Chapter 73
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I'm a homebody who ended up possessing the body of a villainess locked away in a desolate tower.
Chapter 73
"Huh?"
Something serious?
What could possibly be serious?
What trouble could arise here that I haven't already faced?
I had just returned to my chamber from the Annex Building when I blinked at Bonita, and she spoke urgently.
"Lady Rainy's Workshop is in absolute chaos. W-what should we do...?"
"Lady Rainy's Workshop? Why would there be chaos there? What could possibly happen? Did orders pile up again?"
"It's not that... This appeared in today's newspaper."
With trembling hands, Bonita unfolded the newspaper she had tucked at her side and showed it to me.
The front page of today's newspaper bore enormous headlines that read as follows.
Curious about what could draw such attention, I examined it more carefully, and the rest of the article was even more outrageous.
'The Imperial Consumer Union has recently investigated the "blackout curtains" that have garnered significant attention in High Society.
And as expected! The blackout curtains adorning the noble homes of the prestigious Imperial Capital are made from cheap Poleta leather!
Poleta leather comes from the hides of canine monsters inhabiting the Northeast Mountain Range, including the Northern Blaire Grand Duke Territory. It is a material that carries a filthy and unbearable stench, and is remarkably common...'
The rest of the article consisted almost entirely of disparagement toward Poleta leather.
Absurd exaggerations, such as the putrid stench of Poleta corpses being so severe that people cover their noses as they pass, yet the smell lingers for thirty days.
Claims that Poleta leather is so abundant in the Blaire Grand Duke Territory that people have carelessly trampled, kicked, and handled it without restraint.
I stood speechless, releasing only a groan.
"Mm..."
Of course, to some degree—perhaps about five percent—the article was based on fact.
It was true that Poleta leather was common, that it did smell, and that in the past when corpse disposal was inadequate, they were trampled underfoot.
But dirty? When I clean it so meticulously!
"Let's go to the main residence at once."
Taking the newspaper, I moved forward while striving to maintain my composure.
Even if the contents of the newspaper were one hundred percent true, it was another matter entirely for consumers to learn information they didn't need to know.
There was a difference between curtains hanging on my windows that I believed to be cloth and curtains made from monster corpses.
Regardless of how thoroughly cleaned they were, free from decay and bloodstains.
Exhaling a deep sigh, I posed another question to confirm my fears.
"So what's the reaction? Have there been any refund requests?"
If some sensitive customers had requested refunds, what would I do?
As I considered whether the refund policy was properly established, I found myself stopping once more at Bonita's response.
"Of course there have been."
"What?"
"Cancellations of pre-orders we received are pouring in! Not only that, but a procession of people bringing curtains and demanding refunds has clogged the roads all the way to the boundaries of nearby territories!"
"...What? Is that... really true?"
Is this actually happening?
Is this really what's occurring?
"This won't do. I need to go verify the situation immediately."
I quickened my pace toward Rainy's Leather Workshop instead of the main residence.
'Surely nothing serious will happen, right?'
A sudden worry crept in—I had no idea what excited people might do.
Troublemakers weren't exclusive to Korea.
I'd encountered plenty of them while serving as Lemeia's slave, and even more while running various businesses in the Grand Duchy.
On top of that, I was now dealing with power abuse from a handsome employer.
...In any case, surely nothing serious will happen, right?
That's what I thought.
"S-so many people?"
The front of Rainy's Leather Workshop and the surrounding alley were already packed with crowds.
Hesitantly, hesitantly.
Unable to push through the throng to enter the workshop, I surveyed my surroundings with a weary expression.
'What is all this....'
This was madness.
I'd never deceived anyone by passing off blackout curtains as luxury curtains—what I'd emphasized was the blackout effect that blocked light, not the luxuriousness of the product itself!
Then one person from the gathered crowd stepped forward, raised their hands high, and shouted.
"You deceived us by selling monster hide! Give us our money back! Give it back!"
"That's right! Refund our money!"
"Give us our refunds!"
As the crowd cheered in support, the person who'd stepped forward seemed emboldened, and their antics didn't stop there.
"Yes, that's right. We should burn these cheap hides!"
They threw several blackout curtains made of Poleta leather into the circular space the crowd had formed, poured oil on them, and set them ablaze.
...What kind of performance was this?
"Refund! Refund!"
"Give me my money back!"
"It's made from monster hide—fresh blood drips from it!"
"Ever since we put this in my child's room, they've been having nightmares!!"
But the more I listened to what they were saying, the more something felt off.
The way they spoke....
'These aren't real customers, are they?'
Agitators.
People who came not as genuine consumers but solely to stir up trouble.
Their behavior was extreme enough to suggest exactly that.
Besides, why suddenly burn the curtains? If they'd truly come for a refund, they should have kept the curtains and gotten their money back.
But the other people didn't seem to harbor any suspicion about this, and from the moment the curtains were set ablaze, they began to show signs of being swept up in the frenzy.
As the commotion grew louder around me, I could only stand frozen in place, unable to step forward or retreat.
"Please be careful, miss."
"Ah, yes. Um, but Bonita—the workshop door is locked tight, right?"
"It's firmly secured. All the windows are blocked as well."
At her words, I finally felt a measure of relief.
Still, most of the people inside the workshop were women, and I felt uneasy knowing they were likely frightened by the hostile atmosphere.
Someone needed to end this situation, but it had to be done properly...
It was precisely at that moment when I was thinking such thoughts.
"Make way!"
Neigh!
I heard the sound of horses neighing, and armed cavalry suddenly broke through the gathered crowd.
"Oh!"
Bonita's face lit up with color as she looked toward the sound of the horses before I could even turn around.
'He finally stepped in.'
Without even turning back, I already knew the truth—the Blaire Grand Duke was behind all of this.
However, the thought that I'd somehow managed to get myself into a dangerous situation the moment the confinement order was lifted made me unable to meet his gaze directly.
'And why does the back of my neck suddenly feel so hot?'
I prayed this was merely my imagination and silently wished for this situation to end.
Fortunately, the Blaire Grand Duke hadn't forgotten what needed to be done here, and he asked the crowd in a frigid voice.
"What is this commotion in my territory?"
The surroundings fell silent in an instant.
And whether it was due to the charisma that could overwhelm others with his voice alone, no one dared raise their voice to demand refunds for blackout curtains or any such thing.
The Blaire Grand Duke, waiting quietly for an answer, recognized that no one would step forward and issued a firm command.
"From this moment onward, anyone who causes even the slightest disturbance within the Blaire Grand Duke Territory shall be transported to the Grand Duke's Underground Prison without exception."
"Yes, understood!"
"And should anyone have grievances, let them file a formal petition."
Once the Blaire Grand Duke finished speaking and the cavalry took their designated positions, the gathered crowd began to disperse like frightened guinea pigs.
And the area in front of Rainy's Leather Workshop finally regained its peace.
...Of course, the charred blackout curtain left in the middle of the street remained as it was.
Brought to you by Valir Scans! To support our team and enjoy the latest releases, please read directly on our official site: valirscans.org