It didn’t take long to reach the textile factory.

Alec and Louise got out of the carriage and finally took in the sight of Howard’s textile factory.

The vast factory, built of red bricks, was so large that it was hard to take in with just one glance.

Although it looked quite old on the outside, the amount of fabric produced in this factory ranked first among the textile factories in the Rilt Empire.

Especially in this world, the textile industry was enjoying unprecedented prosperity.

Owning such a textile factory meant that he and Louise had risen to the ranks of the wealthiest in the Rilt Empire.

“Even thinking about it again, it’s truly an amazing place. Now that this factory belongs to us…”

Suddenly, Louise remarked with a nostalgic expression as she gazed at the factory’s exterior.

Her gaze was hazy, as if she were dreaming.

Alec had sensed it before, but now he fully realized how deeply Louise held her aspirations in her heart.

His goal was simply to overthrow the tyrant, but Louise’s ambition was different.

From her, he sensed grander and more positive hopes and dreams.

Alec, who had been staring at Louise for a moment, turned his gaze back to the factory.

Three major textile factories in the Rilt Empire—owned by Marcel, Garrison, and Damian—had nearly monopolized the distribution across the empire.

However, their union, Holden Textile Union, was essentially dissolved now.

Marcel was dead, Damian had fallen out with Marcel, and Garrison, after visiting Julia in prison, had been caught by Marcel and beaten severely.

Just then, Louise pointed somewhere with her hand and spoke.

“Look over there, Alec. There’s dirt on the sign.”

“…?”

Alec followed Louise’s finger and saw black paint smeared on a sign that read *Howard Textiles*.

It was clearly a sign of deliberate defacement.

“It seems the workers had a lot of grudges against Marcel. Well, he *was* the one who almost beat the protest leader to death just because he didn’t want to install ventilation.”

Louise frowned slightly.

Even when she furrowed her brows, she still had the beauty of a classic film scene.

Alec extended his hand to her.

“Shall we go inside now?”

“Alright.”

Louise placed her hand gently on his with a bright smile.

As they began to approach the factory, Louise looked a bit tense.

When they reached the heavy iron door, the attendants accompanying them hurried over to open it.

The hefty door creaked ominously as it opened, revealing rusty patches here and there.

As Alec peeked inside the factory, he unconsciously held his breath.

Louise also scanned the interior with a concerned look.

As they had expected, the textile factory was filled with dust and cotton fibers, drifting thickly through the air.

The sound of machines running and the harsh coughing of workers reverberated, filling the space with a sense of desolation.

“…Alec.”

Louise gripped his arm tightly.

It wasn’t out of shock or surprise but from anger and frustration at confronting the reality she had anticipated.

Had the factory workers been working in such conditions all this time?

Without hesitation, Louise gathered her dress and stepped inside the factory.

Though some workers began to notice them, they quickly returned to their tasks after a moment of confusion.

No one seemed to have the luxury of time or energy.

“Alec! Louise!”

It was then.

Hearing the call, both Alec and Louise turned around, surprised.

The workers also glanced in the direction of the loud voice.

Two men, brimming with hostility, had entered the factory.

The cast of characters revealed that they were Garrison and Langdon Howard.

Langdon, Marcel’s younger brother and the former owner of the factory, waved a cane, pointing at Alec and Louise while spitting angrily.

“Get out of my factory! Who do you think you are, just barging in like this?!”

Louise let out a derisive chuckle.

Next to Langdon, Garrison was frowning, covering his nose and mouth with a handkerchief.

“I had wondered why Langdon Howard had been so quiet.”

“Did you not hear me?! Get out!”

“If anyone’s leaving, it should be you. Haven’t you heard? The factory has a new owner.”

“This factory is mine! No matter what that idiot Marcel did, it’s still mine!”

“If you want to dispute that, take it up with the council. If you keep causing trouble in someone else’s factory, you’ll be thrown out on your own.”

“I can’t believe I’m hearing this from a crazy woman!”

Louise laughed, as if the whole situation was too absurd to take seriously.

By now, most of the workers were glancing over at them.

The sound of the machines began to slow down.

It seemed the workers were becoming curious about the fact that Alec and Louise were the new owners.

Louise stopped laughing and swatted away the stray threads floating in the air with her hand.

“What is this? It’s worse than cat hair in here. I can barely breathe.”

“That woman…!”

“I’m glad the former owner showed up. I was wondering what kind of person would let their factory get this filthy.”

“What?”

“If it’s yours, why did you let it fall into such neglect? Shouldn’t you take care of what’s yours?”

Langdon trembled with rage, seemingly at a loss for words.

Louise smiled again, with that signature, captivating expression of hers.

Now, most of the workers were openly staring at her, captivated.

Louise’s gaze toward Langdon turned sharp.

“I’m not like you. If something of mine gets dirty, I’ll clean it. I wouldn’t let it get this bad. How could you even brag about owning a factory in this state?”

“…”

“The same goes for the people here. Now that the ownership has changed, these workers are my people. How could you expect them to work without ever giving them a breath of fresh air?”

“You… you insane woman…!”

Louise stepped closer, gathering her dress.

Her eyes seemed to blaze with fire.

“So, I’d appreciate it if you’d just leave in shame. I have no time to waste dealing with trash like you when there are so many things to fix in this factory.”

“…”

Alec’s lips parted slightly in astonishment.

Langdon and Garrison were clearly overwhelmed by Louise’s presence.

Was his heart racing because of the dust laced with stray threads irritating his lungs, or was it something else?

The many workers in the factory, like him, were staring at Louise, speechless.

They seemed to collectively realize that the new owner was nothing like Langdon or Marcel.

“Get out!”

***

I muttered one more time, directed at Langdon and Garrison.

Langdon clenched his fists and trembled as he glanced around.

By now, the sound of the machines in the factory had completely ceased.

Even without looking, I knew the workers’ glares toward Langdon were sharp and scathing.

This wasn’t a factory he had run for just a year or two—resentment and grudges had built up over time.

“Damn it.”

Langdon’s face turned bright red as he spat out a curse and stormed out of the factory.

After Langdon left, Garrison turned to me and let out a smirk.

“I’m the new head of the Holden Textile Union now. Do you really think our union will accept the likes of you?”

I couldn’t help but laugh, unable to suppress my amusement.

The smug look on Garrison’s face suggested he believed that his threats might actually work.

How utterly ridiculous.

“Don’t worry, we won’t be asking to join you. We have no intention of working with you, Garrison.”

“What?”

“Well, unless *you* decide to follow us, maybe then we’ll consider it.”

“What nonsense—”

“We’re going to run our factory and union in a completely new way. It’s going to be nothing like how you’ve operated until now.”

Garrison’s face twisted in disgust at my smile. He quickly glanced around and began to back away.

The mood in the room had turned hostile against him.

“We’ll see how well that goes!” he shouted, then fled from the factory like a coward.

I watched his retreating figure with a mocking smile before turning back around.

The moment I turned, I was startled to find that all eyes were on me.

“Louise.”

TL NOTE: More advanced chapter of this story is already up to the site. Visit dusk blossoms for more advanced chapters and stories