Chapter 76: The Scoop That Backfired

“Whew. Finally arrived.”

A man steps down from the carriage.

“Why on earth did Michelle come to this remote place?”

He was a reporter from the royal capital.

He had followed Michelle all the way to Alburton.

In the royal capital, Michelle’s popularity was skyrocketing without limit.

Then, recently, her activities had become sparse.

Voices of curiosity about her started to emerge.

Among the circulating rumors, questions arose about something being wrong with her voice.

The reporter’s instincts flared up.

If this was true, it would be a scoop!

That’s why he had come all this way himself.

“Let me see, where’s the Rose Inn? Ah, is that it?”

The reporter hurried toward the inn.

***

Warm morning sunlight streams through the window of the Rose Inn.

Slurp.

Michelle starts her day today as well, sipping chamomile tea.

It’s comfortable.

Being here makes her forget her worries.

All sorts of negative emotions that used to keep her up at night miraculously faded away.

Coming here might have been truly fortunate.

However, the most important problem hadn’t been solved.

…Can he really help?

A sense of expectation kept creeping into her mind.

No. Let’s not think about it.

Great expectations lead to great disappointments.

Still, the impatience building up was unavoidable.

Moreover, just waiting aimlessly like this would only make the impatience grow.

Michelle turned her head toward the window.

Maybe I should go for that walk I couldn’t do last time.

Moving her body might make time pass better.

Slurp.

Michelle finished her tea and stood up.

As she went out to the lobby, Robert, the owner of the Rose Inn, greeted her.

“Are you heading somewhere?”

“…A walk….”

After hesitating, Michelle whispered softly.

Since he already knew about her throat condition, there was no need to hide it.

However, revealing her vulnerability to others required courage.

“The weather is clear, so it’s perfect for walking.”

“…Nod.”

“If I may recommend, if you go out the back of the inn, it leads to nearby fields. It’s sparsely populated, so it’s good for a leisurely walk alone.”

“Ah, thank you….”

“You’re welcome. Be careful on your way. I’ll be going now.”

Robert smiled and moved away.

He’s a person with remarkable observation skills. 

He reads guests’ needs without them having to say anything.

It’s something difficult without careful attention. 

He must have a strong professional spirit.

Michelle left the Rose Inn, grateful for his consideration.

To avoid crowded places like last time, she headed down the path behind the inn as Robert recommended.

“Wow… It’s refreshing.”

The autumn breeze brushing her cheeks was quite cool.

The harvested wheat fields were quiet and peaceful, with not a soul in sight.

At that moment.

“Over there, Miss Michelle.”

Startled.

Michelle quickly turned around at the voice suddenly coming from behind.

“It is Miss Michelle!”

Michelle furrowed her brows deeply.

An unpleasant man.

He was the reporter who had rudely followed her from the royal capital.

She had warned him several times, but he kept crossing the line, trying to dig into her private life.

She never imagined he’d follow her all the way here.

What a vicious guy….

Michelle scanned the surroundings, but as expected, no one was there.

Of course, at a time like this.

He must have noticed something and approached her.

She would have to tell her fans who loved her about losing her voice someday, but not like this.

Especially not through this reporter scum.

“You seem surprised?”

The reporter gave a filthy smile.

As Michelle frowned and tried to leave.

“Hey, where are you going?”

The man quickly blocked her path.

“It’s been a while since we’ve seen each other, and you’re not even greeting me?”

“You must be really angry. I apologize for showing up suddenly.”

The man bowed his head slightly. 

An apology with no sincerity at all.

“The public is so curious about news of Miss Michelle.”

Michelle bit her lip.

Her heart pounded, and anger rose, but she steadied her mind to not get entangled with him.

As she tried to leave again.

Grab.

This time, the reporter seized her arm.

“Why are you like this? I’m just asking for a few words, and you’re being so fussy.”

Michelle tried to shake off his arm, but it wouldn’t budge easily.

Squeeze.

The reporter gripped her arm even tighter.

“…Ugh.”

“Does it hurt? If it hurts, why can’t you speak?”

Grin.

The corner of the reporter’s mouth curled up.

“Is your voice really gone?”

His eyes gleamed with confident certainty.

At that moment.

Pow!

A fist flying from somewhere lands on the reporter’s left cheek.

“Aaaargh!”

Thump, the reporter screams and collapses to the ground.

“Ow, my jaw. Who are you?”

“Just a passing adventurer.”

The one who threw the punch was Cayton.

“You’re an adventurer? Why are you suddenly punching me?”

“And what about you, threatening someone like that?”

Michelle moved one step behind Cayton.

A gesture asking for help.

“This is clearly assault!”

The reporter slowly got up.

“Hey! Michelle! I was nice to you because of your popularity, but with your voice gone, one article from me and you’ll plummet!”

“Do you have more to say?”

Flinch.

As Cayton clenched his fist and stepped forward, the reporter backed away with a frightened face.

“Just you wait! I won’t let either of you get away with this!”

The reporter fled, stumbling backward.

“Whew… Thank, ahem, you.”

Michelle nodded and politely thanked Cayton.

Then, concern appeared in Cayton’s eyes.

“…Um, your voice.”

“It’s fine.”

“He said he’d write an article. If you want, I can chase him and….”

Michelle quietly shook her head.

“Then, since he might show up again, I’ll escort you back to the Rose Inn.”

At those words, she nodded and managed to say.

“Please.”

Michelle headed back to the Rose Inn with Cayton.

“Thank you for today.”

“You’re welcome.”

After sincerely thanking Cayton, Michelle dragged her weary legs to her room.

She could hear Cayton and Robert talking in the lobby, but she had no energy left to pay attention.

Flop.

Back in her room, Michelle sank into the chair.

Her startled heart was still pounding, not calming down.

“In the end, like this….”

The secret she had hidden so tightly had finally burst out.

By now, that guy must be rushing back to the royal capital, excited about his scoop.

Now everyone would know.

“…It’s over.”

Trickle.

Tears rolled down her cheeks.

It felt like all the effort she had built up was turning to foam in an instant.

A mix of futility, emptiness, and sorrow surged in.

Step, step.

At that moment, footsteps approached the room.

Knock, knock.

Sniff… “Yes.”

“Excuse me.”

“Mr. Fabir?”

“Looks like I arrived just in time.”

Grin, Fabir smiled.

“I’ve brought the tea you requested.”

Michelle tilted her head.

“…Tea?”

Michelle wondered when she had ordered tea again.

Before she could dispel her doubt, a tea set was brought in and placed before her.

“Drink it quickly!”

Clink.

“…I needed it just now.”

Anyway, she desperately needed comfort at this point.

“I’ll pour it for you.”

Fabir lifted the teapot and poured into the cup.

Gurgle, gurgle, gurgle.

The cup filled with a deep brown liquid.

“This is… chamomile tea…?”

As Michelle widened her eyes in question, Fabir quickly replied.

“Yes. It’s a specially prepared tea.”

The color was darker than black tea.

“Go ahead and drink.”

Without hesitation, Michelle brought the cup to her lips.

Slurp.

“This is….”

A subtle ginger aroma and bitter flavor could be felt. Not unpleasantly strong.

Moreover, the following sweetness was smooth and luxurious.

As it went down her throat, it felt like her scratchy throat was being gently washed.

Slurp.

Michelle continued to savor the tea.

She couldn’t pinpoint it, but it tasted healthy.

The more she drank, the more addictive it was.

Clink.

In the end, Michelle emptied the cup completely.

“…It’s truly captivating.”

Fabir grinned.

“Yes. It’s a truly captivating voice.”

“Yes…?”

At that moment, Michelle realized her voice had returned.

Not the hoarse, metallic sound as if something was stuck in her throat, but her clear and pure voice from before.

“H-how?!”

Clear droplets like her voice formed in her eyes.

***

“Is this really true?”

The newspaper company president asked the man while scanning the article.

“It’s absolutely true. This is a scoop.”

“Can I really believe this?”

“I told you, I confirmed it myself.”

“Hmm….”

“And you know how long I’ve been in this business.”

“That’s why I’m double-checking. You know better what happens if we publish this and it’s not true, right?”

“Of course I do.”

Considering Michelle’s popularity, the impact would be enormous. 

It would turn the royal capital upside down.

If it were false, his career as a reporter would be over.

But there was no worry about that.

Once this article goes out, he’d be recognized for his ability and get promoted.

Not only that. 

He’d become a popular reporter, soaring ahead with a bright future.

Above all, he could bring down that insufferable Michelle in one blow!

Moreover, later, he’d publicize the assault and crush that adventurer guy.

“Heh heh heh.”

Just thinking about it made him laugh involuntarily.

“Why are you giggling to yourself?”

“I’m just so happy about nabbing the scoop. Hurry and publish the article?”

“Hmm. Fine. Send it to the printing press right away.”

The next day.

A newspaper boy shouted on the street.

“Scoop! Michelle scoop!”

The printed newspapers spread throughout the royal capital.

“Is it true Michelle lost her voice?”

“That’s why she hasn’t been active lately.”

“We won’t hear that beautiful voice again.”

The newspapers sold like crazy, and the newspaper company’s value skyrocketed.

“Bwahaha.”

The newspaper company president burst into hearty laughter.

“Thanks to this article, ad inquiries have doubled! It’s all thanks to you!”

“Thank you. By the way, about this promotion…?”

“Of course. You’ve got the experience now, so you should be promoted.”

“Thank you!”

Just as the atmosphere was cheerful.

Rush.

“Boss! Big trouble!”

Someone burst into the room in a hurry.

“What’s the matter? Big trouble?”

“Look at this!”

“What is it?”

It was today’s edition from a rival newspaper company.

-Michelle’s Special Concert Announced!

A huge concert promotion article plastered across the front.

“Wh-what is this! You said you confirmed it yourself! Explain this now!”

“This can’t be?”

The reporter’s lips trembled.

“It’s a lie! I confirmed it myself!”

“Are you kidding? Then why would she hold a concert unless she’s crazy?”

The president raised his voice, blood pressure rising, and clutched the back of his neck.

“Ugh. I was foolish to trust you.”

“I’ll fix this somehow.”

“You better! Or you’ll have to compensate the company for all the damages, including the canceled ads!”

“Gasp.”

The reporter made a choking sound.

“If you don’t get a response article out, you’re fired! I don’t even want to see your face, get out!”