CH 3

A splendid carriage turned sharply at the intersection and entered the main road. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.It was a sophisticated purple carriage that was once only allowed in the royal family, hundreds of years ago.read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.

As soon as the carriages on the road spotted the top-of-the-line carriage led by four sleek horses, they lost their previous arrogance and cleared the way to make room for it to pass, hoping to attract even one more customer.

The coachmen of the noble families were equally nervous. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.Seeing the family crest flashing, they cracked their whips to slow down before my master could command them.read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.

For it was the crest of the Dampierres, a family whose name was far more expensive than their master’s.

After a sharp right turn around the golden fountain in the central square, the carriage came to a halt in front of a luxury apartment in the 8th arrondissement of Ezon.

In the midst of the burly valets arranged on either side, a slender young man emerged from the carriage.

He was dressed in a fitted black suit with a tightly-buttoned frock coat hanging from his shoulders.

His red-patterned silk cravat, white sheepskin gloves, and ebony cane with a gilded head were of the finest quality.

“It’s Olivier Dampierre!”

‘Ezon Living’, ‘Weekly Ezon Special’, ‘Art-Ezon’, ‘Life and Art’, ‘Famous People’s Stories’…

In an instant, there was pandemonium everywhere as reporters rushed in.

“Duke, have you seen Charlotte Garrel’s interview, are you two really lovers?”

The young man offered a lukewarm smile, but no answer. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.His already overly smug face and dark blond hair only glowed sanctimoniously in the pouring morning sun.read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.

“He refuses to be interviewed. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.Go away!”read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.

Henri, his assistant, flailed his arms, but the journalists refused to give up.

“Did you help her become the main actor?”

“Have you ended your relationship with Renée Ricardo, and what is your reaction to this latest affair?”

“The Countess of Héroux read the article this morning and expressed her regrets!”

“The princess of the Morbeau Republic mentioned the name of Duke Olivier Dampierre as the man she ‘must date before she dies.’ Do you have any intention of meeting her?”

Name after name of women mentioned. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.It was as non-nutritive as it was completely fabricated. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.Of all the names they mentioned, he hadn’t done anything with any of them, and now he was being chastised for it. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.Olivier laughed, hiding his deep disillusionment.read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.

“What is the meaning of that laugh?”

He just smiled vaguely, as if he would answer but not really, and the reporters were bouncing around, frustrated. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.Some even asked more provocative questions.read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.

“Last week, there were eyewitness accounts of seeing the two kissing in a salon.”

“There’s also a story that you ordered a fur coat from the Montchamps Department Store under a pseudonym – is that true?”

Ridiculous…

It was also untrue, but Olivier didn’t bother to deny it. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.The more rumours the better, so he wanted the journalists to make a fuss.read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.

Olivier Dampierre was a man who read all of Ezon’s daily papers. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.Even if it was a grubby third-rate paper that might as well have been a rag.read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.

It was important to turn a blind eye to those who tried to ride on the expensive name of Dampierre and selectively use them if they wanted to. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.Even if you looked closely at this board, it was necessary to pretend you didn’t know what was going on.read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.

It was also a well-calculated behavior to treat unfamiliar reporters who he had never seen before with a touch of indifference.

Who are these reporters who are strolling in front of his house, how long have they worked for the organization, and who are they associated with in the organization…

They’d be stunned to know that he’s adequately aware of whether or not they even have personal debt.

Sometimes, he would deliberately ask for bait, and push away dirty scandals appropriately.

“I hear you’re investing in diamond mines these days. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.Did you give Charlotte Garrel a diamond?”read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.

When it came to fuelling the rumours, he would respond appropriately. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.Like, maybe a diamond necklace for the bold new actress.read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.

Of course, he has no intentions of taking the relationship any further than that. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.He didn’t like the idea of getting too deeply involved with someone.read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.

“Ah, Charlotte Garrel. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.We had dinner together last week.”read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.

With just one word, everything around became quiet. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.The reporters’ eyes were wide open with curiosity.read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.

“The diamond gift, I don’t know.”

He laughed vaguely, and he could see the reporters’ eyes widening. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.Shamelessly, as if he’d revealed a weakness he’d rather not talk about. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.With a secretive smile, he glanced around and said…read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.

“You’ll know when you see the show tonight.”

Deftly feigning embarrassment, Olivier brushed past the reporters and disappeared into the building in a flash.

“Eh…?”

“Tonight’s performance, what time!”

“Call a carriage!”

The reporters, momentarily dumbfounded, were soon busy scattering, shouting.

* * *

He had been doing trivial things since early in the morning, and his fatigue piled up.

“Hurry up and send it. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.It wouldn’t be bad to receive it in front of the journalists.”read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.

Delivering his gloves and cane into the servant’s hands, Olivier sprawled on the sofa and untied his cravat.

Henri, who had come in with him and was pacing diligently up and down. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.He took up his notebook and asked.read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.

“And the bouquet?”

“Something small enough to discourage further presumptuous behaviour. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.On the card, say it’s for a ‘friend’. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.Make it look like a casual greeting, and the rest of the delusion is on me.”read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.

“Understood.”

After Henri quickly disappeared beyond the living room, Olivier leisurely pulled out a cigar, contemplating the events that would follow.

Ezon’s press agents are needlessly diligent, and the Grand Theatre is not far from here. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.By now, they should be camped out to meet Charlotte, who has just left for the theatre.read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.

He’s sure they’re swarming like bees with promises of follow-ups…

He snip the end of his cigar, lit it, and inhaled, and his mind became clearer. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.Looking down at the wisps of cigar smoke, Olivier calmly collected his thoughts.read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.

The press will be buying up tickets tonight. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.It’ll be a sell-out for a while. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.Given the scale of the scandal, there’s no doubt there will be extra performances.read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.

As a patron of the theatre, it’s gratifying to see the show do well and grow in stature.

In fact, some of the income should go back to the Dampierres, but for now, he won’t take it in the name of noblesse oblige1.

It will be useful someday.

Journalists who will be staring at the theater tonight, wondering if Oliver Damierre will appear or not, will have their eyes wide open to catch the moment when Charlotte comes out with a diamond necklace.

As soon as the show is over, the jewellers will be in the theatre, and the gentlemen will be lining up their orders, stressing over and over again that they want the exact same design.

For their wife, for their secret mistress, or for the woman they’re going to propose to. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.They will chatter about offering the “best Ezon fashion item” that was difficult to obtain, while presenting the diamond necklace.read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.

Next is the stock exchange.

There are always people who smell money a little earlier. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.Instead of going to the theatre tonight, such people will have a servant stand all night in front of the stock exchange.read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.

The stock exchange is first-come, first-served every morning when it opens, and there’s a limit to how many shares you can buy in a day, so you know you’ll be late.

Tomorrow, at 3pm, after the market closes, he’ll see how much the shares of the mining company he bought last month have risen.

“…Ha.”

A shallow sigh of boredom escaped from the lips that were now exhaling smoke without expression.

He hasn’t done much to stem the tide of scandal, and in fact, his name is making him even more money.

In fact, Olivier was not particularly interested in investing or stocks. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.It was as uninteresting as not being interested in women.read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.

All this, in fact, is only to escape the wrath of his grandmother, Eleanor Dampierre… But who would believe him.

He found himself wondering why he lives this way. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.And after a few years of this ridiculousness, he’s starting to lose interest.read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.

Olivier, however, has no choice. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.He can make a decent living while avoiding his grandmother’s urgings to marry. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.It was his best option to stall for time.read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.

If he had scolded his grandmother, there might have been a possibility of her collapsing right there. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.She already has an extreme attachment to her grandchild.read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.

Yeah… Good is good.

A woman named Charlotte Garrel, with whom he had only exchanged a few words within the salon, will lose sleep over the success of his provocation.

The diamond jeweller, the president of the theatre company, those who paid a high price for a great gift, those who had fun with stocks, and the reporters who gave the scoop must all be excited.

For the price of a little attention, the results were not bad. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.So, yeah, not a bad deal.