Episode 130

“T-That was too harsh, Belze.”

Diana, her eyes brimming with sudden tears, for once raised her voice and flushed red in anger.

“Are you saying… that my mother intentionally dropped hints so Adolf could copy your salon’s interior?”

As expected of someone so socially skilled, she raised her voice just enough to seem outraged—like I had just delivered a deeply unforgivable insult.

The moment she said that, I could feel the gazes of the bystanders shift and focus even more sharply on us.

“Now that you mention it, Lady Diana makes a good point.”

“Tsk. Must be her commoner blood. How vulgar and ill-mannered.”

That’s not even what I meant.

In the blink of an eye, the conversation was twisted, the nuance deliberately bent, and just like that—I was being painted as the aggressor.

If this were my past life, I would’ve stumbled through this, unable to respond properly.

And eventually, I would’ve exploded, yelling in frustration, unable to express myself clearly.

But after enduring this exact same situation more times than I could count in that past life, the experience had hardened me.

All those wounds had now become armor.

So this time, I didn’t feel ashamed. I didn’t even feel angry as the crowd whispered and stared.

“I never said the Marchioness intentionally helped Adolf, Diana.”

“Then what did you mean by it?”

“If people are close, things can slip out naturally, can’t they? Just like how you know quite a bit about our salon.”

“…….”

I replied calmly, a faintly meaningful smile tugging at my lips.
Diana’s expression instantly hardened.

‘Got her.’

It was a sharp jab—and it hit where it hurt.

Because the truth was, Diana didn’t actually know anything about our salon.

She was the same age as me, and the only part she’d ever visited was the first-floor drugstore.

She had never set foot in the upstairs massage area.

Yet when I confronted Adolf for copying the interior design of that very space, she hadn’t looked surprised at all.

She didn’t ask what I meant, didn’t look confused—just started making excuses and apologizing.

It was obvious.

She was playing the third-party bystander while deeply involved in Adolf’s new business from behind the scenes.

‘Did the failed healing of the Empress’s great-grandfather cut off her donations or something?’

As I quietly mulled over what would’ve driven Diana to suddenly partner with Adolf—

“M-My mother isn’t close enough with Adolf to be seeing him privately!”

She blurted the words, stumbling and visibly flustered.

It was clear she was worried the Marchioness might get dragged into the scandal.

And seeing her like that gave me… a strange feeling.

‘So even you have to bow your head in front of me now, huh…?’

“Belze, please don’t be angry! It’s all my fault! I’m really sorry!”

Every time I tried to speak up about something unfair, Diana would always jump in and apologize first—cutting me off before I could say anything. And just like that, I’d be left to take the blame and the rumors.

But this time?
This time, the tables had completely turned.

“I see. Sorry, Diana.”

The apology slipped from my mouth easily—because I didn’t mean a word of it.

I smiled, lips curved into a sweet, insincere arc.

Then I added, as if just remembering:

“But… that means you are admitting it, right?”

“Admitting what?”

“That Adolf Galagos copied my salon’s interior and business model. You saw it earlier too, didn’t you?”

“A-Admitting it?”

I tilted my chin toward the building behind her, and Diana flinched slightly before quickly backing off.

“S-Sorry, Belze. I’m not really sure… I’ve only ever seen the first floor of your salon, so…”

“Is that so?”

What a weak excuse.

I latched onto her words like a hawk.

“Then Diana, how about this? I’ll show you the entire layout of our salon now. As an old friend, would you be willing to testify later as a witness?”

“W-Witness?!”

Diana recoiled like she’d been slapped.

The lawsuit was already a sure thing—but this? This was a finishing move. I wasn’t going to leave even the tiniest crack for them to climb through.

I nodded calmly, voice pleasant and casual.

“Yeah. You’d just have to confirm that the interiors look similar. That’s all.”

“…”

“Besides, if the business items overlap, that’s a clear patent violation.”

“W-Wait, are you really suing him?”

“What, you think I’m pretending to?”

I let out a quiet laugh like she’d said something ridiculous.

Diana went silent.
She must’ve assumed I was bluffing, throwing out threats with no real intention behind them.

She paused for a moment, eyes flickering with thought, then cautiously opened her mouth.

“B-But Belze… I don’t think Adolf meant to copy your business.”

“Oh yeah? And how would you know?”

“Because… he asked me for help.”

“Help?”

She nodded, hesitant but honest.

“He’s planning a business to help people with health problems.”

“So… like a hospital?”

“Not exactly. It’s more like… selling health supplements, and offering general wellness services.”

It was similar—but just different enough to avoid being identical.

My business focused purely on beauty and cosmetics.
His sounded like it was aiming for wellness and lifestyle.

But still—why go through all that trouble for a business like that?

“We already have clinics and herbalists. Why would anyone bother with his setup?”

Diana offered her explanation gently.

“Hospitals and clinics are limited in number, and always overcrowded. Plus, there’s no guarantee they’ll actually cure you.”

“…”

“Adolf just wants to make health more accessible to everyone. I… agreed with that idea.”

“…”

“Just like how you sell products to commoners too, Belze.”

I nearly laughed.
I held it back with effort.

‘So now you want to reach the commoners, huh?’

It was suddenly crystal clear why Diana had teamed up with Adolf.

She still hadn’t made a name for herself among the common folk.
And seeing me build a reputation through the Minola cure and affordable beauty items must’ve lit a fire under her.

“So then… you’ll be the one doing the healing at that place?”

“Yeah. It’s what I’m best at.”

Diana gave a soft, bashful smile.

‘Didn’t think you’d stoop to healing commoners, Diana…’

In the original story, she didn’t start healing the lower class until after enrolling in the Academy at age 14.
And even then, it wasn’t through some weird startup business venture.

‘Guess all the changes I’ve made have started shifting the story, huh…’

Cutting the Minola plague short by five years was bound to change the flow of the original.

As I thought about how off-course the plot had become, my head grew foggy.

My response came out flat, without much care.

“I see. You’ll be busy after the launch, then.”

“Mhm. That’s why… please don’t think too badly of us, Belze.”

Now that she had regained her composure, she spoke with a soft, sorrowful look on her face.

“Adolf really didn’t mean to copy you. Please believe that.”

“…Sure. I’ll keep that in mind.”

I replied, pretending to be agreeable.

‘Didn’t mean to, my ass. Are you blind?’

I wanted to say it straight to her face like I had with Adolf.
But with so many eyes on us, I held back.

Instead, I plastered on a professional smile and started wrapping things up.

“It’s getting late, Diana. It was nice seeing you. I have to head back—I’ve got work.”

“Ah… right. Sorry for taking up your time. Take care, Belze.”

Diana waved goodbye with a gentle smile.

“Let’s meet again soon. I’ll definitely invite you to our launch party!”

Yeah.
Not a chance in hell I was smiling back at that comment.

I walked past her like I hadn’t heard it, blaming the noise of the street and a passing carriage.

“By the way, Director,”
Charlotte finally broke her silence as we crossed the street to our salon building.

“That girl never once said she’d testify for us. Not even once. It’s not even her business, so why is she protecting it so hard?”

I shot her a sideways glance, one brow slightly raised.

“Catch on just now, Charlotte?”

“Huh?”

“Keep your guard up. She’s not going to be easy.”

And with that, I let out a long, tired sigh as I called for our legal advisor.

For some reason…
I could already feel the exhaustion of all the trouble ahead creeping over my entire body.

* * *

 

After having my energy completely drained by that damn Adolf Galagos and the heroine, I decided to clock out earlier than usual.

Just as the carriage carrying me home to the duke’s estate began to slow—

“Huh?”

I noticed a carriage I didn’t recognize parked in front of the estate’s main entrance.

Its exterior bore a family crest I’d never seen before.

“A guest?”

I tilted my head, puzzled, and stepped down from the Kallios carriage.

But just as I was making my way toward the front door—

Bang!

The door of the unfamiliar carriage burst open, and a white-haired old man stepped down.

His face was lined with deep wrinkles, yet his figure was large and imposing for someone of his age.

He leaned heavily on a cane, clearly having trouble with one leg, and walked with a noticeable limp.

His face stirred a strange, nagging familiarity in me—like someone I almost recognized but couldn’t quite place.

I paused mid-step.

And right at that moment, our eyes met.

“Uh… Hello.”

“Hmph.”

I offered an awkward greeting.

The old man immediately frowned, his displeasure plain.

Then, in a sharp, gruff voice filled with disdain, he barked—

“So it’s you?”

“……”

“The commoner girl who’s been clinging to my grandchildren like a leech?”