IPBPBD 29

Chapter 29

They didn’t even bother to make the simplest effort to verify her identity and instead were busy trying to deceive Emilina.

“…This isn’t a forged seal. These are documents notarized by Baron Klein’s family. You’d realize that quickly if you checked, wouldn’t you?”

“Then why insist on selling anonymously? To me, it sounds like you’re plotting something shady.”

“Must I explain my personal circumstances too?”

“I ask because we can’t trust you. Your very intentions in coming here are suspicious.”

“Anonymous selling isn’t even illegal, yet you’re treating me like a criminal.”

“Ahem. That depends on the situation, doesn’t it? Unless you’d rather just reveal the recipe. Then we might be inclined to trust you…”

And to top it all off, they had the nerve to suggest they’d “grant her the special favor” of a contract—if she would hand over ownership of the chocolate.

It was an absurd demand.

That was when Emilina realized—this talk of verification was just an excuse.

Plancier had long recognized the value of chocolate and was scheming to steal it, seizing upon the loophole of anonymous sales.

‘Not a chance in hell.’

From her past business failures, Emilina had learned one crucial lesson:

Never trust people blindly.

The moment you showed weakness, what was yours would no longer remain yours.

For that reason, she had only ever made a contract with Pirre Patisserie.

Any shop that had belittled her wasn’t worth dealing with.

Because of that, Pirre had ended up monopolizing chocolate sales, and the other patisseries could only stew in envy.

Some might even be banging their heads against the wall in regret.

As Emilina was lost in those thoughts, a faint smile tugging at her lips, Merlin muttered with mild disappointment:

“So, you are open to working with someone else…”

“No one can predict the future, after all,” Emilina replied coolly.

In truth, the chances were slim.

The well-known patisseries had already failed in negotiations, and Pirre offered her excellent terms. Unless someone presented an even better deal, she had no reason to seek them out.

But Merlin seemed to think differently. He asked carefully,

“By chance… are you planning to open your own shop?”

“If I had any intention of opening a shop, I wouldn’t have sought you out, Merlin. And I wouldn’t need to reveal the chocolate at all.”

“…Fair point.”

“Don’t worry too much. Unless something unusual happens, I plan to leave it in your care.”

At her calm reassurance, Merlin brightened.

“That’s good to hear. But why really not open a shop? If Madame Emilie’s desserts went on sale, I’m sure they’d sell splendidly.”

“Madame Emilie” was the pseudonym Emilina had used for chocolate sales.

It was a name she’d given without much thought when Merlin had asked how he should address her at the time of their contract.

‘Back then, I almost blurted out my real name…’

It would’ve defeated the whole point of selling anonymously.

Fortunately, “Emilie” was such a common name that no one would easily guess her true identity.

“I have personal reasons. Besides, wasn’t it part of our contract not to ask about my circumstances?”

When Emilina pulled her hood lower and reminded him of the contract, Merlin apologized sheepishly.

“Sorry if I offended you. I was just curious.”

“Please be more careful next time.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

She was about to end the conversation when Merlin glanced around cautiously and lowered his voice.

“But Madame Emilie… it would be wise to stay careful for a while. There are bad rumors going around about the chocolate.”

“Bad rumors?” Emilina tilted her head, puzzled.

With a sigh, Merlin explained.

“It’s obvious, isn’t it? Out of jealousy, other shops have started spreading things. These days, you’d be hard-pressed to find a shop that doesn’t wish they sold chocolate.”

“But this is the only place that does.”

“That’s exactly the problem. Most customers come here solely for the chocolate. To other shopkeepers, it feels like their customers were stolen.”

Merlin sighed again.

“Remember how I said more and more people are asking for chocolate? That also means complaints are piling up. Do you see the connection?”

“Complaints… and rumors? What do you mean?” Emilina asked, uneasy.

Merlin nodded gravely.

“Yes. That’s the root of the rumors.”

“What kind of rumors are we talking about?”

“Perhaps you’ve noticed—anyone who tastes chocolate once always comes back to buy more. They say they can’t forget the taste, that they crave it like an addiction.”

“For those with a sweet tooth, it is an irresistible dessert,” Emilina admitted.

“The problem is, it’s not just one or two people. And since supply is limited, disputes break out. Customers outbid one another as a matter of course.”

“…That sounds like a gross exaggeration,” Emilina said, startled.

She had never imagined the extra fees were due to such behind-the-scenes squabbling.

‘Still, fighting over it seems ridiculous…’

To brawl over a piece of chocolate was beyond her comprehension.

She knew chocolate was delicious, but not to the point of madness.

Merlin wasn’t done.

“If that were all, it would be fine. But some who fail to buy it start making a scene. The worst are the nobles.”

Merlin’s face twisted in weariness.

And rightly so—dealing with difficult nobles was no easy matter.

Even the shrewdest merchant would be powerless if a noble threw around their rank.

“That’s serious,” Emilina muttered.

“Exactly. They act like addicts—obsessing, fighting to have it, and turning violent if they can’t. Don’t you recognize the pattern?”

“…Surely you don’t mean—” Emilina’s eyes widened.

“Are you saying there’s something in my chocolate?”

“That’s what the rumor claims.”

“That’s absurd! Why would I ever do such a thing? This is slander!” Emilina snapped, raising her voice in rare agitation.

Merlin lifted his hands as if to calm her.

“I believe you, of course. I’ve seen enough of you to know better.”

He leaned in, speaking carefully.

“But it seems like the rumors are being spread intentionally—by people who want the recipe. As soon as customers started voicing doubts, those rivals began demanding you reveal the method of production.”

“…And if I don’t, they’ll spread it further as if it were true.”

It was a painfully transparent scheme.

The only “definitive” refutation would be revealing the recipe—exactly what the schemers wanted.

Merlin nodded.

“Right. They say if you’ve added nothing, you should have no reason to hide the recipe. It’s a ploy so obvious you can practically see through it.”

“What do you want me to do?” Emilina asked quietly.

“Well… let me ask outright. Do you have any intention of disclosing the recipe? It’s the surest way to silence the rumors.”

“The thought makes me furious—I can’t even consider it,” she said bitterly.

Half of it was pride, half stubbornness.

Still, she surprised herself. She had never realized how vindictive she could be.

‘Maybe I’ve just been betrayed too many times…’

Her distrust of people only grew deeper.

It was why she never hired staff, no matter how much she struggled alone—because she feared they’d betray her for money.

She knew all too well how easily loyalty could be discarded in the face of profit.

And as a powerless noble herself, she was the perfect target.

Especially if she possessed something valuable like jewels—people would find ways to get close and take it.

That was why she’d turned to anonymous sales in the first place.

But she hadn’t expected others to twist even that against her.

Emilina admitted to herself that she’d been naïve.

Anything of value would always be coveted. Greedy men would inevitably try to seize it.

“That being the case, it would be better if you didn’t come to the shop until we find a way to counter this.”

“…Are you suggesting we stop selling chocolate?”

“No. That’s exactly what they want, so we won’t. And besides, the chocolate doesn’t contain anything harmful, right?”

“Of course not.”

“Then there’s no problem. I’ll handle the customers. For now, let’s just change the place where we meet. I’ll send someone to you directly.”

“Why go to such lengths?” Emilina asked, frowning.

If they weren’t stopping sales, why forbid her from coming to the shop?

Merlin’s expression turned grave.

“…For your safety. Since these rumors began, I’ve heard there are people looking for you directly.”