Chapter 97
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I'm a homebody who ended up possessing the body of a villainess locked away in a desolate tower. Chapter 97 'Was what I saw earlier just my imagination?' As I stepped into the Imperial Palace, I stole glances at Ian, who was escorting me at my side. He had returned to his usual composed expression, but I could have sworn he seemed feverish back at the Grand Duke's Residence. 'Could he be hiding an illness?' Since he was the type to express so little, I couldn't be entirely certain.... But one thing was undeniable—the strange expression on his usually stoic and taciturn face was something I rarely witnessed. 'It's probably just my imagination, right?' Yet the reason such a trivial matter weighed so heavily on my mind seemed to stem from the fact that the time I spent with him had increased dramatically of late. Ever since I resolved to avoid Blaire Grand Duke, Ian had begun shadowing me relentlessly. Just how close was this shadowing? It had reached the point where even I—someone who found solace only in solitude—felt at ease in his presence. 'You can't help but grow close to someone you're attached to twenty-four hours a day.' But the problem manifested elsewhere. 'Ian looks far too exhausted.' Had he been working too hard at his duties? His dark circles had been deepening with each passing day. That was why I had reflexively checked his face through the mirror earlier. I suspected the flush in his cheeks wasn't actually from fatigue. And so I couldn't help but feel apologetic toward him. 'But since he said his main duties have become lighter, asking him to reduce his workload might actually make things worse.' Not wanting to make him feel job insecurity (?) as someone I wished to help, I swallowed my apologies and opened my mouth.
"Ian, you can come back here around three o'clock."
According to what I'd heard from the Embrose Marquise, the Empress's tea party would end by three at the latest.
"Understood."
"Then, I'll see you later."
After bidding farewell to him as he gave a simple nod, I dragged my heavy dress into the Empress Palace.
"This way, if you please."
"Ah, yes."
As if she had been notified in advance, a maidservant waiting at the entrance began to guide me somewhere. Not long after, I arrived at a spacious garden within the Empress Palace. Among the fully blooming flowers and beautifully arranged landscaping, tea tables laden with delectable desserts came into view at once. And gathered around them were noblewomen of the Empress's age. There didn't seem to be any unmarried young ladies like myself, but I approached the table with confidence, unbowed.
"Oh my, it's been so long, Young Lady."
This was because many of the noblewomen had become acquainted with me through the Embrose Marquise's tea parties. As I exchanged warm greetings with the Embrose Marquise, who rose to her feet to welcome me, a maidservant's voice was heard.
"The Empress has arrived."
Presently, the Empress appeared, dressed in an elaborate gown. After surveying the gathered noblewomen, she opened her mouth with a satisfied smile.
"A fine tea arrived during this season of change, and I wished to share it with those I cherish, so I've arranged this tea party. I do hope we might delight one another's ears and palates through wholesome conversation."
"Yes, Empress."
As the noblewomen who had been seated rose and paid their respects, the tea party began in earnest.
"The Young Lady was invited as the creator of 【Safety Guidelines for Goedam Duchy】, correct?"
While exchanging pleasant small talk with the Embrose Marquise, an unfamiliar noblewoman approached me. Her gaze was unfamiliar, but there was no particular hostility in it. In that case, there's no need for me to be especially cautious. Shifting my demeanor and fully equipping myself with sociability, I responded brightly in the affirmative.
"Yes, that's right. It's lovely to meet you. I'm April Pepper."
"The pleasure is mine, Young Lady. To be honest, I've been wanting to meet you for some time now. I was terribly curious about who could create such a magnificent work."
The plump noblewoman who introduced herself as the Kettler Countess cupped her flushed cheeks, making no effort to hide her delight. Though she refrained from being overly enthusiastic for propriety's sake, her demeanor clearly revealed her deep interest in the comic books. Several noblewomen who had been listening nearby drew closer.
"I feel the same way. You have no idea how jealous I was when I heard that only the Countess Cornelia had met you."
"Are you perhaps considering producing new tumblers?"
Though a rival had emerged from the Stefan Marquis House, it was as expected. The popularity of the original could not be easily surpassed. The noblewomen, laughing and chattering as they steered the conversation toward 【Safety Guidelines for Goedam Duchy】, naturally continued their discussion among themselves. Then.
"But who on earth has been distributing the counterfeit tumblers?"
At the question from the noblewoman who had shown particular interest in the tumblers, a brief silence fell. But it was short-lived; the Kettler Countess, her expression hardening, crossed her arms and muttered irritably.
"Exactly. To deceive people for such pittance... They must be merchants with no sense of honor whatsoever."
"And to think it's even caused serious problems... If such items were to reach foreign royalty or nobility, how could they possibly take responsibility? How shameful."
"Precisely! Such people deserve a curse where their entire lineage goes bald for three generations...!"
"Ahem, hem!"
The noblewomen, who had been passionately venting their anger at the fraudsters who sold counterfeit tumblers, suddenly turned their heads at the sound of an unexpected cough.
"Oh, my... Stefan Marquis's Wife. So you were attending today."
Who is that woman? The Stefan Marquis's Wife? So she's the traitor who betrayed the Grand Duke's mother? Her hollow cheeks, sunken from lack of flesh, made her appear all the more stubborn as she fixed the Kettler Countess with a cold gaze, then adopted a haughty expression as if nothing had happened.
"It seems you were discussing the counterfeit tumblers...."
Whether she was aware of or ignorant of the shameful rumors that had spread throughout the Imperial Capital, she inserted herself into the group with an arrogant demeanor, her smile appearing fierce.
"My thoughts differ somewhat."
"How do your thoughts differ...."
At the bewildered question from the Kettler Countess, the woman's lips opened once more.
"You've all surely heard the rumors that the production company behind the comic books cannot keep up with the influx of tumbler orders, haven't you?"
Her gaze had fixed directly upon me. In the eyes meeting mine head-on, clear hostility rippled. Soon her crimson lips moved again.
"Perhaps... the creators themselves secretly distributed them to extinguish the immediate crisis and then withdrew, wouldn't you say?"
Is it truly exceptional character to sell out even a friend for one's own advancement? 'She speaks nonsense with such plausibility.' Though she hadn't pointed at me directly, this was unmistakably a provocation.
"But the Magic Tower is also involved in this matter. Surely mages wouldn't assist in such affairs."
"There are rumors circulating that the mages of the Magic Tower are being exploited or forced into servitude after being compromised. It's quite shameful for honorable mages, but if they hadn't become entangled with your side, they wouldn't have fallen victim to such gossip, would they?"
What nonsense was this now? Good grief. Though the story was absurd, instead of refuting it, I simply shook my head without changing my expression. Why? Because getting angry at drivel was something only amateurs did!
"Setting aside other matters, distributing counterfeits would only diminish the value of our products in the long term, so there's absolutely no reason for us to do such a thing."
"Well, 'value' is something only those who possess it can truly assess."
Stefan Marquis's Wife's blatant provocation struck me as nothing but laughable. She seemed intent on suggesting that because I was a worthless person, I couldn't properly judge the value of products either. 'What should I do about this?' As a K-company employee, I had endured countless instances of my superiors' baseless hysteria and snide remarks with a smile, so this level of provocation from her was nothing at all. 'I'm afraid I'm not your opponent.' At this petty quarrel, I let out an inward scoff and relaxed the tension in my rigid lips. In situations like this, a bright smile while offering them a taste of their own medicine was always most effective.
"Yes, of course I agree with that sentiment. Indeed, only those with integrity and honesty can truly understand and discern value. Those ungrateful people who betray their friends would find it difficult, I'm sure."
The moment my words ended, Stefan Marquis's Wife's face froze cold.
"Oh, and by the way, the mages of the Magic Tower are honest friends with whom we've built deep trust, so they're helping us willingly. It's a relationship where we don't betray one another."
I smiled sweetly and met her gaze as though I knew nothing at all. Right then, salvation arrived at precisely the perfect moment.
"Hasty speculation is inappropriate when one's honor is at stake."
Swoosh. The one who interjected into the conversation by unfurling an ornate fan with elaborate tassels was none other than Embrose Marquise. She looked directly at Stefan Marquis's Wife and spoke in a peculiar tone.
"And while using 'counterfeits' is problematic, someone who actually distributes them seems to have no sense of honor whatsoever... wouldn't you agree?"
"W-well, yes! I wouldn't be able to show my face in public if I were in that position."
"It's a disgrace to Cletan!"
As the atmosphere shifted entirely, the other noblewomen who had been watching began chiming in one by one. Only Stefan Marquis's Wife remained, her expression growing increasingly bitter.
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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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