Since It's My First Time Being a Lady, I'll Cause Some Trouble - Chapter 30

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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A Lady Tries for the First Time – Episode 030
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The Baron and Baroness were waiting for Kallam and me in the Reception Room.
We told Kallam in detail everything that had happened from the moment we entered the Prison until we returned to the Baron’s estate.
We omitted, however, the fact that Miranda had tried to mention who was behind it all.
We wanted to keep our lives—not to speak the truth and end up falsely accused or assassinated.
The Baron spoke in a tone of lament.
“Gordon is a blood relative of our house, yet I have no intention of making excuses or defending him on their behalf. If anything, it’s regrettable that he died before the law could pass judgment on him.”
“Is there anyone else who can testify to these circumstances?”
“The guards and the Physician saw it. But only the Physician would know the cause.”
The Baroness shuddered as the scene played before her mind’s eye once more.
“Rosemay was still alive when we left. The guard carried her with the Physician to the Hospital Ward. I don’t know how she is now, but…….”
“If Miss Rosemay Gordon is still living, we might learn more details.”
I nodded in agreement.
Throughout the interview, Kallam scribbled something in his Notebook. His face was grave, yet the swift movements of his pen hand revealed how intensely excited he was.
“Will you print this as an Extra Edition?”
The Baron set a purse of Gold Coins on the coffee table.
“I had already planned to, even without your request.”
Kallam said this with a smirk.
Yet for all that, the way he promptly pocketed the money showed he was no one to be trifled with.
* * *
Kallam’s article was scattered throughout Araf that evening, on the day of the interview.
The citizens who read that the Gordon couple had died in prison and their only daughter hovered between life and death stirred with unease.
The article contained not a single mention of “conspirator,” “assassination,” or “suspicious.”
It was merely the account of how the Baron’s wife and daughter had visited them at their request, when suddenly the prisoners began coughing blood and died, to their great shock.
Yet despite such vague language, strong suspicion fell like a veil over Araf. Given time, that wave would surely spread to the provincial fiefdoms.
Journalists from other newspapers who saw Kallam’s Extra Edition flocked to the Prison demanding to meet the Physician or Rosemay, and the guards and soldiers struggled to turn them away.
And the next morning.
Every newspaper was adorned with the headline that Rosemay and the Physician had died overnight.
The causes of their deaths differed. Rosemay, like her parents, had succumbed to an illness contracted in prison that worsened, while the Physician had lost his footing and drowned in the river.
Parliament was in chaos.
“How can four people die on the same day?”
“The Gordon family has been silenced by death. They must have known something.”
“If it were truly an ordinary illness, why is there no medical record for only the Gordon family?”
“There must be other nobles involved in Treason besides those who signed the Loyalty Oath!”
Beset by questions and objections, the Emperor suffered greatly. He thought all traitors had been captured, yet there remained more.
When he learned that the Gordon couple had died, he only increased the guards around the Prison and offered no rebuttal to the questions.
If the Emperor had officially defended against their deaths, he would only have stirred the citizens’ suspicion and anxiety.
He planned to clarify their deaths when the moment was right.
‘Yet now this has happened.’
The Emperor convened an emergency meeting, summoning only the Empress, the legitimate Imperial Princes, and a small circle of trusted advisors.
“Your Majesty, while the death of the Gordon family appears unnatural, there is no evidence of assassination. It would be better to deny any involvement and conduct an investigation in secret—to claim it is untrue, lest we disturb the people’s peace of mind.”
The Empress shook her head at Arka’s counsel.
“Your Majesty, the citizens already believe there is someone behind this. Secret investigation or not, the people’s anxiety will only grow. This may well result in missing crucial testimony or evidence.”
“But is this story truly fact?”
Arka raised the question in response to the Empress’s words.
“It is only the claim of the Netzer Baron’s family, and the Physician who could cross-verify is dead. Frankly, I suspect the Baron. Therefore, send Imperial Guards to relieve him of the soldiers he currently commands.”
“You are saying to dispatch the Imperial Guard to the Netzer Baron’s estate?”
A noble asked, as if uncertain he had heard correctly.
The expressions of the advisors were not favorable, but Arka, undeterred, continued with conviction in his voice.
“Yes. If you order them to watch the Baron’s family under the pretext of protecting witnesses and preventing escape, we can verify whether their words are true or false.”
“That cannot be.”
Jereon’s voice cut through the Office.
The Emperor and even the nobles stared at him in surprise.
This Prince was formally summoned to such matters out of tradition, yet always pretended to be absent and showed no interest in the matter. That he now offered an opinion with such firmness was unprecedented.
“Why not?”
Arka asked.
“We cannot place them under surveillance merely because the Baron’s account seems suspicious. If they are telling the truth, we ought to protect them instead.”
“Then is it not all the more reason to dispatch the Imperial Guard as I suggest?”
“If the Imperial Guard is seen near the Baron’s residence, the local people will suspect the court fabricated this incident to intimidate the Netzer Baron.”
Jereon spoke with force in his voice.
“And with the crime on Toglo Street still under investigation, we haven’t the manpower to spare for surveilling the Netzer estate.”
“Watching three people doesn’t require that many soldiers. If you frame it as rooting out traitors, everyone will understand.”
Jereon’s lips curled into a sneer at Arka’s selfish reasoning.
“Without evidence, you’re already treating them as traitors. Don’t you have an acquaintance with Miss Netzer? You danced with her at the ball and invited her to several tea gatherings.”
“I do. Which is precisely why I regret it.”
“But they’re acquaintances of yours…… Isn’t it rather harsh to deny them even a single opportunity?”
“This is for the stability of the empire. If she is truly a noble loyal to the throne, she will gladly accept such measures. To voice discontent in times like these would itself be disloyalty, wouldn’t it?”
“Then you’re claiming the imperial house may trample on the honor of the nobility while standing above the law?”
At this sharp rebuttal, a hairline fracture appeared in Arka’s composure.
“I wonder if the common people and other nobles would agree with your words. If they’d all comply willingly as you suggest, there’d be no problem.”
The moment Jereon finished speaking, the nobles rushed to voice their opinions.
“Your Highness speaks rightly. Rooting out traitors requires evidence—surveilling the Count simply because he raised questions is unjust.”
“He merely posed a question anyone might ask, and it was merely a report that we don’t even know if remnants are still abroad. To brand him a traitor outright seems premature on your part, Crown Prince.”
“What do we gain by ignoring the law and surveilling Count Netzer’s house? The problem isn’t the Count’s estate, but the fierce resistance we’d face from the other nobles. How do you intend to handle that, Your Highness?”
Openly hostile stares and sneers rained down upon Arka. Flustered, he turned his gaze toward the Emperor.
To everyone’s surprise, the Emperor was studying Jereon intently, his gray eyes reassessing the Second Prince’s usefulness.
“What is your opinion?”
“Your Majesty!”
Arka called out to the Emperor as though betrayed, but the Emperor didn’t spare him a glance.
“First, we should accept and acknowledge Count Netzer’s questions without substantially altering the content of the Imperial Decree we’ve already published. We’ll say that while we captured the ringleaders of the rebellion, some escaped remnants remain at large. The Gordon family fell victim to them.”
“What of the investigation? Should we entrust it to the Count and have him find the culprits?”
The Empress probed Jereon slightly.
“That won’t do.”
Jereon objected firmly.
“The Count didn’t report directly to the throne but instead had an Extra Edition published through the press—he moved first before the murderer could come for them. If we grant him investigative authority in such a situation, the culprit will eliminate the Count before anyone else.”
“Then to whom should we grant the authority to investigate?”
The Emperor spoke, and Jereon answered without hesitation.
“Entrust it to Rosetti, the investigating magistrate.”
“Why him?”
“First, as a preliminary examiner, he possesses extensive investigative authority. He’s also a great noble specially permitted to maintain a private force. With available personnel stretched thin investigating both the rebellion and major crimes, he is the only suitable candidate for investigating this additional matter.”
At his answer, the Emperor and the nobles nodded in agreement.
A smile curved the Empress’s lips.
Jereon, you truly should be emperor.

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