Defeating Rumours with rumours

However, when she saw Flora watching the street performances with interest, and not putting on a show of enthusiasm or happiness, Ryan finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Considering Flora’s workaholic nature and her simplicity, Ryan also put in a little effort for this outing, starting the planning from Friday night.

The facts were also as he had guessed.

With the explanation of “this is a task, that is official business”, Flora became much easier to deal with, she wouldn’t refuse his invitation, and she wouldn’t start causing trouble when she was bored.

It was a pity that Ryan’s true intentions couldn’t be concealed, and were ultimately discovered by her…

Fortunately, this instead led Flora to act more genuine.

If Flora, under normal circumstances, wanted to do these things, that wouldn’t be bad.

Ryan didn’t intend to force Flora to go anywhere, or to necessarily accept rewards.

He just didn’t want Flora to be entangled by something that would make her feel uncomfortable and painful in the eyes of certain onlookers.

So, as Flora became more natural, Ryan also relaxed his mood a little and began to enjoy the entertainment programs of the ordinary people.

“Watch carefully, this hat will disappear in a moment and turn into a dove…”

Although the imperial capital was full of beastmen, there were still only a few who could use magic, so most of the programs on the market were magic tricks and sleight of hand, or else they would be traveling the streets, playing songs, and telling some adventure stories.

But dragons, demon kings, and giants were just ancient fantasies, and there was no real thing to be found now.

The Tilia region did have demons, but it was actually the empire’s derogatory term for that group of uncivilized people who loved to use poisonous witchcraft.

They were still human beings in essence, and the empire already had plans to take that region into its pocket.

Considering that this would help the “land of abundance” support the other side, the safety of, this war is supported, and in fact, it doesn’t require too much manpower and material resources… is a mess.

In general, now, dragons, giants and monsters can only be seen from the guardians of the awakened.

But there were even fewer awakened than nobles, and they were no different from legends among the ordinary people.

So at first, Ryan found it interesting, but after listening for a long time, he found it too ridiculous, and he couldn’t stand it rationally.

[Your Highness, let’s go eat lunch at that shop.]

Flora keenly noticed that it wasn’t early, so she pointed to a lower-class restaurant that seemed to be frequented by knights.

[Okay.]

Ryan didn’t refuse, and didn’t find anyone was following them, told the secret guards to take turns eating, then entered the shop with Flora.

The lower-class restaurant was considered lower-class, but it was already high-class for ordinary people.

Ordinary people would solve their hunger problems at the chicken stalls or the bakeries.

It was gentlemen attendants, merchants, or intellectuals from well-off families of commoner origin.

It was gentlemen attendants, merchants, or intellectuals.

These people who had no worries about making a living gathered together, and what they talked about was naturally various national affairs—even if they weren’t in their positions, and they didn’t know a lot of the inside information, it didn’t stop them from boasting, and dripping various conspiracy theories.

The empire didn’t really restrict their speech on the surface, and soon the two of them heard the young people around them start talking about Ryan’s enrollment in the Royal Academy.

“The Emperor has finally locked up that troublemaker! That’s really something to celebrate.”

“But we can’t rest assured, those few little brats might not be able to stop this demon.”

“Don’t worry, with His Highness Arus there, he won’t be able to make any waves.”

“That’s true, I can’t wait to hear the news of him losing face.”

Haha.

Ryan’s reputation, as expected, wasn’t good, and when they heard that he had been sent to the Royal Academy to study, everyone’s reaction was to applaud.

Flora couldn’t help but look at Ryan with some concern.

I won’t get angry because of this kind of thing.

Ryan was very calm.

Those who don’t know are not guilty. Compared to the malicious rumors of those noble children, and the schadenfreude of the common people’s after-dinner entertainment, that’s much better.

Please don’t insult, so what should we call, Reputation, right?

Ryan laughed, and the more he defended himself at this time, the more people wouldn’t believe it, and they might even put their hatred on them.

Although he wasn’t afraid of being antagonized, but it was rare to come out and relax, but he suffered this kind of thing, that was not good in any way.

Your Highness, the method is actually the same as that of other fathers.

Flora said this, turned her head, and said with a suspicious expression:

Is that so? How did I hear that he not only had beautiful women with him in the Royal Academy, but because he wasn’t disciplined by the Emperor, he lived a carefree and happy life?

At the end, Flora revealed an expression of righteous indignation.

Ryan was slightly stunned, and so were the people in the restaurant… after a moment of silence, one person said with indignation:

To tell you the truth, I heard the same thing, that the Crown Prince kills people like a demon, and the students in the academy can’t do anything about him!

It’s too hateful!

I heard it too, His Highness Arnos advised him kindly, but the remarks in the brothel instead angered the cabinet of Sya, and then he acted at the Royal Academy!

Not only that, I heard that when he goes mad, he even beats up gorillas!

“It’s true that the bad guys live for a thousand years, is there no one who can punish him?”

“Don’t worry, the teachers haven’t had time to take action yet!”

“That’s hard to say, this guy beat up several teachers when he was a child, and even burned people’s beards with magic… he’s simply a devil!”

After Flora left that head, the restaurant quickly turned in the direction of being unable to do anything about Ryan, and they were greatly astonished.

People could use their imagination, embellish the story, and defame Ryan as they pleased.

And Flora, the instigator, also looked at the protagonist of the public opinion with trepidation, but she was surprised to find that Ryan was still as calm as ever.

[What’s wrong?]

[Your Highness… isn’t angry?]

[No need to underestimate me… this is just a small goal, right?]

This time, Ryan was indeed displeased.

Flora didn’t mind, but she explained:

[The best way to incite defeatist language is to spread language that is more reasonable and can resonate.]

[What’s reasonable here doesn’t mean it’s consistent with the facts, but it refers to meeting the needs of the audience.]

[Since Your Highness has a very bad reputation, and yet is the Crown Prince, so it is more reasonable and can provoke them to be more angry that you are having a good life than your silly fantasies.]

[Indeed.] Ryan nodded in agreement, [Then what’s next?]

[Next… let’s wait for a while.]

Flora carefully listened to the discussion of the others, waiting for the topic she needed to appear.