Chapter 79
Chapter 79
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 79
Chapter Title: Clash with the Old Duke
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“You must feel like you own the world now that His esteemed Majesty the Emperor has your back?”
“......”
“Or do you think that splendid Emperor of yours will stay on your side forever?”
I’ll admit it freely—my actions could certainly rub conservative folks the wrong way.
Even the young people who view me favorably express a bit of concern; that’s just reality.
I’ll also admit that without His Majesty’s halo, I wouldn’t dare act so boldly.
And it’s true that the imperial backing has spared me a lot of headaches.
But what’s with this old man suddenly revving his engine when even my mother and father are staying quiet?
“I’m not sure what you mean, Your Grace. It’s true I could do all this with help from His Majesty the Emperor and the crown prince, but what’s wrong with that?”
“Everything.”
I furrowed my brow and stared at the previous Duke of Devonshire.
“What you’re doing is a challenge to the established order and morality. Such challenges breed conflict and tear society apart.”
“And?”
“Do you think we don’t see through your Emperor’s scheme? He’s using that division to weaken the old nobility and build up new forces to keep us in check.”
“Oh? Is that so?”
It was utter nonsense that left me speechless.
As if the nobility would fracture just because elves wore some skimpy outfits, spawning new factions and all that rubbish.
Delusions this wild over a single piece of clothing were pathological in themselves.
And if a group splinters over something as trivial as attire, maybe they deserve to collapse.
It reminded me of those parents blaming comics or games for their kids going astray—ridiculous.
Still... I get that change can be worrying.
It’d be weirder if people accepted something so far from the norm without batting an eye.
But that wasn’t my problem.
“So what do you want me to do about it?”
“What?”
The previous Duke of Devonshire’s face twisted unpleasantly.
He probably never expected a wet-behind-the-ears kid to come at him with such gall.
I smirked, curling one corner of my mouth, and added,
“If I may point out where you’re mistaken, Your Grace—whatever His Majesty does is none of my business.”
“Ha! You’re a noble too. The Emperor and you are from different worlds. You should be looking out for noble interests, not the imperial family’s.”
“Tch.”
I knew the ideal lord-vassal bond had been shattered in the war of imperial succession, but spitting it out like that was another matter.
“Mind your words. Remember there are imperial knights outside.”
One line like that wouldn’t topple him, but I was confident I could make his life plenty miserable.
Besides, I had not just imperial knights but the Princess Elizabeth herself on my side.
“And since you mentioned benefits, let me be clear: I’m doing this because I want to. The ads were my idea, posting them was my call, making and selling the clothes is my passion, and my dissatisfaction with the current fashion scene is all mine.”
The reason I started might be a bit absurd, but once I did, my goals were always crystal clear.
Ditch the godawful corsets and enjoy a wider variety of clothes.
Thanks to a stroke of great luck, results were coming fast—but I wouldn’t tolerate anyone throwing wrenches in the works.
“Ha! Then why stay quiet all this time? What’s making you spout these convictions now?”
I grimaced openly, repulsed.
I despised that logic.
If I were over thirty, I might get it, but spouting this drivel at someone who hadn’t even had their coming-of-age ceremony?
“Do you take the words of a twelve-year-old brat seriously, Your Grace? Even a seventeen-year-old gets foam at the mouth from you.”
“Don’t get snide. It doesn’t change the fact that you’ve suddenly started acting out.”
“Of course not.”
He probably thought I was still being puppeteered by the Emperor, so of course he’d buy that I was even more malleable as a kid.
“Fine, let’s say you’re right and not everyone will understand my actions. Then why are people flocking to commission my atelier? If I’m just some foolhardy punk causing chaos, why the positive buzz?”
“The young crave stimulation. But with experience, you’ll see: your antics harm us nobles.”
“I’ll ask again: how is me making clothes and running cheeky ads hurting anyone? The mere fact that it’s an issue is the problem. If a group fractures over thinner fabrics, they’re better off gone.”
“For the group’s sake, individuals must set aside their views sometimes. Your actions waste noble energy on pointless debates—and that benefits the Emperor.”
“Ha... seriously...”
Irritation was starting to bubble up now.
From the noble faction’s perspective, yeah, it was a loss.
But that was their side.
With the Emperor shoving me forward so forcefully, the stronger he stood, the better for me. As if I’d change my mind over this weak pitch.
“That damn Emperor, Emperor, Emperor! Say His Majesty profits from it, like you claim. So what? If the guy backing me wins, isn’t that a win for me too? Common sense.”
“Don’t assume his protection lasts forever.”
“So what do I lose? Put it another way: if I defy His Majesty now, does that change anything? Forgot I’m a son of Count Hume?”
“......”
If he wanted to persuade or threaten me into standing down, at least dangle some tempting bait. Our family’s loyalist to the core—who else would we trust but the Emperor?
“And what’s the big deal about thinner clothes? Does the kingdom fall if skirts get sheer? If you want to bundle up that tight, dress like arctic nomads.”
“Don’t you know how dangerous it is for the young to plunge into luxury and decadence?”
“Oh~”
And there it was—the classic line.
I’d been waiting for it, and now that it dropped, I welcomed it with glee.
I dropped the sneer and glared at the previous Duke of Devonshire.
“Then they shouldn’t wear pants either. Doesn’t it bother you that noble blue bloods don savage garb? Even Hume Count Family stays mum on pants for elves, who’d faint at the sight—so what’s so hard about sucking it up?”
“Ha... such an arrogant whelp.”
Keep poking, and he finally snapped properly.
Online wisdom said the first to crack in a debate loses—so this was my victory.
As arrogant and cocky as he accused, I plastered on a smug grin and said,
“You call me arrogant? Let me add this: I’ve been holding back plenty already.”
“Ha! Holding back? Did you skip academy and miss the meaning?”
“Even illiterate, I know it. Does... the Devonshire Duke Family enroll just to learn one word? Efficient education indeed.”
“......”
Strictly speaking, I wasn’t illiterate.
In my past life, I graduated college—basically academy-level.
Comparing that to some three-year kiddie school? What hubris from this noble.
“We won’t overlook insults to our house.”
“Oh? You kept treating me like a punk, so I acted the part. Doesn’t sit well, huh?”
“Youthful vigor’s fine, but a yapping pup doesn’t scare me.”
“Yet here you are, tripping over that pup’s barks?”
“Listen, no one’s impressed by empty bravado.”
“Curious if it’s bluff? I can show you.”
I crossed my arms and tilted my chin up slightly.
“...You’re impossible to reason with.”
His hand trembled as he clenched a fist at my insolence. The previous Duke of Devonshire shoved back his chair, stood, and loomed over me.
“Last warning: know your place. I’m not against change, but realize yours—and the Emperor’s—is too radical.”
“......”
Growling his warning, he stormed out, his foul mood plain as day.
“Hoo...”
The tightness in my chest eased a bit after venting.
I slumped back in the chair, staring at the ceiling.
Punk. Know your place. Too radical.
What a joke.
_
“Can I come in?”
I’d been stewing in the lounge for a while when Princess Elizabeth peeked cautiously through the door.
She had some sense, after all.
For the first time, she looked like a normal girl her age—kind of cute.
If she acted like that more often, how nice would it be?
“Pfft.”
I chuckled softly and beckoned her in as she eyed my mood.
My sudden grin made her frown like I was some oddity, but she quickly nodded to herself and slipped inside.
“That guest who just left seemed furious. What did you do?”
“Just had a real heart-to-heart.”
Deep enough to rake each other raw.
“Not your average bigwig, though. You okay?”
“I win, problem solved. Even bigwigs bleed.”
“My, my.”
Her lips quirked up at my heated, bold retort.
“What’re the staff up to?”
“On lunch break.”
“Once they’re done, don’t start work right away. Gather ’em. Got something to say.”
“Got it. Should I look forward to it?”
“Yeah. Something scorching.”
I’ll show you something hot enough to blow your mind.