Chapter 137
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138.
Catherine clicked her tongue in disbelief.
Just moments ago, she had been acting as though she could devour Rebecca whole.
Since Rebecca had interfered with her business ventures, there was no reason for Rebecca to harbor any goodwill toward her.
Yet now she was speaking so kindly about becoming friends—was she in her right mind?
"I'm not suggesting we become truly intimate. A mere pretense would suffice. Simply resolve any misunderstandings here and spread word that we've become close friends. Then, use me as an excuse to visit Duke's Castle frequently. Once you arrive at the castle, I'll personally escort you to the Alchemy Tower. Or I could arrange for an alchemist to visit the castle instead."
Catherine fell silent, lost in thought.
Now that she heard it, the plan did sound plausible.
Lately, whenever the Emperor visited Catherine, he would lament that she didn't resemble Rebecca even half as much.
Such remarks from the Emperor only deepened her hatred toward Rebecca.
So if Catherine swallowed her pride and claimed she wished to learn from Rebecca, the Emperor would welcome it with open arms.
It would provide ample justification for her to visit Duke's Castle daily.
Moreover, using this pretext, she could finally learn the alchemy she had so desperately desired.
And in the Alchemy Tower of House of Johannes, no less!
Catherine fought to suppress her smile, forcing down the corners of her mouth that kept threatening to rise with excessive joy.
"But what if we're discovered? I can't underestimate the Emperor's intelligence network. It could be exposed quickly."
"That would be acceptable as well. In fact, it might be even better if we were discovered."
"What do you mean?"
"We simply need to create what His Majesty desires."
"What His Majesty desires...?"
"Weapons."
"Weapons? Creating lethal weapons through alchemy is strictly forbidden to all but those with explicit authorization."
"Precisely. Which is why His Majesty cannot openly request what he truly wants."
Rebecca recalled a recent conversation with Julian.
Julian had been visiting the Imperial Palace frequently of late. The Emperor had begun actively employing him now that he had switched to her side.
One day, Julian collapsed onto the bed looking utterly exhausted.
'Julian, you should wash up properly before lying down.'
'Just give me a moment... I'm completely drained today.'
I gently ran my fingers through his hair as he lay face-down, and he let out a satisfied sigh.
'The Emperor has been tormenting you again, hasn't he.'
'Don't even mention it. He's demanding I create weapons.'
'Weapons...?'
'Yes. Powerful weapons capable of annihilating the divine army. He's been unable to produce them openly due to the Church's watchful eye, and apparently lacks sufficient alchemist personnel to execute the plan. That's why he's been coveting my Alchemy Tower all along.'
'So he saw his opportunity and set his sights on your tower.'
'He told me not to worry about legal procedures and even offered substantial investment funds. The terms aren't unfavorable, actually. But...'
'But?'
'I'm not sure if any alchemists would volunteer to create weapons. Even if some did, there wouldn't be many. After all, they're pacifists at heart.'
Julian finished speaking and rose from the bed, pulling me into his embrace. And the kiss that followed...
"Rebecca!"
Catherine's voice snapped me back from my dreamy reverie. When I looked up, my cheeks were flushed with warmth.
"Ah, my apologies. My mind wandered for a moment. Where was I?"
"You said Father would be pleased about creating weapons."
"Yes, that's correct. This is confidential, but... His Majesty has secretly commissioned the Alchemy Tower to produce weapons. However, we're facing some difficulties due to insufficient personnel."
"So you want me to become that personnel?"
"Precisely. Become an irreplaceable master weapon craftsman. If you do, the Emperor will neither send you to a foreign land nor force you into marriage."
Catherine swallowed hard.
A master weapon craftsman, no less.
Currently, I possessed only enough skill to modify ornaments and trinkets.
A million years seemed too soon for such aspirations.
Yet it was a future I couldn't simply dismiss.
While alchemists continued to increase in number, none yet specialized exclusively in weapon crafting.
If I could achieve something remarkable, I would become a talent the Emperor couldn't afford to overlook, just as Rebecca said.
And above all, I had always loved guns and cannons.
I collected only beautifully patterned weapons to avoid suspicion, but I had always yearned to possess a true weapon.
Something crude and imposing—a genuine instrument of power.
The thought of crafting items suited to my taste with my own hands thrilled me. And to think I could fuse alchemy into those weapons as well.
Countless alchemical formulas began swirling through my mind.
Now I could no longer hide my excitement.
My eyes gleamed as I asked Rebecca with newfound warmth.
"What must I do for you in return?"
"It's not difficult. Just a few simple things."
"Tell me."
"First, promote my Salon business. I know well that you are the invisible hand of high society."
"That's easy enough. What else?"
"Become my ally."
"If this arrangement succeeds, we're already on the same side."
"I'm not speaking of allies bound by mutual interest. I mean someone who will stand by me no matter what happens—even in situations where helping me would clearly cost you dearly. For instance, if I had to defy the Emperor..."
"That's quite a difficult request."
"If you lack the resolve for this, I cannot join hands with you."
Rebecca's eyes narrowed with unwavering determination, showing no sign of compromise.
My gaze wavered uncertainly.
Originally, I had only one choice before me.
To be led away by the Emperor's hand and sold off to some distant foreign land.
Tragic as it was, it wasn't an entirely unpalatable option.
As a princess of the Empire, no one would dare treat me with disrespect, and the husband the Emperor chose, while perhaps unremarkable in appearance, would likely possess decent character.
And freed from the Emperor's constant surveillance, I might live a relatively freer life than here.
Had Rebecca not sought me out, I would have resigned myself to accepting my predetermined fate.
But Rebecca had presented me with another choice.
A difficult and arduous path, yet one that made my heart race.
A path where I could achieve something as Catherine—not as a princess or someone's wife, but as myself.
Her deliberation didn't last long.
Catherine smiled quietly and nodded.
"It will take more time before I can trust you completely... but I can't think of a better proposal than this."
"You won't regret it, Your Highness."
The two discussed the plan in greater detail.
Rebecca glanced at the porcelain desk clock and rose from her seat.
"I should be going now. My husband must be waiting for me."
At the word "husband," Catherine's shoulders flinched. After hesitating for a moment, she spoke.
"I'm sorry."
"Sorry for what?"
"For troubling you with my foolish jealousy. In truth, nothing you said was wrong. The Duke of Johannes had no ulterior motives—I was merely venting my frustration. I'm ashamed and sorry."
"Please don't worry about it. Thanks to that, I was able to gain something precious."
"Well, I'm relieved then..."
Catherine seemed embarrassed, twisting the strands of hair that fell loosely over her shoulders with her fingers.
She then saw Rebecca off with careful attention.
Just before Rebecca stepped through the door, Catherine caught her sleeve.
"Rebecca."
Rebecca turned to look at her with a puzzled expression.
"Thank you."
Her words were filled with sincerity.
I gazed quietly at Catherine's eyes, which now looked at me warmly—so different from when I first arrived.
I couldn't know how Catherine's fate would change because of my actions today.
But I had a feeling she would be happier than in her previous life.
I smiled gently in response to Catherine's words.
"Everyone makes small mistakes. I simply chose to overlook yours."
Catherine stared blankly at my smile.
Her slender shoulders suddenly seemed as vast as a great mountain.
During her time as a princess, she had met countless teachers.
But she had never seen anyone with eyes that seemed to comprehend the world as deeply as Rebecca's.
Catherine's heart swelled with anticipation. It seemed she would be able to learn so much from her beyond alchemy.
* * *
Two weeks had passed since meeting Catherine.
News that Rebecca and Catherine had become close friends spread rapidly, sparked by their meeting at the Imperial Palace.
Catherine sought out Rebecca nearly every day.
Gossip spread that the princess, still unable to forget Julian, was visiting the Duke's Castle.
Regardless of public scrutiny, Catherine concealed her identity and entered the Alchemy Tower as a junior researcher under the name "Karin."
Catherine, spending each day at the Alchemy Tower immersed in joy, kept her promise to Rebecca faithfully.
Thanks to her, the Labonne Salon had to cry out in delight as waves of customers flooded in.
Catherine's visit to the Labonne Salon with the Empress marked the beginning of an explosive trend.
The Empress and the Princess lavished praise on the Labonne Salon as a place of both modesty and elegance, and this news spread widely throughout the empire.
Catherine, in particular, held all her social gatherings at the Lavonne Salon.
Everyone was bewildered by the sudden shift in the Princess's behavior.
But they too soon found themselves captivated by the Lavonne Salon.
Cheers erupted naturally at the salon's convenience, transforming itself moment by moment according to each gathering's theme.
It was an extraordinarily convenient arrangement—simply state your requirements, pay the fee, and everything was handled.
Though similar props were often recycled, their thoughtful placement made each arrangement feel entirely fresh.
Most impressively, everyone marveled at the impeccable interior design that perfectly reflected the client's vision.
From birthday galas to intimate tea parties, the salon always prepared a space that exceeded the patron's expectations.
Everyone was desperate to know who the space designer was.
They would have paid a premium to have this designer decorate their own estates.
But no matter how much they inquired, the salon remained tight-lipped, citing trade secrets.
That wasn't all.
Margaret's exceptional pastry artistry also contributed significantly to the salon's popularity.
The desserts Margaret created were nothing short of masterpieces.
They possessed the refined elegance one might expect from the Imperial Palace, paired with exquisite flavor.
Some cakes became so sought-after that the salon had to impose daily quantity limits.
And the fact that it offered more privacy than one's own home stirred people's hearts.
Initially, only women frequented the salon, but soon men began arriving in secret, eager to indulge in private pursuits away from their families.
The Runaway Countess Returns
E-book Publication
January 12, 2022
Author
Long Night Sky
Publisher
Desert Fox
Published by
Woongjin ThinkBig Co., Ltd.
Submission Contact
naver.me/54VzzLSn
Blog
blog.naver.com/wj_fennecfox
@wjt_fennecfox
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Brought to you by Valir Scans! To support our team and enjoy the latest releases, please read directly on our official site: valirscans.org
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