024. Public opinion war
The day the 'Brought-forward Breakfast Meeting' was held.
The reception room of the Palazzo Riccardi was crowded with eight members of the parliamentary faction from early morning.
Among them was Darrenton Hockney, the so-called godfather of the Parliamentarians, the very man Mitch had spoken to his sister Emilia about.
It was no coincidence that Darrenton Hockney's grandson went to the same school as Mitch, and that the boy had recently told Mitch a story about a 'poor commoner girl engaged to be a nobleman'.
After a while, the King appeared, and the eight councilors bowed respectfully. They all moved to the dining room.
It was impossible to have a light conversation while sharing breakfast. Some of the disgruntled members started off by making radical remarks like “demonstrators,” “common people’s rights,” and “reform.” Of course, Joseph kept smiling the whole time.
“The world is changing. The Rochester Bill is ultimately for the Crown. Giving the vote to the commoners means more taxes.”
“Yes. Why would the landlords oppose the bill? Because they are afraid that the common people will become workers. Who would like that when their money supply disappears?”
Joseph pretended to sympathize deeply and tried to find the right time to bring up the subject of Hardius Meyer's fiancée.
“Many commoners are suffering under the tyranny of the ignorant nobles. Several years have passed since Your Majesty promulgated the Equality Act, but I understand that discrimination is worse than ever. Commoners still use honorifics toward nobles, and marriage is virtually forbidden...”
This is the time.
Joseph interjected with a very serious expression, saying, “Oh, by the way...”
“Listening to your story, a thought suddenly comes to mind. The engagement I arranged. Five years ago, the one who had ordered the engagement with the successor of the Meyer family... who was it...?”
The one who raises his hand as if he had been waiting is the white-haired member of parliament, Darrenton Hockney.
“Jim Bern’s daughter, Your Majesty?”
Joseph nodded as if he was saying, “Oh, that’s right!”
“This is not the place to bring this up... Since Your Majesty has spoken first, may I say something?”
Joseph tilted his head slightly and answered, “I permit it.”
“This is a story I heard myself recently...”
Finally, 'Emilia Bern' is on the chopping block.
Hockney's story continued with a story of a powerless, poor, commoner woman being treated unfairly simply because she was engaged to a nobleman.
Congressman Hockney's story was a bit exaggerated. However, stories about the weak touch human sensibilities. Some radical congressmen who called for equality and reform for all began to get very angry.
“This is truly a cruel and regrettable thing. Times are changing, how can this be!”
“I can’t believe that a noble family like the Meyers would act so cruelly and meanly just because his fiancée is a commoner.”
At the end of the breakfast meeting, Joseph, who had been listening quietly, played his final role.
“Forcing an engagement and then abandoning her for five years? I’ve been so indifferent. I think it’s my fault. The weaker the people are, the more I should have protected and taken care of them...”
The King let out a long sigh and opened his mouth again.
“What do you think, gentlemen? Didn’t you create a party to represent the common people? I would like to hear your advice on how I should handle this matter.”
There was a commotion at the table, but no matter what, they couldn't openly blame the King.
The arrow naturally headed towards the Meyer family.
“Although there is a parliament, this country belongs to Your Majesty, the Monarch. I believe that the Meyer family is most responsible for not faithfully carrying out the royal command.”
“Yes. Who dares to blame Your Majesty, the King? The person in charge of the Meyer family is actually Kaitlyn Myer. She should be made to apologize and explain herself officially.”
“That is a fair point. How can you neglect the fiancée that Your Majesty the King has arranged for you?”
“Don’t worry. If that doesn’t work, our Congress will step in.”
That wasn't the end of it.
After the breakfast meeting, several reporters appeared to have been waiting for the members of parliament to leave the palace. They asked them about the Rochester Bill, and at the end of the interview, they asked whether marriage between commoners and nobles would be legally protected if the bill were passed.
As if they had been waiting, the members of the parliament poured out stories about House of Meyer's fiancée. Most of them were condemnations of the Meyer family for neglecting their fiancée and ignoring the royal command.
Every story that happened at the breakfast meeting was printed in the newspaper, ready to be spread far and wide.
The next morning, butler Tobias knocked on Hardius's door with coffee and a newspaper as usual. The front page of the newspaper was filled with articles about the Rochester Bill.
When he turned another page, there was the commentary that Hardius had been waiting for, printed in a suitable size.
The abandoned fiancée of the Meyer family
You chose a good title.
He smiled contentedly and reached for the music box on his desk. He wound it up, and a beautiful melody filled the study.
Those words had been haunting Emilia all week.
Finally, she took out a piece of paper and a pen. She didn't dare to go and talk to Hardius in person, so she decided to write a letter.
She doesn't plan on attending the ball.
It was easy to start. But it was hard to explain the reason. No matter what, she couldn't say, 'I don't want to go because I'm scared of your mother.'
Emilia had to practically pull out her hair to write the next letter.
She would like to obtain His Majesty the King's permission to end this ambiguous situation as soon as possible...
As she was barely able to write until her legs started to go numb, it suddenly occurred to her that it was too quiet. Emilia looked around the empty house.
Where's Charlotte? She said she was going to ride the swing.
Just then, a very strange sound was heard outside the window. It was Charlotte laughing.
What's going on? A child who rarely laughs out loud?
Emilia put down her pen and walked over to the window. For a moment, her body stiffened as she doubted her eyes.
There was Hardius, pushing Charlotte's swing.
He had his shirt sleeves rolled up.
The jacket hung carelessly on a tree branch, fluttered in the wind. The black hair that always made Emilia's heart flutter was also gently swaying.
Charlotte burst into laughter every time she flew high into the sky. A faint smile appeared on the lips of the always calm man.
As Emilia opened the door frantically and went out, Brave, who had been sleeping soundly in the yard, raised his head. Charlotte, who had sharp ears, twisted her body toward her sister, and Uncle Beppy, who had been sitting on a tree stump watching, also straightened his back.
Finally, Hardius turned his head.
The silver-gray eyes that had been smiling at the child met the blue eyes that were losing their souls. Everything in the world began to disappear, making the determination to be indifferent seem meaningless.
The jawline of the man facing her slowly rose in a soft curve. A chin well was formed on one cheek, which was smooth as a sculpture.
“Sister? Come here!”
Charlotte cried out. Emilia had to somehow get out of this heartbreaking crisis.
“...Why did you come?”
Hardius raised his arm in greeting. He pushed the swing, which was gradually slowing down, as if Charlotte were the most important thing at this moment. The child flew up into the sky with a joyful scream.
Emilia couldn't watch any longer.
“Charlotte, come in now. You’re supposed to be learning Braille!”
Fortunately or unfortunately, Charlotte did not say no. The child immediately turned to Hardius and said shyly, “Please, let me down. That’s enough.”
Hardius grabbed Charlotte and the rope at the same time. The swing stopped swinging in an instant, and he quickly lifted the child up and put her down.
“Was it fun?”
Hardius's gentle hands ruffled Charlotte's hair. Charlotte laughed again.
The transparent sunlight sparkled dazzlingly beyond the shoulders of the two people. Her heart fluttered at the sight of them looking like an affectionate father and daughter.
An indescribable fear began to build a solid wall.
We must not let Charlotte fall for Hardius. Absolutely not!
“Go in. Sister has something to talk to him about.”
Emilia, who had brought the child into the house, looked at Hardius coldly.
“What’s going on?”
He looked down at Emilia for a long time with his usual calm eyes.
“Are the preparations going well?”
"Preparation?”
"The ball."
Emilia forced her mouth to open stupidly.
“I was just writing a letter to you about that issue.”
"Letter?"
“Let’s pretend the ball never happened.”
Emilia spat it out in one breath.
“Why did you change your mind?”
“I can’t say I changed my mind. I had no intention of going with you in the first place. I was just out of my mind because it was raining that day, and I lost my judgment. Even if I can’t help it about the graduation ceremony, it’s not a prom. You don’t have to go to that.”
Even in the face of strong rejection, the colorless pupils showed no signs of agitation.
For a moment, Emilia felt angry. How much more viciously must she refuse? Why does he keep pretending not to know?
“I’m a little anxious.”
"What?"
“Your Excellency's mother. When Mrs. Meyer came to visit that day, she promised me that in exchange for allowing me to continue living here, I would not ask for anything more.”
Hardius seemed to be thinking about something without saying anything, then suddenly turned around. He raised his arm toward the carriage parked far away. The coachman recognized him immediately and came toward them. He was holding something like a piece of paper in his hand.
“Things have changed, Emilia.”
What is that? As she opened her eyes wide, the coachman arrived right in front of her. He handed Hardius what he was holding. A newspaper suddenly appeared in front of her, and she was bewildered.
“Read it. It’ll be better than listening to my explanation. You’ll only cooperate if it makes logical sense.”
"...cooperation?"
Emilia absentmindedly accepted the newspaper, and Hardius sat down on the swing. As soon as she opened the newspaper, she found it.
The abandoned fiancée of the Meyer family
Emilia was pale from the start. Her trembling eyes frantically read the commentary. As the provocative title suggests, the article is full of criticism of the Meyer family. The last paragraph was beyond shocking.
...Their engagement is a royal command, and their marriage is sacred. We are expecting that the Meyer family will keep their sacred marriage vows as befitting the nobles and founding fathers of the kingdom. If they do not, we will formally bring this matter to the attention of the council.
“How could this happen...”
She looked back at Hardius with shock still in her eyes. Hardius got up from the swing with a calm expression on his face.
“Now... what do I... do with this?!”
“Unfortunately, we can’t cancel the ball. We have to show it to people for the time being.”
“Look, show them, what is it?”
“The appearance of keeping a promise.”
The long body casts a long shadow that seems to cover Emilia.
“Like a beautiful lover who faithfully follows His Majesty the King’s orders.”
The day the 'Brought-forward Breakfast Meeting' was held.
The reception room of the Palazzo Riccardi was crowded with eight members of the parliamentary faction from early morning.
Among them was Darrenton Hockney, the so-called godfather of the Parliamentarians, the very man Mitch had spoken to his sister Emilia about.
It was no coincidence that Darrenton Hockney's grandson went to the same school as Mitch, and that the boy had recently told Mitch a story about a 'poor commoner girl engaged to be a nobleman'.
After a while, the King appeared, and the eight councilors bowed respectfully. They all moved to the dining room.
It was impossible to have a light conversation while sharing breakfast. Some of the disgruntled members started off by making radical remarks like “demonstrators,” “common people’s rights,” and “reform.” Of course, Joseph kept smiling the whole time.
“The world is changing. The Rochester Bill is ultimately for the Crown. Giving the vote to the commoners means more taxes.”
“Yes. Why would the landlords oppose the bill? Because they are afraid that the common people will become workers. Who would like that when their money supply disappears?”
Joseph pretended to sympathize deeply and tried to find the right time to bring up the subject of Hardius Meyer's fiancée.
“Many commoners are suffering under the tyranny of the ignorant nobles. Several years have passed since Your Majesty promulgated the Equality Act, but I understand that discrimination is worse than ever. Commoners still use honorifics toward nobles, and marriage is virtually forbidden...”
This is the time.
Joseph interjected with a very serious expression, saying, “Oh, by the way...”
“Listening to your story, a thought suddenly comes to mind. The engagement I arranged. Five years ago, the one who had ordered the engagement with the successor of the Meyer family... who was it...?”
The one who raises his hand as if he had been waiting is the white-haired member of parliament, Darrenton Hockney.
“Jim Bern’s daughter, Your Majesty?”
Joseph nodded as if he was saying, “Oh, that’s right!”
“This is not the place to bring this up... Since Your Majesty has spoken first, may I say something?”
Joseph tilted his head slightly and answered, “I permit it.”
“This is a story I heard myself recently...”
Finally, 'Emilia Bern' is on the chopping block.
Hockney's story continued with a story of a powerless, poor, commoner woman being treated unfairly simply because she was engaged to a nobleman.
Congressman Hockney's story was a bit exaggerated. However, stories about the weak touch human sensibilities. Some radical congressmen who called for equality and reform for all began to get very angry.
“This is truly a cruel and regrettable thing. Times are changing, how can this be!”
“I can’t believe that a noble family like the Meyers would act so cruelly and meanly just because his fiancée is a commoner.”
At the end of the breakfast meeting, Joseph, who had been listening quietly, played his final role.
“Forcing an engagement and then abandoning her for five years? I’ve been so indifferent. I think it’s my fault. The weaker the people are, the more I should have protected and taken care of them...”
The King let out a long sigh and opened his mouth again.
“What do you think, gentlemen? Didn’t you create a party to represent the common people? I would like to hear your advice on how I should handle this matter.”
There was a commotion at the table, but no matter what, they couldn't openly blame the King.
The arrow naturally headed towards the Meyer family.
“Although there is a parliament, this country belongs to Your Majesty, the Monarch. I believe that the Meyer family is most responsible for not faithfully carrying out the royal command.”
“Yes. Who dares to blame Your Majesty, the King? The person in charge of the Meyer family is actually Kaitlyn Myer. She should be made to apologize and explain herself officially.”
“That is a fair point. How can you neglect the fiancée that Your Majesty the King has arranged for you?”
“Don’t worry. If that doesn’t work, our Congress will step in.”
That wasn't the end of it.
After the breakfast meeting, several reporters appeared to have been waiting for the members of parliament to leave the palace. They asked them about the Rochester Bill, and at the end of the interview, they asked whether marriage between commoners and nobles would be legally protected if the bill were passed.
As if they had been waiting, the members of the parliament poured out stories about House of Meyer's fiancée. Most of them were condemnations of the Meyer family for neglecting their fiancée and ignoring the royal command.
Every story that happened at the breakfast meeting was printed in the newspaper, ready to be spread far and wide.
***
The next morning, butler Tobias knocked on Hardius's door with coffee and a newspaper as usual. The front page of the newspaper was filled with articles about the Rochester Bill.
When he turned another page, there was the commentary that Hardius had been waiting for, printed in a suitable size.
The abandoned fiancée of the Meyer family
You chose a good title.
He smiled contentedly and reached for the music box on his desk. He wound it up, and a beautiful melody filled the study.
***
“Is it okay to go to the prom with him like that, and does he have his mom's permission?”
Finally, she took out a piece of paper and a pen. She didn't dare to go and talk to Hardius in person, so she decided to write a letter.
She doesn't plan on attending the ball.
It was easy to start. But it was hard to explain the reason. No matter what, she couldn't say, 'I don't want to go because I'm scared of your mother.'
Emilia had to practically pull out her hair to write the next letter.
She would like to obtain His Majesty the King's permission to end this ambiguous situation as soon as possible...
As she was barely able to write until her legs started to go numb, it suddenly occurred to her that it was too quiet. Emilia looked around the empty house.
Where's Charlotte? She said she was going to ride the swing.
Just then, a very strange sound was heard outside the window. It was Charlotte laughing.
What's going on? A child who rarely laughs out loud?
Emilia put down her pen and walked over to the window. For a moment, her body stiffened as she doubted her eyes.
There was Hardius, pushing Charlotte's swing.
He had his shirt sleeves rolled up.
The jacket hung carelessly on a tree branch, fluttered in the wind. The black hair that always made Emilia's heart flutter was also gently swaying.
Charlotte burst into laughter every time she flew high into the sky. A faint smile appeared on the lips of the always calm man.
As Emilia opened the door frantically and went out, Brave, who had been sleeping soundly in the yard, raised his head. Charlotte, who had sharp ears, twisted her body toward her sister, and Uncle Beppy, who had been sitting on a tree stump watching, also straightened his back.
Finally, Hardius turned his head.
The silver-gray eyes that had been smiling at the child met the blue eyes that were losing their souls. Everything in the world began to disappear, making the determination to be indifferent seem meaningless.
The jawline of the man facing her slowly rose in a soft curve. A chin well was formed on one cheek, which was smooth as a sculpture.
“Sister? Come here!”
Charlotte cried out. Emilia had to somehow get out of this heartbreaking crisis.
“...Why did you come?”
Hardius raised his arm in greeting. He pushed the swing, which was gradually slowing down, as if Charlotte were the most important thing at this moment. The child flew up into the sky with a joyful scream.
Emilia couldn't watch any longer.
“Charlotte, come in now. You’re supposed to be learning Braille!”
Fortunately or unfortunately, Charlotte did not say no. The child immediately turned to Hardius and said shyly, “Please, let me down. That’s enough.”
Hardius grabbed Charlotte and the rope at the same time. The swing stopped swinging in an instant, and he quickly lifted the child up and put her down.
“Was it fun?”
Hardius's gentle hands ruffled Charlotte's hair. Charlotte laughed again.
The transparent sunlight sparkled dazzlingly beyond the shoulders of the two people. Her heart fluttered at the sight of them looking like an affectionate father and daughter.
An indescribable fear began to build a solid wall.
We must not let Charlotte fall for Hardius. Absolutely not!
“Go in. Sister has something to talk to him about.”
Emilia, who had brought the child into the house, looked at Hardius coldly.
“What’s going on?”
He looked down at Emilia for a long time with his usual calm eyes.
“Are the preparations going well?”
"Preparation?”
"The ball."
Emilia forced her mouth to open stupidly.
“I was just writing a letter to you about that issue.”
"Letter?"
“Let’s pretend the ball never happened.”
Emilia spat it out in one breath.
“Why did you change your mind?”
“I can’t say I changed my mind. I had no intention of going with you in the first place. I was just out of my mind because it was raining that day, and I lost my judgment. Even if I can’t help it about the graduation ceremony, it’s not a prom. You don’t have to go to that.”
Even in the face of strong rejection, the colorless pupils showed no signs of agitation.
For a moment, Emilia felt angry. How much more viciously must she refuse? Why does he keep pretending not to know?
“I’m a little anxious.”
"What?"
“Your Excellency's mother. When Mrs. Meyer came to visit that day, she promised me that in exchange for allowing me to continue living here, I would not ask for anything more.”
Hardius seemed to be thinking about something without saying anything, then suddenly turned around. He raised his arm toward the carriage parked far away. The coachman recognized him immediately and came toward them. He was holding something like a piece of paper in his hand.
“Things have changed, Emilia.”
What is that? As she opened her eyes wide, the coachman arrived right in front of her. He handed Hardius what he was holding. A newspaper suddenly appeared in front of her, and she was bewildered.
“Read it. It’ll be better than listening to my explanation. You’ll only cooperate if it makes logical sense.”
"...cooperation?"
Emilia absentmindedly accepted the newspaper, and Hardius sat down on the swing. As soon as she opened the newspaper, she found it.
The abandoned fiancée of the Meyer family
Emilia was pale from the start. Her trembling eyes frantically read the commentary. As the provocative title suggests, the article is full of criticism of the Meyer family. The last paragraph was beyond shocking.
...Their engagement is a royal command, and their marriage is sacred. We are expecting that the Meyer family will keep their sacred marriage vows as befitting the nobles and founding fathers of the kingdom. If they do not, we will formally bring this matter to the attention of the council.
“How could this happen...”
She looked back at Hardius with shock still in her eyes. Hardius got up from the swing with a calm expression on his face.
“Now... what do I... do with this?!”
“Unfortunately, we can’t cancel the ball. We have to show it to people for the time being.”
“Look, show them, what is it?”
“The appearance of keeping a promise.”
The long body casts a long shadow that seems to cover Emilia.
“Like a beautiful lover who faithfully follows His Majesty the King’s orders.”
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