Chapter 89
"I’m slowly starting to gain independence from Lombardy, and I want you to help me."
"If it’s independence..."
"I’ll divorce and going back to Schultz. I’m sick and tired of Lombardy."
"But it’s not going to be easy to divorce Lombardy without justifiable reasons. The alimony will be substantial."
"Ah, that’s fine because there’s a way to think about it. I’ve had a lot of mental pain dealing with Lombardy, so I’ll take the alimony. Anyway, don’t worry."
’What do you mean? You are so shameless cheating.’
Clerivan became displeased.
It was disgusting that Vestian mistook Clerivan as his ally.
"So what can I do to help you?"
"No different, Lira Coal Mine or Diamond Mine. Why don’t you leave the mine to my family?"6
Exactly the second reason that Florentia predicted.
’Ahh, as expected of Lady Florentia.’
Clerivan was inspired by Lombardy’s hope and light to deal with the trash in front of him.
"Well, I’ll think about it."
Vestian could not hide his disappointment at Clerivan’s words and tried to convince him with various words, but Clerivan kept his attitude of ’I’ll think about it’.
It was also half true.
He has to follow the will of Florentia.
"Okay, you’ll have to think about it."
Vestian stepped back for now.
Instead, he made an appointment with Clerivan a few days later.
* * *
At that time, he was planning to meet the terms of the contract by lowering mining fees.
But annoyed by the fact that things didn’t happen immediately, the act of arriving at Lombardy’s mansion and taking off his coat was rough.
’I’d have to get the right of a diamond mine, so I could leave Lombardy.’
Then a familiar voice spoke behind his back.
"When did you get here, Vestian?"
It was his wife, Shananet.
Vestian, who twisted his face and uttered a curse inside, turned back.
"Shananet."
It was the face that only the friendly smile of Vestian Schultz that the world knew.
But Shananet’s expression wasn’t so bright.
Shananet’s face, standing in front of Vestian with a package of documents in his hand, was full of shade.
"Let’s have a word."
At the cool words of Shananet, Vestian flicked his tongue inside.
A couple conversations over the past few months have always been like this.
It began to happen as soon as Maria left the Schultz estate and moved nearby.
Shananet suddenly began to ask questions about Vestian’s stay out, which she had never cared about, and also put the brakes on hanging out with his brother-in-law, Viese.
She also showed a little interest in the work of Lombardy Mining, which was entirely part of Vestian.
Like a person who knows something.
"What’s going on again, Shananet."
Vestian said, hiding his tantrums, smiling helplessly.1
"If it’s because I didn’t come back home yesterday, I can’t help it because I’m busy with work..."
Tap.
Vestian stopped talking after seeing the documents Shananet put on the table.
"Why do you have the mining company’s transaction history?"
Even Vestian’s words were sharpened.
There was no choice but to do so.
It was a history of taking money away from Lombardy.
"Vestian."
Shananet’s calm voice rang in the room.
"I’m sorry to meddle in your business without your consent. I know it’s unpleasant."
Shananet apologized calmly first.
"But I had to make sure."
Since accidentally listening to the conversation between Vestian and Durak Top’s owner, Shananet has never had a day of ease.
At first, she thought she was wrong, but when she heard that Lombardy had failed at the auction of the Lira coal mine, she was in despair.
Without the variable Pellet, the coal mine, or the diamond buried below it, would have been returned to Angenas as promised by Vestian and Durak Top.
Shananet had to accept.
The fact that her husband is joining hands with Lombardy’s hostile family.
Slowly, she began to investigate what his husband had been doing.
And the immediate document was the result.
"Explain, Vestian. What the hell is going on?"
Nevertheless, Shananet sincerely wanted to believe.
Vestian must have his reasons.
"...How did you get this? It’s all classified."
But the husband was only wondering how she got her hands on the papers.
"You wouldn’t be able to access the mining company’s secrets without my consent. How can..."
Vestian, who was gibbering in embarrassment, found the answer himself.
"Yes, that’s right. You were Lombardy."
Lombardy’s line of command had the authority to engage in the business of Lombardy whenever they wanted to.
It didn’t matter who was in charge.
As soon they want, they will have the authority over the person in charge.
It was an absolute power not given to those who became Lombardy through marriage.
"So what do you want to say, Shananet?"
"How can you be so confident, Vestian?"
Shananet shook her head.
"You’ve siphoned off a lot of money from Lombardy in the meantime. And that’s what I found out. How can you..."
"It’s all for us."
"You did it for us?"
Vestian made up a sad face.3
Shananet is weak-minded.1
He was determined to take advantage of it.
"Shananet, I love you so much. As a man, I married you with the shame of not being able to pass my last name to my child."
In the meantime, he seems to have been caught stealing Lombardy’s money, but there was still a way out.
"But people in your family kept ignoring me. With the Schultz."
It was mainly Viese and Laurels who ignored Vestian and Schultz.
But in the end, it was the two who got closest by necessity.
But Vestian left that out and went on.
"That’s why I had to. I’m going to make the Schultz a little bit more suitable for Lombardy."1
"By siphoning off Lombardy’s fortune?"
"Did I feel comfortable to do that?"
Vestian continued to appeal to Shananet for sympathy.
"There’s a grant from Lombardy to the Schultz. Couldn’t you be satisfied with that money?"
Thousands of gold are provided to Schultz every year.
It was Lulak’s consideration for his in-laws.
Vestian sighed, pretending to be frustrated.
"Yes, it is true that he arbitrarily gave Lombardy’s money to Schultz. But that kind of money doesn’t mean anything to Lombardy, does it? I tried my best to find a way for your husband and you to be happy."
It didn’t matter.
At any rate, it was Lombardy’s property.
It was not money that Vestian could give to his family at will.
Shananet was aware of that fact.
But she couldn’t pour those words out on Vestian.
Shananet loved her husband too much to do so.
Shananet was rather saddened by the words ’it was all for us’.2
"The proof is that for years now, no one knew when it was gone. It doesn’t mean much to Lombardy, but it’s something Schultz needed."
Shananet wanted to cry.
Although she accepted many things as inevitable fate since she was born as Lombardy.
Even her beloved husband seemed to fall victim to her own birth.
She felt guilty.1
Eventually Shananet shook her head and said.
"I’m not going to tell my father about this right now."
He knew it!
Vestian sang a delight to himself.2
"But no more. And in the meantime, the money that went back to Schultz... Let’s say Schultz borrowed it from Lombardy. Even if it takes a long time, it’s all back to Lombardy."
Of course, Vestian didn’t mean to.
But he nodded passionately.
Shananet left the bedroom looking so tired that he spoke to Vestian for the last time.
"The children want to see their father. I know you’re busy at work. Show them a little more face for the twins, Vestian."
Shananet went out and the room door was closed.
Vestian, who was left alone, distorted his face.
"Pretty to the end."
It was so disgusting to always pretend to be noble by himself.
He got goosebumps because he didn’t seem like a human being to keep a calm face no matter what.
Then an object on the table caught Vestian’s eye.
It was the relic of Shananet’s most cherished mother.2
It was actually annoying to sweep and wipe the shabby necklace, which was nothing special.
"How can you stay so calm at all the time."
Laughing profusely, Vestian put it in his pocket.24
* * *
"What are we going to do today?"
"You’re right... Sigh."
The naughty little boy.
I don’t know if Crane has unlimited stamina.
No matter how much he plays, he’s not tired.
Larane, who was playing with Crane too, ended up suffering from body aches.
I had no choice but to bring Crane, who was crying because he didn’t like Astalliu.
He’s a kid who collects bread pieces for mice living in the kitchen because they’re cute.
I don’t know what they’re thinking taking this kid to the hunting ground for.
"Shall we go read a book? Or should we make a flower crown like last time?"
"I’m going to the twins."
Since it’s a holiday.
The twins are probably at home without training.
They’re the only people I know who can handle Crane’s foal-like stamina.
If I go and throw Crane, they’ll have fun.1
As I walked listening to Crane’s chatter next to me, I quickly arrived near the twin’s house.
"What’s wrong with the atmosphere?"
The front door is wide open, and the atmosphere is chaotic.
"Oh, my God..."
"Who the hell...?"
Some employees can hear a murmur as they look toward the open door.
"Crane, come here."
I grabbed Crane’s hand and carefully stepped inside.
"I’m sorry, I’m sorry!"
"I have sinned to die!"
The first thing I heard was someone’s loud voice.
Entering the drawing-room, two maids, who seemed to be the main characters of the voice, were bowing their heads.
The two were apologizing for something continuously with their white faces.
"I’m sorry, Madame Shananet!"
One of them was one of the maids responsible for the main building.
Shananet, the target of the apology, was standing in front of the two, so her face was not visible.
The maid looked hopelessly up at Shananet’s back and cried, closing her eyes again.
"I, I’ll find the necklace no matter what!"
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