Writer 1879: Solitary Journey in France

Chapter 283 Media Frenzy! (Bonus Chapter for 9000 Votes)
Lionel, standing outside the door, could only hear the faint, intermittent clanging of metal and footsteps, but he could imagine the flashing swords and shadows inside.

After a while, a scream came from behind the door, followed by chaotic footsteps and gasps of alarm.

Lionel's heart tightened, and he abruptly stood up from his chair.

Who is it? Who is injured?

The sound was too muffled for him to make out completely.

He instinctively wanted to push the door open, but stopped abruptly as soon as he touched the cold doorknob.

As a witness, he could theoretically enter after the duel ended—he could even observe the entire duel.

Of course, this is all predicated on Sofia's agreement...

Now he could only stand frozen in place, his heart pounding in his chest, waiting for the person inside the door to come out and deliver the verdict.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

Inside the dance floor, however, the atmosphere eased up.

The female doctor quickly stepped forward to examine Sophia's wound.

The wound wasn't deep; it only pierced the skin. A lot of blood flowed out, and it looked scary, but it didn't damage any bones or tendons.

The doctor skillfully stopped the bleeding, cleaned the wound, and then began to bandage it with clean white gauze.

Sophia was pale, mainly from the pain, but there was no sign of defeat on her face. Instead, she was very calm, and her icy blue eyes were completely still.

Madame Rothschild put on the robe handed to her by the Marquise and silently fastened the belt.

Her expression returned to its usual languid and aloofness, as if the fierce confrontation had never happened.

After a while, the doctor reported to the witnesses: "The wound has been treated and there is no serious problem."

Marquise de la Vernoy nodded, her gaze sweeping over Madame de Rothschild and Sophia, and formally announced: "According to the 'First Blood' rule, the duel is over."

Eleonore de Rothschild has emerged victorious. This battle for honor is now over!

I hope you two will keep your agreement and that this matter will not lead to any further disputes.

Sofia nodded without saying a word, which was taken as tacit agreement.

Mrs. Rothschild simply nodded slightly in acceptance.

Marquise de la Vernoy then walked to the tightly closed ballroom door and opened it a crack.

The Marchioness greeted him, "Mr. Sorel, the duel is over, and Mrs. Rothschild has won."

Miss Shcherbatova suffered a minor injury, which the doctor has treated.

Lionel's heart finally settled: "Thank God..."

For the first time, he, who did not believe in God, spoke this catchphrase with such devotion.

The Marquis looked at him and said, "We're running out of gauze. Could you please go to the cabinet in the next room and get some more? The doctor needs some."

Without much thought, Lionel nodded and said, "Of course, madam, I'll go right away."

He quickly fetched clean gauze, stood outside the door, and hesitated about how to hand it in.

At this moment, the door opened a little wider, and a slender, well-proportioned hand reached out and took the gauze.

It was Mrs. Rothschild's hand.

In the instant of handing over the gauze, her fingertips lightly brushed against Lionel's palm, like a feather.

Lionel suddenly felt a little hot.

Inside the door, Mrs. Rothschild's lips curved slightly upwards in a small arc.

She took the gauze, turned around and handed it to the doctor, without looking at Lionel again.

The door closed gently again. Lionel stood outside the door and let out a long sigh of relief.

This absurd and thrilling duel finally came to a close without any major incident.

He could imagine the secondary sensation that would ensue in Paris when the crowd that had come to the forest in vain received the news, and how the tabloid reporters would describe this "vanished duel."

"A Study in Scarlet" is likely to see another wave of sales success.

This time, however, along with the novel's fame came a legendary duel between two noblewomen that was destined to be recorded in history.

He himself, as the "trigger" of this legend and the only male witness present, will likely remain the focus of Parisian salons for a long time to come.

"What a disaster..." he sighed again in Chinese, rubbing his temples, feeling an unprecedented weariness.

------

The final outcome of the duel between Madame Rothschild and Sophia indeed stirred up a huge wave of public opinion in Paris and throughout Europe.

This duel was sparked by a literary dispute, concerned the honor of the nobility, and unfolded in such a dramatic manner...

The buzz overshadowed the debate in the French parliament about whether to increase military spending in Vietnam and whether to completely ban the Jesuits.

The Parisian media were the first to erupt in celebration.

Although details of the duel could not be obtained, this did not hinder the reporters' unrestrained imaginations.

The tabloids such as "Little Daily" and "Lantern News" were naturally at the forefront of this carnival.

They used extremely erotic and exaggerated language to depict that "duel of the century" in which no men were present:
[A jade-like body lies prone, a sword gleaming in the snow! — An exclusive look at the private duel between Madame Rothschild and the Russian Rose!]

The front-page headline of the "Little Daily" was shocking, and the text inside was even more sensationalist:

...In that secluded ballroom, two stunningly beautiful women from distinguished backgrounds, having shed their worldly finery, held gleaming swords in their hands...

...Every breath they took accentuated their alabaster skin, every parry and thrust showcased a fusion of strength and beauty...

Sweat trickled down his smooth back...

Finally, Madame Rothschild left her 'first blood'—a symbol of victory and honor—on the alluring arm of Mademoiselle Shcherbatova! ...

These kinds of reports greatly stimulated the public's curiosity, and the newspapers were snapped up as soon as they hit the shelves.

People eagerly passed the article around, reveling in its ambiguous yet intriguing descriptions.

The rule of "taking off all clothes" became the hottest topic of conversation on the streets, even surpassing the outcome of the duel itself in popularity.

More serious newspapers took a clear stance, leading to ongoing debates.

In reporting on this event, Le Figaro and liberal newspapers, while criticizing the barbaric custom of dueling, could not hide their admiration:
When a lady's reputation was challenged, Mrs. Rothschild did not choose to remain silent, but with astonishing courage picked up the weapon that was considered to be exclusively for men and defended her dignity in the most direct way.

Doesn't this prove that women are in no way inferior to men in terms of courage and a sense of honor? Perhaps this is a manifestation of a certain awakening of female consciousness...?

Conservative newspapers like Le Gaul and church-affiliated newspapers like La Croix argued that this was blasphemous against the role of women as ordained by God.

Another group of people are trying to elevate this matter to the level of "national honor":

[...Madame Rothschild not only upheld her personal honor, but also the dignity of France!]

For a time, various opinions clashed fiercely in Parisian newspapers, leading to heated debates.

Supporters and opponents each held their own views, giving this duel a significance far beyond its original meaning.

However, the Parisian newspapers ultimately had to consider the Rothschild family's reputation and basic factual grounds.

European media outside of Paris were even less restrained.

Madame Rothschild was merely a French noblewoman, while Sophia was simply the daughter of a Russian nobleman.

In London, for example, public opinion surrounding the matter has even begun to "get out of control."

(End of this chapter)