“During the investigation of the accident, we found something suspicious. It wasn’t snowy or the middle of winter, nor was it an area where accidents often occur, but the carriage slipped down the hill and fell.”
“I see.”
“However, upon investigation, there was no problem with the carriage. So, just in case, I also checked into the horses and coachman.”
“What did you find?”
“We haven’t pinpointed anything definitive yet. The horse and the coachman both died on the day of the accident. But according to the coachman’s family, he’d been acting strange at the time.”
“Acting strange?”
“The coachman was known to be a fit and healthy individual, given his job of caring for horses. However, starting about a year before the accident, he began to sleep more and complain of fatigue.”
Cian’s eyes narrowed as he listened.
“…Those symptoms sound familiar.”
“Yes, His Majesty Zeus also started to sleep more and felt fatigued about two years before he passed away.”
Cian was lost in thought.
‘Would it be too far-fetched to think there’s a connection between my father’s death and the Fram family’s carriage accident? It’s hard to imagine Sigar deliberately poisoning the coachman of a boarder nobleman.’
In fact, it was just a rumor that Sigar used poison on Zeus. This was because no one, including Cian, had investigated Sigar.
‘…For now, let’s continue investigating the carriage accident. Hasty assumptions can be dangerous.’
Cian, who had closed his eyes with a serious expression, slowly opened them and spoke.
“We need to confirm what the coachman’s condition was like at the time, what he ate, or if he exhibited any other unusual behaviors. Nick, please look into it.”
“Understood.”
“Before handing it over to Countess Rachel, I should also inspect the castle and the estate.”
“Should I go, or would you prefer to go yourself?”
He was about to tell Nick to go, but stopped.
It was the place Rachel was born and raised. He wanted to catch a glimpse of any traces of her that might remain.
“I’ll go there myself.”
“I will prepare to ensure no disruptions to your other schedules.”
“Thank you, as always.”
“It’s nothing.”
Nick answered briefly and left the office.
Left alone, Cian closed his eyes. Maybe because of the coachman’s symptoms, the death of Zeus, which he had forgotten for over seven years, suddenly resurfaced in front of him.
‘Father.’
His heart trembled.
* * *
At the same time, Rachel sat in her office with her eyes sparkling. Katie had just returned to the mansion from an attempt to purchase Fram Castle and the estate.
There was a knock, and Katie entered the office.
“I’m back, Countess Rachel.”
“Welcome, Katie! I’ve been waiting. How did it go?”
“Well…”
Katie had an uncharacteristically downcast expression.
“…I’m sorry. I couldn’t buy Fram Castle and the estate.”
“You couldn’t buy them? Why? We had plenty of money.”
They had prepared twice the amount Theodore received when he sold Fram Castle and the estate.
It was partly because Theodore had sold it for a very low price, and if the current owner liked the castle and the estate, they might have to offer extra money to buy it.
Katie bowed her head.
“The owner said they sold it to someone else recently. And for a pretty high price, too.”
“Sold it?”
It was strange.
Fram Castle and the estate hadn’t been traded at all for several years before and after Theodore sold them. This meant it wasn’t attractive enough for anyone to buy or sell deliberately.
And now, at such perfect timing, she couldn’t believe someone bought it at a high price.
Rachel frowned.
“Hmm. What a coincidence. It’s hard to believe someone else bought it just when we were about to.”
“I apologize. If I had moved a little faster, we could have bought it.”
“Don’t blame yourself. Buying it recently means they’d been preparing to buy it for a while. Moving a few days faster wouldn’t have made a difference.”
“Preparing to buy it before… I assumed it was an impulse buy when I heard they paid a high price.”
“It’s not worth an impulse buy. It wasn’t even for sale. The fact that someone went out of their way to buy it means they had a purpose.”
“I suppose so…”
“Don’t be too upset. Just because someone else bought it doesn’t mean we can’t buy it eventually. We’ll buy it from the new owner.”
“Will they sell it? You said they might have had a purpose for buying it.”
“Precisely.”
Rachel grinned, resting her chin on her clasped hands.
“If their purpose is clear, it’s easier. Just help them achieve what they want.”
“I see.”
“So, Katie. Please keep up the good work.”
Katie, surprised, stammered.
“Ah, ‘keep up the good work’… Are you forgiving me?”
“What’s there to forgive? It was just bad luck, as I said.”
Katie’s eyes trembled with emotion. She pursed her lips, then nodded with a determined expression.
“Thank you for trusting me and giving me another chance. I’ll find out who bought the castle and the estate. I won’t fail this time.”
“Thank you. That’s the Katie I know.”
Katie blushed at the clear answer.
“Have I told you that you’re my role model, Countess Rachel?”
Rachel, who was sorting through documents, burst out laughing at Katie’s words.
“Role model? Me?”
“Yes. The way you don’t just accept wrongdoing from others, and how you handle things calmly that others might deal with emotionally.”
“Haha, I’m flattered. Thank you for the compliment.”
“I admire how you smile and keep your composure, preparing for what’s next, even after a failure.”
“Well, even if it seems like a bad thing right now, you never know what will happen later. It’s a pity that we couldn’t buy the castle and the estate now, but… who knows? Maybe not buying it now will be a great fortune later on.”
“As expected, you are looking far and thinking long term.”
“It’s not really something to be praised for.”
“So, the reason you sent me to Jane was because you had a plan in mind? If it were me, I don’t think I would do that for the woman my ex-husband cheated on me with.”
“Ah, that?”
Rachel smiled wryly.
* * *
“Here! This is the last one! If you throw this one away too, then…!”
The large woman tilted her head.
“Then what?”
“I’ll… I’ll bring something else.”
The woman smiled as she took the bottle Theodore offered.
Theodore grumbled to himself.
‘Damn it. How many times has this been?’
It was the fourth time he’d been rejected after bringing items to the woman on Lawton Street, who promised to tell him where Jane moved to.
A lace handkerchief, old silverware, a painting by Berengella, and even a white parasol. Although it wasn’t money, he thought the woman would like it because it was something Berengella cherished, but he was wrong.
In the end, Theodore ended up bringing a bottle of wine that Berengella left unfinished. He added water and sealed the top to make it look new, so as not to reveal that it’d already been drunk from.
‘Please, please. Don’t notice, please!’
He desperately prayed in his mind as the woman opened the bottle, sniffed it, and chuckled.
“Finally, something I like. What was I supposed to do with those lousy handkerchiefs and spoons so small only a mouse could use?”
“Well, I’m glad you liked it. Now tell me where Jane has moved.”
“I heard she lives in a cabin in the forest on the southern outskirts of the capital. According to the herbalist, it seemed like she was spending her days raising dogs and tending the fields.”
“A cabin?”
A smile spread across Theodore’s face.
‘As expected! Jane must have some money left over. Even though it’s on the outskirts, having a yard, farming, and keeping a dog means she’s living comfortably.’
Considering the total amount of money Theodore had given Jane over the past seven years, it was substantial. He thought he could get it all back and felt excited.
He recalled the overdue rent and the mess of the townhouse. He planned to get money from Jane and leave the filthy townhouse. Hire a maid, visit the guild, meet Rachel…
As he continued his pleasant imaginings, the woman turned away.
“Well then, goodbye.”
“Wait, wait a moment!”
Awakened from his thoughts, Theodore grabbed the woman.
“You need to tell me specifically where she lives! The southern forest is huge. How can you leave me with just that?”
“I don’t know any more. I haven’t been there myself, so how would I know? Find out the rest on your own.”
“Hey. Hey!”
The woman shrugged off Theodore’s hand and disappeared into the alley.
“Damn it.”
Theodore cursed and hurried towards the southern part of the capital. He was already dreading wandering through the vast forest.
After Theodore disappeared, the woman peeked out from behind a building in the alley.
“Ugh, disgusting bastard. Giving me leftover wine.”
She tossed the bottle Theodore gave her into a pile of trash and spat on it.
“He used to follow her around so eagerly, and now he’s behaving like this?”
People who’d lived in the alley for a long time generally knew who their neighbors were. The woman was no different. She knew Theodore had frequently visited Jane’s house.
The woman took out a bag containing gold coins, jingled them, and grinned. The bag was embroidered with the seal of the Fram family in gold thread.
The delicate Countess Rachel Fram had come to the woman who acted as the boss of the alley just before Theodore appeared.
‘I have a favor to ask. It’s not difficult. If a man named Theodore comes, who used to visit that house often, play along and then tell him where Jane is living now.’
‘We’ve been neighbors for years. I won’t tell him.’
‘If you have affection for her, that’s why you should tell him. Jane’s dogs are a bit fierce.’
The dogs?
Huh, she was about to snort when the countess handed over a bag of coins. Seeing the flashing gold, the woman agreed to the countess’s request without any guilt or hesitation.
“What kind of neighbor never exchanges a single word with you? I never even spoke with her. I don’t give a shit about a neighbor like that.”
The woman bit a coin, leaving behind teeth marks.
“Countess Rachel or whatever promised to protect her. She’ll handle it, right?”
