You Reap What You Sow
It was about time the rumors spread far and wide. It had been roughly three months since the rumor of his homosexuality had been planted in the Eldas Marquisate. Since then, the only social gathering had been a single party hosted by the Seirel Count Estate, which carried absolutely zero influence. In other words, up until now, the gossip had been confined to small, insular circles of nobles whispering among themselves. But those whispers had accumulated, layer by layer, until they finally erupted now, at this grand imperial gala.
"Cassus. Is what I just heard the truth?"
Duke Persia pressed Cassus, his voice heavy with authority. It made sense; any father would feel their blood run cold upon hearing that their sole heir was attracted to men.
"..."
Cassus remained silent, his face an unreadable mask in the face of Duke Persia's interrogation. This lack of response only seemed to fuel the Duke's rage, his face flushing a deep crimson.
"Cassus! Say something! Don't tell me your unilateral decision to break off the engagement with Lady Decartes was because of this!"
The atmosphere grew dangerously tense. Fearing a scene at an imperial gala, the Emperor and Empress stepped forward to intervene.
"Duke Persia, calm yourself first. It is merely a baseless rumor, is it not? Surely no one here truly believes such nonsense."
"Indeed, Duke Persia. Homosexuality is an absolute taboo in our Empire. There is no way the Young Duke of Persia would engage in such behavior."
The setting of this world was akin to the medieval era. Even with fantasy elements mixed in, homosexuality was treated as a severe taboo. This wasn't a matter that could be swept under the rug as mere gossip. He would have to offer a flawless explanation. Though, I had to admit, things had escalated far more than I anticipated.
But is that any of my business?
If he was going to inflict that much pain on Franche, he should have prepared himself to receive it back in kind. You reap what you sow.
"I understand Your Majesty's concerns. However, this is a matter that must be thoroughly addressed here and now."
Duke Persia's attitude was as unyielding as a stone wall. Even the Emperor could not easily dismiss the head of a ducal house that served as one of the Empire's pillars.
"Cassus! Because of your reckless, unilateral broken engagement, the House of Persia has suffered immense damage! Not to mention, our relationship with the House of Decartes has completely soured!"
Duke Persia was practically spitting fire. And understandably so. For the heir of a ducal family—the highest authority in the Empire second only to the imperial family—to be embroiled in such a scandalous rumor was a catastrophic disgrace.
"If this rumor is true, and that is why things turned out this way, you will be held fully accountable."
Silence fell over the hall. Every eye in the room locked onto Cassus. I wondered how he planned to wriggle his way out of this one.
"Since everyone is gathered, I shall speak nothing but the absolute truth right here and now."
Cassus scanned the crowd before raising a finger to point directly at us.
"The scandal attached to my name is a malicious rumor spread by Lady Decartes as revenge for our broken engagement."
I knew he would try that. So this was what he meant on the first day when he said he hadn't forgotten.
"The rumor originated from Lady Decartes?"
Duke Persia directed a razor-sharp glare toward us. I quickly leaned in and whispered to Franche.
"My Lady, do you remember the conversation you had with Young Lord Freiden?"
"Yes. I could never forget it."
"Just do exactly what you did then."
Franche swallowed hard, took a deep breath, and composed herself. Her aristocratic mask was firmly in place.
"My, I haven't the faintest idea what you are talking about, Young Duke of Persia."
Franche tilted her head, her brow furrowing in delicate confusion.
"Do you have any proof that I am the source of this rumor? Besides, what could I possibly gain from spreading such a thing? It would only bring me unnecessary trouble."
She delivered the logical defense with utter nonchalance. To the onlookers who knew nothing of Franche's true circumstances, it would indeed seem highly unlikely that the proud Lady Decartes would stoop to such tedious methods.
"Are you going to play dumb to the very end? Even when there is clear evidence? I suggest you stop denying it."
"Evidence? How can one find concrete evidence when tracing the source of a rumor? It is nothing more than idle gossip."
Franche let out a soft, mocking chuckle. In contrast, Cassus's expression remained ice-cold.
"I have prepared the evidence."
"And what might that be?"
"Witnesses."
Witnesses? How foolish. That was incredibly easy to dismantle. If he wanted to corner her, he should have brought something far more substantial. He could only blame this world for lacking voice recorders.
Cassus turned his head and called out.
"Madame Heraias! Do what we agreed upon!"
A few noblewomen pushed their way through the crowded onlookers and stepped into the center of the hall.
Those faces...
They were the very same madame and young ladies Franche and I had approached first during the gala at the Eldas Marquisate.
"Madame Heraias, please speak the truth regarding this rumor."
Madame Heraias cleared her throat with a polite cough. Steeling her gaze, she began to speak.
"I attended the gala hosted at the Eldas Marquisate. I shall recount everything that transpired between myself and Lady Decartes on that day."
The gaze of every noble in the hall instantly locked onto her. Even those on the second-floor balcony leaned over the railings to peer down at the scene below.
Madame Heraias—or whatever her name was—began her testimony. She described the events of that day in meticulous detail, repeating the exact words Franche had spoken to her.
"That is all."
Murmurs erupted. As soon as her testimony concluded, the tense silence of the hall dissolved into a flurry of hushed whispers.
I see how it is.
Cassus had painstakingly traced the rumor back to its source, link by link. He must have promised to sponsor or protect them in exchange for their cooperation.
The testimony is technically true, but...
Naturally, we had a way out. I had already prepared for the worst-case scenario from the very moment we first planted the rumor.
Duke Persia bellowed.
"Lady Decartes! If that testimony is true, this cannot be overlooked! While our side may have been in the wrong for the unilateral broken engagement, spreading a rumor that my son is attracted to men is crossing the line! You have gone entirely too far!"
Franche flinched slightly at his thunderous roar. I leaned in and whispered to her.
"It seems the Young Duke promised to back those ladies."
"Seeing how they show absolutely no fear of me, that must be the case."
I quietly outlined a strategy for Franche on how to navigate this situation. She nodded confidently. With her extensive social experience and sharp wit, she would handle this flawlessly.
"Is it my turn now?"
Franche smiled elegantly and took a step forward into the center of the room.
"So the 'witness' you brought forward is Madame Heraias? How utterly absurd."
Cassus's brow furrowed.
"...What are you trying to say? You must know that excuses won't work now that we have an eyewitness."
"Excuses? How amusing. Tell me, are you aware that I have absolutely no connection to Madame Heraias?"
Good, she was doing great.
"Why would I share such sensitive information with a noblewoman with whom I share neither friendship nor acquaintance? How could I possibly predict what she might do with it? You must think me incredibly foolish if you believe I would act so thoughtlessly."
Madame Heraias—or whatever her name was—bristled with indignation.
"My Lady! How can you lie like this?! You clearly approached me yourself and—!"
"I approached you? I haven't the slightest idea what you are talking about."
As Franche flatly denied it, the other noblewomen who had been present chimed in to support Madame Heraias.
"I was right there with Madame Heraias!"
"There are plenty of other witnesses besides Madame Heraias!"
"Exactly! Do you still intend to deny it even now?!"
Yes, you lot were indeed there. However...
"But where is the proof that what you are saying is the truth? For all we know, the Young Duke of Persia could have easily bribed you all."
Cassus's face contorted in anger at her retort.
"I wondered what nonsense you would spout, but this is utterly ridiculous. What possible reason would I have to bribe them?"
Franche countered him instantly.
"Pardon? You ask me that when you are the one making such accusations? If I truly wanted to retaliate, I could have simply informed my family. Why would I bother spreading rumors?"
Cassus glared at Franche and let out a mocking laugh, his voice dripping with confidence.
"I am well aware of your standing. You are openly ostracized by your own family. What difference would it make even if you did tell them?"
Hmm, taking that angle was a mistake on his part.
"...Are you claiming that such an unsavory affair exists within the House of Decartes? You dare insult our family?"
Unable to watch any longer, Eden stepped forward, his presence radiating pure bloodlust. He certainly proved reliable at times like this—though, in truth, he was likely only acting to protect the family's honor.
"How amusing, Young Duke of Decartes. Is stating the plain truth considered an insult to your family?"
Eden stepped closer, his eyes narrowing as he glared at Cassus.
"You are claiming that such a disgraceful dynamic exists within the House of Decartes. If that is not an insult, then what is?"
The situation was rapidly spiraling out of control. If Eden had a sword at his hip, he looked ready to draw it then and there. The suffocating tension left everyone in the room completely paralyzed.
"Enough."
The one who put a stop to the murderous atmosphere was Duke Decartes.
"Young Duke of Persia. Speak another word, and this will no longer be a petty dispute between heirs. It will become a territorial war."
At Duke Decartes's chilling declaration, the Emperor's eyes widened in shock.
"Duke Decartes! Have you lost your mind?!"
"They are the ones who insulted the dignity of Decartes."
Duke Persia shouted in a panic.
"Duke Decartes, a territorial war between our families would plunge the Empire into a civil war! It is a war with no victors!"
Despite the frantic attempts to dissuade him, Duke Decartes's expression did not waver in the slightest. Was he truly prepared to wage a territorial war? He certainly had sufficient justification. He had been openly insulted at an imperial gala in front of the Empire's most prominent nobility.
"Then you should have managed your heir better. What else am I to do when he forgets his place and drags the reputation of Decartes through the mud?"
His tone was incredibly aggressive. Exposing the dirty laundry of the Decartes family in public was indeed a grave offense.
"Young Duke of Persia, do go on. What were you saying about Decartes?"
Confronted by the Duke himself, even Cassus flinched, unable to find his words. Franche did not miss this opening.
"Young Duke of Persia? Why don't you simply admit it at this point? You are merely pointing fingers at me to deflect from your own scandalous secret."
Not content with mere sarcasm, she let out a mocking laugh. Then, with a smirk playing on her lips, she continued with absolute poise.
"Not only are you prone to wild delusions, but your self-conceit is truly staggering. Ah, is that why the Saintess rejected you as well? Did she find out the truth? Or was it because you prefer men...?"
In that instant, a sharp snap echoed through the air—or perhaps it was just the sound of his sanity snapping.
"Franche Decartes!!"
Having his sorest spot ruthlessly poked, he roared in fury as his Aura flared to life. Wisps of pure white smoke began to billow around him. Sensing the immediate danger to Franche, I channeled my own Aura and stepped forward.
Whoosh! Brilliant blue flames erupted around me. The surrounding air trembled as the sheer pressure of my Aura weighed heavily upon everyone in the hall.
"Young Duke of Persia. Take one more step, and I cannot guarantee your safety."