“…Huh?”
Is this important?
What's the big problem?
Was there anything else that might be more important here?
As I blinked in confusion just after returning to my room from the annex, Bonita spoke urgently.
“Liney's workshop is a mess. Oh God, what should we do...?”
“Why? What happened to Liney’s workshop? What could have caused all this chaos there? Have orders flowed in again?”
“No, it’s not like that… This was published in today’s newspaper.”
With trembling hands, Bonita opened the newspaper she had tucked under her arm and showed it to me.
On the front page of this morning's edition, a huge headline appeared:
Curious to see what kind of content was causing all the fuss, I looked closer – and the next article was even more ridiculous.
“The Imperial Consumers Association recently conducted an investigation into the widely popular 'blackout curtains' that have caused a stir in high-end circles.”
Wow! It has been discovered that the blackout curtains adorning the opulent palaces of our venerable imperial capital are made of cheap boletta leather!
Boletta skin comes from a type of canine beast that inhabits the northeastern mountain ranges, including the Grand Duchy of Blair. It is known for its strong, unpleasant odor, and is considered a cheap and ordinary material...
The rest of the article was mostly slander against Pauletta.
She exaggerated claims that the smell of Pauletta's rotting corpse was so strong that people had to cover their noses as they passed, and that the smell lasted for 30 days.
She also claimed that Pauletta's skin was so plentiful in the Grand Duchy of Blair that people would casually kick and step on it.
I let out a moan, and for a moment I was unable to speak.
“Ugh…”
Of course, there was some truth – perhaps about 5% – in the article.
Yes, buletta flogging was popular. Yes, it had a smell. And yes, in the past, when the disposal of bodies was not handled properly, the skin would get kicked.
But calling him dirty? Do they even know how clean it is?
“Let's go to the main building first.”
Holding the newspaper, I tried hard to remain calm as I started walking.
Even if everything written in the article is 100% true, it is a completely different matter when consumers are exposed to information that they do not necessarily need to know.
In the end, there was a huge difference between believing your curtains were made of fabric and realizing they were made of the skin of a monster.
Even if it was cleaned perfectly, without any bad smell or lingering blood stains.
She took a deep breath, then asked another question to make sure.
"So, how are people reacting? Has anyone asked for a refund yet?"
What should we do if some sensitive buyers ask for their money back?
While I was contemplating whether the refund policy had been set up correctly, Bonita's response made me pause again.
“Why don't they do that?”
“Huh?”
“We have received an influx of cancellations for our pre-orders! Not only that, but there is a whole procession of people carrying their curtains and heading towards the Grand Duchy, blocking the roads of the surrounding areas!”
"...Huh? Wait, are you serious?"
Was this real?
Was this really happening?
"This won't work. I need to check myself immediately."
Without heading to the main building, I hurried towards Lainey's leather workshop.
“Nothing really serious can happen, right?”
We were suddenly worried – who knows what an angry mob might do?
The presence of troublemakers was not limited to Korea.
I've encountered my fair share of difficult people while enslaved by Limia, and even more so while running various businesses in the Grand Duchy.
Now, I was even being harassed in the workplace by my ridiculously handsome employer.
...Anyway, nothing serious will actually happen, right?
Or so I thought.
“Why are there so many people?”
The area in front of Lainey's leather workshop - and the alleys around it - was already crowded with people.
I hesitated, unable to make my way through the crowd into the workshop, and scanned the scene with a pale-faced glance.
What the hell is going on...?
This was crazy.
We have never fooled anyone into believing that blackout curtains are luxury items.
What I was stressing all along was not the status of the material but its effect in blocking light!
At that moment, one of those present came forward, raised his hand high, and shouted.
How dare they sell us cheap hideous skin under false pretenses! Give us our money back! Pay us for it!
“That's right! Give us our money back!”
“Give us our money back!”
As the audience's enthusiasm behind the sound increased, their self-confidence increased, and their reckless behavior escalated.
"Yes, that's right! We should burn these cheap rags!"
The man threw several blackout leather “Bolita” curtains into an empty space, poured oil on them, and then set them on fire.
...What kind of ridiculous show is this?
“Give us our money back! Give us our money back!”
“Give me my money back!”
“Blood is dripping from the monster’s skin!”
“Ever since we put this in our baby's room, he's been having nightmares!”
But the more I listened to what they were saying, the more I became suspicious.
The sound of these people was exactly like…
“Professional agitators?”
Instigators.
People who weren't actual consumers, but were just here to make trouble.
Their actions were so extreme that it was difficult to believe that they were real agents.
And burning the curtains? If they really wanted their money back, wouldn't they have kept the curtains instead?
But the rest of the crowd showed no doubt about this behavior.
They even got crazier after setting fire to the curtains.
As the chaos escalated, I found myself frozen in place, unable to advance or retreat.
“Be careful, miss.”
"Ah, yes. Bonita, the workshop doors are closed, aren't they?"
“It's tightly closed. All the windows are sealed too.”
Her words brought me a small amount of comfort.
However, most of the people inside the workshop were women, and I couldn't shake the worry that they were intimidated by this hostile crowd.
This situation had to be put to an end...
And while I was thinking about it—
“Step down!”
Neigh!
The sharp neighs of horses rang out as armed cavalry made their way through the crowd.
"Yes!"
Bonita, who had turned toward the voice in front of me, suddenly seemed relieved.
“So he finally intervened.”
I knew it without even looking.
Behind them stood the Grand Duke.
But for some reason, I couldn't bring myself to face him directly.
I felt like I was in trouble once my house arrest was lifted.
“Why does it suddenly feel like the back of my head is on fire?”
I prayed to God that it was just a fantasy, and I hoped that this situation would be resolved quickly.
Fortunately, the Grand Duke did not forget his role.
In a cold voice, he addressed the crowd.
“What's all the noise in my area?”
There was suddenly silence.
His mere presence exuded such an overwhelming charisma that no one anymore dared to raise their voice about taking the money back.
As he waited in heavy silence for a response, he seemed to realize that no one would come forward.
With resolute authority, he declared:
“From this moment on, anyone who causes the slightest disturbance in the Grand Duchy of Blair will be arrested and sent to the underground prison on the Grand Duke’s estate – without exception.”
“Yes sir!”
“And if you have complaints, file a formal petition.”
As soon as he finished speaking and the cavalry squad took up positions, the crowd dispersed like terrified guinea pigs.
Only then did peace return to the area in front of Lainey's workshop.
...Well, except for the charred blackout curtains still lying in the middle of the street.