Chapter 31

Chapter 31

Maya, who appeared in the drawing room late, glanced at me and cautiously asked,

“Is that perhaps the person the Baroness is going to marry?”

“I’m sorry to disappoint you, but it’s almost the opposite. It would be better if I could avoid crossing paths with that man as much as possible…….”

But after hearing his declaration of war that he would come to see me from time to time, I couldn’t help but feel troubled. Of course, if I could help him, I might be able to shed quite a bit of the guilt I carried from the past, but hmm…….

As I sighed, my feelings complicated, Maya muttered from behind me.

“But you two look good together. Ah, of course, you said you aren’t in that kind of relationship, but that’s how it looks to me.”

Maya giggled, and although she was adorable, what she was saying was utterly ridiculous. Hahaha.

***

Although the human traffickers who had kidnapped the children were arrested, the fact that there were only six of them suggested that a huge organization was lurking behind them.

Nevertheless, fortunately, all the children had been rescued, so the Police Agency and the Royal Family publicized the incident extensively.

For the Police Agency, it was a rare case in which they had successfully apprehended the criminals without a single victim, while the Royal Family was also able to create the image that ‘the Royal Family protects its people’ through this incident.

Thanks to that, Ash, who had been destined to be pushed into an obscure post, once again drew the attention of the media and the public.

“Must be nice. Having your name appear in the newspapers so easily.”

In front of Ash, who was finishing up the incident report, Jacob sneered jokingly. When Ash did not answer, he went even further.

“Sigh. Why is it that my father doesn’t have any connections to the Royal Family?”

But Ash was not keeping his mouth shut because he had nothing to say. He was simply concentrating until he finished the sentence on the document he was writing.

After putting the final period at the end of the sentence, he leaned back and muttered,

“If you solve the case, everyone will come rushing to interview you, so what are you worried about?”

“Th-that’s true! It’s such an important case, after all. But the problem is that it’s not easy enough for that.”

“If it’s too difficult, should I take it?”

At those words, Jacob’s gaze turned cold.

The bribery case involving an executive of the Citizens’ Council was quite an important case, one that could earn him considerable favor from the Noble Faction if he could simply put the official behind bars.

‘Are you crazy? Even if he’s found not guilty, there’s no way I’m handing it over to you.’

Because if Ash happened to solve it, he would have to live forever as Ash’s subordinate.

“No. I was just complaining a little because I’m jealous of you.”

Jacob laughed heartily and left Ash’s side.

Ash could bet his fingers that Jacob’s expression had twisted the moment he turned around.

‘A man without the ability to match his ambition, yet all he has is greed.’

Ash knew that the bribery charges in the case he had been assigned had been fabricated by the Noble Faction.

He had once overheard Count McCallen saying that ‘there are nobles who lie shamelessly without even knowing to be ashamed of themselves.’

And Jacob and Commissioner Astrid would know that fact as well.

‘The police are betraying their duty by becoming blinded by their desire to line their own pockets…….’

The reason they remained silent despite knowing that was because the Citizens’ Council executive who had been accused was no pushover either.

He had undoubtedly gotten rid of anything that could be used against him long ago.

In the worst-case scenario, he would be found not guilty due to insufficient evidence. If God was on his side, he might even be able to accuse his opponent of making a false accusation.

‘Right, that’s for those people to deal with themselves.’

Ash gave a faint smile.

Jacob seemed startled, as though he feared Ash might take his case away from him, but Ash had absolutely no intention of doing so.

Why would he waste his attention on that when something far more interesting was happening over here?

‘The townhouse fire case feels like a piece of candy I want to savor little by little for a long time.’

The woman who had survived it was certainly more unexpected than he had anticipated.

These days, even her silly ‘seduction attacks’ had reached the point where they seemed cute to him.

Moreover, something Louis had casually mentioned while investigating the child disappearance case had also been bothering him.

“Oh, right, there’s also a maid named ‘Emma Hampton’ at the Turner Countess’s residence. Her name is exactly the same as the maid who died in the fire, so I naturally memorized it. That must be an occupational hazard, right? Haha!”

For a moment, the hand that was raising his glass stopped.

‘Emma is a common enough name, but the surname Hampton is exactly the same too?’

That was extremely rare.

“What age is that maid?”

“Mid-twenties, I think.”

Coincidentally, there was not much of an age difference between her and the Emma Hampton on this side, who was presumed to be dead.

Ash had already decided that he would go to Turner soon and meet that maid as well.

But in any case, for now, wrapping up the child trafficking case was the priority.

Namely, sending Rosalyn a gift worthy of the significant role she had played in this incident.

***

Around the time I had finally put my mind at ease after the child disappearance case had been successfully resolved, Arthur suggested that we meet with a friend of his. She seemed to be that ‘childhood friend’ I heard about at least once every time I met him.

‘It would be best to clarify our relationship while I have the chance.’

Arthur had said that he had never felt any sexual feelings toward her, but shouldn’t I hear the other side of the story as well?

Of course, even if there were a possibility that the two of them might have an affair, as long as Arthur married me and maintained a normal-looking household in the eyes of others, I was willing to generously allow it.

If he were the kind of man who would cheat, he would do it with someone else even if it weren’t her, and in the first place, I wasn’t expecting this man’s love from this marriage.

‘That doesn’t mean I can afford to enter this at a disadvantage.’

I put more effort into my appearance than usual.

It wasn’t as though I intended to make the tacky mistake of dressing extravagantly simply because I was conscious of that woman.

Rather, I thought it would be better to show a charm opposite to hers, since she was apparently the daughter of a family of scholars and would probably appear in a modest and composed outfit, emphasizing her refinement and knowledge.

A dress that made me look slightly more mature than my age, flawless makeup, and an updo with not a single strand out of place. With this much, even someone three years older than me might call me Sister.

“Good. Let’s go.”

I boarded Arthur’s carriage, which had come to pick me up, and headed for the Wells Baronial House.

I had thought they might be somewhat poor financially because they were so renowned as a family of scholars, but although their title was the same as that of the Tessis Baronial House, the status they enjoyed seemed to be much higher.

Their mansion was also larger and more splendid than the Tessis Baronial House, and they had many more servants.

A seemingly well-educated maid guided us to a drawing room near the study, and Arthur strode along as though he was familiar with the way.

“Baron Wells is the man who solved a famous mathematical problem known as one of the great unsolved problems of the century and used it to advance architectural technology by another level. He’s a genius.”

“Wow, that’s amazing.”

“His children are all intelligent as well, and Briana’s older brothers are preparing for professorships at the Academy. If Briana had been a man, she probably would have achieved as much as her brothers.”

Hmm. Why does he sound like he’s bragging about himself?

I merely smiled in response and entered the drawing room with him.

As I had expected, waiting there was the very epitome of a ‘proper young lady,’ almost as though she had been drawn that way.

Soft brown hair, light brown eyes, and neat features without anything particularly glamorous or cute gave her an appearance that inspired trust in others simply by looking at her.

To be honest, even I would believe that these two were a match made in heaven. Perhaps it was because they had similar vibes.

“Welcome, Miss Tessis. Welcome, Arthur.”

Briana Wells greeted us with a warm smile and kindly invited us to sit.

Refreshments that seemed to have been brought out just moments ago had been prepared on the table.

“Thank you for inviting me, Miss Wells.”

“Of course I had to invite you since Arthur says you’re someone he’s seriously seeing. Did you have any trouble getting here?”

“Not at all.”

After exchanging ordinary pleasantries, we sat down and engaged in some trivial conversation. The sort of conversation that would not have mattered who was present.

It was not exactly warm and lively, but it was uneventful. At least until Briana brought up a topic known only to the two of them.

“Oh, right, Arthur! How is your aunt’s back pain? I can’t help wondering if she overdid it that day.”

“That’s what I mean. Mother still thinks she’s young.”

“That’s because she’s so cheerful and active. That’s not a bad thing, is it? But I think she should refrain from dancing the polka for a while.”

The two of them laughed cheerfully, seemingly recalling the circumstances from when she had been dancing the polka. I was the only one who felt awkward as I looked back and forth between them.

Of course, asking, ‘What are you two talking about?’ would be the move of an amateur.

“Arthur.”