-68-
“Did you all hear that just now?”
“Did she just say ‘a crime’?”
“What does that mean? Is she accusing the Viscountess of Huizet’s family of committing a crime?”
At Angelica’s words, the previously quiet crowd began to murmur. The sudden statement threw the young ladies and noblewomen into confusion. Lady Huizet, who had been standing with a flustered face, looked around nervously and shouted.
“What nonsense! Are you saying our family stole Count Werner’s techniques?”
“Isn’t that the case? Your family copied our business from the very beginning, didn’t you?”
“Ha! Are you bragging just because you started first? True, our family was later to the business, but we never directly copied the Werners’ ventures!”
“Really? Then how do you explain the near-identical timing of product releases, the designs, the marketing strategies? Everything overlaps suspiciously.”
Seeing Lady Huizet raising her voice, Angelica gave a subtle glance to the maid standing on her left. The maid quickly handed her a stack of papers.
“Our family launches new products every two months, always on the 24th. But the Huizets? Also every two months—on the 25th. Just one day apart.”
“We release products on the date that best fits the item. What’s wrong with that?”
“Nothing—if the products weren’t always nearly identical to ours.”
Flipping through the thick documents, Angelica pointed out each case.
“Last year, we launched a limited spring teacup set. The very next day, the Huizets released a nearly identical set, only with slightly different floral patterns. In autumn, we introduced a leaf-themed dishware set. The next day, yours appeared, just in a different color but otherwise identical. And in winter, after we released a snowflake-themed teacup and dish set, you launched the exact same design—just hours later—at a cheaper price.”
“……”
“Even your promotions mirrored ours. The free gifts you included with purchases were exactly the same, and when reactions were lukewarm, you simply increased the number of gifts. Customers were naturally drawn away by the cheaper price, even though they were getting the same design and same freebies.”
Turning to the last page, Angelica signaled again. This time, the maid and a servant lifted several boxes from the ground and opened them. Inside were sets of teacups and dishware—two of each design, placed side by side.
“On the left are our family’s products. On the right are those from the Huizets. Look closely—you’ll see the truth. Every single one was deliberately copied.”
The maids and servants moved among the guests, showing the items more clearly. The noblewomen and young ladies, curiosity outweighing hesitation, crowded around.
“Oh my, they really are identical. Not just similar—identical.”
“Ah, this is the teacup I bought! I thought it looked slightly different from the catalog, but it turns out it was a Huizet product…”
“No matter how cheap, this is shameless. To mimic the design, and even the freebies, so blatantly…”
Amid the commotion, Alexandra and I stepped forward to inspect the sets.
“Good heavens… it’s this bad?”
“Astonishing. This isn’t mere coincidence—this is outright theft of Count Werner’s craft.”
None of the products were unique. Only minor differences in color or pattern distinguished them, and to the untrained eye, they looked like items from the same workshop. With even the promotional gifts identical, the truth was undeniable.
And yet they were never punished…
Of course. Just like in the modern world, counterfeits could be obvious, but without proper laws, no action could be taken. And since this was a noble family’s business, authorities likely looked the other way.
“With these documents, you can confirm it yourselves,” Angelica said.
At her order, maids distributed thick bundles of evidence. Page after page showed detailed comparisons. The more people read, the more their brows furrowed.
“Every release date really is just one day apart.”
“Even the product names are nearly the same. Just rearranged words, or swapped out one or two.”
“And the slogans… almost identical. You’d think they were from the same brand.”
The resemblance was overwhelming. Aside from quality, which only experts could judge, the products were indistinguishable. No wonder customers confused one family’s products for the other’s.
And of the two, Count Werner’s name carried far greater prestige. Many must have unknowingly judged Huizet products as Werner’s, giving Huizet undeserved reputation.
“In other words,” Angelica concluded firmly, “the Huizets not only stole our family’s techniques, they exploited the very image of our name for their gain.”
Her clear voice drew every eye.
“After the refund scandal, our family’s credibility was severely damaged. We realized then these interferences weren’t mere coincidence. So we gathered decisive proof. And that evidence… I will reveal here.”
“W-what evidence?!”
Lady Huizet, gnawing nervously at her thumbnail, suddenly shouted. Ignoring her, Angelica turned toward the garden entrance.
Everyone followed her gaze. A middle-aged man in shabby clothes was being led in by servants.
“……”
“……!”
The haggard man’s eyes met Lady Huizet’s. Her face twisted instantly—an undeniable sign that she knew him.
Angelica, noting her reaction, addressed the man.
“Introduce yourself.”
“…I am Hans, a pottery craftsman.”
“Hans. Two years ago, you were employed as a master craftsman in the Werner household. Correct?”
“Yes.”
“And during those two years, you leaked Werner techniques and information to the Huizets. Is that true?”
“…It is.”
He nodded heavily. Lady Huizet screamed.
“Lies! Where did you dig up this filthy beggar? This is nothing but slander against us—”
“It is not a lie.”
Hans’s gaze, though his body was weak, remained unwavering.
“I was bribed by the Huizets to steal Werner’s business secrets. It was I who passed along the details of the refund scandal’s product, and I who switched its materials—at their command.”
“Y-you—!”
“I abandoned my pride as a craftsman because I needed money. The Huizets promised me vast rewards. But they gave me nothing.”
He steadied his breath, ignoring Lady Huizet’s protests.
“After I fled Werner’s house, they decided I was no longer useful. So they imprisoned me in a hidden place, intending to let me starve to death.”
“No! That’s not true!”
“I betrayed the Werners out of greed. I believed the Huizets’ promise of glory. But all they gave me… was a grave.”
His head drooped as he continued faintly.
“I did not throw away my craft simply to die. Even if confessing now does not absolve me, I wish to expose the hidden truth of the Huizets.”
Tears fell from his eyes as his voice broke. Lady Huizet shrieked in desperation.
“Do you seriously believe the words of this filthy commoner?! It’s all lies! Lies concocted by the Werners to slander us!”
Her voice rose, appealing to the noblewomen. Some looked uneasy—he was, after all, a commoner. She seized on this.
“Can a peasant’s word be considered evidence? Where is the proof that he ever dealt with us?”
“There is proof.”
Angelica’s calm voice cut her off. Lady Huizet stiffened. Angelica stepped closer to Hans, holding out her hand. Hans placed a pendant-like craftsman’s badge with a small jewel in her palm.
“This is the badge we give to our master artisans. Embedded within is a magic stone that records images.”
Indeed, inside the gem glimmered a tiny magical crystal.
“Suspecting foul play, we monitored our artisans with these stones. And in this one, every transaction between Hans and the Huizets was recorded.”
She pressed the jewel, and a projection appeared in the air. Small, but clear enough.
—Remember, Hans. Do this well. Don’t worry about the money. I’ll pay you double the back amount.
—Understood, Lord Huizet.
—The time has come. We will topple the Werners and claim the top position for ourselves.
The image showed a man who appeared to be the Count of Huizet, speaking alongside Hans. His greedy, calculating voice echoed through the garden.
No stronger proof could exist. Lady Huizet’s face went pale as a sheet.
