“Oh, really?”
“Yeah. Lord Kimar’s master is the one overseeing all the operations!”
Thanks to my enhanced hearing, I was secretly eavesdropping on the family’s servants chatting in the hallway. But I can’t believe the rumor that Kimar is just a figurehead has spread throughout the family. Typical Kima and his servile nature.
Despite pretending to be the head of the merchant guild, he was nervous and eventually confessed that there was a real boss above him. But it wasn’t a big deal, since in the confidentiality clause in the contract, he couldn’t mention the ‘real boss,’ which is me.
Receiving a share of profits from the magic artifacts and promoting the coffee house, this is what you call killing two birds with one stone. I chuckled inwardly, congratulating myself, when the servants’ chatter reached my ears again.
“Who could that boss be? They’re truly amazing.”
That’s me.
“I’m curious about the secret behind the loading screen… Plus, knowing that the invention originated from our family, people are curious about us. The atmosphere is different from before.”
“I’d love to personally thank the boss.”
That’s me. You can thank me directly.
The servants, who had been chatting animatedly, rounded the corner and approached me. As they came face to face with me, they hesitated for a moment before bowing their heads slightly.
“Ah, it’s Madam.”
“Yes, hello.”
“Are you heading somewhere?”
The servants eagerly struck up a conversation. Ever since I got rid of Caitlyn and her cronies, the servants and maids had become quite friendly towards me.
“You look absolutely stunning today, Madam!”
Damn! Everyone likes me!
I silently scolded myself for not fulfilling my duty as a troublemaker and responded with a nonchalant expression. “Yeah, I’m heading home. I don’t like it here.”
“Pardon? Ma-Madam.”
The startled servants exchanged glances.
“I’m going back to the main house. Giselle promised to visit my original home at least once a week. I don’t like staying in this household for too long.”
“M-M-May I ask why?”
“The atmosphere here is so gloomy. I need to recharge my yang energy!”
As my nonsensical words left the servants puzzled, question marks seemed to float above their heads.
“I-I see.”
“Understood, Madam…”
They looked quite disappointed. Seeing their expressions felt like a stab to the heart. It’s easy to mess with those in power, but I couldn’t bring myself to do the same to the servants, who reminded me of my past self, the lowest of the low.
This is the best I can do. Tormented by burning guilt, I scratched my head furiously and hurried to the Florette mansion… Only to be blocked by Kima, who was juggling three roles, as he handed me a ledger.
“We’ve agreed to receive the video marketing distribution fee once a month. The bookkeeping is ongoing, and it looks like we’ll be getting about a hundred million each month for the next year!” Kima handed over the meticulously kept ledger with a bright smile.
My heart is racing. After deducting the middleman fees, how much will I actually get? It should be around seven thousand after taxes, right?
I was gradually moving away from the impoverished Giselle of my past life. It seems like I’m slowly gaining allies, and even the forced nature of the original plot is disappearing. Even though it wasn’t my intention, the fact that the maids and servants liked me was proof enough.
I clenched my fists, trying hard not to shed tears of gratitude, while Kima, noticing my emotions, added more information. “Ah, about the coffee house, it’s starting to gain regulars, beginning with the opera house singers.”
“Really?”
“But, strangely enough, several other coffee houses have popped up nearby, so our sales have dipped a bit…” He rubbed his face with a troubled expression, seemingly concerned for me.
They must be sprouting up after seeing how well my coffee house is doing. I guess imitation is inevitable… But I closed the ledger and said, “Anyway, we’re like the OG, so it’s fine.”
“Huh? OG, what?”
“I mean, we’re OG, the original, and we did the promotion, so it’s okay. People always prefer the original over the imitation.”
As I conversed with Kima and checked the ledger one last time, the door suddenly opened. It was Count Florette, who seemed to have rushed over, catching his breath.
“Giselle, there’s trouble.” He handed me the newspaper with a calm sigh. “So, that trash mob-like lowlife is coming back, huh.”
Trash mob-like lowlife? I don’t know who he is referring to, but isn’t that a bit harsh to call someone like that?
[<Breaking News> Marquis Berto Returns!]
[The great inventor of artifacts and potions, the future swordmaster, Marquis Berto]
[After a long voyage, Marquis Berto returns—just how far does his handsomeness go?]
[He will officially announce his return on the ‘Feast of Saint Gladius’]
“Yeah, that trash mob-like scumbag, who’s only good at playing politics, is back and still not dead.”
One of the regretful male leads who ruined my life. And the b*stard who crushed me with his dirty politics just because he was ashamed…
He’s coming, finally. To his final resting place.
Bring me a shovel, a shovel. I seriously just want to bury him in the ground.
11. Regretful Male Lead 1, Marquis Berto Returns
Marquis Berto has returned after his voyage! After months of wandering other continents on a massive ship, he arrived at his estate and read the newspaper featuring his article with a satisfied smile. I brought back some excellent artifacts, rare spices, and even potion ingredients.
Feeling the wind ruffle his ruggedly grown beard, he looked at the hand mirror on the desk. As he raised his arm in the mirror, his muscular physique bulged with raw strength.
Honestly, I look absurdly wild. Is it because I wield a sword so much?
After about 30 minutes of admiring his own reflection, the door to the mirror room opened cautiously, revealing an unexpected visitor. It was Count Ronus, looking like a beggar. Though he was one of his close aides, Marquis Berto had never seen him in such a state before and was taken aback.
“…Hmm? What brings you here without any notice?”
“Marquis Berto! Ha… Y-You’ve finally returned!”
“What’s going on?”
Upon hearing the detailed circumstances, it was quite absurd.
“What? There’s a problem with the new coffee house investment?”
“Yes. They’re already using rare spices to make food and coffee, and it’s said to be very delicious.”
Having procured countless spices to run a coffee house under a pseudonym, he realized he was already a latecomer in the business. It left a bitter taste in his mouth.
“Which family is running this coffee house?”
“That’s the thing. Nobody knows for sure. They say it might be Count Florette, who recently returned from the spice island, but since businesses are often run under pseudonyms, it’s hard to tell.”
“Ha! They beat me to it. I didn’t expect Count Florette to be such a savvy businessman. Anyway, look into it. Find out exactly who it is.”
As he pressed his temples to suppress his frustration, he noticed Count Ronus’s face had turned pale with distress. It seemed there was another issue.
“And? There’s something else, isn’t there?”
“It’s related to the Kalinos family.”
Marquis Berto, who was about to dismiss him with a haughty flick of his pomaded hair, paused. “…Kalinos? Are you talking about the family led by Vientin Kalinos?”
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