Chapter 76
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I'm a homebody who ended up possessing the body of a villainess locked away in a desolate tower. Chapter 76 After reconciling with Marquis Embrose and his wife, Marquis Fabron and Baroness Fabron settled into the Marquis Residence along with their other siblings. Furthermore, according to the last letter we exchanged, Baroness Fabron had even established her own workshop within the Marquis Residence with the active support of Marquise Embrose. After concluding my audience with the Empress and leaving the Imperial Palace, I immediately visited the Marquis Residence located in the Imperial Capital to meet with Marquis Fabron and his wife. Given my situation of being confined to the distant Blaire Grand Duke Territory, I needed the perspective of someone who could quickly absorb the latest news from the Imperial Capital. 'There must be a way to resolve this.' There was an old saying about taking a step back when things grew urgent. Although the Empress's warning had been sharp, problems could be solved once confronted, couldn't they?
"Please wait here."
"Yes, thank you."
Shown into the Reception Room, I couldn't help but marvel anew. Perhaps it was because they earned such tremendous wealth—not a single decorative piece, no matter how trivial it appeared, lacked refinement. Could those golden patterns adorning the wallpaper actually be gold leaf? 'I could become fabulously wealthy just by scratching the walls without anyone noticing.' As I indulged in such frivolous thoughts, I lifted my head at the sound of approaching footsteps.
"Have you been waiting long?"
The one who opened the Reception Room door was Baroness Fabron. Seeing her cheeks flushed with healthy color, I could truly feel that she had regained her vitality. The persistent cough she always carried seemed to have vanished, and most noticeably, her attire had changed. 'Before, I think I deliberately overlooked how worn her sleeves were.' Now, an elegant dress of such refinement draped her figure that even the highest nobility of the Imperial Capital would pale in comparison. 'The reconciliation with Marquis Embrose and his wife seems to have been fortunate for this couple in many ways.' Seeing Baroness Fabron in such good health, I felt all the worries that had been lurking in my heart simply vanish. Had I perhaps done something unnecessary? Had my actions created some negative butterfly effect? I had worried greatly about things that hadn't happened, but simply observing the atmosphere of the house and the light in Baroness Fabron's eyes, I could be certain that all such concerns had been unfounded. Cutting off my thoughts, I smiled gently and shook my head lightly.
"Not at all. I wasn't waiting long—I was so absorbed in admiring the surroundings that I didn't even notice the time passing."
At my words of admiration, Baroness Fabron's face grew even brighter.
"Ah, this space was decorated by my mother-in-law herself. Before my father-in-law inherited the marquis title, my mother-in-law used this room primarily."
"So you're saying this space was decorated so long ago? Yet it doesn't look dated at all...."
As I surveyed the refined interior, which seemed as though a designer with excellent taste had recently visited, I nodded at her continuing words.
"That's right, I was amazed when I learned about it too. Apparently, she commissioned only the finest of fine goods directly through the Stefan Marquis House to furnish the Office."
Ah, the Stefan Marquis House? At the familiar name that caught my ear, I tilted my head in confusion. 'I feel like I've heard that name somewhere before.' And not long after, an old memory suddenly flashed through my mind. 'Ah, that obnoxious noble!' It was back when I was working as Lemeia's slave. That night, too, I remained in my Office well into the late hours, nursing a headache alongside the Administrators. The culprit was none other than the goods being distributed through the Stefan Marquis House!
"Ugh...."
As my memories sharpened, a peculiar groan escaped my lips. What sort of family was the Stefan Marquis House? They were the sort who attempted to import absurdly expensive goods through Salt, yet refused to pay customs duties—sending ten protest letters a day instead. Salt was merely a trade route, yet they stubbornly insisted they shouldn't have to pay anything, as if they were somehow exempt from the natural order of commerce. But since the merchandise couldn't be damaged, they wanted military cooperation, or so they claimed. Madness. When nonsense exceeded a certain threshold, even laughter became impossible. 'They were the worst sort of troublemakers.' I never imagined I'd hear the name of a family I'd once wished would simply collapse from all the overtime work, mentioned here again. What was even more bewildering was that these troublemakers weren't some dingy little shop—they were a prestigious family capable of supplying goods even to House Ambrose?
"Young Lady?"
"A-are luxury items procured from the Stefan Marquis House... highly trustworthy?"
"Oh, of course. Regardless of other things, it's common knowledge that one must purchase luxury items and rare goods through the Stefan Marquis House."
"Ha, haha. I see...."
I deliberately averted my gaze from the ceramic piece that clearly commanded an impressive price, forcing out a laugh.
"But what brings you to the Imperial Capital? Did the Grand Duke come with you?"
"No, this time I came to the Imperial Capital alone."
Perhaps he was currently suppressing the turmoil in his Territory and tracing the source of the rumors in his own way.
"And... the Empress summoned me."
At my abrupt statement, Baroness Fabron's eyes widened.
"The Empress summoned you? Could it be she's asking you to reveal what will unfold next?"
"Ah, no. It's because of the false rumors spreading about the tumblers and thermal bottles."
"I see?"
There was no point in hiding it now. I exhaled deeply and explained to her once more the full circumstances of what had transpired. After hearing the entire story, Baroness Fabron's expression grew serious as she touched her lips thoughtfully.
"I was aware such rumors were circulating, but I thought it was nothing serious. There's always been plenty of false gossip about tumblers and thermal bottles given how much interest they generate. But... it seems to be more grave than I realized."
Seeing her appear more concerned than I was, I hastily waved my hand dismissively.
"Ah, please don't worry too much. It should be resolved soon enough."
"I hope so. But Young Lady, actually, I happened to overhear something about the Stefan Marquis House as well."
She glanced around the empty Reception Room before leaning forward slightly and lowering her voice.
"Just now we were discussing the Stefan Marquis House by chance, but apparently the magazine publisher sponsored by the Stefan Marquis House is planning to publish comic books."
"Comic books?"
In that moment, my intuition—which had been dormant—suddenly activated. 'At this precise moment when all the young painters have fled?' Could circumstances align so perfectly, so exquisitely? Of course, it could simply be coincidence as the word suggests. But why did this gnaw at me so? 'An office worker's intuition is usually correct—except when it concerns one's own overtime schedule.' While I was lost in peculiar contemplation, Baroness Fabron continued her words.
"For the past few days, Stefan Marquis's Wife has been spreading gossip about it with great fuss. And I've heard that Stefan Marquis made serious inquiries to Father about magazine distribution."
"Hmm...."
"I'm worried that our manga's very position might be threatened."
With a clouded expression, she closed her mouth, then after a brief pause, she murmured in an uncertain voice.
"I'm already anxious that my role has grown too large, and if 【Safety Guidelines of Goedam Duchy】 were to suffer because of me...."
"No, that won't happen."
I cut off her words firmly.
"You're handling your current duties more brilliantly than anyone else. Our manga should simply continue on our own path as we have been doing."
In my assessment, the likelihood of a manga with quality that could surpass our work being published was still slim. After all, manga itself had only recently begun to circulate in this world. 'But if Stefan Marquis House is behind this matter....' I would make them pay dearly for picking an unnecessary fight. 'I should ask someone to look into it.' Though I was clearly aware that this suspicion itself was premature, I couldn't help but feel that this premonition would prove true.
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