* * *
“I’m sorry, my employer. I was so blinded by the need to punish that b*stard that I failed to live up to my role as a troublemaker…”
It was several hours later. I bowed deeply to my employer. After dealing with Marquis Berto, I quickly regained my composure as the conversation with Duke Kalinos continued in the garden. Right. I need to be a troublemaker, don’t I? I had already made quite an impression with my antics.
“It was all because of him that your reputation suffered. I misunderstood you.”
“Don’t worry. As the family elder, I’ll protect you.”
“The only way to help you is to kill that b*stard…”
Those were the words of Yuliana, Neslan, and Count Florette, in that order.
I did all this, but why is everyone worried about me, and even starting to like me? How is it possible that not a single person is calling me a disgrace to the family after all that?
…I guess I’ve strayed far from the life of a regretful female lead. Maybe it’s thanks to dealing with regretful male lead #1. Unexpected fortune and recognition, which I hadn’t particularly wanted, were rolling on.
Contrary to my worries, Duke Kalinos was indeed a benevolent employer.
“The important thing is that we’ve removed more than half of the foreign substance that was a variable in our relationship.”
“Ah, re-really? Thank you!”
“We conducted a thorough investigation of Marquis Berto over the past few hours. He won’t be able to leave the mansion. I heard he complained of a severe headache on his way home.”
He’d overexerted himself at the swordsmanship competition, and since I’m not around, he probably has no way to deal with his incurable headaches. Plus, now all the letters he sent have been completely exposed, so he’ll probably be out of sorts for a while.
“I’m really happy!”
“Yes, now all that’s left is to completely ruin him.”
Duke Kalinos’s lips curled into a chilling smile. I flinched the moment I saw that expression. Wow, I didn’t think this person was a villain, but turns out he is. He was excessively engrossed in removing the ‘foreign substance.’ Is this situation really okay?
I muttered to myself without realizing it. “Wi-Will it be okay?”
“I’m fine.”
“…?”
Duke Kalinos spoke firmly. “Don’t worry too much. I’m safe.”
I’ve never worried about your safety in my life…
“By the way, I liked how well we worked together.” Duke Kalinos looked at me and smiled. “I hope there will be more opportunities in the future to deal with the pests clinging to my wife.”
“…Yep.”
Covering my flushed cheeks, I turned my gaze away. I’ve been thinking this since last time, but he really has a knack for speaking like a real husband. If he keeps treating me like a ‘real wife,’ I might start mistaking his goodwill for affection. If this keeps up, I’ll misunderstand…
Maybe it’s because I’ve lived a life far removed from words like romance, excitement, or love. My ear grew even hotter from the awkwardness. Nevertheless, taking a walk with Duke Kalinos under the clear sky and breathing in the fresh air made me feel a bit happier.
Maybe, just maybe, the more those damned regretful male leads fall into ruin, the more my life fills with luck. If that’s the case, how much luckier would I become if Duke Reshaniel were dealt with as well?
I found myself indulging in such pointless fantasies. Unfortunately, that idea was completely shattered 30 minutes later at the coffee house.
* * *
“Lady Giselle, people are too scared to come to our coffee house, fearing for their lives.”
Apparently, it was far more dangerous than I thought for a shop to be known as belonging to the Kalinos family.
“What the? Do they think there’s a monster lurking in the coffee house?”
“Gasp, how did you know? There’s already a rumor going around that our coffee is made from monster essence.”
As expected of Kalinos family. They’re absurdly infamous, and everyone believes it without question.
“S-Still, thanks to the potions, Duke Kalinos’s reputation isn’t as bad as it used to be. And since Lord Giyet personally manages the potion market right next to our coffee house, our loyal regulars keep coming.”
“But that’s not quite satisfying. Is there anything else we can do to attract more customers?”
“Uum…”
Kima and Liliv exchanged glances.
“Why? Is there something you’re hiding?”
“That… When it comes to the coffee house, if there’s a subtle boycott happening at the level of social clubs, there’s nothing we can do. And those social clubs are, um, well…”
“Social clubs?”
“Yes. Oh! I guess you don’t know about them yet.”
Though Kima and Liliv had become more knowledgeable about social news than I was while staying at the coffee house, they seemed unsure of how to explain it.
I know what social clubs are. Ivanka, the little hamster shapeshifter who could hide anywhere, had already told me all about social clubs to me.
Social clubs. About 150 years ago, the empress at the time created this culture, an inner circle for the ladies of high society. There are several such groups within society, but the most famous is ‘Muto.’ It consists of over 50 renowned ladies, and Lady Shabel, who is currently the flower of the society, is the leader of this club.
If I recall, the empress herself was the leader of Muto before she got married.
According to the baby hamster Ivanka, the empress still quietly supports ‘Muto.’ In other words, the top predator in high society is Lady Shabel.
In high society, power is a given, but personal connections and cultural refinement are most important. Since the promising Lady Shabel is Marquis Berto’s fiancée, everyone’s watching her, so they won’t come to my coffee house.
“So, I get it. They’re not coming because of Lady Shabel, right?”
“Yes. If we could attract even a few famous ladies from the social clubs, that would help.”
“There’s hardly anyone in the society not connected to ‘Muto.’”
Even if we found someone not associated with ‘Muto,’ bringing her to the coffee house was another matter entirely.
“Just in case, I’ll look into the situation. Even if business is slow for a while, we have enough funds to get through it, so don’t worry.”
I looked resolutely at Kima and Liliv, who wore stiff expressions. “Regardless, I take full responsibility for my employees, no, my family.”
* * *
It was just as Duke Kalinos had investigated. Marquis Berto, without any intention of fixing the mess, was clutching his head and had barely made it to the gallery of his mansion. Around him, the bench was surrounded by green dyes. His eyes, bloodshot from lack of sleep, reflected his thoughts.
How did things end up like this? He had lived his whole life with pride. He had even donated to those less fortunate, believing he had lived a good life. But lately, every time he closed his eyes, he was haunted by the countless gazes that seemed to mock him, making it impossible to sleep. The only one who came to him was his fiancée, Lady Shabel, the only person who had stayed by his side.
“Lady Shabel, you’ve come.”
Shabel looked haggard, but there was a certain determination in her expression.
“I’ve thought about it for a long time. I-I believe in you, Marquis.”
“…My Lady.”
“Public opinion is quite divided. Of course, there are many who doubt you, Marquis. Surely, that woman, Giselle, must be at fault.”
He had always led a life filled with fortune, so such despair and misfortune were unfamiliar to him.
“Aaaah—!”
As he let out a sound akin to a beast’s wail, Shabel flinched and hesitated before inching closer. Despite her uneasy expression, she felt compelled to approach him.
“Cheer up. The ladies were so impressed by the Celestine Green dress you provided. It’s not such a bad situation.”
As her warm hand patted his back, light returned to Marquis Berto’s eyes. In truth, he wasn’t satisfied with just ‘not bad.’ He had invested heavily in this dye. To showcase dresses made from this beautiful and vibrant dye to everyone, present paintings crafted with this brilliant dye to the world. And to make a fortune from these items.
“Shabel. Every year, there’s a trend of color in high society, right?”
“Hmm, that’s true. Now that you mention it, there hasn’t really been a trend color this year.”
What if the beautiful and vibrant dye he invested in, Celestine Green, filled that void?
Filled with excitement, he continued to speak. “Then, could you once more showcase Celestine Green, the most beautiful color in society? This time, not with a dress, but with the magnificent painting I’ve created.”
Shabel, deep in thought, suddenly widened her eyes and slapped her knee in realization. “Ah, we could unveil Marquis Berto’s—no, ‘Taran the Painter’s’—artwork at the ‘Party on the Phantom Ship’ celebrating Lady Cordelia Inferna’s return!”
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