The Brothel Maiden: A Sold Girl's Rise to Prominence Through Reasoning Chapter 16

Chapter 16

Serge turned pale at Josée’s words.

“So the wine really was poisoned…”

He muttered, more to himself than to her.

Josée snatched the stack of bills off the table and stuffed them into her bodice.

“Get out!”

Her face was flushed with fury. She shot Serge a glare, then spat,

“After that, when Marc filed a complaint with Château Gallois, we found out the wine delivered that day ca from the Radical Party. Château Gallois always throws in a few bonus bottles, so no one noticed the extra one. That’s how the poison slipped into Château Fournier!”

Serge shot to his feet in a panic.

“No, wait! I wasn’t panicking because I knew about that—I swear. Let explain, step by step, so just hear out. That day, the Radical Party leaders told , ‘If wine is offered at that castle, don’t drink it under any circumstances.’ That’s all I knew. I thought you might be a spy, like Representative Fédor, so I assud you’d try to poison . I was only following the party’s warning—I refused to drink because I was suspicious of you.”

Josée trembled with rage, her breath heavy.

“…So you didn’t bring the poisoned wine to Château Gallois yourself?”

Serge scratched his head and gave a sheepish nod.

“You know , Josée. If I’d done sothing like that, I’d have panicked and blown my cover imdiately. I don’t know the full story, but I suspect soone else in the party was behind it.”

“Hmph. That does sound like you.”

Josée knew all too well how terrible he was at lying.

“How much does the Radical Party know about ?”

Serge sat back down on the sofa, his expression turning serious.

“There are a few people in the party who question your background. Like with Representative Fédor, they suspect you might be a spy. Honestly, they sent to you on purpose—to catch both Fédor and you in a double-agent sting. But after so digging… we found out you weren’t trained or planted. You’re just a war orphan taken in during the chaos.”

“Exactly. I’m a war orphan. Raised by a regular nomad family. Nothing more, nothing less. I speak multiple languages because my parents dragged across trade routes as a kid.”

Serge fell silent, deep in thought. Then he asked,

“You dumped the poisoned wine before you drank it, right?”

“I did. I caught the scent—sweet, like yellow jasmine.”

“You’ve got one sharp nose.”

“I know my poisons. Nomads don’t last long if they can’t spot dangerous plants and mushrooms.”

“…I see.”

Serge nodded quietly. Josée pouted.

“…Serge, why are you acting like this has nothing to do with you? I could’ve died because of your party!”

“I know, but I had no idea they’d go that far. I never imagined they’d target you with poison.”

“Why are you so calm about this?!”

Josée shouted, wiping away the tears that had started to pool in her eyes.

“If I’d drunk that wine and died that morning, how would you have felt? Glad the ‘spy’ was gone?”

Serge’s eyes widened in shock.

“Of course not!”

Then, hesitantly, his voice softer,

“…Josée.”

He stood up and looked her in the eye.

“From now on, I swear I’ll protect you. So please—keep supporting .”

“You’re still trying to use ? I’m not falling for that again. Get out.”

“Then how about this—why not co visit the Radical Party headquarters?”

Josée blinked, caught off guard.

“…Headquarters?”

“Why not join the party?”

“Huh? Won can join?”

“Technically, the rules don’t specify gender. If you pay the mbership fee, you’re in. That way, the party won’t see you as a threat anymore. What do you say?”

Josée crossed her arms, eyes narrowing.

“Let guess. You just want my money. Luring in with promises of won’s suffrage to squeeze donations out of ?”

“You’re overthinking this. I an…”

Serge tentatively reached out his hand.

“It’s not just that. Your courage, your aim, your business sense, and the way you pieced everything together—after all this, I’ve completely fallen for you.”

“Huh? ‘Fallen’...?”

The word made Josée’s heart skip for half a beat. But then—

“With you on our side, we could take over the political world!”

Serge grabbed her shoulders, his eyes sparkling with excitent. Josée frowned in confusion.

“What? I’m a woman. Taking over the world is…”

“I’m serious. Once we achieve won’s suffrage, I want you to lead the party—and one day, beco pri minister.”

“…Isn’t that a little far-fetched?”

“If you’re willing, I’ll do everything I can to make it happen. Honestly, most of the current representatives are just old n clinging to their honorary positions. They don’t have the guts to lead this country. And I bet there are more like Representative Fédor—spies selling out their posts for pocket change. We need new blood to clean house.”

Josée groaned and scratched her head.

“Then… promise you won’t try to poison again.”

“I won’t. Or rather, I won’t let it happen.”

“Good. Then prove it.”

“...Prove it?”

Josée called over to the butler who had been quietly listening in the corner.

“Bring the contract-writing tools.”

“Yes, right away.”

As they waited, Serge looked increasingly uneasy.

“…This isn’t an engagent, is it?”

“It’s not.”

The butler returned with a silver tray of writing instrunts. Josée took up the pen and, with practiced grace, wrote in elegant noble script:

**Oath of Non-Killing for Josée**

*Should the contract-breaker violate this, all assets shall be surrendered to the master of Château Fournier.*

Serge read it and raised an eyebrow.

“So if you’re killed, my property goes to the next master of Château Fournier?”

“Exactly.”

“Wait, so I’d have to protect you with my life—”

“Didn’t you just say, ‘I’ll protect you’?”

“…I did. But this feels like a marriage certificate.”

“It’s not.”

“I said ‘feels like.’”

“Hmph. Fine, refuse. I’ll leak the story to the press—how Representative Baradur and Radical Party leaders tried to poison an innocent brothel owner.”

“…”

Serge sighed, then asked,

“Can we set a term? In case either of us gets married later?”

Josée replied coolly,

“Of course. Three years.”

“…Well, I started this, so fine. But Josée, I expect your full cooperation during that ti.”

“Fine. But you’d better pay properly. This case was way outside the usual scope.”

Serge signed the dangerous contract.

Copies were made, and the butler collected them with solemn reverence. Serge wiped sweat from his brow.

“…This is getting ridiculous.”

“Bla your party for trying to poison .”

Yet Josée’s face was bright with laughter.

“Now then, Serge, let’s finally share a glass of wine. I’ve got sothing exquisite. But you’re tasting it first, okay?”

“…Understood.”

“To the garden! Today calls for a celebratory feast!”

Outside, Michelle was singing loudly, Anaïs spun in graceful ballet steps, and Lisette was already tipsy. The early sumr air carried a gentle warmth, and chilled wine arrived, drawn fresh from the stream.

The five of them raised their glasses and toasted under the blue sky.