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“Th-that’s…”
The Countess of Eland’s face turned pale as she met the hardened gaze of Sub-Baron Evit. She clearly hadn’t expected this situation, and her flustered expression gave her away. As she bit her lip nervously, I glanced around the café.
The atmosphere had shifted. Just moments ago, suspicion had been brewing against us, but now all eyes, once focused on the countess, had turned toward Sub-Baron Evit.
It was he who had turned the tide, which had nearly tipped in the countess’s favor. His calm and measured response had worked brilliantly.
“Countess Eland.”
His expression remained firm as his voice dropped lower than before, calling her name. Taking a step closer, he made her flinch and lean back ever so slightly. Supported by her maid, the countess looked at him with a tense face.
“These tea leaves in the glass jar have been determined not to be products we sell. I regret to inform you, but we must decline your request for a refund. Furthermore, the compensation you demanded for physical and psychological damages does not meet the conditions, so we cannot provide it.”
“……”
“It seems your business here has been concluded. Do you have anything else to say?”
Of course not. She had already shown her hand. The Countess of Eland had no more cards to play. She couldn’t have imagined things would end up this way. Confident in Marquess Even’s backing, she had boldly marched into enemy territory, only to find it so solidly prepared.
It must feel like she had been struck on the back of the head. She had thought she was dealing with a nobody, only to find that “nobody” thoroughly ready to counter her.
She must have underestimated Sub-Baron Evit that much.
It was easy to see the extent of their thinking and preparation. Sending the countess alone this time must have been a test, a way to gauge both Evit and the capital branch before launching a full-scale move.
Even if the countess backed down here, only Lucius, Evit, and I would know she acted under Marquess Even’s orders. When today’s events spread, the likely outcome would be nothing more than a dent in her reputation, dismissed as a petty scandal. No one would guess the marquess was behind her.
So that’s why he sent the countess first.
If Even could commission counterfeit goods of such precision, it wouldn’t be difficult for him to replicate the café’s products and release them under a new brand. Even if this café failed, he could renovate and reopen with imitations at any time.
But the fact that he hadn’t already done so showed he had the mind of a shrewd businessman. He wasn’t chasing quick profits; he wanted maximum gains in any field he entered.
A copycat café might draw attention and even profit at first, but a counterfeit is always just that—a counterfeit. It can’t truly surpass the original.
Evit wouldn’t allow it to go unchecked either. No matter how close the imitation, it could never replicate the true flavor. In the end, it wouldn’t succeed.
Even had likely thought all of this through and used today as a way to test the waters, to see just how prepared Evit really was.
From the start, he wanted everything Evit had created—his products, his skills, his techniques. He had recognized Evit’s talents long before I had. Would such a man really be satisfied selling second-rate copies?
Hardly. Once burned, he wouldn’t take such risks lightly. If I were in his position, I’d do everything in my power to secure first place—whether through sabotage, persuasion, or threats.
After today, the countess will report back to the marquess. She’ll tell him this opponent won’t be easy. And based on that, he’ll revise his plans and try again.
It might turn into a long battle. Lucius had warned me of that, so I wasn’t unprepared. But it was striking to see just how adept Marquess Even was at strategy. If he lived in modern times, he could have run a major corporation.
“If you have nothing more to say, may I ask you one question?”
Sub-Baron Evit addressed the silent countess. She clenched her parasol tighter, clearly wanting to escape this place immediately.
“…What is it?”
“Where did you acquire this product you brought here?”
“Th-that…”
“Considering you only purchased our tea a week ago, this counterfeit seems to have taken considerable effort. It’s impossible to create something like this in just a week. Which means someone handed you this imitation and instructed you to slander our café through such underhanded means…”
“No! Absolutely not! That never happened!”
Startled by his words, the countess shouted. Strong denial often signals strong truth. Her face stiff, she suddenly changed her tone and declared:
“This was all me—entirely my doing. I couldn’t stand seeing a lowly nobody like you being the center of attention, so I secretly obtained some leaves and made a fake.”
“So your purchase of the genuine article last week was to give your story legitimacy.”
“Yes. I hated seeing you—a mere sub-baron, not even a true noble—getting praised and admired over nothing more than a jar of tea leaves. That’s all there was to it.”
“Was that truly all there was to it?”
“Yes.”
Her firm reply carried no hesitation. For her to suddenly confess like this—who exactly was she protecting? Claiming it was nothing more than petty jealousy was a transparent attempt to cover someone else.
So she pinned it all on envy, to prevent Evit from pressing the point that someone was behind her.
It wasn’t a baseless move. It happened often enough—high-ranking nobles resenting the rise of lesser ones and lashing out. As an upper noble, she could simply say she disliked a lower noble like Evit and sought to harm him. Flimsy, but plausible.
But admitting it outright like that will ruin her reputation…
Yet despite that, she chose to shield Marquess Even, sacrificing her own standing to protect him. A surprising show of loyalty.
I wasn’t the only one struck by her choice—Evit’s eyes briefly changed as he looked at her. Though tense, she didn’t avoid his gaze. After a long sigh, he spoke.
“As a lower noble, I’ve endured many injustices. Scorn, ridicule, the envy of people like you—those were all familiar to me. I endured because I had no power to resist. But things are different now.”
Holding the jar of counterfeit petals in one hand and the jar of genuine petals in the other, his eyes glimmered as he looked between them. Gripping the real jar, he stole a quick glance at me, almost imperceptible, but enough for me to understand what he meant.
“My café and its products are so precious to me that I would stake my life on them. For the person who gave me the chance to fulfill a dream I never thought possible, I will no longer remain silent.”
“……”
“Countess Eland, the one you sought to harm today with your base jealousy was not only me. You also harmed everyone who has helped and supported me. And above all, you wounded the heart of a child who cherishes the flowers she raises.”
“A child…?”
“I speak of the survivor of the fire in Sinadelli. The Blue Rose Tea we sell at our capital branch is no ordinary tea. It is a special flower tea made from the blue roses raised by that child who survived the tragedy.”
“…!”
Clatter!
“Milady…!”
The parasol slipped from the countess’s hands at his words. She wasn’t the only one shocked. The café erupted with murmurs once more.
“The Sinadelli fire—that was the one…”
“They said the survivors were all orphans with heartbreaking stories.”
“And even after all that, a child managed to grow flowers so diligently? Incredible. And to turn those flowers into tea—Sub-Baron Evit must be an extraordinary man as well.”
“Then perhaps these blue roses decorating the café were grown by that child, too?”
The café was filled with many flowers, but none more prominent than the blue roses. Rina’s roses were not only brewed into tea but also used beautifully as decorations.
All of it was Evit’s way of caring—for Rina, for me. His efforts spread her wonderful flowers in many ways.
I was right about him from the start.
A man who worked tirelessly with conviction and passion. A man who knew how to care for others. He was more than worthy to be our first patron.
As murmurs spread, Evit turned his gaze back to the countess. Propped up by her maid, she seemed barely able to stand. Slowly, he spoke again.
“I didn’t wish to escalate this matter, out of respect for your position. But I cannot overlook it.”
“……”
“I will be filing a formal complaint with the Imperial Judiciary for obstruction of business and defamation against our branch, as well as for all your other actions today.”
His decisive words struck like a hammer, and the Countess of Eland collapsed to the floor.
