A Handsome K*nky Gangster Reporter - Chapter 53

#53

As soon as Claude was granted permission by his father, he immediately turned and walked out of the banquet hall. The Duke of Lischer stared guiltily at his friend, the Duke of Shacklewood.

“My son must be unfamiliar with this as he hasn’t been used to noble culture yet. I am ashamed on his behalf, but I have not been able to teach my son manners. Please understand.”

The Duke of Shacklewood watched from afar as his daughter was treated badly. He didn’t like this situation. However, he calmed down in no time. His daughter would have no better wedding venue than the next Duke Lischer now.

“Please do invite me to the mansion sometime. If the young master gets to meet my daughter often, won’t he get used to social life someday? Hahaha.”

“Very well. I will send out a letter of invitation soon.”

Gateron smiled awkwardly. First of all, as he had shown his son in this place, he would be inundated with invitations to various gatherings and parties as the Duke of Lischer. Even the nobles who came with their daughters were currently hanging around to talk to him. They were wandering around like hyenas on the prowl.

‘What should I do?’

Could it be that he was in too much of a hurry to make Claude’s debut in the society? Gateron was anxious that her son would get the same futile reaction from people as when he was a child.

Even then, the child cried for months to return to the ordinary people who took care of him.

A grown-up child would not cry. As he looked at back of the young man who left the banquet hall, seemed worn out.

*  *  *

Claude was on the wrong track for thinking about something else. He only thought whether Haley had been leaving the imperial palace by now and headed to the newspaper office. Claude thinks he should have told Haley earlier that they could meet at the press conference today. Jay said he believed that women liked to meet in the unexpected places.

‘You may consider to propose to her in front of the reporters today.’

Jay said because he knew women like such public proposals.

Therefore, Claude prepared the most colorful necklaces and rings held by the maids.

Claude didn’t expect Haley to disappear without prior notice.

‘Is Haley very surprised now?’

Claude wished that he had told her earlier that he was going to hold a press conference. Her older sister wouldn’t have looked that shocked today. In fact, after that he had revealed the hidden truth about the reason for breaking such contact and the accident that her mother had several times.

However, Jay argued, ‘Women like men who act like princes.’

‘If you appear again in a dramatical way, she will definitely view you differently,’ Jay said and Claude just listened to that advice without further consideration. 

Claude was a bit remorseful to himself of the fact that he hadn’t done anything.

He stormed mindlessly because he was thinking about other things too much. Claude thought he would soon be out of the palace grounds, but then found himself inside the greenhouse. He looked around in panic and spotted someone standing far away.

“…Is that all? No movement after that?”

Although the voice was small, Claude who had clear ears could hear it clearly. The man clearly said, ‘Empress.’

“Yes, for me, my approach is limited so far.”

“Hmm. All right. I will keep an eye on you.”

Claude approached them and stiffened in his place. That familiar blue hair. Claude recognized him.

‘He works for my older sister, right?’

He was just a newspaper employee, but he looked at his sister several times with a sly gaze. 

‘Why did that annoying strange man come to the imperial palace?’

The blue-haired man even talked to one of the attendants in the imperial palace. Commoners couldn’t have come here easily. And today, the Imperial Palace only invited a few commoners.

‘Oh, he must be coming with Haley!’

When reporters were called to the imperial palace today, Claude thought he was minding his own business by pretending to be a reporter and tagging along her. However, when Claude listened to what he said, it sounded a bit strange. Why would the blue-haired man order someone to keep an eye on the empress?

“This is really disturbing.”

‘That blue-haired b*st*rd may do something he’s not supposed to. It could be dangerous if it involves Haley.’

Claude frowned. He tried to remember what the blue-haired man’s name was.

As he approached them slowly, there was a rustling sound of broadleaf tree leaves brushing on Claude’s shoulder. Although the noise was small, the blue hair and the maid instantly walked in the other direction while acting as if they never knew each other. Philip walked up to Claude with a frightening gaze.

“Huh? You’ve grown up…Isn’t that Rodet?”

Phillip reached Claude first and started the act by pretending to know him. Seeing that look, Calude was sure he had intentionally called his name wrongly. He also cunningly changed the name into a woman’s name.

“I’m Claude. You must have followed my older sister here. What’s your name?”

Philip let out a low sigh.

“My name is Philip. I’m going to be in a relationship with Haley in the future, so you must remember my name.”

Phillip’s shameless remark made Claude burst out laughing. Claude couldn’t believe Phillip’s words, whom he knew was sticking around in order to take advantage of his sister. He suddenly felt irritated at the blue-haired man.

“My sister hasn’t dated anyone yet. You must have misunderstood.”

“Huh? It’s only a matter of time. Haley, she’ll come to me sooner or later. I’m going to make it work.”

His pride was pricked by Phillip’s provocation. Claude puffed out his chest to appear huge.

“My sister likes well-built and handsome men. Not someone skinny like you, she’s more fit to be with someone like me.”

“Pfft! You don’t know anything about her. Beautiful men like me are popular among women. I secretly stimulate maternal love.”

Phillip’s words made Claude bite his lip.

‘D*mn.’

Right, Haley used to be a person who have sympathy towards children, who appeared weak. When he was young, he had also explored his sister’s tendencies. When Claude looked anxious, Philip raised one corner of his mouth.

“I’m sure Haley has also been interested in me throughout the years we’re living together.”

Upon hearing that, blue veins appeared on Claude’s forehead. Claude didn’t know how he could get involved in this battle of pride in the imperial palace, but he didn’t want to lose this. Especially when it was about his sister.

He couldn’t endure his anger and grabbed Phillip’s collar.

“You b*st*rd! Don’t make a move on my sister and get the f*ck out of here!”

“Well, I guess you don’t know that Haley needs me. Without me, the newspaper company wouldn’t work.”

That was somewhat true. Since Phillip ordered his men to work on the printing and delivery of the newspaper, Haley could also go outside to cover or edit things. Haley was the only one who would suffer hardships if Phillip left the newspaper company.

Phillip and Claude stared at each other. Both of their fierce eyes caused the atmosphere to feel terrible to the point that they didn’t realize there were other aura in there. It was none other than Crown Prince Edmund, who suddenly appeared, which broke this serious atmosphere.

“Well, please get yourself together. The imperial palace is not your playground. If you want to fight, go elsewhere.”

What kind of love battle for a woman was it that make men suddenly have no brains anymore? Moreover, they were also in the imperial palace, greenhouse to be worse.

Edmund had just come from the flood-ravaged southern part of the country and intended to relax in the greenhouse. Despite the severe damage, Narat’s rice-eating officials were expressing anger for only trying to fulfill their own greed without thinking of addressing the flood damage.

The greenhouse was a place that Edmund came to because he needed peace of mind, but he only felt nauseous when seeing these two fighting in the garden of the imperial palace’s greenhouse.

Claude turned his head towards Edmund.

“Who are you?”

“Me? The owner of this palace.”

“….”

When Claude realized that the man in front of him was the Crown Prince, he stiffened. Phillip dropped his head quickly and shut his mouth.

“…I thought the greenhouse was beautiful, but it turned out to be the your place, Your Highness. I kindly apologize.”

Phillip put his hand on the back of Claude’s head and gave him strength. What makes him stand motionlessly with a stiff expression? The two bowed their heads together and looked at the ground.

Of all people, why would the Crown Prince catch the two of them fighting here? And why did he go alone without a servant, which would befit his status. Their face grew deathly pale.

Edmund did not say anything to Claude, who was arrogant like the owner of a free soul. His intel informed that he was a cousin who had never seen his face before. He just stared at the two with a hint of interest for a while.

“Tell me the story of that woman. How beautiful was she that make you two go against each other?”

They both couldn’t say anything in front of the Crown Prince. They didn’t want to annoy Haley by making fun of her mouth for no reason. Seeing the men didn’t respond, Edmund lowered his voice and warned.

“I am not a merciful man to let such an uninvited guest stand idly by. As the Crown Prince, I don’t know how far I should tolerate your rude behavior. Do I have to bring you and that woman here now to ease my curiousity?”

Edmund’s words had a hint of mockery, but they were just silent. The best thing about the highest authority was that no one could argue with him even if he mocked his subordinates. What was there to look for as long as his subordinates do their jobs properly?

The prince pointed at Phillip. 

“Alright! You go first. How did you meet her, and how did you like her so much?”

At the Crown Prince’s words, Phillip cleared his throat and began to speak.

“Ehem. She was the woman who appeared randomly when I was in trouble. I fell more and more in love with the woman because she treated me as her family so well. I only fell in love with her angelic heart, not the outward appearance of a woman like her.”

There was still a strong sense of affection and caution at the same time, though. Phillip’s words had a hint of sincerity in it. Phillip once intentionally gave Haley liquor to seduce her. Claude, who ended up taking the opportunity, still left Phillip dissatisfied.

In fact, his father, Thomas Dunger and his brother, Rwan were also very fond of Haley. They secretly told Phillip that they wanted Haley as the daughter-in-law in the family. Hearing that every day at home, Phillip naturally began to see her as a woman and ended up falling in love with her.

“What about you?”

When Edmund pointed at Claude, he did not want to but was forced to open his mouth.

“Ever since I was little, I only looked at her. She is my light and life.”

“Oh my. That is amazing.”

The Crown Prince, who had never been passionate about a woman, was awestruck.

How can he hurt a woman, yet there were men who willingly fight for them? Could it be that their hearts are structured differently to his? Or did all commoner men live with this kind of feeling?

“What’s the name of that woman you two love so much?”

Edmund became curious about the face of the great woman.