Jamie, who had been keeping out of sight behind Rishi and Kay, stepped forward and stood beside Rishi.
Everyone looked at Jamie, who had appeared so suddenly in such a situation, with bewildered expressions.
“I’m sure you all know, but I should introduce myself to make this occasion even more enjoyable, shouldn’t I? I am Baron Jamie Russell, the Knight of the Blue Sky, the Flame of the Battlefield, and… the man who wishes to become the Blazing Fire.”
A small ripple of laughter spread at Jamie’s cheerful introduction.
Knight of the Blue Sky, Flame of the Battlefield, Blazing Fire.
Although Jamie claimed he only wished to become those things, the truth was that people were already calling him by those very titles.
“And I am also the loyal chief butler to the two people standing here. A chief butler who manages even the most trivial of matters.”
Jamie took another step forward and stood before Kay and Rishi.
“Since it is not a matter for our elegant and noble Countess to address herself, I have decided to get to the bottom of this rumor. That would be alright, wouldn’t it?”
Who would dare say no?
Not when he was looking at them with such terrifying eyes.
Jamie was smiling, but his gaze was as sharp as if it would tear everyone present to pieces.
“Now, the newspaper and magazine reporters here—could you please raise your hands?”
There should have been over a dozen reporters present, but only Wittingk raised his hand.
He probably sensed that things were taking an odd turn and was keeping a low profile to avoid being caught in the fallout.
Jamie smiled brightly.
“I know who the reporters are, you know….”
Only then did the reporters look at each other and hesitantly raise their hands.
Jamie began to walk slowly toward one of the reporters, and the crowd parted like an ebbing tide.
“You’re the reporter from the magazine that published the very first article about the Countess Green, aren’t you?”
“Yes, well, that’s true, but…”
“From whom did you hear the content for that story?”
“Ah, that… rather than hearing it from anyone… it was… a rumor….”
“A rumor!”
*Clap!*
People jumped at the sound of Jamie’s hands clapping together.
“You wrote an article based solely on a rumor without verifying the truth. Is that correct?”
“Ah, no… that’s not it….”
“That’s not it?”
“That…”
The reporter swallowed dryly and looked around at the others as if asking for help, but no one stepped forward.
In the end, the reporter answered with a terrified expression.
“I did not verify the truth.”
“Good.”
Jamie said it with eyes that suggested it was anything but good, and then he moved on.
Standing before another reporter, Jamie said, “A newspaper reporter. You were the first paper to publish an article about this rumor. Being a newspaper, I would like to believe that you didn’t just print it based on floating rumors…”
“Yes, I conducted an interview.”
“Is that person here?”
“Yes, right there….”
The reporter pointed at someone.
It was a commoner woman with a sharp chin.
Jamie went up to the terrified woman and asked, “Did you see with your own eyes the Countess Green meeting secretly with Viscount Alford Hutchis?”
At Jamie’s question, the blood drained from the faces of the people who had been watching like they were merely observing a fire from across the river.
They hadn’t expected Jamie to try and investigate the truth of the rumor like this, one person at a time.
Most of the people present had brought that rumor up at some point.
“Ah, no. I heard it from someone else, too….”
“From whom did you hear it?”
“That is….”
The commoner woman pointed at someone.
Jamie approached that person and repeated the same question, only to receive the same answer.
It was as if he intended to interrogate everyone present, one by one, if that was what it took.
Gillette finally grasped the situation and held her breath.
Jamie was getting closer and closer.
Soon, Jamie asked the noble lady standing next to Gillette, who had been pointed out by someone else.
“Did you see with your own eyes the Countess Green meeting secretly with Viscount Alford Hutchis?”
“No….”
The noble lady glanced at Gillette.
Gillette wanted to scream.
She wanted to escape, but she couldn’t slip away because her outfit was far too conspicuous.
*‘No, no. Don’t panic. I just have to say I heard it from someone else, too.’*
“Then who did you hear it from?”
The noble lady, who was one of Gillette’s friends, hesitated for a moment before pointing at Gillette.
Gillette wanted to slap her for betraying her, but she held it in and composed her expression.
“Mademoiselle Gillette Merdi. You are also the lady-in-waiting to Countess Green. Yet, to think you would spread rumors about the Countess you serve—I suppose you are quite disappointed in yourself?”
At Jamie’s remark, Gillette clenched her fists tight.
Whether Gillette was the source of the rumor or not, the fact that she, as Rishi’s lady-in-waiting, was spreading rumors about her own mistress was enough to ruin her reputation.
Gillette’s parents were watching their daughter, unable to even breathe.
Gillette hoped Jamie would ask who she had heard it from, but Jamie just stared at her without a word.
It wasn’t just Jamie.
Every gaze in the room was fixed on Gillette.
Unable to withstand the pressure, Gillette finally spoke.
“I heard it, too.”
“From whom?”
“From the maids.”
“That cannot be true, Mademoiselle Gillette.”
“It’s the truth! The maids saw it themselves and told me. They said the Countess… was meeting secretly with Viscount Alford Hutchis under the tree in the west garden.”
“Truly, that cannot be true, Mademoiselle Gillette.”
“Why… why won’t you believe me? I’m telling you, it’s true!”
“Mademoiselle Gillette. When I don’t believe something, there is a reason for it, don’t you think?”
By now, Gillette was starting to get angry.
*Why is everyone like this to me?*
“Is it because the Countess dislikes me? Did the Countess order you to frame me because I am close with the Count?”
Gillette’s mother, the Viscountess Merdi, looked as if she were about to faint.
She seemed to want to cover her daughter’s mouth, but she couldn’t do so with everyone watching.
“No, Mademoiselle Gillette. It is not like that. The Countess does not dislike anyone.”
“What do you mean she doesn’t dislike anyone? She does! She didn’t like me from the start! It’s not me. I didn’t do anything. I only heard it, too.”
“If you speak the truth now and ask for forgiveness, the Countess will forgive you.”
“I’m telling you it wasn’t me! I heard it from the maids!”
“As I said, that cannot be true, Mademoiselle Gillette. I asked all the maids this morning. Every single one of them said they heard that story from you.”
“…Th-that is a lie. They… they lie every time they open their mouths. Besides, they are jealous of me….”
“No one is jealous of you, Mademoiselle Gillette.”
“No, they are! I didn’t say anything. I’m telling you the truth!”
The noble ladies around Gillette realized there was no way to save her in this situation.
They slowly drifted away from her.
Gillette of the House Merdi.
Iris, the flower of the Wittlow Duchy and now, the Countess Green.
It was already decided whose side they should be on.
“You said you saw it yourself….”
One of the noble ladies muttered, and Gillette glared at her with wide eyes.
“No, why are you looking at me like that? You were the one who said so. That you saw it yourself. That you were so shocked. Isn’t that right?”
“That’s right. You said you saw it yourself, sister… We believed you.”
“You told us several times it was true because we didn’t believe it. You even told us what expression Viscount Hutchis and Countess Green had, and what they were talking about….”
The hole for Gillette to escape through had disappeared.
But Gillette could not collapse here.
If she admitted to this, the House Merdi would no longer be able to live in this society.
There were many reporters present.
This incident would be printed in various newspapers and spread throughout the continent.
Their opponent was none other than the House Green, who enjoyed the protection of the Holy Kingdom.
To tarnish the honor of House Green was equivalent to challenging the Holy Kingdom itself.
The House Merdi would find it difficult to live not only here but in any other country.
“I… I… I heard it from Viscount Hutchis himself!”
Gillette decided to grab onto the last remaining straw.
“Viscount Hutchis told me! …so they had that kind of relationship. But the Countess wanted status, so she abandoned Viscount Hutchis and married Count Green…”
Gillette stopped speaking.
It was because Jamie’s smile had deepened.
“I see, Gillette. That is why I summoned Viscount Hutchis here myself.”
She thought it was a lie, a remark made to intimidate her.
It wasn’t.
She saw Alford walking toward them, his face pale with terror.
Eugene and Wallace were on either side of Alford.
Gillette’s mind went completely blank.
Once Alford stood beside them, Jamie opened his mouth.
“Viscount Alford Hutchis. You heard that just now, didn’t you?”
“Pardon? Ah, yes… yes.”
“Is it true that you talked about having had that kind of relationship with the Countess Green?”
“N-no! Absolutely not. How could I dare say such a thing… it isn’t true.”
“Yes, you did!”
Gillette shrieked.
“The day you came to see Count Green, you kept talking about how passionately you loved the Countess Green.”
“What are you talking about? I never said such a thing! I really never said that, Viscount Russell. Why would I be so insane as to blather about that at the Green estate? That woman is framing me!”
“Framing you…! Jamie. I really heard it from him. Ah, the maids that day must have heard it too. Ask the maids.”
“I have already asked the maids,” Jamie said calmly, amidst the bickering between Gillette and Alford.
“The maids said they heard nothing, Lady Gillette.”
“T-that can’t be…”
Gillette staggered.
She realized there was no way to escape this situation.
*‘What do I do? What do I do? What do I do?’*
Looking around to find someone to ask for help, her eyes locked onto Rishi, who was standing at a distance.
Rishi was wearing a serene smile.
*‘It’s because of that woman. That woman did this to me…!’*
She wanted to rush over and tear Rishi’s hair out right then and there.
She wanted to see that noble, arrogant expression twisted into a mess.
However, a single shred of reason held Gillette’s feet in place.
That was when it happened. Someone dashed toward Count Green and his wife.
Gillette realized too late that the person was her father.
Viscount Merdi ran up to Kay and knelt before him.
It was practically unheard of for a noble to kneel before another noble in front of commoners.
“Oh, my.”
“Goodness…”
The clicking of tongues and gasps from the nobles could be heard everywhere.
Viscount Merdi knelt before Kay, who was young enough to be his son, and pleaded.
“Count Green. I have raised my daughter poorly. Please, show your magnanimity and forgive her. I will never forget your grace for the rest of my life.”
“It seems the one the Viscount needs to beg for forgiveness is not me, but my wife.”
At that, Viscount Merdi turned his body toward Rishi.
“Countess. My daughter has committed a grave sin. She is still young and foolish, so please, show your generosity and forgive…”
Rishi, who had been observing Viscount Merdi with cool eyes, opened her mouth.