Though I’m a Homebody, I Found Myself in a Dark Captive Genre

“…Huh?”

A big deal?

What big deal?

Was there anything else that could be a bigger deal here?

As I blinked in confusion after just returning to my room from the annex, Bonita urgently spoke.

“Lainey’s workshop is in chaos. Oh no, what should we do…?”

“Why? What happened to Lainey’s workshop? What could possibly cause such chaos there? Did a flood of orders come in again?”

“No, it’s not that… This was published in today’s newspaper.”

With trembling hands, Bonita unfolded the newspaper she had tucked under her arm and showed it to me.

On the front page of today’s morning edition, a huge headline screamed out:

Curious about what kind of content was causing such an uproar, I looked closer—and the following article was even more absurd.

“The Imperial Consumers’ Association recently conducted an investigation into the widely popular ‘blackout curtains’ that have been making waves in high society.

And lo and behold! The blackout curtains adorning the noble estates of our honorable Imperial Capital were discovered to be made of cheap Polleta leather!

Polleta leather comes from a species of canine monster inhabiting the northeastern mountain ranges, including the Blaire Grand Duchy. It is known for its foul, pungent odor and is considered a low-grade, common material…”

The rest of the article was mostly slander against Polleta leather.

It exaggerated claims that the stench of a rotting Polleta corpse was so strong that people had to cover their noses while passing by, and that the smell lingered for 30 days.

It also alleged that Polleta leather was so abundant in the Blaire Grand Duchy that people had been casually kicking it around and trampling over it.

I let out a groan, momentarily at a loss for words.

“Ugh…”

Of course, there was some truth—maybe about 5%—to the article.

Yes, Polleta leather was common. Yes, it had a smell. And yes, in the past, when corpse disposal wasn’t handled properly, the leather had been kicked around.

But calling it dirty? Do they even know how thoroughly it’s cleaned?

“Let’s head to the main building first.”

Holding the newspaper, I tried my best to remain calm as I started walking.

Even if everything written in the article were 100% true, it was an entirely different issue when consumers were exposed to information they didn’t necessarily need to know.

After all, there was a vast difference between thinking your curtains were made of fabric and realizing they were made from monster hide.

Even if they were flawlessly cleaned, without any lingering stench or bloodstains.

With a deep sigh, I asked another question for confirmation.

“So, how are people reacting? Has anyone requested a refund yet?”

If certain sensitive buyers had asked for refunds, what should we do?

As I was considering whether the refund policy was properly established, Bonita’s response made me stop in my tracks again.

“Why wouldn’t they?”

“Huh?”

“There’s been a flood of order cancellations for the pre-orders we had taken in advance! Not only that, but there’s a whole procession of people carrying their curtains and heading to the Grand Duchy, blocking the roads of the nearby territories!”

“…Huh? W-wait, are you serious?”

Was this real?

Was this actually happening?

“This won’t do. I need to check for myself immediately.”

Without heading to the main building, I hastened toward Lainey’s leather workshop.

‘There’s no way something serious is actually happening, right?’

A sudden worry crept up—who knew what an agitated crowd might do?

Troublemakers didn’t exist only in Korea.

I had encountered my fair share of difficult people while being enslaved by Lemeia, and even more while running various businesses in the Grand Duchy.

And now, I was even experiencing workplace harassment under my ridiculously handsome employer.

…Anyway, nothing serious would actually happen, right?

Or so I thought.

“W-why are there so many people?”

The area in front of Lainey’s leather workshop—and the surrounding alleyways—was already packed with people.

I hesitated, unable to push my way through the crowd into the workshop, and scanned the scene with a pale face.

‘What the hell is going on…?’

This was madness.

We had never deceived anyone into believing the blackout curtains were luxury items.

What I had emphasized all along was not the material’s prestige but its blackout effect!

At that moment, one of the gathered people stepped forward, raised their hand high, and shouted.

“How dare they sell us hideous monster leather under false pretenses! Give us our money back! Refund us!”

“That’s right! Refund us!”

“Give us our money back!”

As the crowd rallied behind the voice, their confidence grew, and their antics escalated.

“Yes, that’s right! We should burn these cheap rags!”

The man flung multiple Polleta leather blackout curtains into a cleared space, doused them with oil, and set them on fire.

…What kind of ridiculous performance was this?

“Refund us! Refund us!”

“Give me my money back!”

“Blood is dripping from the monster leather!”

“Ever since we put this in our child’s room, they’ve been having nightmares!”

But the more I listened to what they were saying, the more suspicious I became.

These people sounded just like…

‘Professional agitators?’

Agitators.

People who weren’t actual consumers but were here solely to stir up trouble.

Their actions were so extreme that it was hard to believe they were genuine customers.

And burning the curtains? If they really wanted a refund, wouldn’t they hold onto the curtains instead?

However, the rest of the crowd didn’t seem to question this behavior.

Instead, they became even more frenzied after the curtains were set on fire.

As the chaos escalated, I found myself frozen in place, unable to step forward or back.

“Be careful, miss.”

“Ah, y-yeah. Bonita, the workshop doors are locked, right?”

“They’re securely shut. All the windows are sealed too.”

Her words brought me a small measure of relief.

Still, most of the people inside the workshop were women, and I couldn’t shake the worry that they were terrified by this hostile crowd.

Someone needed to put an end to this situation…

Just as I was thinking that—

“Step aside!”

Neigh!

The sharp cry of horses rang out as armed cavalry cut through the mob.

“Ah!”

Bonita, who had turned toward the sound before me, suddenly looked relieved.

‘So he finally stepped in.’

Without even looking, I knew.

Behind them stood the Grand Duke.

But for some reason, I couldn’t bring myself to face him directly.

It almost felt like I’d gotten into trouble the moment my house arrest was lifted.

‘And why does the back of my head suddenly feel like it’s burning?’

I prayed it was just my imagination and hoped this situation would quickly be resolved.

Thankfully, the Grand Duke didn’t forget his role.

In a cold voice, he addressed the crowd.

“What is this commotion in my territory?”

Silence fell instantly.

His mere presence exuded such overwhelming charisma that no one dared to raise their voice about refunds anymore.

As he waited for a response in the heavy stillness, he seemed to realize no one would step forward.

With firm authority, he declared,

“From this moment on, anyone who causes even the slightest disturbance in the Blaire Grand Duchy will be arrested and sent to the underground prison of the Grand Duke’s estate—without exception.”

“Y-yes, sir!”

“And if you have complaints, submit an official petition.”

As soon as he finished speaking and the cavalry took their positions, the crowd scattered like frightened guinea pigs.

Only then did peace return to the area in front of Lainey’s workshop.

…Well, except for the charred blackout curtains still lying in the middle of the street.