Trending Scandals, Keyboard Warriors, and Lunaria's Very Bad Morning
The next morning—
The internet exploded.
Breaking News: Leon Ashford (Again)
Every major platform carried the same headline in different fonts:
"Leon Ashford Involved in New Pokémon Scandal"
People were already familiar with Leon.
After all, he was the same student who had:
Overworked his Pokémon Caused one to run away Nearly lost his college seat
Public trust in him was already… fragile.
But this?
This was different.
The Video That Changed Everything
The footage played everywhere.
Clear.
Uncut.
Impossible to deny.
Lunaria Valencrest handing Leon Ashford a Pokémon egg.
And not just any egg.
A Dragon-type Goomy.
The comments moved faster than logic.
Social Media Goes to War
"WAIT—LUNARIA VALENCREST???"
"Isn't she Alexander Runcandel's ex-fiancée???"
"So she cheated BEFORE the engagement was broken??"
"No wonder the Runcandels canceled it."
"Leon Ashford has no shame, riding rich women like this."
"Perfect couple: a cheater and a freeloader."
Even neutral posts turned vicious.
"Imagine having access to the Runcandel family and choosing… this."
"Downgrade of the century."
The Runcandel Effect
One quiet fact circulated rapidly:
The Runcandel Family canceled the engagement Not the Valencrests Not Lunaria
Public opinion shifted instantly.
What once looked like "cold noble arrogance" now looked like restraint.
And the Valencrest House?
It couldn't handle the heat.
Market Consequences
By noon—
Valencrest Group Stock: −18%
Investors fled.
Partners paused cooperation.
Board members started yelling.
Phones rang nonstop.
And in the middle of it—
Lunaria Valencrest stared at her screen.
Hands shaking.
Lunaria's Panic
"No… this wasn't supposed to come out."
Her phone buzzed again.
And again.
And again.
Friends didn't call.
Sponsors didn't call.
Only accusations.
Only screenshots.
Only hate.
Her assistant burst in.
"Miss Valencrest! The board wants answers! The media is asking if you cheated during the engagement!"
Lunaria's face went pale.
"I didn't— I mean—"
She stopped.
Because she realized something terrifying.
No one cared what she meant.
They cared what it looked like.
Leon's Name Makes It Worse
Leon Ashford.
A poor-background student.
Multiple scandals.
Now connected romantically to a noblewoman who used to belong to the strongest family in the world.
The narrative wrote itself.
And it was brutal.
The Perfect Match (According to the Internet)
One viral post sealed it:
"A man who climbs using women and a woman who betrays her engagement.
Honestly? Perfect couple."
It got millions of likes.
Far Away — Absolute Calm
At Runcandel Mansion, Alex read the headlines while eating breakfast.
Kirlia floated beside him, holding a spoon for him with psychic power.
"…They're loud today," Alex commented.
Evelyn glanced at the screen once.
"Predictable."
Victor scoffed.
"Should've happened sooner."
Darius laughed.
"Actions have weight."
Alex closed the article.
He felt nothing.
Just confirmation.
System Update
DING
System Notice:
Protagonist reputation damaged
Female lead emotional stability decreased
Fate threads weakened
Alex sipped his drink.
"Good."
Kirlia nodded seriously.
Outside—
The world continued tearing itself apart.
And this time—
No luck arrived to save them.