Chapter 66: The Black Swan (7)

The first place where the news of Director Robert’s arrest was delivered was the Luton mansion.

In one of the offices there, laughter didn’t cease.

「Is that so…? You’re saying Echina was the one who made the first arrest!!」

The Grand Duke’s hearty laugh—rare from someone whose emotions rarely shifted.

Chief Secretary Debier looked on calmly at the Grand Duke, who was clearly delighted by his daughter’s success.

“Yes. I heard she returned to the knights proudly, leading her team.”

The Grand Duke of the North let out a deep breath.

Then, he gestured to the chief secretary to bring paper and a quill.

Afterward, Luton gracefully wrote a letter with the pen handed to him.

When he finished, he handed the paper to Debier with a resolute look in his eyes.

「Deliver this to the president of Gold Morning. Tell them to report this as a major story.」

The chief secretary received the letter without resistance.

However, he asked with a concerned look,

“Still, is it alright to raise Lady Echina’s profile this much?”

「What’s there to worry about?」

The Grand Duke pulled a monocle from his cardigan pocket.

He placed it over his sharp eyes and said,

「Her performance was impressive. How commendable, don’t you think?」

Through the lens, his golden eyes gleamed brightly.

As if the wisdom he had built over the years remained undiminished by age.

「To complete the mission I gave her, she took down the director of another company.」

Luton crossed his arms.

Then, with a chilling smile at the corner of his lips, he added,

「She showed this level of decisiveness and competence the moment she was given a chance. Of course I should be pleased.」

Debier nodded calmly, as if in agreement.

But he added in a serious tone,

“Still, the other children will keep an even closer eye on Lady Echina.”

Having served them all, the chief secretary knew well just how large each of their ambitions loomed.

He seemed worried about whether the girl, who had only just stepped onto the chessboard, could endure.

However—

Her father, the Grand Duke, smiled with a coldness untouched by concern.

「That’s something Echina will have to overcome on her own.」

Like a lion king who had thrown all his cubs off a cliff.

「She probably braced herself for this much. She takes after her mother the most out of all the children.」

The Grand Duke rose from his leather chair.

Then, as he looked alone at the group portrait, he said,

「Besides, she’s got a clever little fox by her side, doesn’t she.」

Debier nodded, seemingly knowing who that fox was.

But then he paused at the sight of the Grand Duke frowning.

「Though I’m starting to worry.」

The second most powerful man on the continent, who hadn’t worried about his daughter, was now concerned about a secretary-in-training.

「As clever as they are… foxes are creatures you can never quite figure out.」

The Duke placed a hand on his sharp jawline.

Then, as he recalled a certain man, a chilling expression twisted his face.

「It’d be nice to properly tame him while we’re at it.」

“Then, shall we officially appoint her as a secretary during the upcoming final review?”

The chief secretary made a rather bold proposal to the Grand Duke.

However, Luton seemed to think the suggestion was perfectly reasonable, and agreed without hesitation.

「She deserves at least that much compensation.」

「――――――」

A few days later.

Gold Morning published a series of reports about Director Robert’s arrest.

And shortly after, came the news of his prosecution.

「Robert Fellows, director of Nordique, under court investigation following attempted escape.」

His habitual wrongdoings were swiftly and thoroughly proven.

As a result, along with severe punishment, his name was completely erased from the entertainment industry.

“……”

Crowds of citizens gathered at the entrance of the Supreme Court in New Luton.

They stood in front of the grand entrance, waiting for today’s main figure to emerge.

However, that figure was not the suspect, Director Robert.

To be exact, people had come to see the Saint Istina, who had come into the public eye through this case.

“Saint! Please look this way just once!!”

“Could you grant us just one short interview?”

Two holy knights stood side by side next to Istina as she exited through the courthouse’s main gate.

The two of them blocked the reporters with stern faces.

“Step back! How dare you speak so casually to the Saint…!!”

Istina gently smiled and reassured the knights that it was alright.

Then, agreeing to the interview, she responded to the reporters’ requests.

“It’s alright, everyone. The reporters deserve to be informed too.”

But I, watching from behind the courthouse, knew the truth.

Istina had brought the knights with her deliberately as she exited the courthouse.

“You’re all doing meaningful work, so of course I should speak.”

That gracious figure who stepped forward for the interview, even as she waved her knights back—

Istina was a clever woman who knew how to use her beauty and benevolent image to her advantage.

“As expected of the Saint!”

“Even just a short message, please!!”

She knew it well.

That even the smallest words from her would be received as great kindness by the people.

“This incident is truly regrettable for our empire’s entertainment industry.”

A hood adorned with silver wolf fur draped over her shoulders.

From within it, her radiant face spoke solemnly.

“Now that peace has been achieved, it’s a time when culture should be in full bloom. Precisely at a time like this, such disgraceful events must not be allowed to happen again.”

The reporters scribbled down every one of her words.

While they were absorbed in their notepads, Istina subtly signaled the reporters who had stepped back.

“From now on, our Silver Truth Church will dedicate itself to helping victims like these, and we will strive to show great concern.”

The reporters were just about to follow up with more questions.

However, the knights, having received the Saint’s signal, returned to block the reporters once again.

“The Saint is currently exhausted from a lengthy testimony.”

“This will be the end of the interview.”

The Saint pulled her face into the shadow of her pure white hood.

Then, with her head slightly bowed, she descended the courthouse steps.

“Please wait, Saint! Just one more question…!!”

She paid no attention to the reporters’ shouts.

Rather, as she walked away, she even whispered to her knights.

“Where is Julius Roger?”

“He is currently meeting with Lady Echina, the Grand Duke’s daughter, behind the courthouse.”

As she descended the stairs, the Saint suddenly came to a halt.

Then, glancing briefly back at the courthouse she had calmly left behind, she asked,

“What do you think of that man?”

“Are you referring to President Julius Roger?”

The holy knights all looked toward the man with the sharp, narrow eyes.

Then, they gave their honest impressions.

“He’s certainly exceptional. Serving as a secretary for the Grand Duke’s family, while also being the president of a hotel.”

“He reported Director Robert’s crimes to you, Saint, and even secured decisive evidence.”

The Saint placed her index finger gently against her delicate jawline.

Then, she closed her signature blue eyes in a strangely alluring way and said,

“But why?”

The holy knights blinked in confusion at her brief question.

“Well… perhaps because he thought the Saint would be able to help?”

“He likely believed that, with your abilities, you’d be able to draw out testimony.”

Istina slowly shook her head.

And her eyes—so full of ambition, unlike when she gave interviews or testified in court—narrowed.

“No. With the evidence he already had, he could have easily handled it alone.”

At the Saint’s firm words, the knights all fell into collective thought.

Then, she looked at her clueless followers with a gaze of mild disappointment.

“And yet, the fact that he gave me a chance to ride on the coattails of his work—that probably means he wants to maintain a good relationship with me.”

She began to climb the courthouse steps once again.

Toward the man who had piqued her curiosity.

“But why? He’s already on the solid ship that is the Grand Duke’s household.”

Disappointed reporters descended the stairs in search of their next scoop.

The Saint climbed all the way to the top alone, leaving them behind.

“He plans to jump off that ship.”

Brilliant sunlight of high noon poured down.

As if illuminating the secretary-in-training who still stood at the entrance, long after the others had gone.

“Into the deep sea.”

Inside her hood, the Saint’s blue eyes shimmered.

Like the glittering surface of the ocean.

“As if he already knows that ship is going to sink.”

Perhaps it was because she had realized he would leave the Grand Duke’s house.

Istina held a meaningful smile at the corner of her lips.

Then, like a silver wolf aiming at a fox that had crossed into its territory, she smiled with her eyes.

“So then, it’s an ownerless seat now, isn’t it?”

Istina pulled down her hood.

Then she lightly waved at me from afar as I greeted her.

“……”

I looked at the Saint, who had played an impressive role, with a calm gaze.

But the way she smiled the moment our eyes met… it gave me a strange feeling.

“Why does the back of my neck suddenly feel cold?”

Just as I thought that and turned my head, I saw Gehenna and Echina coming out after giving their additional statements.

“Ah, did your testimonies go well?”

“Yes. I think the verdict will be out soon.”

Echina looked quietly at the Black Swan, whom she had helped.

“Thank you so much, Lady Echina. I don’t know how I’ll ever repay this favor…”

“There’s no need to thank me.”

The Grand Duke’s daughter turned her head slightly toward me.

“All of this was orchestrated by this cunning friend here.”

The Black Swan looked as if she still couldn’t believe she had escaped the clutches of the director in just a week.

A shine bloomed in her brown eyes.

“Thank you, President Roger. Thanks to you…”

“No need to thank me. All of this came from your own decision, Miss Gehenna.”

I gently took her trembling hand in mine.

Then, with a pleased expression, I said,

“Nothing can come to fruition unless the person herself chooses to make it happen.”

Gehenna seemed to agree, swallowing her breath that had been rising with emotion.

Then, with eyes full of resolution, she said,

“I… will perform at the Luton Hall.”

I gave a small smile at the decision made by the next prima ballerina.

As I was about to let go of her hand—

“Also…!!”

Startled, I widened my eyes as she grabbed my hand again, holding it tightly.

Even Echina, watching from the side, looked surprised.

“I left Nordique!!”

She had left her agency.

Even though the director who tormented her was gone, and despite the fact that it was the third-largest company in the empire.

The fact that she had left a company like that when she wasn’t even at the top of the industry yet made me blink in surprise.

“Why…? If you stayed there, you’d surely thrive, Miss Gehenna.”

“I know. If it weren’t for your network, Mr. Roger, the director wouldn’t have been sentenced to prison and would’ve returned to Nordique.”

Gehenna was no longer just a victim.

With intelligent eyes, she looked straight at me and said,

“Rather than stay at a company like that, I want to be part of an agency that truly cares for me.”

I looked proudly at the Black Swan, who had learned to make her own choices.

With a rare smile that had occasionally appeared back in my days as the chief secretary.

“If it’s you, Miss Gehenna, I believe you can do it. You’re a steadfast woman.”

Gehenna flinched slightly at my distinctive, eerie aura.

But perhaps sensing that my inner self was sincere, she smiled sweetly.

“What was that smile for? You looked really sinister just now.”

“I was simply proud of you.”

The next prima ballerina, who was the same age as me, pouted slightly as if I seemed inexplicably mature in her eyes.

“You’re talking like I’m some little kid or something.”

“If that’s how it came across, I apologize.”

Gehenna let out a dry chuckle at the sight of me bowing my head with mock sincerity.

Once the laughter faded, an awkward silence lingered between us.

“So… what should I do now…?”

She was the Black Swan who had finally been freed from the cage that had bound her.

But perhaps because she had lived her whole life confined—

Her eyes looked uncertain, unsure of which direction to go.

“What else?”

I looked at Gehenna with the gentle expression I used when caring for the Grand Duke’s children.

Then, raising my index finger, I gave her one piece of advice.

“You should do what you’ve always wanted to do.”

The dances she had yearned to perform.

The stages she had dreamed of standing on.

“What I’ve always wanted to do…?”

I looked out toward the bustling cityscape of Nord stretched below the courthouse.

Gehenna followed my gaze and stared at the view with me.

“Eat when you’re hungry, sleep when you’re tired. The things you used to think of as dreams.”

“Ah…”

The woman destined to be the next great dancer let her lips part slightly.

With a dazed look, she imagined a life of freedom.

“Of course, you’ll need to take care of yourself well enough that it doesn’t interfere with your dancing.”

I said this while glancing toward the courthouse steps, where the reporters were returning.

Now that Istina had left, the reporters who had been loitering nearby rushed in when they spotted Gehenna emerging from the courthouse.

“Miss Gehenna, is it true that you were subjected to abuse at Nordique recently?”

“What are your plans from here? Will you continue with Nordique?”

The Black Swan blinked in surprise at the flood of interview requests now directed at her.

Then, just like before, she looked around instinctively—as if searching for someone to rely on.

But—

The moment our eyes met from a distance,

When I gave her a thumbs-up, she seemed to regain her composure and took a deep breath.

Then finally, she opened her mouth to speak.

“I’ll say it.”

Everyone focused on her bold declaration.

And then—

“As of today, I will no longer be working with Nordique.”

The news, shocking even for Nord, quickly spread throughout the entire empire.

“From now on, I’ll be dancing as part of the Erian Foundation.”

A declaration from the rising star of the dance world—following in the footsteps of the legendary singer, Bennet Tolkien.

At her words, the mouths of countless reporters gathered in front of the courthouse dropped open.

“I-Is that true…?”

“You mean you’re canceling the imperial palace performance that Director Robert had arranged?!”

She was giving up a performance at the Imperial Palace.

Instead, she had chosen the Erian Foundation, which was tied to the Grand Duke’s second daughter.

This wasn’t simply news of a change in agency.

It was a world-shaking declaration: that the greatest dancer of the century preferred the Grand Duke’s household over the imperial family.

“Yes. At the very least, if I’m at Erian…”

The Black Swan turned toward me with a soft gaze.

And with a bright smile in her eyes, she said,

“I think I’ll be able to sleep properly and have actual meals.”

All the reporters immediately turned to look at me.

At that overwhelming and explosive statement, I let out a small cough.

‘Why does it feel like things are getting bigger and bigger?’

I had only intended to do my best for the performance at Luton Hall.

But somehow, it felt like my retirement foundation was the one reaping all the rewards.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep