conversation, suddenly gasped, studying the chamberlain’s face intently. Bliss’s brow twitched almost imperceptibly.

“Ethan, stop staring. He’s Dale’s brother.”

“So it is…!”

‘No wonder, the overall impression was quite similar.’

“It’s Devil. Dale wasn’t this devilish.”

Herace, who, contrary to his public image, possessed an immense sweet tooth, grumbled. Nevertheless, Dev poured another cup of clear tea and filled the empty plate with dark, unappetizing cookies.

“Are you suggesting we make them complacent by having me register for Guide training at the Center and appearing to undergo a matching test there?”

Ethan asked, picking up a cookie.

“Precisely. We’ll assign one of our people from within the Center as your researcher. With a Royal Guard as your escort and an official document dispatched, then….”

Crunch. Ethan took a bite of the cookie, then quietly placed the remainder back on the plate. Everyone’s eyes awaited his reaction. Yet, after cleansing his palate with tea, Ethan, with a perfectly natural gesture, produced the cookie pouch he carried for Dongja Yuwol and swapped its contents with the cookies on the plate.

“Oh, my. There was a loyal subject here after all.”

The rich aroma of sugar, butter, and chocolate, discernible even from a distance, brought a delighted smile to Herace’s face as he swiftly picked one up. Chamberlain Devil—or rather, Dev—let out a pained groan and glared at Ethan. Unfazed, Ethan brazenly rejected the prince’s offer, despite being hailed as a loyal subject for a mere cookie.

“I have no desire to even ‘pretend’ to do what they want. And Your Highness, if I may be so bold, weren’t you sufficiently satisfied with Lieutenant Colonel Arthur Swan simply taking over the investigative authority?”

The sudden shift to polite speech carried a sharp undertone: ‘You have achieved your objective, and this was not meant as a reward for that. Do not try to maximize your own gain from my generosity.’

“……I merely intended to help, as you seemed to have the will.”

It was an answer that was clearly an excuse to anyone observing. A faint smile touched Bliss’s lips, who had been on edge since the suggestion of Ethan undergoing Center training. He snatched the cookie Herace was reaching for and chewed on the treat, despite not even liking it.

“…It’s sweet.”

‘Had he ever seen Herace so flustered by a refusal?’

Herace, momentarily stunned, quickly composed his features and clicked his tongue softly.

“Is there really a need to be so unyielding? It’s better not to stir things up unnecessarily.”

At Enoch’s persuasion, Ethan’s eyes widened.

“Unyielding? I’m not that conscientious, you see. Rather, I was merely intending to inquire of Your Highness how much of the Royal Family’s dignity ought to be maintained. Oh, and of course, Lord Enoch Cloud must assist me in this matter.”

“Why should I help with something that only benefits you, Ethan? And why should His Highness be concerned with the Royal Family’s dignity?”

Enoch, who had been sneering, met Ethan’s gaze and watched as a long, elegant curve formed on his lips, prompting him to needlessly take a sip of tea. The smile of such a beautiful person was as exquisite as a painting, yet it held an unsettling chill. And in his memory, whenever Ethan wore such a smile…

“Your Highness, what about a cheap rumor? Something more sensational than a credible newspaper, something the public would prefer.”

“…Such as?”

Ethan took a brief breath.

“Perhaps ‘The Scandals of a Beautiful Multi-Guide and the Espers Who Surround Them,’ entirely without basis?”

Pfft—!

Enoch spat out his tea.

“Indeed…!”

Herace, with eyes full of admiration, revised his assessment of Ethan once more.

“As it happens, there’s an opening in the Public Relations Office….”

Bliss, who had somehow taken Ethan’s hand and risen, mercilessly cut him off, casting a disdainful glance at the coughing Enoch and the avaricious politician coveting his Guide.

“At least tell me why you took those healthy cookies.”

‘They weren’t exactly fit for human consumption.’

Herace, unaware of the fate that awaited him—a curse of stomach troubles from the gwi who would consume those cookies that evening—muttered, gazing at the closed door.

“Delicious.”

The chocolate cookie he’d picked up, ignoring the chamberlain’s disapproving glance, was sweet and delectable.