Chapter 77

Leaving the dessert shop with Nazlee, we arrived at a different cafe. Nazlee slammed her teacup down so hard that the table rattled.

 

“I had no idea they were such people! How could they say those things right to your face, Lady Lilithia?”

 

“I’m alright.”

 

“They actually believe all those rumors!”

 

‘Exactly what kind of rumors are they?’

 

Selling low-quality goods—that was too vague a lead. I needed to know exactly what kind of lies were spreading to address them properly.

 

“Lady Nazlee. Could you tell me exactly what the rumors are?”

 

Nazlee nodded solemnly.

 

“They say the fabric is total trash… and that Lady Lilithia is lying about the quality by using your personal connections. On top of that, there’s a rumor that people broke out in rashes all over their bodies after wearing dresses made from Baimery fabrics….”

 

Nazlee hesitated before continuing.

 

“They even say that if you wear clothes made with your fabric, your skin turns blue and starts to smell….”

 

Finally, I understood why the ladies were ostracizing me and canceling their orders. It was because of these absurd stories circulating among the nobility.

 

I knew for an absolute fact that the rumors were false. We used premium fabrics, and I personally ensured we used high-quality mordants to fix the dyes so they would never bleed or stain the skin. These were malicious fabrications.

 

‘I tried to tell them it wasn’t true, but it didn’t look like anyone believed me.’

 

“Lady Lilithia.”

 

“…….”

 

“Lady Lilithia!”

 

Nazlee tapped my arm, snapping me out of my daze. I blinked and looked at her.

 

“Ah! Lady Nazlee, I’m sorry. I was just lost in thought.”

 

“Are you okay?”

 

“Of course.”

 

“Lady Lilithia, I believe the rumors are fake!”

 

She was such a pure and kind person.

 

“Thank you, Lady Nazlee.”

 

Despite her comfort, I couldn’t stop the heavy sighs from escaping. With these ridiculous rumors, I had to find a way to deal with the mountains of fabric currently sitting in the warehouse.

 

“What should I do with the fabric…?”

 

I must have spoken aloud without realizing it, because Nazlee asked me, “I have an idea, would you like to hear it?”

 

“?”

 

“If the fabric is the problem here, why not sell it to another kingdom?”

 

I slapped my knee.

 

‘Why didn’t I think of that?’

 

But there were many hurdles. To trade with other nations, I needed to use branch offices or collaborate with merchant guilds that frequently visited the Empire. However, most guilds currently trading with Baimery weren’t scheduled to enter the Empire soon, meaning I would have to leave the capital myself.

 

‘It all feels a bit too convenient.’

 

It might have been paranoia, but it felt like someone had engineered this situation. I couldn’t give an easy answer. If I left now, it might look like I was fleeing the country because the rumors were true.

 

“Is it a bad idea…?”

 

“In order to do that, I’d have to leave the capital for the trade. I’m worried that if I leave now, people will take it as proof that the rumors are true….”

 

“I didn’t think of that….” Nazlee frowned in thought, then suddenly clapped her hands. “Then I’ll help quiet the rumors!”

 

“You will, Lady Nazlee?”

 

“Yes!” Nazlee said with a bright smile. “I’ll talk to everyone one by one and tell them the rumors are false! I’ve worn clothes made from your activewear fabric before, so I can just tell them that nothing happened to me!”

 

It wasn’t a bad suggestion. After a moment of hesitation, I nodded. “I’ll think about it carefully.”

 

“Please do!” Nazlee’s smile beamed, then slowly faded into a serious expression.

 

 

***

 

 

Freyer was tied down with Ministry of Foreign Affairs business. With the change in leadership, many foreign delegations were eager to meet him.

 

“Thank you for the productive conversation. It would be an immense honor to have you visit our kingdom next time.”

 

“The pleasure is mine.”

 

As soon as the delegation left, Freyer gripped his throbbing head and leaned back in his chair.

 

Bzzz—

 

The communication device on his desk began to ring. It was the line connected to Derek. Freyer answered, and Derek’s face appeared in the air. Seeing Derek’s grim expression, Freyer’s face hardened.

 

‘Something happened, even with Derek by her side?’

 

— Your Highness, an unusual rumor has been circulating, and I felt I must report it to you immediately.

 

Relief washed over Freyer knowing that Lilithia wasn’t in immediate physical danger, but he remained curious. “An unusual rumor?”

 

Derek nodded.

 

— Recently, there was a minor issue where reservations at the Baimery Guild were canceled. The people canceling were noblewomen close to Lady Lilithia, and it wasn’t a simple change of heart.

 

“The reason?”

 

— There is a story that wearing Baimery fabric causes skin diseases and dyes the skin blue.

 

It was an absurd rumor. The Crown Prince had recently changed all the Imperial staff uniforms to Baimery fabrics, and not a single employee had shown such symptoms.

 

— Lady Lilithia denied it completely, but the noblewomen refused to believe her.

 

Freyer frowned, sensing something suspicious. “Why didn’t Silvertone report this to me?”

 

Bilion, the information broker who controlled the flow of rumors in the Empire, should have reported this immediately.

 

— I contacted them, and they said that because the rumor spread within small, private circles of noblewomen, they only just received word of it themselves.

 

“…….”

 

The source was a private gathering of noblewomen.

 

— It seems to be a rumor born of jealousy among the ladies.

 

Lilithia was more sincere and transparent about her business than anyone. To think she was being hurt by such baseless slander. Freyer stood up and asked Derek, “First, where is Lilithia?”

 

— She has returned to the mansion to rest, but she hasn’t stepped a single foot out of her bedroom.

 

“I’m going there now.”

 

Freyer left the palace immediately and arrived at the mansion. Today, the house felt unusually quiet, with even the servants out of sight. As Freyer moved toward Lilithia’s bedroom, Norman stopped him.

 

“Your Highness. Let me escort you to the dining room.”

 

“Is Lilithia in the dining room?”

 

“Yes.”

 

Freyer headed straight there. But as he opened the door, he froze in sheer bewilderment at the sight before him.

 

“…….”

 

“Your Highness. You’re back…?”

 

Sitting at the dining table were an awkward-looking Lilithia and a blonde, elderly gentleman—Lilithia’s father, Percival Baimery.

 

“Greetings to the Second Prince.”

 

 

***

 

 

The only sound in the room was the clinking of silverware. I darted my eyes around, taking in the scene. Freyer and my father were both cutting the steaks in front of them.

 

Clink—

 

Freyer swapped his plate of sliced steak with mine.

 

“Eat quickly before it gets cold and loses its flavor.”

 

“T-thank you.”

 

Since I wasn’t eating, my father turned to me. “Lilithia, is it not to your taste?”

 

“No!”

 

I wasn’t the only one struggling to adjust to this situation. I tried to piece together how this had happened.

 

‘Looking back, Nazlee’s suggestion wasn’t bad.’

 

After spending a few days at the guild, I had realized something: Kenny was incredibly capable. While I was away, she was doing the work of two people. The situation was perfect for me to head abroad to handle inventory sales and wool imports. But it wasn’t an easy decision to make. While I was agonizing over it…

 

Rumble, rattle!

 

“The sound of a carriage?”

 

I ran to the window and widened my eyes. A carriage bearing the flag of the Baron Baimery family was pulling in. Through the open window, I saw the face of Percival Baimery—my father.

 

“No way! Is that really father?”

 

I rubbed my eyes several times, unable to believe it. Father stepped out of the carriage as it stopped at the front door. He wasn’t an illusion.

 

I rushed down to the first floor, passing servants who looked just as stunned as I was.

 

“Father…?”

 

Father, who was checking the luggage, turned around at my call.

 

“Lilithia!”

 

He ran to me and pulled me into a tight hug. “Lilithia, I missed you so much.”

 

I thought I would be moved to tears, but the sheer suddenness of the reunion left me feeling mostly bewildered.

 

“How are you here without a word of notice…? You said the branch office wasn’t established yet.”

 

Father let out a hearty laugh. “Well, you see, the branch setup finished early!”

 

“That fast?”

 

During our last communication, he had said he wouldn’t be back for months.

 

“I got lucky! I bought a building at a bargain price, and a talented person joined the guild to manage the branch for me!”

 

Father beamed with a look of pure happiness.

 

“…….”

 

Of course—it was thanks to his haphazard way of running a business. I resisted the urge to press my hand to my forehead and gave him an awkward smile instead.

 

“That’s… wonderful.”

 

The flashback ended as my father’s real-time voice pulled me back to the present.

 

“Your Highness the Second Prince. I have something to say to you.”

 

“What is it?”

 

“I have been informed of the various things that happened to Lilithia while I was away.”

 

Father had spent the last hour asking me about everything—the fabrics, the mana stones, the hunting festival.

 

“I was told you requested to stay at this mansion for a while as a favor in return for your help with the mana stones.”

 

“That is correct.”

 

While discussing the mana stones, the topic of Freyer’s stay had naturally come up. Father set down his utensils and looked directly at Freyer.

 

“It is difficult to say this upon our first meeting, but… I would like you to move out of this mansion.”