Mila really visited the salon every few days from the very next day. She engaged in casual conversations with Erin.
“I’m happy to see you often, but… are you okay?” Helena tended to nitpick for no apparent reason.
Erin asked with a hint of concern.
“These days, my mother and husband are so busy that they don’t pay any attention to me.”
Mila looked at Erin and lightly laughed.
“Thanks to that, I can come to the salon as much as I want.”
Erin’s eyes narrowed. The reason Helena and Gael, as she just mentioned, were busy was probably because of work.
It was when Erin was lost in thought for a moment.
Mila spoke with a slightly softened voice.
“So, I have something to tell you.” Mila’s face had suddenly become serious.
“My mother and husband still don’t know, but…” Mila seemed to hesitate before speaking further.
Erin quietly waited for her to finish her thoughts. Then, after pondering, Mila cautiously continued speaking.
“I mentioned last time.”
“……”
“Anytime you need help, just let me know….”
It was what Erin had said to Mila at the last gathering, and Erin had not forgotten for a single moment.
“Of course. If you ask, I will gladly help.”
Erin was saying. Mila, seemingly encouraged by her words, cautiously spoke up.
“Can I change too?” Though she was still unsure, Mila gathered the courage to ask.
“I’ve been waiting for those words,” Erin said, her eyes drawing a line.
“And…”
She reopened her mouth as if there were more she wanted to say. However, it seemed difficult for her to bring out what she wanted to say.
“Actually, to me…” Erin listened to her words.
But when Mila finished speaking, Erin couldn’t manage her expression either.
“Is that really true?” Erin asked absentmindedly.
Her face slowly darkened as she fell into deep contemplation.
“Unni, then…”
But Erin’s decision ultimately was to choose the direction that would be most helpful to Mila.
***
From a certain day, the frequency of reports about Gael Zahard increased.
‘He has been attending parties frequently recently,’ was the general content of these reports, mostly detailing where he went and what he bought.
‘He even ran into Hafron Jag and boasted loudly that he would pay him back right away, so don’t worry,’ it was also reported.
Everywhere he went, he boasted about his business. Helena wasn’t any different.
The two of them already acted as if their families were rising again.
‘Really, they seem like the type whose true intentions are easily seen,’ Erin chuckled as she listened to the reports about Gael and Helena.
‘There are even places suggesting investment in the rumors,’ Madame mentioned the reactions around them.
‘So they must have gained more confidence,’ probably dreaming of striking it rich.
In their minds, their businesses had already achieved significant success.
As evidence, they were already beginning to increase their spending. ‘Their confidence must be overflowing.’
Erin’s eyes narrowed. “The source of the funds you are using right now…”
“It’s investment money.”
“You can’t even make that distinction at least.”
Erin furrowed her brow and clicked her tongue.
“It’s probably still a bed of roses.” Erin murmured meaningfully.
In the original story, Gael Zahard didn’t know the true nature of the drug from the beginning.
As the pharmaceutical business was sailing smoothly, one by one, side effects began to emerge, revealing that the drug contained hallucinogenic narcotics.
The problem came next. It was already a situation where he had raised huge revenues and expanded the business.
If there were problems with the business at that point, he would not only suffer immense losses but also incur such a huge debt that he would be unable to recover.
That’s why Gael Zahard thoroughly concealed the secret of the drug.
He spared no means and methods in case the fatal flaw was revealed.
In the process, he resorted to imprisoning and even committing murders against those who found out the secret, reaching a point of no return.
Gael and Helena’s current appearance was just like those early warning signs.
And sure enough, shortly after the Zahard family’s report, positive stories about Gael Zahard and Siron’s elder’s business started pouring in.
More and more people were catching wind of the news, to the point where even other nobles were starting to say a word or two.
Particularly, rumors were spreading among those who had suffered from PTSD after being injured on the battlefield in their youth.
Naturally, because the drug’s components helped ease their pain, it felt like an incredible medicine at the moment.
Moreover, the drug showed no side effects until a certain amount was consumed.
“When you think about it, it’s a really well-made drug,” Erin murmured.
How could the person who made it have had no presence until now? It seemed like a suddenly emerging entity. Erin’s eyes narrowed.
“But where did that swindler come from, anyway? How did they get close to Zahard? Suddenly, that part seemed suspicious, as if it were a trap deliberately set to ruin Zahard.”
So I decided that it was necessary to look into that swindler.
Whether they were just after money or had some other motive. It was important to find out how they had approached Gael Zahard.
That way, the whole picture would become clearer.
“Wouldn’t it be easier to consult with the duke? It would be much smoother that way,” the boutique madam asked, puzzled.
“I think so too,” Mona agreed. “But I want to handle this on my own,” Erin said.
It was Zahard’s problem that followed her like a shadow. She didn’t want to burden Aiden with this issue.
“That’s why I’m asking.”
“Yes. I’ll just follow madam’s words. Don’t worry. I’ll make sure to find out and report back,” the madam reassured.
“Thank you. Thanks to you, I can do more freely,” Erin didn’t forget to express her gratitude.
And unintentionally, it resulted in speeding up the madam’s handling of the matter.
***
A while later, information about the swindler came in.
Surprisingly, it wasn’t the swindler themselves but the identity of the person who connected the swindler to Gael Zahard that was shocking.
“Helena Zahard…?” Unbelievably, the person who introduced the swindler to Gael Zahard was Helena.
Erin’s eyes widened, and her lips involuntarily parted. As Erin’s face froze in deep thought, a bewildered smile crept up. It was Helena.
That was truly unexpected. Erin narrowed her eyes.
The madam began to share what she had deeply investigated.
The swindler was said to have come from a rural area.
“But perhaps because of his mixed appearance, everyone seems to like him and find it easy to trust him,” according to the madam. And according to the madam’s words, Helena met him in a dressing room.
When she was flustered because she couldn’t afford the dress she needed, he appeared and offered help.
That became the starting point for Helena and the swindler to continue their interaction.
“Was it natural for Helena to introduce him to Gael?”
Erin burst into a bitter laugh. It felt amazing and yet so fitting at the same time.
Helena only knew herself. Having Gael Zahard at the center of her life was probably a way to maintain her glamorous yet comfortable life.
Therefore, it was likely that she instantly trusted the swindler who helped her.
“How much does Mother trust that swindler?” Erin asked.
The response was, “Quite a lot. Though it’s not confirmed, there’s an opinion that it’s more than just a simple liking.”
Erin closed her eyes tightly for a moment and slowly opened them.
Whether the speculation was true or not, it meant that she had already fallen deeply for the swindler.
Erin’s eyes narrowed. “Keep a close eye on that swindler. He will probably try to run away before the business gets on track.”
The bigger the stakes, the easier it was to get caught. In the original work, when the incident came to light, the swindler left without a trace.
“We need to catch him before that. It’s the most reliable evidence.”
“Yes. We’ll assign more people to that side,” Madam replied.
Erin nodded lightly and splashed her face with water.
It felt like a comedy to her that her mother would introduce a swindler to her son.
***
Afterwards, not long had passed when a request for a business presentation from Zahard Group arrived.
It was deliberately sent to impress Erin. The blatant intention behind it made her let out a bitter laugh.
At the same time, she felt the extent of Zahard’s confidence.
Many people were already showing interest in the drug. Erin decided not to prejudge the situation based on the original work.
However, to do that, she had to confirm at least one thing for herself. She needed to see their reaction when they learned about the drug’s issues.
If they pushed forward without acknowledging the problems as they did in the original work, Erin would make sure they paid a heavy price.
So, she sent anonymous letters to both Gael Zahard and Helena Zahard.
[The drug is fake. Its effects only last momentarily and can actually make people sick.]
She confirmed that they received the letters and read them.
However, the actions taken by Gael and Helena afterwards made even the slightest possibility disappear for Erin.
They were no different from the original. No, they were even more ruthless than before.
Gael Zahard, not bothered by what had already transpired, instead decided to exploit the situation further by increasing the drug’s narcotic component in the formula.
Then, naturally, he detained the employees who found out about the drug’s secret while running errands. Erin made a decision.
She would expose the weaknesses in the pharmaceutical business at the business presentation, rendering Zahard Group and Siron Pharmaceuticals incapacitated.
“And they must face consequences for their attempted crime,” she thought.
Erin’s eyes were cold, and her lips were firmly sealed. She hadn’t expected it, but she couldn’t help feeling a visceral tremor of rage.
