Spreading Rumors I Can Do That Too
Auspicious and As-Desired were floored. They couldn't believe someone so shameless, someone who would twist the truth so completely, could even exist.
"Princess, that Percival Dawes is unbelievable!" Auspicious fumed. "After you exposed him, he had the nerve to turn around and accuse you!"
"Exactly!" As-Desired chimed in. "Let's go find him and teach him a lesson."
Prince Ashworth, realizing just how far the rumors were from the truth, grew even angrier. He slammed his palm on the table, the wood groaning under the force.
"These academic types are the worst hypocrites!" he seethed. "They act all high and mighty, but they just want to use my daughter to look like they're standing up for the little guy in front of the Emperor. It's disgusting!"
He paced back and forth, a caged lion in his own study.
"If I wasn't worried about causing trouble for His Majesty, I'd drag that scholar back here myself and teach him a thing or two about ruining your reputation."
He stopped and looked at his daughter, his frustration boiling over.
She wasn't angry at all. In fact, she looked completely calm.
"Cassidy... it's gotten this bad, and you're still not worried?"
Normally, she would have already stormed out of the manor and beaten the man to a pulp to vent her anger.
Cassidy took her father's hand. "Dad," she said sincerely, "I've been hiding something from you."
Prince Ashworth's heart leaped into his throat. "Wh-what is it?" *Please don't let her have killed someone,* he prayed.
Cassidy put on a hurt expression. "Dad, this Percival Dawes... he wanted to marry me. I refused, and he got angry. When he couldn't get what he wanted, he decided to spread lies about me."
Spreading rumors was easy, after all. Anyone could do it.
"What?!" Prince Ashworth slammed the table again and shot to his feet. "Clifford! Get the Manor Guards! I'm going to hack that arrogant dog to death right now! A broke nobody with no title dares to come after my daughter?"
Clifford, the steward standing nearby, was already furious. He had watched the princess grow up, and the thought of some poor scholar slandering her name was unbearable. "Rest assured, Your Highness," he said, his voice tight with rage. "I'll gather the men immediately."
As Prince Ashworth strode outside, followed by the furious steward and a growing contingent of guards, Cassidy theatrically wiped away an imaginary tear. She turned to her maids. "Come on," she said with a smirk. "Let's go watch the fun."
The Fourth Princess, who had been watching the scene unfold, finally snapped out of her daze.
Seeing Cassidy lead her maids out the door, she quickly gathered her skirts and hurried after them.
"You're my sister," she declared. "How dare that nobody insult you like this? I'm not letting him get away with it!"
After a bit of asking around, the Manor Guards learned that Percival Dawes was currently at The Argent Quill, playing the victim and trying to drum up sympathy. With that, the entire procession from Ashworth Manor marched toward the literary pavilion, a huge, angry storm of silks and steel.
Inside The Argent Quill, Percival Dawes was putting on the performance of a lifetime. His clothes were artfully disheveled, a trickle of blood ran from his forehead, and he sported several bruises from a well-staged kicking.
He addressed the other scholars in the room, his voice heavy with sorrow. "Thank you, my friends, for speaking up for me. But Ashworth Manor is incredibly powerful. I can't let you all get into trouble over my personal affairs."
"Percival, you're wrong to say that!" a scholar shouted, slamming the table and jumping to his feet. "Princess Solana didn't just break you and Miss Sutton apart, she had you beaten! She has no respect for the law! I refuse to believe the power of Ashworth Manor is above everything!"
The other scholars were completely outraged.
"Exactly!"
"Princess Solana treats scholars like us with such contempt! Today, we must get justice for you!"
The room was buzzing with righteous anger.
Suddenly, the main door was kicked open with a thunderous *bang*.
Prince Ashworth strode in, his face murderous, a phalanx of Manor Guards at his back.
"Who is Percival Dawes?! Get out here!" he roared.
The room of scholars, startled at first, became even more incensed at the prince's brazen display. If he was going to act this boldly in front of all of them, they would have even more to report to the Emperor. Angry murmurs filled the pavilion.
Percival Dawes was thrilled. *They're arrogant enough to do this in front of everyone? The Ashworths really are a bunch of idiots.*
Limping and looking as pitiful as possible, he stood. "Your Highness..."
He was cut off by Prince Ashworth's furious voice.
"You're Percival Dawes? Clifford, tie him up!"
The prince's voice echoed through the hall.
"You think you can just come after my daughter? A penniless nobody with no title dares to ask for her hand? And when she rejected you, you got angry and decided to slander her name! If I don't beat you to death today, I don't deserve to be called her father!"
As soon as he finished, the entire place erupted. Every eye in the room swiveled to Percival Dawes, their expressions instantly transformed.
So *that's* what this was about. The guy had tried to marry the princess, failed, and then started spreading lies to get back at her.
Even though Princess Solana had a reputation for being a good-for-nothing, she was still backed by Ashworth Manor, the Emperor, and the Empress Dowager. This Percival Dawes must have been dreaming.
Hearing the prince's words, Percival's mind went blank. *Marriage proposal? Rejection? What is he talking about?*
"Your Highness, please calm down!" he cried out. "What slander? It was the princess who broke up Miss Sutton and me, trapped her in a brothel, and refused to let me buy her freedom! How can you turn this around and slander *me*? When did I ever say I wanted to marry the princess?"
"You still dare to argue?!" Prince Ashworth was seeing red, long past the point of listening to excuses. Pointing at Percival, he roared, "Clifford, beat him!"
Clifford started to move, but a clear, bright voice cut through the chaos.
"Your Highness, wait!"
Everyone turned. Landon Vance had appeared on the second-floor balcony.
He slowly descended the stairs and positioned himself in front of Percival Dawes, offering a slight dip of his head to the prince.
"Your Highness, this matter hasn't been fully investigated. Why resort to violence? Percival is a scholar; he would never do such a thing. I hope you'll reconsider."
Prince Ashworth glared at him, about to let loose a fresh torrent of fury, when Cassidy walked in from outside, slowly clapping her hands.
"Wow," she said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "Scholars really are something else. So noble. Why even bother with the Imperial Examinations? Maybe I should just build a temple, put you all inside, and light some incense for you on holidays?"
Hearing Princess Solana's mocking tone, every scholar in the room bristled.
Landon Vance's brow furrowed. "What is the meaning of this, Princess?"
Cassidy's smile vanished the moment she saw him.
"You again? Didn't I tell you to stop following me? Why are you such a persistent pest?"
She gestured around vaguely. "Always showing up wherever I am. What, are you trying to get my attention? Let me tell you, I've seen plenty of guys try that trick."
Jaws dropped across the room. The scholars completely forgot about their plans to report the prince; they all leaned in, afraid to miss a single word.
Everyone in the capital knew Princess Solana had a massive crush on Landon Vance.
But now she was saying *he* was the one pestering *her*? This was gossip of the highest order.
Even Percival Dawes forgot to defend himself, just staring dumbly at the two of them.
A vein throbbed in Landon's temple. He squeezed a sentence through gritted teeth. "And when, exactly, have I ever pestered you?"
Cassidy shot back instantly. "You're pestering me right now."
If it weren't for the self-control drilled into him since birth, Landon was fairly certain he would have started cursing right then and there. "And you saw this with... which of your eyes, exactly?"
"With both of them," she replied, then pointed a finger at Percival Dawes with a look of disdain. "What's your relationship with him, anyway? Surely you aren't just standing up for justice out of the goodness of your heart. You don't strike me as that kind of person."
Halfway through her sentence, she pointed back and forth between the two men, then suddenly covered her mouth in theatrical shock.
"Wait," she gasped. "I think I get it!"