Chapter 13 – Part 4

Upon entering the newspaper office, the first floor was filled with stacks of printed newspapers.

Near the newspapers, employees were checking for misprints and defects, while delivery boys sat on chairs, resting their chins in their hands, waiting.

The boys had innocent expressions, occasionally smiling at the bundles of newspapers being packed, anticipating the wages they would earn for delivering them.

When Kristin made eye contact with the boys, she instinctively took out some chocolates and candies from her pouch and handed them out.

The boys, more than ten in number, thanked her with bright smiles.

Seeing this, Lenci patted the boys on their heads when suddenly someone walked toward them.

“Hello! Excuse me, but may I ask what brings you here, my Lady? Do you have any news worthy of our newspaper?”

Although it was rare for noble ladies to visit the newspaper office, they occasionally came to announce major family events or obituaries, so he addressed Kristin in this manner.

Kristin was momentarily startled by his appearance, but then cautiously took out the black dress from her bag and showed it to him.

Upon seeing Kristin’s face, he finally recognized her as Kristin Edith and was taken aback.

“Oh, it’s Lady Kristin! I saw you in the article about the Levi Mine accident. Unfortunately, we couldn’t cover that in our newspaper, but anyway, that’s not important. What brings you here? ”

“Hello. I need to write an obituary, but I just came from the hospital and haven’t had a chance to change my dress.”

“Oh, I see. If you’re writing an obituary, please come this way. I’ll guide you.”

The staff nodded once and continued speaking to Kristin and Lenci.

“I’m sorry for your loss. Our newspaper is well-suited for such announcements. We deliver newspapers quickly to the farthest places, and, unlike other newspapers, we have many delivery carriages, so newspapers will likely reach all areas of the Union Empire within two to three days.”

“By the way, my name is Mark Arthur, the editor. I’m mostly responsible for the articles that come out of here.”

Kristin nodded slowly in agreement and replied,

“Yes, I know. I also read the Jamir Newspaper.”

Kristin had subtly gathered information about this place. It was the very newspaper that had extensively covered her marriage to Raphael. Even nobles living in small towns within the Union Empire knew her name because of it.

Somehow, every small detail from her wedding ceremony had made it into the newspaper, so Kristin was eager to learn more about the editor.

The Jamir Newspaper was well-known among the nobility. They had a notorious reputation for digging into the private lives of nobles if they thought it would make a good story.

Although Kristin felt uneasy about using the Jamir Newspaper, there was no other newspaper in the empire with such influence.

“Oh, you seem to know a lot about our newspaper. We always strive to move quickly.”

Moving quickly was indeed their strong suit. Their swift actions had revealed the hidden private lives of nobles.

However, Kristin smiled calmly, hiding her thoughts, and responded,

“Thanks to your newspaper, we can learn about the major and minor events happening within the Empire.”

“Hahaha, thank you for saying that. But has someone from the Edith family passed away?”

For a moment, Kristin’s expression changed, and she spoke to him in a gentle voice.

“I’d like to discuss the obituary I need to request.”

It was a matter that could raise suspicions.

Certainly, Kristin could have sent the obituary to the Jamir Newspaper by mail instead of coming in person.

But sending it by mail could take time, and if the letter were returned to the mansion along the way, it could create problems.

If she were to suddenly request the publication of an obituary under a false name, even if she offered a large sum of money, it would be natural for them to suspect her intentions.

Despite its notorious reputation, the Jamir Newspaper had a sense of duty as the empire’s leading paper and didn’t handle unverified stories.

They had no qualms about exposing noble scandals, but they were careful about their sources. The editor’s influence was strong, and the reporters had a strong sense of professionalism.

They wouldn’t risk publishing stories that could harm their reputation or were unconfirmed scandals.

If Kristin had asked them to write an obituary using her name or a pseudonym without having done anything up to that point, they would have taken the money but not published it.They avoided any actions that would lead to a loss.

Furthermore, Kristin’s current reputation was not to be taken lightly. Her name carried credibility.

This was evident from the editor’s cautious but respectful demeanor.

“The obituary is for Finn Declan.”

“Finn Declan? Who is he? ”

Kristin looked at the curious editor and slowly began to speak.

“He was the doctor who took care of our family.”

“A doctor? But if he were a doctor, his family would be prominent, and they would have relatives. Why are you handling this personally, my Lady? ”

The editor’s curious eyes turned to suspicion, but he soon reconsidered, seeing Kristin’s composed demeanor. He realized that someone who had recently received a Medal of Honor wouldn’t joke about someone’s death.

Moreover, Kristin was likely to help those connected to her when they faced trouble.

“I apologize. I’m not doubting you; it’s just that from a general perspective, it seems odd that Lady Kristin, as a third party, would be the one to submit an obituary for someone else.”

Kristin had anticipated this reaction from the editor. It was natural for him to question her motives, so she responded without hesitation.

“You understand the significance of publishing an obituary, don’t you, Mr. Editor? ”

“Excuse me? ”

The editor, perhaps taken aback by Kristin’s counter-question, looked her up and down before responding in a tone suggesting the answer was obvious.

“Well, an obituary is meant to inform everyone who knew the deceased of their passing and invite them to the funeral. Typically, it can also be sent by mail, but there’s a risk of it getting lost. Sometimes, mail can take a week if there are issues at the post office, so people are willing to pay extra to have it published in the newspaper. Newspapers are less likely to get lost, and many people can see the news. But what’s the point of me explaining this? ”

As the editor spoke, Kristin nodded in agreement.

“That’s why I want to publish the obituary in the newspaper. Dr. Finn Declan doesn’t seem to have any family, which I find very unfortunate.”

Kristin decided to fabricate a bit to add credibility to her story. Her ultimate goal was to bring Finn Declan before her father. Despite Declan likely wanting to avoid meeting the man who had blackmailed him, he was essential in revealing the truth behind her mother’s unjust death.

Her father would be the happiest to see the obituary, believing the one person who knew his secret was no longer alive. Kristin’s actions would harm no one.

If she managed to meet Declan’s family, it would only make it easier to find him. She fervently hoped Finn Declan was still alive, hoping he would be the living proof she needed.

“So you’re saying the deceased didn’t have any family? Then, will there be people coming to visit upon seeing this obituary? Where is the body currently?”

The editor’s serious expression made Lenci, standing behind Kristin, widen her eyes. Though Kristin had briefed her before entering the newspaper office, she hadn’t anticipated the conversation would take such a turn.

Lenci grew anxious, clasping her hands nervously, a sight Kristin noticed. She squeezed Lenci’s hand and whispered.

“It’s alright, Lenci. Nothing will go wrong.”

“Yes? Yes, my Lady.”

Assured by Kristin, Lenci’s anxiety eased. The editor, observing this, commented,

“The lady next to you seems to be your maid. You’ve hired quite a lovely maid.”

“Indeed. I think so too. Anyway, I’m hesitant to share too much, so you can just publish what I tell you. After all, this is not a pleasant matter; it’s for mourning.”

“Understood. I apologize for any offense. I’ll get the typewriter. Please dictate the details.”

The editor looked around quickly and returned with a typewriter, preferring it for speed over pen and ink.

“Alright, I’m ready.”

“Then I’ll begin.”

Kristin spoke in a low voice to the editor, ready at the typewriter.

“We regret to announce the passing of Finn Declan. Those wishing to pay their respects are invited to the Hudson Mausoleum.”

As Kristin finished, the editor typing rapidly spoke up.

“The Hudson Mausoleum is quite a large mausoleum in the empire, isn’t it? It’s close to the shopping district, so those connected to Finn Declan should find it convenient to visit. For commoners without money, however, the Hudson Mausoleum is a difficult place even in death.”

“Yes, that’s true. Still, I made sure to choose that place for him. After all, he worked for our family. It’s a small gesture of gratitude, you could say. It wouldn’t feel right to place him in an unclaimed mausoleum just because he has no family. So, I specifically chose that location.”

In reality, the Hudson Mausoleum was where Kristin’s mother was buried. The mention of it was deliberate, ensuring Finn Declan couldn’t overlook it. Even through rumors, he would know Viscountess Elesia Edith was buried there.

That was why she chose that place.

There were many mausoleums within the Union Empire, but the Hudson Mausoleum was enough to touch Finn Declan’s heart.

It was the place where his patient had been buried without ever having a chance to live properly, so if he were to meet Kristin, he wouldn’t be able to lie.

She believed that as long as his conscience hadn’t completely eroded, they would be able to meet.

If he truly was the kind of person who lied without hesitation, Kristin had no intention of forgiving Finn Declan.

Now that she had set up a way to find Finn Declan, her next steps included providing compensation and treatment for the workers hospitalized from the mine incident. She also needed to review the employment contracts of the estate staff and prepare her maid, Lenci’s brother, Oliver, to become the mine’s manager.

Additionally, she had to retrieve her mother’s inheritance from Beatrice Charlotte.

In her previous life, Kristin struggled to manage even her own life. But not anymore. She intended to change the lives of those connected to her and confront the dirty truths her father and stepmother hid.

No matter what the outcome, she was no longer afraid.

Righting wrongs—that was Kristin’s only goal.