Lazy Sigh of the Villainess

Chapter 2.23 – Sophistry

「Mrs. Wallace, are you trying to blackmail the church?」

Lamia replied calmly to that question.

「I’m a person of faith. I’m proud to say that I’m a person with great faith. I apologize if my words were misleading but I meant what I said earlier.」

「If it’s okay, I’d like to ask you for a little more detail.」

「Yes, archbishop-sama. Actually, I’m from Keradin.」

When Lamia said an unfamiliar place for her, Eseria interjected.

「When you say Keradin…are you talking about that place at the western border?」

「Yes, that’s right. At that place, my father ran a foundry business. I left that place two decades ago and I don’t have anything to return to.」

「Why?」

「We weren’t rice to begin with then, my mother became ill. It is difficult to find a doctor in such a remote place. Medical bill came with a sky high price so we can’t help but borrow money from loan sharks. All of a sudden, interest started to shoot up.」

「……」

Since everyone knows what will be the end of the story at that point, the room became silent. Lamia, on the other hand, talked about her family situation indifferently.

「When my mother died, our whole family can only work harder to pay our debt and my father died from overwork. Of course, even if we sold everything that our family owned, we can’t repay our debt so me and my siblings fell apart. I was twelve when I decided to live and work in a certain merchant family.」

「Have you met your siblings after that?」

「I have no way to get in touch with them. After getting married, my husband sent people to my hometown to look for them but they weren’t able to find any information about my siblings.」

(I have never thought that Lamia-san has such a harsh upbringing….so that’s why she’s so interested when I talked about the money lending business with low interest rate all over the country. She didn’t say a word about it so I didn’t know anything at all.)

While Eseria was stunned after hearing Lamia’s story, Lamia suddenly raised her voice.

「All this time, I can only tell myself “There’s no other way” or “I’m not lucky enough” but after listening to Eseria-sama’s idea, I decided to support her with everything I got! In order to save as many people as we can, we have to make this money-lending system legal at all costs! By realizing this, economic disparity in various parts of the country will be eliminated and many talented people who are buried will be saved and active! If you can do that, I don’t mind having left with nothing at all! 」

「Lamia-san, wait! You can’t just throw everything behind!」

To stop her with her appeal, Eseria stood up and tried to hold on to her but Lamia’s appeal continued.

「I am but a merchant’s wife and can be replaced by anyone but Eseria-sama, who came up with this idea, is different from us. She’s not someone that can be replaced and is a rare irreplaceable person that our country needs for its future! Please don’t let Eseria-sama be accused of any crime!」

「Lamia-san! Calm down a little!」

Some bishop’s already tearing up to her heartbreaking cry and Eseria was deeply upset in her heart.

「However, Mrs. Wallace, as people of the church, we can’t leave such immoral things alone.」

Killing said that with a slightly troubled look on his face but she replied firmly while still in tears.

「I think that the church must practice tolerance as it does to protect its wide range of interests.」

「That said, it’s a bit inappropriate for them to be publicly circulated.」

「It may certainly be inappropriate but it’s not illegal. In the first place, what kind of charges do you want to put on Eseria-sama’s head?」

「………」

The moment Lamia said so, Killing closed his mouth and the room was filled with silence again. In the end, Eseria herself was the one to pointed it out.

「Lamia-san….that’s only because no one had ever thought of writing something like that before so there’s no punishment, right?」

「Still, if there’s no clause saying that it’s illegal, there’s no reason to be punished.」

「You have completely take the stance of opposing it huh….」

Eseria, who seemed to have lost her strength, sat down on her chair again and put her hands on her face. The people around who saw that laughed involuntarily.

「Bu, buhahahaha! This is a mess!」

「As expected of Mrs. Wallace who’s been on the spotlight recently!」

「It is certainly inappropriate but it’s not illegal!」

「But then, what’s the point of this inquisition?」

When one of the younger men raised the issue seriously, Killing can only speak with a wry smile.

「Aren’t you mistaken? How can this be an inquisition?」

「Yes?」

「We are here to talk the details about the money lending business system that was proposed somewhere. We called Lady Eseria who has thought of this idea and asking her for her opinion.」

He said that while smiling. Eseria unconsciously felt sorry for him but continued to ask question.

「A-ano….what about Mrs. Wallace….」

「Since the scale seems too big, there is no way we can operate it with only the assets of the church. Because of that, we decided to call her here too to ask for her opinion and funds as a visionary merchant.」

「Of course, the Wallace Company is willing to fully fund the project!」

「That’s good to know.」

「Waaaa!?」

Perhaps they found the immediate contrasting reaction of Lamia funny, the room became filled with laughter.

(As expected of the person who has risen to the rank of Archbishop, the way and speed he switch is on a different level. He managed to fix everything with just that.)

When Eseria was relieved to see that the atmosphere in the room has completely changed, Killing, who still has a wry smile, put the matter to end.

「Mrs. Wallace, broadening arts is good for cultural improvement and economic expansion but please, do so in moderation.」

「Of course. If the work is unremarkable, we won’t publish it in the first place and we won’t advertise it openly.」

「Well then, Lady Eseria, we will examine the contents of this document a little more before making a formal reply.」

「Understood. Then, after that, let’s go meet the person in charge in the palace after I speak with the queen. 」

「Yes. I’m looking forward in working with you. 」

After several exchanges, Eseria and the other were respectfully sent out of the church without any accusation. And as soon as they ride the carriage, Lamia tears up again.

「….great. It’s good that I didn’t ruin Eseria-sama’s name. 」

Eseria, who did not even consider Lamia’s position that much tried to speak with her while reflecting a little.

「Lamia-san, are you okay? 」

Then, she wipes her tears properly and nods.

「Yes. I’m going to be busier from now on. I can’t cry. I was also able to make the church to acquiesce to that kind of book. 」

「As the archbishop said, we’ll do it moderately. 」

「Yes! 」

Seeing that bright smile, Eseria convinced herself.

(It’s a pity that there’s no inquisition since it will be a good publicity but we were able to avoid being punished.)

After convincing herself, they went back to home where everyone’s waiting anxiously.