“So, you said the Applelum tea caused a rash because it’s toxic. You told others it was dangerous and warned them not to drink it… But you’re not afraid of catching it yourself?”
Her voice remained gentle and kind, yet the hairs on Mary’s neck stood on end.
Feeling uneasy, Mary desperately tried to explain herself.
“B-Because he’s my little brother…!”
“Oh? How sweet.”
Fortunately, the woman didn’t press further.
Mary let out a quiet sigh of relief as she watched her straighten her clothes, preparing to leave.
“You’re so kind. Let me give you a gift.”
But then, suddenly, the woman reached out and pulled out a handkerchief, wrapping it around Jamie’s arm.
“When it itches, don’t scratch it with your hands. Instead, soak this in cold water and place it on top. It’ll feel much better.”
“Th-Thank you…”
Mary felt relieved, and the woman smiled warmly.
“Just like this.”
At that moment, the red-haired man, who had been standing with his hands behind his back, suddenly pulled out a teacup and poured its contents.
Cold water splashed onto Jamie’s arm.
“Ah!”
In an instant, the damp handkerchief wiped across Jamie’s reddened skin.
“…Hmm.”
The fabric soaked up the color like wet paint.
Mary and Jamie both froze, holding their breath in shock.
Where the handkerchief had passed, Jamie’s skin was completely clear—without a single rash in sight.
“The rash is all gone.”
The woman’s violet eyes sparkled as she smiled brightly.
“Or… maybe there never was a rash to begin with.”
“Gasp.”
D-Discovered!
Terrified, Mary instinctively pulled Jamie into a tight embrace.
****
A man lay sprawled on a sofa, puffing on a cigar.
‘Why the hell aren’t they here yet?’
His greed-filled hand tapped the sofa impatiently.
His name was Pangston. A subordinate of Count Lampell, the man who controlled Bermute’s restaurant industry with an iron grip.
Technically, the true owner of the merchant guild was Count Lampell, but since Pangston was the public face of it, he was known as the guild master.
His main responsibilities included selecting menus for noble-exclusive cafés and restaurants, managing chefs and suppliers, and overseeing operations.
Though Pangston wasn’t a noble himself, his insatiable gluttony and sharp nose for profit had made him an unrivaled force in the restaurant business.
Even Count Lampell had personally sought him out and hired him—despite him being a mere commoner!
With no regard for ethics, Pangston would do anything to make money through food.
Stealing secret recipes, kidnapping renowned chefs who refused his job offers and forcing them into unfair contracts through threats—those were practically child’s play.
And because these schemes generated massive profits, Count Lampell always made sure to clean up any loose ends for him.
Of course, everyone who knew about his tactics despised him.
‘Idiots. Why bother drawing a line between legal and illegal in business? That’s why they keep losing to me.’
There wasn’t a shred of morality in Pangston’s mind.
As a result, he was enjoying an uncontested monopoly over the capital’s food industry, raking in money hand over fist.
But recently, something had been seriously irritating him.
‘Applelum tea? Where the hell did that garbage come from?’
Less than a month after its release, it had already become the number one most ordered drink in every café and restaurant in the capital.
Pangston didn’t even think it tasted particularly high-class, yet everyone who drank it claimed it left their mouths feeling refreshed and their stomachs soothed.
Because of that, the new cocktail he had so ambitiously introduced was being utterly overshadowed by Applelum tea.
His fists trembled as he gritted his teeth.
‘If I knew who was behind it, I’d drag them in and crush them, but they’re selling through the guild, so I can’t even track them down!’
This wasn’t just a matter of pride.
The Imperial Dessert Competition was coming up soon, and if Applelum tea ended up as one of the nominees, it would be disastrous.
For over a decade, Count Lampell had secured victory with the menu Pangston prepared. But if they lost this time…?
‘The Count’s entire business would collapse!’
Winning the Imperial Dessert Competition meant the victorious merchant guild would be granted the exclusive right to supply the capital with one type of dessert and flour for an entire year.
And for the past ten years, the real owner of Pangston’s merchant guild, Count Lampell, had been winning.
As the owner of the largest grain-producing region in the south, he supplied flour to the imperial court—giving his products a prestigious status that high-ranking nobles and luxury stores scrambled to buy.
Using that insane revenue, Count Lampell had gained control over both the dessert and restaurant industries.
In short, winning the competition was non-negotiable.
That’s why Pangston had always crushed any rising competition by any means necessary.
And now, this Applelum tea had popped up out of nowhere—an absolute thorn in his side.
‘They’re begging to be stomped on.’
Normally, he’d just find the creator, intimidate them, and steal the recipe for himself. But this time, the actual owner remained a mystery, making that impossible.
That left only one option.
Pangston decided to smear Applelum tea’s reputation—spreading rumors that it made people sick.
Orphanages in the slums were perfect for this kind of job. Give the kids a few loaves of low-quality bread that would’ve been thrown out anyway, and they’d do anything.
“But why the hell are they so late? I told them to spread the rumors at the open-air café—don’t tell me they got distracted by the festival and started stuffing their faces instead?”
Pangston stood up irritably.
He had even given them expensive clothes to disguise themselves as noble children. What if they had just run off with them?
Annoyed, he yanked open the door, ready to go check the café himself.
“G-Guild Master…”
“You little brats! What the hell took you so long?!”
The kids had finally returned.
Mary and Jamie, looking ragged, held out a sack containing the clothes he had lent them. Pangston snatched it from them and crossed his arms, glaring down.
“You didn’t go off fooling around, did you?”
“No! We did exactly what you told us! When people saw Jamie’s rash, they canceled their Applelum tea orders. Some of them even started complaining!”
Pangston’s lips curled into a grin.
Perfect!
If he spread this rumor even further, Applelum tea would be finished.
In the restaurant business, word of mouth was everything.
“Um, Guild Master… So, about the bread you promised…”
As Mary rubbed her hands together hesitantly, Pangston turned to leave—to deliver the good news to Count Lampell himself.
But at her words, his expression twisted with irritation.
“You little brats show up late, and now you have the gall to demand payment?”
“I-I’m sorry! But… we couldn’t work today because of your errand, so the other kids haven’t eaten all day…”
Mary’s voice trembled as she pleaded.
Pangston’s face contorted into something truly ugly.
A man as arrogant and greedy as him had zero interest in things that didn’t make money.
And starving orphans? That was not his problem.
He let out an angry huff and raised his hand.
“You filthy little rats dare talk back to me?!”
His broad hand came swinging down.
Mary and Jamie froze in terror, their eyes squeezing shut.
‘He’s going to hit us…!’
Mary shuddered, a tear slipping down her cheek, bracing for the sharp pain that would follow.
But strangely… nothing happened.
Several seconds passed.
‘Huh?’
Still clutching Jamie, Mary hesitantly cracked one eye open.
And what she saw in front of her was—
A woman’s back.
She had caught Pangston’s arm.
****
“What the hell?!”
The guild master wasn’t particularly strong, likely due to his small frame. I let go of his thick arm and flashed a sweet smile.
“Let’s use our words, shall we?”
He quickly scanned my half-mask and clothing.
Since I had draped my long robe over my dress after leaving the open-air café, he must have mistaken me for a commoner.
His pudgy cheeks quivered as he shouted.
“You filthy wretch, how dare you lay a hand on me?!”
“And who exactly are you?”
“I am Pangston, the guild master! Apologize immediately!”
“Hmm. Never heard of you. Acting all high and mighty when you’re not even that important yourself, huh?”
I had only made a casual remark, yet his bloodshot eyes bulged in rage.
His furious gaze darted between me and the children before he snarled,
“So, you actually brought someone to back you up? Some lowly commoner wretch? I’ll teach you all a lesson today!”
“I-I’m sorry! Waaah!”
Just as Mary and Jamie burst into frightened sobs—
I clicked my tongue and dodged the thick arm that lunged for my hair.
Pangston, who had charged at me like an enraged bull, stumbled forward, completely off balance.
At the same time, I flicked my wrist.
“Catch him.”
“Yes, ma’am!”
“You little orphan brats—urk!”
Crash!
Pangston, who had been reaching for the children, collapsed with a loud thud.
From all sides, plainclothes knights emerged and, without hesitation, kicked him down, twisted his arms, and had him kneeling in an instant.
“Ugh!”
“Who are you calling an orphan, huh?”
I lightly poked Pangston’s forehead and asked sweetly.
His murky eyes darted around nervously, taking in the armed knights surrounding him.
His voice turned desperate.
“I-I meant those little brats! Who are you?!”
“Me? I’m their mother.”
“T-That’s ridiculous! You barely look like you’re in your early twenties! And those kids don’t even have parents!”
His beady eyes widened in disbelief, but I simply doubled down.
“I said I’m their mother. And since you tried to hit my kids, shouldn’t you get the same treatment? That’s only fair, don’t you think?”
Let’s see how he likes it for once.
I gave a quick nod. The knights, ever so dutiful, immediately bowed.
“Yes, ma’am!”
“We shall follow orders!”
“Great. Have fun.”
With that, I turned and walked away, leading Mary and Jamie along with me.
Behind us, a satisfying mix of dust-scattering thuds and pained wails filled the air.
“I-I’m sorry! Urgh!”
“O-Oh no! The guild master is going to be furious!”
A terrified Mary clung to my hand, looking close to tears.
I chuckled and shrugged.
“It’s fine. I’m scarier than him.”
Some guild master who picks on children? Please.
At that moment, Kaibel approached.
I had told him to keep his distance since, as a foreigner, getting involved could be a hassle. He had obediently stayed put—until now, when the situation was clearly wrapped up.
He grinned as he scooped up the still-trembling Jamie.
“That was quite the spectacle. I was about to step in, but it seems you didn’t need my help at all.”
“Oh? I’m just the type to return exactly what I receive.”
Thanks to Mary and Jamie’s testimony, we now had solid proof that Pangston had been behind the malicious rumors about Applelum tea.
‘And the best part? The people who saw Jamie’s fake rash were nobles.’
Pangston would probably try to deny ever faking symptoms, but it was too late. With both the children’s statements and noble witnesses, he was as good as caught.
Tomorrow, I’d formally report him to the Capital Merchants’ Association—for slandering a rival product and violating fair trade practices.
It was the kind of corruption people usually turned a blind eye to. But if I blew this up enough, it wouldn’t be so easy for them to brush it under the rug this time.
Of course, I wouldn’t be handling it directly—Lindo would take care of it under an alias.
‘In this industry, money is power.’
No matter how much wealth Pangston had, he couldn’t beat me.
