[Do not open this letter to others. I am not responsible for any damage that may occur if someone else reads this letter.
In front of Judith Harrington. ]
Judith looked over the mysterious letter that had been sent to her and shook it. Fortunately, there seemed to be nothing else inside the envelope besides the letter itself.
Just in case, Judith opened the back door of the store, went outside, and opened the envelope.
[ I know Tia is staying there. If you don't send Tia back, I will let the people know that the Shartins are involved in making incense. ]
Even without the sender's name, the first sentence alone would have been enough to tell who had sent it. The only person who knew that Tia lived with Judith was the priest.
[ If you want to protect Tia, give me the secret recipe for the incense.
Where is this merciful threat, giving me two choices? If you give me the secret of Tia, I will swear on blood that I will not spread rumors.
If you are willing to negotiate, hang a yellow handkerchief in front of the incense shop by tomorrow morning.
PS. Oh, and I'll also spread a rumor that the incense is made in the cursed mansion. Then business will be booming, right?]
“What is this cheap talk?”
Judith frowned as she looked at the threatening letter that didn't even end its sentences with '-da.'
Judith also used to use the clitoris a lot when she was in the other world, but when he was sending letters, he used words like "there was" and "did"?
“... I guess he's not an author.”
There is no way an author would have written a sentence like this.
“Why, what does it say in the letter?”
When Judith, who had gone out to read a letter, did not come back for a long time, Erne opened the back door and came out.
“What should I do with this?”
Judith handed Erne a letter.
Erne's expression also crumpled after reading the threatening letter. As a medium, you're not sending poison or casting a strange spell, but you're threatening to spread rumors?
“...It’s efficient.”
“That’s why.”
It was a very effective revenge. It was unfortunate, but I guess we have to admit what we have to admit.
Judith sighed as the ground gave way.
I couldn't keep the threatening letter a secret from the godmother and family.
“We caused trouble.”
The godmother couldn't raise her head, feeling ashamed. Tia was so sorry that she didn't know what to do, and none of the other family members dared speak first.
“...Hang up the yellow handkerchief.”
“What are you going to do, Godmother?”
“Tia and I will go back to that guy together.”
Judith's eyes grew wide at her godmother's words.
“I’ll go and cut off his lifeline myself. I'm old and will let his guard down, so I’ll get a chance.”
Tia's expression clearly showed that she did not want to go, but she could not open her mouth because if things continued like this, Judith's business would go down the drain.
“No, Godmother.”
Judith looked at her family members who were too sorry to even look at her.
“If we hold out here, it will be a great blow to Miss Harrington’s business.”
“But the reason the incense business has grown to this point is thanks to everyone here.”
It was thanks to them that they provided cheap labor. If it weren't for them, Judith would have collapsed twelve more times every night while making incense.
“And I can’t trust the priest’s promise.”
“A blood oath is an oath that cannot be broken.”
“There is no need for the priest to spread the rumor. You can ask someone other than the priest to spread the rumor.”
The blood oath was a trap. Even if they sent Tia back or told him the secret recipe for the incense, there was a high chance that rumors would spread.
“I will not comply with the priest’s request. I showed you this letter because I thought everyone should know.”
The moment the rumor gets out, the business falters. Then, income decreased, and when income decreased, the salary to pay to family members and living expenses also decreased.
“I hope you can overcome it.”
Judith patted Tia's shoulder, who still couldn't meet her eyes due to her guilt. Then Tia burst into tears. Judith comforted her briefly and then went over to the bedroom.
“Are you okay?”
Erne, who had been watching Judith from the beginning, was very worried about how she was doing business.
Priest, this son of a bitch is messing with business. It's better than messing with life, but business was as important as life to Judith.
“It would be okay if I caught the priest in front of the store tomorrow.”
On their way to the mansion after receiving the letter, they stopped by the Marquis of Mosley. Whether the yellow handkerchief was hanging or not, the priest would have to come and check.
It was not known whether the priest would come in person or send someone else, but the plan was to deploy a large number of plainclothes security guards around the store.
“You said that if anyone does something suspicious, even if they are imperial, they will be arrested, so I have no choice but to believe you.”
Because there may be another imperialist like Chief Omar within the capital who can help the followers.
Even if I didn't find the suspicious person in front of the store tomorrow, I had another plan.
“If I hang up a yellow handkerchief, won’t someone contact me in some way?”
Judith planned to keep in touch with the priest and track him down.
“If the tail is long, it will get stepped on.”
A long tail is bound to get stepped on.
Judith realized a beat too late that Shadin knew that proverb too.
The next day, Judith hung a yellow handkerchief in front of the candle shop. But the priest did not respond at all.
“Did you know I had the soldiers stationed there? Or are you just toying with me, what is it?”
The priest, without any notice, spread a rumor that Judith was using the Shartins to make incense.
Judith was confused, not knowing how the rumor had spread or why the letter had been sent.
“Is it true, Miss Harrington, that the Shartins make incense?”
“...Yes, that’s right.”
“Why would such a rumor come out at a time like this? I heard you still have a lot of debt left, so how nice.”
Perhaps because she had shared her secret, Layla did not ignore Judith. She continued to order the same amount of incense.
Not only Layla but also several regulars, especially those who had no particular animosity toward the Shartins, continued to purchase incense.
However, most people considered anything touched by the Shartins to be ominous. It was also at a time when the Shartins were planning a rebellion and resentment against them was at an all-time high.
Refunds for new products were common. There were even people who brought in used incense and asked for their money back because it was dirty and unusable.
The business took a nosedive sooner than Judith had expected.
“...Gyah! Why are you doing that?”
As she sat in the shop, lost in thought, she heard Ryan screaming outside. Judith, Erne, and Henry ran out at the same time.
“Ryan!”
Ryan, who went out to sweep the floor in front of the store, looked like a rat that had been drenched in rain. In front of Ryan, the owner of the store next door was grumbling while holding a bucket.
“Hey, what are you doing?”
“Because of you guys, I can’t do business either. Do you think I’m the only one? All the owners in this alley just suck their thumbs.”
“Does that make sense? Why are you blaming us for something that just isn’t working out?”
Judith brought the wet Ryan inside and rolled up her sleeves.
As Henry and Erne tried to block Judith, the owner of the store next door hesitated and retreated into his store.
“Oh my, what should I do if there isn’t even a single fly?”
As the shopkeeper next door disappeared, Judith placed her hand on Smith's forehead as he appeared quietly. She could clearly feel the priest's malice as if he was trying to completely cut off her livelihood.
“Are you going to pay me this month’s interest?”
“Don’t worry, Mr. Smith, I’ll figure it out somehow.”
“I know you are very capable, Countess. But who knew you could bring in the Shartins and put them to work?”
Smith said, stroking his matted beard as if he had just come from somewhere rich.
“If you feel like your business isn’t going well, I came to you to offer you some work.”
“What’s the job?”
No, you're saying you didn't come here to get money? You're saying you came here to show me how to make money?
“Son, this mother is truly touched.”
As Judith looked at him with moist eyes, Smith hesitated and stepped back, feeling burdened.
“Hey, how about you put aside the word ‘son’ and come under me?”
"Yes?"
Now, I've been scouted by loan sharks. Judith was shocked, but not offended. It was like she felt recognized somehow.
But wait, money I didn't receive? I have money I didn't receive, too.
In front of Judith Harrington. ]
Judith looked over the mysterious letter that had been sent to her and shook it. Fortunately, there seemed to be nothing else inside the envelope besides the letter itself.
Just in case, Judith opened the back door of the store, went outside, and opened the envelope.
[ I know Tia is staying there. If you don't send Tia back, I will let the people know that the Shartins are involved in making incense. ]
Even without the sender's name, the first sentence alone would have been enough to tell who had sent it. The only person who knew that Tia lived with Judith was the priest.
[ If you want to protect Tia, give me the secret recipe for the incense.
Where is this merciful threat, giving me two choices? If you give me the secret of Tia, I will swear on blood that I will not spread rumors.
If you are willing to negotiate, hang a yellow handkerchief in front of the incense shop by tomorrow morning.
PS. Oh, and I'll also spread a rumor that the incense is made in the cursed mansion. Then business will be booming, right?]
“What is this cheap talk?”
Judith frowned as she looked at the threatening letter that didn't even end its sentences with '-da.'
Judith also used to use the clitoris a lot when she was in the other world, but when he was sending letters, he used words like "there was" and "did"?
“... I guess he's not an author.”
There is no way an author would have written a sentence like this.
“Why, what does it say in the letter?”
When Judith, who had gone out to read a letter, did not come back for a long time, Erne opened the back door and came out.
“What should I do with this?”
Judith handed Erne a letter.
Erne's expression also crumpled after reading the threatening letter. As a medium, you're not sending poison or casting a strange spell, but you're threatening to spread rumors?
“...It’s efficient.”
“That’s why.”
It was a very effective revenge. It was unfortunate, but I guess we have to admit what we have to admit.
Judith sighed as the ground gave way.
***
I couldn't keep the threatening letter a secret from the godmother and family.
“We caused trouble.”
The godmother couldn't raise her head, feeling ashamed. Tia was so sorry that she didn't know what to do, and none of the other family members dared speak first.
“...Hang up the yellow handkerchief.”
“What are you going to do, Godmother?”
“Tia and I will go back to that guy together.”
Judith's eyes grew wide at her godmother's words.
“I’ll go and cut off his lifeline myself. I'm old and will let his guard down, so I’ll get a chance.”
Tia's expression clearly showed that she did not want to go, but she could not open her mouth because if things continued like this, Judith's business would go down the drain.
“No, Godmother.”
Judith looked at her family members who were too sorry to even look at her.
“If we hold out here, it will be a great blow to Miss Harrington’s business.”
“But the reason the incense business has grown to this point is thanks to everyone here.”
It was thanks to them that they provided cheap labor. If it weren't for them, Judith would have collapsed twelve more times every night while making incense.
“And I can’t trust the priest’s promise.”
“A blood oath is an oath that cannot be broken.”
“There is no need for the priest to spread the rumor. You can ask someone other than the priest to spread the rumor.”
The blood oath was a trap. Even if they sent Tia back or told him the secret recipe for the incense, there was a high chance that rumors would spread.
“I will not comply with the priest’s request. I showed you this letter because I thought everyone should know.”
The moment the rumor gets out, the business falters. Then, income decreased, and when income decreased, the salary to pay to family members and living expenses also decreased.
“I hope you can overcome it.”
Judith patted Tia's shoulder, who still couldn't meet her eyes due to her guilt. Then Tia burst into tears. Judith comforted her briefly and then went over to the bedroom.
“Are you okay?”
Erne, who had been watching Judith from the beginning, was very worried about how she was doing business.
Priest, this son of a bitch is messing with business. It's better than messing with life, but business was as important as life to Judith.
“It would be okay if I caught the priest in front of the store tomorrow.”
On their way to the mansion after receiving the letter, they stopped by the Marquis of Mosley. Whether the yellow handkerchief was hanging or not, the priest would have to come and check.
It was not known whether the priest would come in person or send someone else, but the plan was to deploy a large number of plainclothes security guards around the store.
“You said that if anyone does something suspicious, even if they are imperial, they will be arrested, so I have no choice but to believe you.”
Because there may be another imperialist like Chief Omar within the capital who can help the followers.
Even if I didn't find the suspicious person in front of the store tomorrow, I had another plan.
“If I hang up a yellow handkerchief, won’t someone contact me in some way?”
Judith planned to keep in touch with the priest and track him down.
“If the tail is long, it will get stepped on.”
***
A long tail is bound to get stepped on.
Judith realized a beat too late that Shadin knew that proverb too.
The next day, Judith hung a yellow handkerchief in front of the candle shop. But the priest did not respond at all.
“Did you know I had the soldiers stationed there? Or are you just toying with me, what is it?”
The priest, without any notice, spread a rumor that Judith was using the Shartins to make incense.
Judith was confused, not knowing how the rumor had spread or why the letter had been sent.
“Is it true, Miss Harrington, that the Shartins make incense?”
“...Yes, that’s right.”
“Why would such a rumor come out at a time like this? I heard you still have a lot of debt left, so how nice.”
Perhaps because she had shared her secret, Layla did not ignore Judith. She continued to order the same amount of incense.
Not only Layla but also several regulars, especially those who had no particular animosity toward the Shartins, continued to purchase incense.
However, most people considered anything touched by the Shartins to be ominous. It was also at a time when the Shartins were planning a rebellion and resentment against them was at an all-time high.
Refunds for new products were common. There were even people who brought in used incense and asked for their money back because it was dirty and unusable.
The business took a nosedive sooner than Judith had expected.
“...Gyah! Why are you doing that?”
As she sat in the shop, lost in thought, she heard Ryan screaming outside. Judith, Erne, and Henry ran out at the same time.
“Ryan!”
Ryan, who went out to sweep the floor in front of the store, looked like a rat that had been drenched in rain. In front of Ryan, the owner of the store next door was grumbling while holding a bucket.
“Hey, what are you doing?”
“Because of you guys, I can’t do business either. Do you think I’m the only one? All the owners in this alley just suck their thumbs.”
“Does that make sense? Why are you blaming us for something that just isn’t working out?”
Judith brought the wet Ryan inside and rolled up her sleeves.
As Henry and Erne tried to block Judith, the owner of the store next door hesitated and retreated into his store.
“Oh my, what should I do if there isn’t even a single fly?”
As the shopkeeper next door disappeared, Judith placed her hand on Smith's forehead as he appeared quietly. She could clearly feel the priest's malice as if he was trying to completely cut off her livelihood.
“Are you going to pay me this month’s interest?”
“Don’t worry, Mr. Smith, I’ll figure it out somehow.”
“I know you are very capable, Countess. But who knew you could bring in the Shartins and put them to work?”
Smith said, stroking his matted beard as if he had just come from somewhere rich.
“If you feel like your business isn’t going well, I came to you to offer you some work.”
“What’s the job?”
No, you're saying you didn't come here to get money? You're saying you came here to show me how to make money?
“Son, this mother is truly touched.”
As Judith looked at him with moist eyes, Smith hesitated and stepped back, feeling burdened.
“Hey, how about you put aside the word ‘son’ and come under me?”
"Yes?"
“I'll give you 1% on top of that if you bring me the money you didn't get. I think you're very good at this.”
But wait, money I didn't receive? I have money I didn't receive, too.
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