The Problem Is, My Ex-Boyfriend and I Are Both Dating Other People - Chapter 57

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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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Episode 57

I crossed my legs and fixed Richard with a stare. In the darkness, he met my gaze without flinching. I waited for him to explain first, but eventually I couldn’t hold back any longer.
“You’re not about to tell me you’re the real power behind Troublelup, are you?”
“Why are you so certain about that?”
“Because it has to be no.”
Troublelup was a famous gossip publication even before I was born. And ten years ago, it was the place that publicly exposed my relationship with Richard under the banner of “Lovers of the Century” or some such nonsense.
That incident with Troublelup was what prompted Father to begin his intervention in earnest. So Richard was connected to such a place?
I watched Richard’s mouth intently, my body taut with tension. An eternity passed in an instant, and then he spoke.
“Like you said—I’m not.”
As he spoke, the door behind him opened. A man wearing a mask over his eyes made an exaggerated flourish with his hands as he picked up the conversation.
“My goodness, I’ve kept such distinguished guests waiting! Welcome. I’m Troublelup’s spokesperson. Please, just call me Love.”
The man, who wore a pink butterfly ribbon with a heart emblem at his neck, spoke while swinging both arms dramatically.
…Was this man insane?
“A fitting title for the representative of a gossip publication overflowing with love, wouldn’t you say?”
The lunatic who’d asked to be called Love laughed with forced cheer. Fortunately, among those seated around the round table, none joined in his laughter.
I studied Love carefully. Twenty-something. Male. Light brown hair, average height and build. Apart from his face, which was more than half concealed behind the mask, he had no distinguishing features whatsoever—the sort of person you could pass on the street and never recognize.
‘The mask itself has nothing unusual about it.’
Though that itself was peculiar. The mask was laden with feathers—something I’d grown weary of seeing every Social Season.
The problem was.
‘It’s a woman’s mask.’
And true to his chosen name, the feathers adorning the mask were entirely pink and red. Whether by deliberate design or chance, the pink formal suit had a flamboyance that made you stop short the moment you laid eyes on it.
Noah leaned toward me and whispered quietly.
“Given that he spends his time investigating others’ secrets, I suppose he’s somewhat unhinged.”
“When Your Grace declared your willingness to sacrifice for the people’s right to know, we were profoundly moved.”
“My, what honeyed words—quite the silver tongue, it seems.”
It wasn’t wrong, exactly, but the man was insufferable. I gestured to Noah. He seemed displeased with the situation but obediently held his tongue. I nodded toward Love and spoke.
“So then—why did you summon House of Winston?”
“Ah, yes. We made a special request to him. Since he’s one of our major shareholders, contacting him proved far more convenient.”
…?
Richard? I turned to him in shock.
“You said you weren’t the real power behind it.”
“I’m not. I simply made an investment.”
I was left completely speechless.
In the meantime, Noah raised his hand like a student giving a presentation and asked Love a question.
“Wait. Major shareholder? Are you saying Troublelup isn’t privately owned?”
“The Duchess of Bella’s Estate is as perceptive as ever. Quite right. Troublelup was created through the investments of many patrons, a gossip publication in service of the empire’s people. We operate on invested capital and return profits to our shareholders in the form of dividends.”
Noah thought for a moment, then raised his hand again.
“So if I invested right now, I could become a major shareholder of Troublelup?”
“Ah, I’m afraid we only accept investments from commoners.”
Our eyes turned to Richard simultaneously. The man who held the title of House of Winston. Love, noticing what we were about to say, smiled knowingly.
“We’ve made a special exception for one who spared neither material nor human resources for Troublelup before receiving his title. We did, however, obtain a sworn oath that he would abstain from editorial involvement.”
“That’s hardly the pressing issue here, is it?”
Richard’s curt interruption made his displeasure evident. Love, quick to notice, offered a clever smile.
“Of course, my lord. The reason we arranged this meeting with you both today is that we’d like to make a slight modification to the conditions proposed by the Duchess of Bella’s Estate.”
What I’d proposed to Troublelup was simple: suspecting Daemon of infidelity, I wanted them to tail him, find out who he was meeting and where he was going. In exchange, I offered to give them an exclusive interview.
I thought it was perfect for Troublelup’s taste. As if reading my mind, Love grinned widely.
“Your Grace is pursuing a monster, aren’t you? Troublelup will cooperate fully. However, an interview alone won’t suffice.”
…
“It’s already dangerous to gather evidence of the Crown Prince’s infidelity, but a monster? This is truly work that demands one stake their very neck.”
I didn’t ask how he knew. The moment we’d chosen this place as our meeting point, it had been clear he was already aware of the monster attacks.
“Fine. What do you want?”
Behind his mask, Love’s two eyes gleamed for a moment.
“Everything about both of you.”
I’d suspected as much. Otherwise, there’d be no reason to summon Richard to this meeting.
“For instance?”
Richard suddenly inserted himself into the conversation. Love smiled at him.
“Why did the couple of the century break up? Where does love’s arrow now point? An exclusive Troublelup report—coming soon!”
Love raised both arms dramatically. If there had been a sound effect, it would have been a resounding “Boom!”
…
“…….”
“…….”
Love refused to yield in the face of the crowd’s silence.
“Just imagining it, don’t you think it would sell spectacularly?”
His eyes, mad with gossip-hunger, glinted with something akin to madness.
I quietly brushed away the goosebumps rising along my arms.
As I fell silent, Noah cut in.
“If you’re proposing a deal of that magnitude, you must have information worth something.”
The man hadn’t even said he wanted to listen, and yet here Noah was.
Noah didn’t flinch at my gaze either.
Love turned toward him with a satisfied smile.
“Of course, Your Grace. Shall we start with recent events? Four days ago, one of our sources witnessed a carriage being attacked by a Demon in this very alley. Ah—should I also mention the attack on the Imperial Palace terrace?”
“That’s enough. You know everything already. So Troublelup is……conducting interviews while Demons rampage through the capital’s heart, and this is what you’re—” Noah gestured broadly with his arm, as if sweeping at the air around us. I had to admit, he had a point.
If this building had truly been vacant as long as Noah suggested, it should have been far more dilapidated than this. Yet despite the slight wear, traces of human hands remained throughout—the tablecloths on the tables, teacups no one had touched.
Love responded to Noah’s silent accusation with an air of indifference.
“The Demons will be dealt with by those of higher station, naturally.”
“What?”
“After all, we’re merely people who’ve gathered to mock and giggle at those lofty beings pretending to nobility up in the clouds. Ah—my apologies, Your Grace.”
I waved my hand dismissively at Love’s apology, my expression making clear I wasn’t sorry in the slightest.
“My, what graciousness.”
Was he baiting me?
Love pivoted sharply toward me, then continued speaking to Noah.
“Demons? How on earth would we manage something so brutal? If Troublelup published such a story, those distinguished personages would come rushing down to persecute us.”
Love feigned a whimper. Now I was beginning to understand.
“Operating only within permitted bounds, then.”
Unlike other enterprises, Troublelup had been built solely on commoners’ investments, with no head to take responsibility. Even if the authorities razed the premises, it would accomplish nothing.
If Troublelup was the invisible queen ant, the rest were worker ants that could scatter and regroup as needed. That was precisely why it couldn’t be destroyed—why it could resurface anywhere and feed on gossip.
I studied him, then asked.
“When you speak of investment, you don’t mean only money.”
Love grinned, his teeth bared. Bingo. Every act of bringing gossip was an investment. And by systematically excluding the nobility from that system, they’d made it so those very people couldn’t even conceive of how Troublelup operated.
A hollow laugh escaped me. Ants are small and weak, yet crushing an entire colony is never as simple as one might think.
Once I understood what I was truly facing, my will to act evaporated. All that resolve about finding who stood behind them and making them pay seemed suddenly pointless. I laughed wearily, muttering almost to myself.
“Even if I arrest you here, tomorrow’s issue of Troublelup will roll off the presses without a hitch.”
“Of course, Your Grace. What will you do?”
I turned my gaze slowly away from Love.

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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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