Chapter 31
Belles’ face, as he looked down at the letter, remained cold and stiff. With a grimace, he looked down at the neatly written words.
The contents of the letter were brief.
There had been an explosion accident in the mine, causing the mining operations to be suspended, and it would take quite some time to verify the safety. Up to this point, Belles was already aware of the facts. How absurd it sounded to him when he heard those words.
But what made him even more absurd was the content at the end of the letter.
– Based on the documents provided by Calian, I recalculated the revenue so far. I know the amount that is supposed to be given to my uncle is a certain percentage of the total revenue, but I haven’t heard the details yet. Could you possibly postpone the payment date a bit? Also, I would appreciate it if you could let me know how much money you intend to give to my uncle. Just in case, I’ll send you all the revenue received so far.
Gathering investors, obtaining tax breaks. In exchange, Belles had agreed with Calian to receive 40% of the total revenue.
And the revenue Serinial had disclosed was completely different from what Belles knew.
If Belles recalculated based on the amount Serinial provided, he should have received several times more money than what Calian had paid so far.
“Ha…”
Belles let out a scoff, seemingly dumbfounded.
Belles had not been optimistic that such a situation would not arise. Therefore, he was paying attention to many things, but to have everything planned out so meticulously was beyond his expectation.
“Damned bastard…”
Muttering to himself, Belles, feeling a headache, pressed his temples as if to suppress it.
Upon careful consideration, everything seemed off. Calian’s reckless behavior was already expected, but an explosion so sudden?
Moreover, the person taking responsibility for this incident was…
Lexion Rosenvester, of all people.
“The Emperor has caught wind of it.”
If things continued like this, Belles would gain nothing.
He had been preparing for rebellion, but it wasn’t enough yet. Especially the most troublesome thing was the mercenaries. To gather as many mercenaries as he wanted, he needed a large sum of money.
Perhaps even this explosion incident was orchestrated by someone to tie his feet. Belles thought to himself.
…But that wasn’t the only problem.
It was the scandal shaking the empire.
The contents of the scandal were already known to Belles.
Calian Helcar, in fact, had been in an intimate relationship for a long time, and his partner was none other than Leraie, the closest friend of Serinial, his wife.
Furthermore, between Calian and Leraie, there was already a child.
“What the hell is he up to…!”
Belles, unable to contain his anger, threw the wine glass he had placed on the table. With a sharp clang, the sharp glass shards rolled on the floor, and the wine, like blood, began to stain the carpet.
…Belles was aware of it too. After all, one of the mine’s owners was Serinial.
In such a situation, if Serinial…
Decided to divorce Calian?
Conflict would arise, but if Serinial, the second owner, set her mind to it, it wouldn’t be difficult to drive out Calian, the first owner.
In the worst case scenario, Serinial, who had regained the mine like that, could turn her back on him.
Even though he had known about Calian’s infidelity from the beginning, if it were revealed that he kept quiet. Especially, if Serinial found out who killed her parents…
“I should have killed her back then…”
Belles muttered as he recalled the past events.
“Damn it, like a stubborn woman…”
If things had gone according to plan, not only the Verdellet couple would have died without a trace but also Serinial would have died as well.
At the very least, he should not have easily given away the mine.
But the mine didn’t belong to Viscount Verdellett, but to Serinial’s mother. Moreover, at that time, the mine business was not as popular, so unfortunately, Belles had made the wrong choice.
“…”
Belles chewed his lips, lost in thought.
In the worst-case scenario.
If Serinial were to say she would divorce Calian…
“No… It might not be such a bad thing for me.”
Helping the divorced Serinial to fully regain the mine and then killing her?
With no children or husband, the mine would be his.
Moreover, there was no one to protect Serinial killing her would be too easy.
…Perhaps this was an opportunity. After all, Belles had planned to kill Serinial anyway, and he had also planned to take the mine from Calian.
“…”
While thinking such thoughts, an inexplicable unease kept grabbing Belles’ ankles.
Am I missing something?
Is there something I don’t know?
“You even gathered investors and got tax breaks.”
And suddenly, he remembered the conversation he had with Serinial a few days ago.
“I heard it from Calian. He said my uncle helped. I don’t know who they are, but I’m really grateful.”
…Did Calian, who knew who those investors were, really tell Serinial that fact?
And…
“What are you doing here right now? Vain.”
And suddenly flashed through his mind was the conversation he had with Serinial a few days ago.
Belles discovered Vain in the underground chamber on the day Serinial visited, wasn’t it?
As Serinial suspected, Belles couldn’t kill Vain. It was because of the missing crystal stone. Anyway, Vain was the only clue to that crystal stone.
But Vain disappeared as well. Despite using all means and methods to search the entire empire, his whereabouts remained mysterious. As if someone had hidden him away…
Did someone who had just been beaten to the brink of death manage to escape this viscount’s grasp alone?
There was no way.
“Maybe…”
Did Serinial…
Use some means?
So, was Vain’s disappearance and the mine accident all because of that girl?
Could it be related to Lexion as well?
Thinking along those lines, Belles chuckled cynically.
“Could that stupid girl who doesn’t know how to do anything really cause such trouble?”
To Belles, Serinial reflected in his eyes was just a foolish girl. She had no abilities or qualities whatsoever.
Yeah. There’s no way.
Belles laughed aloud at himself for doubting Serinial just now.
…But even as he did, the unease that had arisen didn’t disappear from Belles’ mind.
⚜ ⚜ ⚜
Calian had a look on his face as if he were being chased by someone.
“…”
Standing in front of Serinial’s study, Calian hesitated for a moment before quietly steadying his breath.
“Serinial.”
Then, reaching out his hand, he knocked on the closed door, calling out Serinial’s name.
“Serinial!”
With no response, Calian chewed on his lip.
In his heart, he wanted to break down the door and enter right away. In the past, he might have done just that. No, in the past, this wouldn’t even have happened. The stupid Serinial, who would flip over like a dog’s belly with just a little kindness from him, was nothing but a foolish girl.
But the situation had changed. So, Calian tried to suppress his anger as much as possible and spoke in his usual tone.
“Talk to me, Seri.”
Please.
Calian’s voice was a desperate plea. And not long after, Serinial’s voice was heard.
“Come in, Calian.”
As Serinial’s reply came, Calian immediately opened the door.
“What’s going on?”
Seated at the table, Serinial looked exactly the same as usual. That is to say, completely unaffected.
“…What’s going on, Seri?”
Approaching Serinial, who was sitting at the table, Calian spoke.
“You’ve heard the rumors too, haven’t you? So how…”
The scandal with Leraie had rocked the entire noble society. While it wasn’t so common for noble men to have affairs with governesses, especially ones who were their wife’s closest friend and had even born a child before marriage, it had quite the repercussions. Not to mention, with the involvement with the mine.
“Why aren’t you saying anything, Seri?”
In fact, Serinial hadn’t said anything. She hadn’t asked, she hadn’t demanded.
“And since I returned to the mansion, you’ve been using different rooms…”
She even used different rooms. Far from the bedroom they used to share as a couple, on the second floor.
“Give me a chance to explain, Seri.”
“Explanation?”
Calian reached out his hand slowly. Then, gently holding Serinial’s hand, neatly placed on her lap in her dress, he spoke.
“I swear on everything I have.”
“…”
“It’s all just baseless rumors.”
Serinial didn’t respond, just stared at Calian.
“You saw the child yourself, didn’t you? So it was just baseless rumors. I don’t know who spread them… Seri, you know who I am.”
Calian said with a pitiful expression.
“Calian Helcar, your one and only husband. You know, I’ve only had eyes for you since I was young… You know that, don’t you? We’ve had our difficult times, but I’ve always been by your side. I’ve never done anything like that. I won’t in the future either. So, my point is…”
My point is…
Calian’s voice trembled faintly.
“Can’t you believe me as you know me?”
“…”
“Seri, please…”
Listening to Calian’s words, dissipating into thin air, Serinial thought.
Well.
Was the you I know really not someone who doesn’t exist in this world?
“Calian…”
As Serinial looked at Calian like that, she slowly started to speak.
