I Will Try to Save My Dad - Chapter 182

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

Side Story 2

——
Questions have been raised regarding the Crown Princess’s origins.
According to reports, a recent blood serum test submitted by an anonymous client to the K Research Institute revealed that no biological relationship could be established between Reytan Quartz Trabel and Crown Princess Berry Quartz Igselona.
The suspicion arose when the test results were lost due to carelessness by those involved and leaked to the outside, through which….
——-

I lifted my eyes from the article dominating the front page of the newspaper and checked the name of the publication at the top.
First Herald.
It wasn’t a newspaper I typically read, as I didn’t think they produced particularly quality articles….
‘What is this suddenly?’
They’d published a false article about me as their main story.
The headline had left itself an escape route with the word ‘possibility.’
‘Publishing an unconfirmed article while risking confrontation with me, the Crown Princess….’
Someone was moving behind the scenes to damage my reputation.
‘The Fourth Concubine?’
In fact, the president of First Herald was a nobleman from the same hometown as the Fourth Concubine. The Fourth Concubine had been a princess of that nation.
If this fake article had her influence behind it, the Fourth Concubine was the prime suspect.
‘Did she want to shape public opinion like I do?’
But to fabricate an article that even touches Father….
…It seems I’ll need to meet with the Fourth Concubine.
“Your Highness, shall I look into this further?”
My personal maid Roxie whispered discreetly as she brought me the newspaper.
After the Kane incident that had occurred in the Imperial Palace, Roxie had formally entered into an employment contract with me.
According to information from Zena Chaser, who had investigated her background, Roxie had a history of working as a spy in a foreign country.
She was an expert in matters like this.
“Yes.”
I answered quietly without moving my lips.
As Roxie left the room, she took the newspaper and tapped the back of my hand with her index finger.
It was a signal of understanding.
“Is something the matter?”
A worried voice came from the bed behind the curtain.
I had come to the Empress Palace since morning at the Empress’s request for companionship.
The Empress, unable to move from her bed due to her back, shifted her gaze toward me.
“You seem to be taking that newspaper quite seriously.”
“Ah.”
At the same time, another concern came to mind.
If the Emperor or Empress believed this false article, it would create a troublesome situation.
In the past, during his days as Crown Prince, the Emperor had never attempted to seek out illegitimate children simply because the women he’d met were of low status.
‘Lineage’ was a keyword that touched the Emperor’s pride.
‘I need to uncover who’s behind this quickly and demand a retraction article.’
…First, I should inform the Empress that this is a fabricated article.
“A speculative article mentioning me was published in the newspaper. I came to lodge a protest, as it’s false.”
“My goodness. I’ve heard articles about the Crown Princess fetch a good price even in foreign lands. How amusing.”
“In foreign lands?”
“The envoy from the Edencia Kingdom brought a palace newspaper featuring an article about the Crown Princess, saying it was something amusing to show. Since it wasn’t taken by a commercial photographer, the quality was rather—”
“Rather poor?”
“…I heard that newspaper became a rare collectible that’s difficult to obtain.”
The Empress mentioned her back was aching again and dismissed me from her presence.
She seemed embarrassed for some reason, though I wondered if it was truly her back, so I didn’t press further.
After stepping into the Corridor, I retrieved my pendant watch from my handbag to check the time.
1:45 PM.
‘Since today is Friday.’
The Concubines’ tea time would begin soon.
The hour I’d been anticipating every week!
But today was different.
‘I need to confirm something.’
Whether it was truly the Fourth Concubine who fabricated this false article.

***

I sent a telegram summoning Jack Jack.
After writing down several instructions for Zena Chaser to follow, I asked Akum to deliver them.
I headed straight to the Fourth Empress’s Palace.
An Attendant guided me to the Tea Room.
“My, the Crown Princess has arrived.”
All the other Empresses except me were already seated.
Eyes turned toward me, and beneath their greetings, I detected subtle glances that suggested they already knew my gossip.
The air felt sharp and cutting.
I walked to my seat with a composed smile.
“I apologize for being late.”
“The Crown Princess is late to tea time? It seems something must have come up today.”
The Third Concubine across from me spoke while lifting her teacup.
“Today? Did something happen?”
“My, the Crown Princess—”
“Ah, the Empress summoned me, so I visited the Empress Palace.”
“The Empress… Palace?”
The corners of the Third Concubine’s smiling lips trembled.
It was unwelcome news to the Third Concubine, who had been working hard to gain the Empress’s favor.
“What business did the Crown Princess have at the Empress Palace?”
“She said she needed a conversation partner. My conversational skills aren’t particularly excellent, but I’m grateful she thought of me. Third Concubine, have you also visited Her Majesty often to keep her company?”
“….”
The Third Concubine nodded silently.
Then, as if an excuse to preserve her pride came to mind, she opened her mouth.
“Every morning, to pay my respects and….”
“Crown Princess.”
Just as I seemed about to control the atmosphere, someone spoke up.
I turned my head toward the host of today’s tea time.
“Yes, Fourth Concubine?”
The Fourth Concubine had a small frame that gave an impression of delicacy, but among the Empresses, she schemed the most behind the scenes.
The Fourth Concubine, whose eyes met mine, smiled brightly.
“I heard the Crown Princess isn’t born of the Trabel Estate?”
A direct hit from the start.
The other Empresses, who had been silent until now, seemed interested in this topic and joined the conversation with excited voices.
“Then did Reytan Quartz Trabel adopt the Crown Princess? How considerate of him.”
“There must have been a reason for not revealing the Crown Princess’s biological mother all this time. An adopted child, no less. How difficult it must have been. Wait, do you know who your biological parents are?”
“I’m worried about the Crown Prince. Will he be able to receive proper support from the Trabel Count Family when needed? When she was inside, they could at least call her a granddaughter, but now without the Trabel name….”
Rudeness disguised as concern poured out.
I opened my mouth calmly.
Rudeness disguised as concern comes pouring out.
I opened my mouth calmly.
“No.”
I spoke in a measured tone, decisive and unwavering.
“It seems the Empresses saw an article from First Herald, that newspaper company. I was quite startled when I read it today myself.”
“Startled? Then—”
“The fake article was written far too convincingly.”
“Fake… article?”
“Yes. I thought no one would believe it, so I stayed quiet, but I suppose I was naive and underestimated the world. To think the article was plausible enough to deceive even the Empresses…”
I deliberately let disappointment show in my expression.
Conveying the impression that I hadn’t expected the Empresses to believe a fake article that I thought no one would fall for.
“Whoever commissioned it, there’s no definitive proof from a private research institute that the blood truly belongs to my mother and me.”
At my words, the First and Second Empresses cleared their throats and lifted their teacups.
They seemed to sense this wasn’t a matter worth involving themselves in deeply.
‘As expected, long years in the Imperial Palace teach them to withdraw before their position becomes untenable.’
In any case, those two weren’t my real target.
I needed to confirm first whether the Fourth Empress was truly involved in this matter.
“This is quite serious. If Count Trabel or my father saw this, they wouldn’t remain idle. They’d believe the family honor has been tarnished and would sue the newspaper company and everyone involved.”
“….”
“Including the information provider.”
I expected the Fourth Empress’s complexion to change with this pressure, but she remained composed.
Instead, she openly displayed her displeasure toward me.
“Crown Princess, isn’t it you who’s telling lies?”
Her confidence was strange. I decided to hear more of what the Fourth Empress had to say.
“They won’t be able to sue. The article’s contents aren’t false.”
“What do you mean?”
“The information provider is my acquaintance. And my acquaintance told me something known only to me.”
The Fourth Empress displayed a victorious smile.
“The client was the Temple of High Priest.”
“….”
“There’s no room for doubt that the blood is fake.”

***

A harbor city in the Heishal Empire.
There, the Trabel Estate’s merchant vessel awaited.
The Captain, having received a report that departure preparations were complete, exited his quarters and ascended to the deck.
He observed the young man standing at the railing facing the harbor, sighed quietly to himself, then stepped behind him and spoke.
“Young Master Calips.”

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————