The Innovator's Husband
From the morning onward, visitors flooded in. To be precise, they were less visitors and more nobles steeped in anxiety.
“Counselor, our family butler handed the warehouse key over to my daughter-in-law. Does this count as impersonating the head of the family?”
“It does not.”
“But there’s a shield engraved with the family crest inside the warehouse.”
“Still no.”
“Then what about operating a private army?”
“It’s warehouse cleaning.”
The noblewoman left with a disappointed expression, and the next guest entered.
“My son-in-law bought drinks for the estate guards.”
“Not operating a private army.”
“But the drinks were expensive.”
“Still not operating a private army.”
“Then can it be grounds for divorce?”
“You cannot divorce your son-in-law.”
“Ah.”
He lowered his head and turned to leave. I spoke up.
“Please pay the consultation fee before you go.”
He handed over the money with an even more disappointed face.
Good. The nobles’ anxiety was irritating, but the consultation fees were honest.
I rubbed my forehead. Ever since the Pearl Mansion incident, the capital’s noble society had collectively lost its mind. No, they had always been crazy. They had simply learned some legal terminology this time.
Preparations for treason. Private Army Operation. Impersonating the head of the family. Estate guard duty.
The nobles tossed these words around like children with a new toy. The problem was that the toy was a blade.
“Senior.”
Cecilia said as she organized documents across the desk.
“This is the sixth request today from someone trying to frame their butler and daughter-in-law for treason.”
“Nobles have always loved words that can kill others.”
“You’re the one who created those words, Senior.”
“I didn’t create them. I discovered them.”
“That’s even worse.”
“Lawyers are, by nature, in the business of discovery. We discover money, discover crimes, discover the opponent’s weaknesses.”
“What about conscience?”
“That’s usually handled as lost property.”
Cecilia let out a sigh.
Over the past few days, Cecilia had naturally taken up residence in my office. There were many official reasons: organizing follow-up documents from the Valoa case, sorting copies of military court rulings, summarizing family court precedents, interpreting Imperial Inspectorate guidelines, and reviewing estate guard contracts. And surprisingly, every single one of them was actually necessary.
What was even more surprising was how well Cecilia handled them. As expected of a junior from the law department, her hands were quick, her handwriting neat, and her organization impeccable. She was competent enough to take over the tasks I hated doing. In short, she was an excellent talent. Especially since she was free.
“I’m not unpaid labor, you know.”
“I haven’t said anything yet.”
“It was written all over your face.”
“Is my face that honest?”
“Only when it comes to money.”
I set down my teacup. This wasn’t good. My junior was too sharp. Especially when she could read my thoughts.
At that moment, Cecilia picked up a newspaper from the corner of the desk.
“Ah, have you seen this?”
“What is it?”
“An article about Lady Persy.”
My hand stopped. Persy. That name had been circling in my head since last night.
Refined Scented Soap. Magic Washing Machine. Pre-order. Monthly payment. These were not terms a noble trading company in this world would normally use. Well, they could use them. But the combination felt far too familiar.
In this world, the things I found familiar were usually connected to my previous life.
“Do you know Lady Persy too, Senior?”
Cecilia’s eyes sparkled.
“I only know the name.”
“Huh? Really? There aren’t many people in the capital who only know Lady Persy by name.”
“The noblewomen I know are mostly parties to divorce suits or witnesses.”
“That just means your personal network is weird, Senior.”
“It’s an occupational hazard. Can’t be helped.”
Cecilia unfolded the newspaper. It was the advertisement page.
「Persy Trading Company New Product Launch」
Refined Scented Soap. A new hygiene habit for noble ladies.
Magic Washing Machine. Become the mistress praised by your servants.
⟨ The Woman Advancing the Empire’s Future ⟩
Beneath it was a portrait of Lady Persy. Bright golden-brown hair. A neat dress. A confident smile. In her hand, she held a small scented soap. Next to it was the tagline.
I stared at that phrase for a long time. The marketing copy was disgustingly modern.
“Is she famous?”
“Incredibly famous.”
Cecilia answered immediately.
“Among noble ladies, she’s practically an idol.”
“Magic Tower technology isn’t something nobles usually get to use easily, right? It’s expensive, complicated, and the mages don’t explain it properly.”
“Mages have always been bad at explaining things. Can’t be helped.”
“You’re like that sometimes too, Senior.”
“I explain things well, though.”
“You explain until the other person starts crying.”
“That means they understood.”
Cecilia pretended not to hear.
“Anyway, Lady Persy changed that. She made Magic Tower technology something people could actually use.”
“For example?”
“The scented soap. Regular soap used to smell strange or irritate the skin, but the one Lady Persy made has a pleasant scent and is gentle. The noble ladies adore it.”
“Hygiene improvement, huh.”
“And the washing machine.”
Cecilia’s voice grew stronger.
“That one is truly amazing.”
“Have you tried it?”
“It was brought into our mansion.”
“Even at the Grand Duke Valoa’s residence?”
“Yes. At first, the head maid hated it. She said she couldn’t trust a magic device. But after using it for a month, she cried.”
“Why? Was it that bad?”
“She said her hands don’t crack as much in winter anymore.”
I paused for a moment. Laundry in this world meant cracked hands, ruined backs, and skin splitting open in winter.
“That really is a good thing.”
“Right?”
Cecilia smiled slightly.
“And that’s not all. They also sell training on how to use the washing machine. If the servants learn how to handle the device, their wages go up too.”
“Training as well?”
“Yes. So now even the head maid only sings Lady Persy’s praises. She used to hate the idea of a noble lady pretending to be a merchant.”
“Nobles hate it when others make money.”
“But they like it when they make money themselves?”
“That’s dignified profit. When others do it, it’s vulgar commerce.”
“That’s really obnoxious.”
Cecilia looked at the portrait in the newspaper again.
“But Lady Persy endured it. She brought Magic Tower technology into her trading company, hired artisans, persuaded the ladies, and even ran newspaper advertisements.”
“At first, the ads were criticized too. They said it was shameless for a noble to put her own face in the newspaper. But now everyone’s copying her.”
“A pioneer, then.”
“Exactly.”
Cecilia spoke sincerely.
“I like people who don’t keep what they have only for themselves.”
I looked at Cecilia. She was gazing at Lady Persy’s portrait in the newspaper.
“Magic Tower technology used to be something only the high and mighty could use. The imperial family, the great nobles, the mages. But Lady Persy brought it down into daily life.”
“That’s a good thing.”
“It makes hands hurt less, reduces odors, prevents illness, and saves time.”
Cecilia smiled quietly.
“I like that about her.”
Those words were strangely fitting for Cecilia. The woman who had gathered evidence alone to save her brothers during the Valoa incident, who had brought a video orb all the way to my basement office. A noble who didn’t act like one. It wasn’t strange at all that such a Cecilia would admire Lady Persy.
I looked at the newspaper again.
The Woman Advancing the Empire’s Future.
A reincarnator. Almost certainly. But not every reincarnator had to be like the Crown Prince. Rayos used his game knowledge to ruin people. He stole older sisters, destroyed families, and tried to drag the world toward his own ending.
But Lady Persy?
She made soap. She made washing machines. She prevented servants’ hands from cracking. She sold hygiene to noble ladies. She brought Magic Tower technology down into everyday life.
It was hard to call that evil. No. It actually seemed closer to good.
How many things could be done in this world with modern knowledge? Some people used that knowledge to lock others in cages. But others could use it to make soap. To wash hands. To clean clothes. To reduce disease. To save time.
If so, Lady Persy might not be a bad person. At the very least, she might not be the same kind as the Crown Prince.
“Senior. What are you thinking about?”
“Soap.”
“Out of nowhere while we were talking?”
“Soap is important. It makes people die less.”
Cecilia looked at me with strange eyes.
“You sometimes get really serious about the weirdest things, Senior.”
“I’m originally a serious person.”
“Only in front of money, I bet.”
It was so accurate that it annoyed me. I folded the newspaper.
“I think I should meet Lady Persy once.”
“Why?”
“I’m curious about the soap.”
“Liar.”
“I’m curious about the washing machine too.”
“That’s a lie too.”
“I’m just curious about the lady herself.”
Cecilia nodded as if satisfied.
“I’m curious too. It would be interesting to see you and Lady Persy meet. You’re both weird.”
“I’m perfectly normal.”
“I bet Lady Persy says the same thing about herself.”
I had no rebuttal. So I drank the cold tea. It tasted terrible.
As expected, life was never easy.
It was then.
Knock, knock.
The sound of someone rapping on the door rang out. I checked the clock. Business hours had already ended. Nobles usually came at late hours. The more shameful the matter, the more they preferred the night. And divorce cases were generally shameful affairs.
“Come in.”
The door opened. A young man entered. The moment I saw him, I knew he wasn’t a noble. More precisely, he was someone with no interest in pretending to be one. His coat was expensive but wrinkled. There were ink stains on his sleeves. Several small burn marks remained on his fingers. His hair looked like he had tried to tidy it and failed. Dark circles hung under his eyes. It was the face of someone who hadn’t slept.
He paused for a moment at the door. He looked around the office. He looked at me. He looked at Cecilia. Then back at me. And he asked carefully.
“Are you Attorney Calix?”
“I am.”
“I heard you specialize in divorce.”
“To be precise, I am the Empire’s first divorce specialist attorney.”
Normally, the other party would look slightly flustered, distrustful, or make a strange expression here. But he didn’t. Instead, he let out a breath as if relieved.
“Thank goodness.”
I narrowed my eyes. The man took a business card from his coat. The card bore the emblem of the Magic Tower.
Central Magic Tower.
Below it, I saw the name.
Edwin Lauren. Next Tower Master of the Central Magic Tower.
I lifted my head. The Next Tower Master was standing in my office. Late at night. Alone. With a face that looked like it might collapse at any moment.
He spoke.
“I would like to request your services.”
“What kind of request?”
Edwin Lauren remained silent for a long time. The leather folder in his hand trembled slightly. Then he said,
“It concerns my wife.”
I paused for a moment. The Next Tower Master’s wife. No way.
He lowered his head.
“My wife is Lillian Persy.”
The office fell silent. The woman who had been smiling in the newspaper just moments ago. The woman advancing the Empire’s future. The idol of noble ladies. The innovator who created the Magic Washing Machine and Refined Scented Soap. A lady who had nevertheless gotten married.
Lady Persy.
Her husband was standing right in front of me.
I muttered inwardly.
We’re fucked.
The soap talk was over.