Chapter 76

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter: 76

Chapter Title: A Visit to the Marquis Manor

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After reconciling with the Marquis and Marchioness Embrose, Baron and Baroness Pavron, like their other siblings, had moved into the Embrose Marquis manor.

On top of that, the last letter from Baroness Pavron mentioned that, with the Marchioness's enthusiastic support, she'd even set up her own workshop inside the manor.

After finishing my audience with the Empress and leaving the imperial palace, I headed straight to the Marquis manor in the capital to meet the Pavron couple.

From my position, stuck away in the distant Brail Duchy, I needed someone in the capital who could feed me the latest news quickly.

'There has to be a way to fix this.'

There was that saying about taking the long way around when things got urgent.

The Empress's warning had been sharp, but once the problem was solved, that was that, right?

"Please wait here."

"Yes, thank you."

Guided into the drawing room, I couldn't help but marvel anew.

Was it because they raked in an absurd amount of money? Not a single decorative item, no matter how small, was anything less than top-tier.

No way—were those golden patterns adorning the wallpaper all real gold leaf?

'If I pretended not to know and just scraped the walls, I could become filthy rich.'

Lost in silly thoughts, I looked up at the sound of footsteps approaching soon after.

"Have you been waiting long?"

The one who opened the drawing room door and entered was Baroness Pavron.

Seeing her cheeks flushed with healthy color, I could really feel that she'd regained her health.

The constant light cough she'd always had seemed gone, and most striking of all was her outfit.

'Before, her sleeves were frayed, and I'd pretended not to notice.'

Now, an exquisitely luxurious dress worthy of any high noble in the capital draped her figure.

'Reconciling with the Embrose couple seems to have been a real boon for them in every way.'

Seeing Baroness Pavron in such fine fettle melted away the worries I'd been harboring.

Maybe I'd done something unnecessary.

Perhaps my actions had triggered some negative butterfly effect.

I'd fretted plenty over things that hadn't happened, but just looking at the homey atmosphere and the light in Baroness Pavron's eyes convinced me it had all been for nothing.

Shaking off the thoughts, I smiled warmly and shook my head lightly.

"No, not at all. I was so busy admiring everything that time flew by."

At my admiring words, Baroness Pavron's face brightened even more.

"Oh, my mother-in-law decorated this space herself. Before Father inherited the marquisate, Mother mainly used it."

"So you're saying this room was done up ages ago? It doesn't feel dated at all…."

Glancing around the sophisticated interior that could have been the work of a talented designer, I nodded at her next words.

"Exactly. I was amazed too. Apparently, she furnished the office only with the finest luxury items sourced directly through the Stefan Marquis house."

Ah, the Stefan Marquis house?

At the familiar name that caught my ear, I tilted my head.

'I've heard that somewhere before.'

And soon enough, a memory from long ago flashed through my mind.

'Ah, that jerk noble house!'

It was back when I was working as Remeia’s slave.

That night, too, I'd stayed late in the office with the administrators, racking our brains.

All because of goods distributed by the Stefan Marquis house!

"Ugh…."

As the memory sharpened, a strange groan escaped my lips.

What kind of house was the Stefan Marquis?

They imported ridiculously expensive goods through Salt, then balked at paying maximum customs duties, bombarding us with ten protest letters a day.

Salt was just a transit route—why should they foot the bill? They'd stubbornly insist on that nonsense for days on end.

But the goods couldn't be damaged, so they wanted military escort or whatever.

Crazy bastards. Even nonsense had its limits before it stopped being funny.

'Jerks among jerks.'

Tormented by overtime, I'd once wished they'd just go bankrupt. Never thought I'd hear their name here.

What threw me more was realizing these jerks weren't some hole-in-the-wall operation—they had the clout to supply the Embrose Marquis house.

"My lady?"

"A-are the luxury items from the Stefan Marquis house that reliable…?"

"Oh, absolutely. Everyone knows you have to buy your luxuries and rarities through them."

"H-ha-ha. I see…."

Averting my eyes from what looked like a priceless porcelain piece, I forced a laugh.

"So, what brings you to the capital? Is His Grace with you?"

"No, this time I'm here alone."

He was probably off quelling the commotion in the territory and tracking down the rumor source in his own way.

"And… Her Majesty the Empress summoned me."

At my blunt words, Baroness Pavron's eyes widened.

"The Empress did? Did she call you to ask about the story's future developments?"

"No, it was about those ridiculous rumors spreading on tumblers and thermoses."

"Pardon?"

No point hiding it now.

Letting out a soft sigh, I explained the whole sequence of events to her once more.

After hearing it all, Baroness Pavron finally touched her lips with a grave expression.

"I knew rumors were flying, but I thought it was nothing serious. Tumblers and thermoses get so much attention that wild rumors pop up all the time anyway. But… this is graver than I thought."

Seeing her look more worried than me, I waved it off quickly.

"Oh, don't worry too much. It'll blow over soon enough."

"I hope so. But My Lady, I've heard something in passing too."

She glanced around the empty drawing room, then leaned in and lowered her voice.

"We just mentioned the Stefan Marquis house, but apparently, a magazine publisher they sponsor is planning to release comic books."

"Comic books?"

At that moment, my gut instinct suddenly kicked in.

'Right when all the rookie artists have jumped ship?'

Could things align this perfectly, this suspiciously?

Sure, it could just be coincidence. So why did it nag at me so much?

'A working stiff's hunch is usually spot on—except when it predicts more overtime.'

As I sank into unease, Baroness Pavron continued.

"A few days ago, the Stefan Marchioness was excitedly spreading the word. And Marquis Stefan himself seriously inquired with Father about magazine distribution."

"Hmm…."

"I'm worried this might threaten our comics' position altogether."

Her face clouded over as she clamped her mouth shut, then murmured uncertainly after a pause.

"My role already feels too big as it is, and if [Safety Rules of the Haunted Duke's Castle] suffers because of me…."

"No, that won't happen."

I cut her off firmly.

"You're handling your job better than anyone could. We'll just keep doing comics our way, like always."

In my view, the odds of them publishing a comic that could match ours in quality were slim.

Comic books hadn't even been around long enough to spread widely yet.

'More importantly, if the Stefan Marquis house is behind this….'

They'd pay dearly for picking a needless fight.

'I should have someone look into it.'

I knew full well this suspicion was premature, but somehow, I couldn't shake the feeling it would prove true.