Chapter 14

Elise lifted her chin with a fan. Devoir's wide-open mouth closed. Only then did Elise reveal the real reason she met her.

"Von Newspaper is going to be on sale. For a very cheap price. You could buy it with the money you've earned. How about participating in the bid?"

"Buy a newspaper company?"

"You were going to buy it someday. Think of it as the time being moved up a bit. Anyway, you can't establish a newspaper company in your name."

Devoir establishes a newspaper company seven years later. With the money she earned from the coffee salon. She set it up, but it wasn't hers. Because Devoir's husband was the representative.

It couldn't be helped. In the kingdom, women could not establish businesses.

'But taking over is possible.'

It was an absurd law, but it existed in the kingdom and had been maintained for a long time.

One of the reasons Elise hid behind Chase. Although the main reason was to make Chase stand out.

"But still… Von Newspaper is a major newspaper company. And a perfectly fine newspaper company is up for sale. You expect me to believe that?"

"Not right now. But it will be in two weeks. Very urgently. Trust me and prepare the money in advance. You must have earned quite a bit by now."

Devoir looked alternately at the teacup and Elise.

She could guess well enough what she was thinking.

If she doesn't believe her words, it's content that can fulfill her desires, but if she believes, it's too absurd.

Is it because she is a journalist that she can't believe without evidence?

Then she should give her information.

"You know the president of Von Newspaper got involved in gambling, right? There will be a report. It's not just gambling he's involved in."

"How reliable is this information? What if it's not?"

"It can't be."

"You talk as if you've seen it. A reliable source, I assume?"

Looking at Devoir, who eyed her skeptically, Elise smiled meaningfully.

'Because the source is me. I made it up.'

In the past, Elise shut down Von Newspaper.

Because Von Newspaper poured out negative articles about Chase.

So Elise dug into the background of the president of Von Newspaper and found out that he was involved in not only gambling but also illegal drug distribution.

Of course, Elise reported him to the judiciary.

As a result, the president of Von Newspaper was fined a large sum.

'He didn't go to jail because he was a noble.'

The corrupt world of the rich go free, the poor get jailed.

Then the president of Von Newspaper started to put up his building and company for sale at a low price. Von Newspaper was included in the sale.

In the past, Elise actively pursued the purchase of Von Newspaper.

'Back then, I had to intervene directly in the Bedrocca public opinion. I had the money too.'

But circumstances changed. Elise had to leave for Titris, and she didn't have the cash to buy Von Newspaper right away.

'I can't just leave it be. Chase will be involved.'

If Chase learns that Von Newspaper is for sale, he'll definitely move.

'If he didn't take my words lightly.'

Elise taught Chase a lot, one of which was the importance of public opinion.

'I have to handle this quickly before Chase knows and moves.'

Elise planned to expedite the sale of Von Newspaper.

'It takes too long to report to the judiciary and wait for a decision.'

So, Elise tipped off the president of Von Publishing separately.

'Telling him that the judiciary will conduct an inspection. He would sell his belongings to prepare for asylum.'

But he won't be able to seek asylum. The judiciary will arrest him just as he is about to leave.

Elise calculated the timing meticulously.

"We'll meet at the banquet. Whether you buy Von Newspaper or not, that's up to you, Devoir, but I hope you don't miss this good opportunity. And I would really appreciate it if you write the article."

Elise ended the conversation and stood up.

Devoir will move as Elise intends.

Not so much because she trusts Elise, but because there's nothing to lose by doing as she says.

There was no need to separately confirm whether Devoir believed Elise's words.

An unprecedented special edition was published in the three-year history of Alleycat Times.

The article featured the fact that Elise and Karan spent the night together.

It was direct and blatant, just as Elise wanted.

No one was unaware that the doe was the symbol of the Worton family.

Devoir kindly added the word 'crimson-gold hair' so as not to confuse her with Iris.

Iris had distinct gold hair like melted pure gold, whereas Elise had gold hair mixed with amber.

'They call it dirty blonde.'

Moreover, since she wrote 'fiancée of the royal family,' everyone would know the article was about Elise even without naming her.

'I appreciate you writing it so clearly.'

It was an article Devoir wrote taking some risk.

'The royal family might impose sanctions.'

Although there was a chance the gossip magazine wouldn't care.

The sound of folding the newspaper was crisp.

"Ah, Miss…"

Regina choked up.

Our gentle Miss, the pure-hearted Miss who only looked at His Highness Chase, to be associated with a barbarian!

Regina's eyes were full of worry as she looked at Elise reading the newspaper.

How hurt Elise must be.

How worried she must be.

However, contrary to Regina's worries, Elise was calm even after reading the entire article. Only Regina was trembling.

"The doe in the article, it's you, right?"

Regina pointed to the Alleycat Times on the table.

"Yes."

Elise nodded calmly.

"Leaving His Highness Chase for… for the man from the barbarians, spending the night with… so, that means…"

"Yes, Regina. I spent the night with the prince of the barbarian Titris."

"Gasp."

Regina collapsed to the floor.

"What will happen with His Highness Chase?"

"We're breaking up. Completely over."

"The engagement will be as if it never happened. Are, are you okay?"

Regina's face was about to burst into tears, while Elise, the subject of the scandal, smiled brightly.

"Of course. It's all as I wanted."

Breaking off the engagement with the parasitic Chase and marrying Karan.

It was all exactly as Elise intended.

"Miss, are you sure you read the article right? Not His Highness Chase but the barbarian…"

"Regina. From now on, call him His Highness Karan. Don't mention the term 'barbarian' in front of him."

Regina was completely frozen.

Had Elise eaten something wrong in the morning? Was she so shocked that she was confusing reality with the content of the article?

"I'm perfectly normal. And I need to send a letter. Can I take this newspaper? Regina? Regina."

It took Regina calling her name twice to come back to her senses.

"Oh, yes! Yes, Miss, take it."

Regina had a mountain of questions she wanted to ask Elise, but as a maid, she couldn't pry into her private life.

Unless Elise chose to tell her.

"But Miss, what about that newspaper?"

She could at least ask that much.

"I'm going to send it to His Highness Chase."

Regina was horrified.

Regardless, Elise neatly folded the newspaper.

Like a sudden downpour, the Earl of Worton's disapproval came without warning.

"Elise! Come down this instant!"

Elise, leisurely having tea in the afternoon, frowned at the voice echoing up to her room on the third floor.

"You're quick. Father is still strong."

As Elise tried to leave with a light remark, Regina blocked her way.

Elise raised her eyebrows.

"Miss, if you go down now, you'll be severely scolded. He's very angry. How about meeting tomorrow instead?"

"Avoiding the rain to wait for a storm? Regina, it's better to take a beating sooner."

"That's not it! I know from experience… it's better to be late. The person hitting loses strength."

"You've been hit?"

"Ah… that's not… what's important right now. You shouldn't go down, Miss."

Regina had been hit by someone, and judging by her reaction, it seemed to have happened recently, but Elise had no idea.

She knew that house stewards or butlers sometimes punished young servants with corporal punishment.

But Regina wasn't young enough to be punished like that, nor was she inexperienced in her work.

Moreover, she solely attended to Elise, so she wouldn't have crossed anyone else…

Elise had a sudden realization.

'They can't hit me, so they hit Regina instead.'

There were often those who mistook their master's power as their own, swaggering around.

She had heard of them creating their own power dynamics and hierarchies using their master's influence.

'Regina must have suffered a lot.'

In the Worton Earl's house, Elise's status was even lower than a steward or butler.

Her engagement with Chase was merely a verbal promise, and until recently, even Chase's position was precarious.

'It makes sense. And it's more disgusting.'

Elise clenched her fist.

'I won't leave without doing something about it.'

A sharp light flashed in Elise's eyes.

"Miss…"

Regina choked up. Unaware of Elise's thoughts, she was only worried about her.

"Regina, I'll be back. Stay here."

"No, let me go with you…"

"I don't want you to see."

Regina clasped her hands in front of her chest.

Naturally, her refined mistress wouldn't want to show her disheveled state to her.

But that would disrupt Regina's plan to take the beating for Elise.

She wanted to insist on going, even if she had to be stubborn. This was not an ordinary matter.

"Stay here."

But faced with Elise's firm command, Regina had no choice but to stand frozen, as if glued to the floor.

With no one to ask for help and no power to assist Elise, Regina felt utterly useless.

"Lazy and sluggish, just like a slug! What is this mess? Couldn't you just stay quietly at home and avoid this trouble?"

As soon as Elise stepped into the hall, a crumpled Alleycat Times was thrown at her face.

The Alleycat Times hit Elise's shoulder and fell to the floor.

Elise's gaze briefly rested on the Alleycat Times sprawled on the floor before moving away.

"Father, mother, and sister, you're here."

"Here? Do greetings even matter? Is this filthy business written here true? What have you been doing?"

Earl Worton, Fraser, pointed accusingly at Elise. His face was red with rage, veins popping on his neck.

"It's as written in the article. I slept with His Highness Karan of Titris."

"What, what did you say?"

"Just answering what you seemed curious about."

At Elise's calm reply, Fraser grabbed the back of his neck.

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This novel has been translated up to chapter 30.

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