As the drug became harder to obtain, House Erzet restricted its export, announcing that foreign sales would only begin once there was a stable domestic supply. They also limited purchases to nationals and expanded their production facilities to meet demand. Despite these efforts, Aspiria remained a product that required lining up at dawn to obtain.
'And to think there's a rumor I'll be giving it away for free…'
Who could have spread such a baseless claim? Even Eileen couldn't supply enough Aspiria to meet that kind of demand. She now found herself in a position where she would have to address and refute this misinformation.
More than the personal inconvenience, Eileen was concerned about the potential damage to House Erzet's reputation. With a troubled expression, she asked,
"Do you know where you heard this, by any chance?"
"I heard it myself at the theater just yesterday."
Baroness Contarini, equally appalled by the situation, showed Eileen the best way to respond.
