SOLIRF~22

Chapter 22

The Gossip Lady

After that day, the atmosphere at home changed completely.

I started selling the gifts that didn’t suit me—clothes in colors or designs that weren’t my style—and used the money to cover our living expenses. Even so, there were still piles of outfits I hadn’t worn yet. To be honest, our house was so small that I sold some of them just because there was nowhere to store them.

“The bread’s so soft!”

“There’s so much meat swimming in the soup!”

“Can I have seconds?”

Watching the three of them eat until their cheeks puffed up made me smile without realizing it. As a true K-office worker, I could never stand skipping meals or eating poorly.

Juliana and Rio are still growing—they need to eat well.

I even pitched in for Rio’s medical bills. That should buy us enough time until we find a proper treatment. The rest of the money, I planned to invest in a little side business.



On the weekend, I gave up sleeping in and headed early to the Information Guild.

There, I looked for a small office space I could use—somewhere safe, quiet, and discreet. True to their reputation, the guild didn’t ask any questions. They just provided the listings right away.

It’s not like I’m moving in, so I’ll just find a decent place and sign quickly.

After touring a few options with a guild employee, I chose a clean, modest space and signed the contract that same day. Then I spent all the gemstones I’d received as a bonus on furniture and basic interior decor.

“Do you need a signboard?” the guild worker asked, knowing I was setting up for a side business.

I shook my head. “No. I won’t be putting one up.”

“Then how will people find you?”

“They’ll find me… through the right people.”

Unless absolutely necessary, I wasn’t planning to tell anyone what kind of work I’d be doing. I’d spread word of my services quietly, through rumors circulated by the Information Guild.

“Here’s your contract,” the employee said.

As I signed, a flicker of doubt passed through my mind. What if this fails? But I calmed myself with a bit of self-justification.

Unexpected money should be spent quickly anyway.

Better to use it little by little than hoard it until it disappears on nothing important.

I silently wished that my new business—my own business—would begin smoothly next week.



“Cheers!”

Our next stop was a popular beer bar near Daijo.

It was a farewell party that Pinea and Nicola insisted on hosting, saying we’d never properly celebrated. I tried to refuse, but of course, they wouldn’t hear of it.

“Ahh—!”

The first sip of cold beer coursed down my throat, spreading that crisp, tingling sensation through my chest and stomach. After spending all morning hunting for office space and overthinking everything, it felt like every bit of stress had finally melted away.

“I didn’t think you’d come too, Senior Yul,” I said, surprised to see him there.

“The department head, the aide, and even Gemini wanted to come, but they’ve been slammed since the Black Diamond launch,” he said with a grin. “So I came as their representative. The department head’s been worried about how you’re doing. How’s the Marquisate treating you?”

“Yeah, we’re curious too,” Pinea added, her eyes sparkling.

Images flashed through my mind—my unusual boss and the trash from the other departments—but I held back. This wasn’t the place to talk about them.

“It hasn’t been long since I started, but I’m doing fine,” I said casually.

“They say you accepted some ridiculous terms,” Yul remarked. “The rumor’s all over the upper circles.”

I simply shrugged. Of course they wouldn’t understand.

“That’s why I’m working hard,” I replied. “If I slip up even a little, I could be fired on the spot.”

He chuckled. “As long as you don’t offend her, you’ll be fine. The Marquis isn’t the type to throw tantrums. Though… it all depends on how you handle her. Honestly, even I’m not sure.”

It wasn’t a secretive place, and we weren’t exactly lifelong friends, so gossiping about my employer here would be foolish. Especially when that employer was a high-ranking noble who could literally have me executed.

I quickly changed the subject. “How’s the company doing lately?”

“Booming,” Yul replied proudly. “Thanks to you. Black Diamond products keep selling well—we’re even planning to open more stores.”

“Let me know when the next product line comes out. I’ll need to report it to my lady.”

“Of course. Having a direct line to her through you is a big help.”

For some reason, Yul felt extra reliable today.

After that, I complimented the Black Diamond cosmetics the management department had gifted me and the fountain pen Nicola’s superior had given me. Then, ever so subtly, I suggested they add an eraser function to the pen. Nicola laughed and promised to pass the idea along.

If that launches, I’ll be the first to buy one.

The conversation flowed easily after that, filled with updates and laughter.

“Right! Coco, I have something to show you.”

Pinea pulled a thin magazine from her bag and handed it to me.

“What’s this?”

“It’s a noble ladies’ magazine—called The Gossip Lady.”

“The… Gossip Lady?”

The name instantly reminded me of a drama I used to binge. I didn’t need her to explain what kind of publication this was.

“You need to know social news,” she said. “I thought it might help. It’s technically a noble gossip mag, but plenty of rich commoners read it too. It’s fun. I’m sure the Marquis’s daughter knows about it, but she probably wouldn’t hand it to you herself. The content’s… not exactly flattering.”

“What do you mean?”

I flipped through the pages. The first thing that caught my eye was a huge headline.

‘Duke Vespera Promoted to Youngest Supreme Judge — Who Can Stand in His Way?’

It was a short article, only a silhouette illustration of a man in black, but it occupied the entire front page.

“Promoted to Supreme Judge at twenty-six? That’s insane.”

Apparently, there was a very impressive noble out there.

“That’s not all,” Pinea added knowingly. “He’s the son of Grand Duke Fortuna—heir to the duchy—and he earned his own ducal title for his military achievements. Then, by imperial command, he joined the Ministry of Justice, and just two years later, he rose to the top position.”

“A total cheat character,” I muttered.

Too many accomplishments for pure nepotism.

“They say he rarely appears in society,” she continued, “so there aren’t any proper portraits of him. But rumor has it… he’s incredibly handsome.”

“You seem to know a lot,” I teased.

Pinea flushed slightly and coughed. “Well, being in the External Affairs Department, I hear all kinds of things! Gossip is… kind of my hobby. It keeps me entertained. Anyway, he’s the most popular man in the Empire right now.”

I could believe that. On paper, he sounded perfect.

“Too perfect to feel real,” I said.

“Yeah, tell me about it. But the page I really want you to see is the next one.”

When I turned the page, my jaw almost dropped.

‘The Marquis’s Wicked Lady — Bending the Trading Company to Her Whims!’

The article accused Lady Chiara of bullying employees and forcing the release of the Black Diamond line. It even claimed an innocent worker had been fired because of her.

Well… maybe about 80% of that’s true.

They just got the details wrong. She had ordered the business to succeed, but not forced that product specifically. And the “innocent” employee? He’d been justly punished without her involvement.

“The tone’s pretty negative,” I said.

Pinea nodded. “Yeah. I actually suspect that bastard Bator gave them the story.”

“Sounds likely.”

“And apparently this isn’t the first time. She’s constantly showing up in The Gossip Lady as some kind of villainess.”

According to Pinea, there were stories of her dumping drinks on other ladies, insulting them, even slapping someone across the face.

Nicola shuddered beside me. “Coco… are you sure it’s safe working there?”

“Of course. Nothing like that’s happened so far.”

I handed him another snack to calm him down, though inwardly I thought, At least she hasn’t tried poisoning anyone.

As long as it stopped short of murder, I could accept an eccentric boss. If you’d seen the dramas I had, this was nothing.

Still, she didn’t seem like someone who’d do such things without reason. What had actually happened?

“My boss sure has a lot of enemies,” I murmured.

Now I understood why she needed a capable aide.

I thanked Pinea for the valuable intel and tucked The Gossip Lady carefully into my bag. Yul’s tidbit from earlier, I made sure to file away mentally for later use.



“Hey there, newbie.”

Newbie?

First thing in the morning, I was greeted by a face I’d hoped never to see again.

“If you’re working at the Marquis’s estate, you should come greet me first. It’s only proper, right?”

You’ve got to be kidding me.

Bator’s greasy smile glistened under the morning light as he strutted closer.

“When newbies come in, they should be polite to their seniors,” he said smugly. “You’re still young, so if you just do as I say, you’ll go far. Don’t worry. You probably don’t understand how things work here—commoners usually don’t—so I’m giving you time to adjust.”

“Oh, really.”

I gave him the blank, dead-eyed stare of a frozen fish.

It must’ve rattled him a little because he puffed up his chest. “If there’s anything you don’t know, I’ll kindly teach you. Just ask. Oh, and when you come in each morning, bring me some tea. It’s polite to greet your seniors, right?”

“…What?”

I wasn’t sure I’d heard him correctly, but he repeated it, smiling.

“Tea tastes better when a woman makes it.”

You. Death sentence.

I smiled sweetly, my mind already delivering the verdict.