The Russell Viscountess, located at the edge of Vellun, shared quite a few similarities with Evanstein Castle, especially in many aspects of grandeur. Positioned at a high point, the estate overlooked most of the city, and the ancient buildings scattered around exuded magnificence.
“Madam is waiting for you in the study.”
The one who had come to welcome Johannes Schultz was only an elderly maid, but it was not particularly surprising. Johannes walked through the grandeur of the Russell Viscountess’s residence.
Upon arriving at the study, he had to endure the lady’s peculiarities. Seated in a comfortable chair at the end of the study, surrounded by books on all sides, the elderly lady stared at Johannes with sharp eyes.
“Welcome, Duke Schultz. It’s been a while. I apologize for not being able to greet you in person due to my old age.”
She finally closed the book and, lifting pale hands, took off her glasses and placed them on the table.
Johannes knew very well that she was not only extremely knowledgeable but also cunning, so he pretended not to know and replied nonchalantly.
“Don’t mention it.”
It might have seemed somewhat impolite, but the lady paid it no mind. She smiled faintly as she put on a pair of white gloves she had placed beside her.
“It’s always an honor for me that Duke Schultz understands my heart. That’s why I quite like the Duke.”
The lady always had a way with words that weren’t meant sincerely.
Johannes responded without showing any hint of his true feelings.
“It’s a great honor for me just to be acknowledged by you, Madam.”
“I appreciate when you exchange insincere words with such an expression.”
“I find it hard to decide how to behave when you show such appreciation. Is the young master doing well in finding his son?”
Casually dismissing uninteresting topics, Johannes brought up the main point.
With the sudden conversation shift, Russell’s lady squinted her eyes. Playing with her wristwatch, she spoke with a sly tone.
“… I don’t quite understand what you’re talking about, old as I am.”
The lady’s green eyes narrowed. She shook her wrist, pointing at the watch. It was a habit of successful entrepreneurs.
“He may not have a good understanding of what you’re saying. Is there something you need help with regarding the Schultz family’s assets? Considering the current situation where the royal family has control over financial operations… I hope a fox like you hasn’t been caught in a trap, Duke.”
“Of course not. I appreciate your concern.”
Johannes gave a wry smile.
“I hope you’re not here to ask for assistance after your fortune has been depleted?”
The Russell lady joked. Then, with sharpened eyes, she looked at Johannes.
She soon pointed at her watch, shaking her wrist as she did. It was a habit typical of a successful businessperson.
“I suppose you know how much time I have. And as I mentioned before, I don’t particularly intend to turn the royal family into an enemy. The Schultz Duke’s situation is quite clear… but the royal family hasn’t directly harmed me yet.”
It was somewhat natural that the royal family couldn’t interfere with the Russell Viscountess.
The railroad business, a useful foundation for the rapid growth of Dorchilia into a powerful nation through industrialization, was exclusively controlled by the Russell Viscountess. Thus, her influence inevitably reached the sky.
A situation where train operations could be halted with just a word from her… Of course, Lady Russell would also suffer quite a blow. Nevertheless, the royal family wouldn’t dare to engage in foolish actions that would disturb her.
“Duke Schultz understands, but I have a symbiotic relationship with the royal family.”
Lady Russell spoke with a gentle voice.
To restrain the royal family, her power was inevitably needed, but Johannes repeatedly failed to involve her. The old lady was extremely calculative.
“Once again, it seems like a refusal.”
“I knew it. My answer will always be the same, and I don’t understand why the Duke keeps coming to me like this. I thought you were a smart person.”
After marrying a common woman. Tsk, the elderly lady tapped the table with her fingers.
Now it was a signal to leave.
“I hope you won’t visit me for a while. By the way, take better care of your appearance. It’s not pleasant to look at.”
With a nod towards Johannes’s cheek, which showed a faint bruise, Lady Russell added with a smirk.
“If you wish. I hope you find your son successfully.”
A faint smile had formed on Lady Russell’s face, but it froze when she continued.
“Today, however, I didn’t come for that.”
Leaving her with a displeased expression, Johannes turned away without hesitation.
* * *
Johannes spent quite a while at the Russell Viscountess’s residence. He headed straight to the Carriat Hotel.
“I came in the name of Edith Prim.”
When Johannes spoke to the lobby staff, he could see that they knew Edith Prim without any hesitation.
“Ah…! Are you looking for the room reserved under Isaac Prim’s name?”
Johannes narrowed his eyes and let out a wry chuckle.
“Isaac Prim?”
If someone overheard, they might question why he bothered coming all the way for just one name. But it was a good name to shake her up.
However, it seemed too careless. Lacking sincerity.
Not that he intended to intimidate Edith, but he didn’t want to let suspicious individuals go unchecked either.
Johannes stared at the hotel staff with a cold gaze.
“Who mentioned that name?”
The staff member realized that something had gone wrong but had already been caught by Johannes, so there was nothing left but to reveal everything.
* * *
“How on earth did you end up here…? Could it be that you sent this letter…?”
It was hard to believe, but inside the room was my husband.
Johannes, standing at the door, showed a piece of paper to me.
And then he asked, his expression somewhat angry.
“Did you come looking for this?”
Even at a glance, it was a letter left by my father. I approached him step by step.
“Did you send me a letter asking me to come here?”
“How do you think?”
Johannes, who crumpled the letter, asked calmly.
“Please give it to me.”
I quickly snatched the letter from his hand and unfolded the paper.
In my father’s handwriting, a concise sentence was written.
[Edith, let me know until when we should keep the letters we exchanged.]
It was an incomprehensible question.
I tried to think if there might be a hidden meaning, but it didn’t seem so at all.
Could it be that Johannes was imitating my father?
I asked in a tone of disbelief.
“Is this all?”
“It’s about something related to Captain Prim, and I understand that you haven’t thought deeply about it. But it seemed too sloppy.”
“What do you mean…”
“The hotel staff couldn’t even properly monitor the entrance, and they guided me into this room too easily.”
In short, Johannes was turning around and telling me that I was fooled by someone.
Was Isaac Prim not alive, and I, confidently, fell into a trap?
Johannes said with a dry face.
“That’s why I didn’t ask you directly. Otherwise, you might be hurt by the fact that you fell for such a clumsy method.”
“…”
“I even told your maid to safely bring you here. Anyway, there must be a reason good enough for you to deceive me.”
I kept my mouth shut.
I looked at Johannes with disbelief.
“Is it really true that my father didn’t contact me?”
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Translator Note:
This chapter was translated by Bree.
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