Chapter 3 – Part 1

Kristin stepped out of Grace Hall, intending to get into a carriage.

At that moment, Beatrice Charlotte, whom she hadn’t seen in a long time, grabbed her with a pale face and said,

“Kristin, Kristin! Where are you going now?”

“Oh my, Lady Beatrice.”

Beatrice was a countess and a long-time friend of Kristin’s mother. After Kristin’s mother, Elesia, died, Lady Beatrice tried to care for Kristin as if she were her daughter.

However, due to Rose’s schemes, Kristin and Beatrice had lost contact for over five years. They had desperately wanted to see each other, but the misunderstanding kept them apart until this very day at the wedding.

Beatrice had come prepared, bringing dresses and other gifts she had long wanted to give Kristin after hearing the news of her marriage to Raphael Rodney.

She had intended to bless Kristin as she entered the duke’s residence after the wedding, but everything had turned to dust.

Moreover, in Grace Hall, where all the nobles of the Union Empire had gathered, Kristin had made a fool of Duke Raphael Rodney, which Beatrice feared would bring great misfortune to both Kristin and the House of Viscount Edith.

She wanted to take Kristin to live at her residence if she could.

So, she called out loudly to Kristin, who was about to enter the carriage.

“Kristin, do you have anywhere to go? After ruining the wedding, Duke Raphael won’t stay silent, and continuing to live at Edith’s estate would be dangerous.”

“My Lady.”

“So please come with me, Kristin. I will help you hide.”

Beatrice spoke to Kristin with a pleading look, but Kristin couldn’t accept her offer.

She didn’t want to bring harm to Beatrice, who had taken care of her so tenderly since childhood. Kristin felt that whatever happened, she had to resolve it herself in this new life. Accepting someone’s help would mean it wasn’t a life truly her own.

“My lady, I will be fine. I will have to pay a huge penalty for today’s wedding, but I will handle it. If you were to hide me, you would also surely face danger. It’s been so good to see you after so long.”

“Kristin, if you ever need my help, come to Sharon Boutique at 7 Wellington Street, and I’ll be there to help you.”

“Yes, my lady. Thank you.”

Sharon Boutique at 7 Wellington Street.

It was a clothing shop Beatrice had been running for a few years. Beatrice had excellent embroidery and sewing skills. With the help of her husband, who was in the trading business, she imported high-quality fabrics from distant lands to make dresses. Sharon Boutique had become the most famous clothing shop in the empire.

Its size was substantial, and she had accumulated more wealth than an average countess would have. However, there was one issue—she had no children.

Though she had considered adoption after becoming a countess, seeing her friend’s daughter Kristin was enough for her. But when her friend Elesia died and she lost contact with Kristin, she fell into despair, feeling as if she had lost everything. Now, she was desperate to help and protect the young woman.

Upon hearing the rumors that Kristin was being tormented by her stepmother and stepsister and that she intended to flee from the Edith estate to escape her wedding, Beatrice Charlotte felt guilty and was deeply troubled for a while.

For this reason, Beatrice wanted to unconditionally support Kristin, regardless of what might happen in the future.

Kristin, who didn’t want to get married and didn’t want help from anyone, was in a different situation now.

She used to be cheerful and sociable, but at some point, she started passively following others’ opinions.

However, after six years, Beatrice could no longer see a trace of the old Kristin. When their eyes met, Kristin’s deep black irises were unwavering, as if she had made up her mind about something, and her strong determination was reflected in her eyes.

* * *

After parting with Beatrice, Kristin briefly reflected on the past.

Now, a new chapter was unfolding.

If she had gotten married like before, by now she would have been heading to the Duke’s mansion as his Duchess.

However, since she didn’t marry the duke, she had to deal with all the ensuing consequences.

Kristin thought of everything she could think of that would help her situation.

If she returned to the Edith estate in this state, her father would surely hurl insults at her without hesitation.

He had wanted to become the leader of the nobles by aligning with the ducal family, but his dreams were now all in vain.

At the center of it all was money.

Vernon, her father, couldn’t afford to lose that money.

In her past life, during her marriage to Raphael, she had heard the distressing news that her father was trying to get involved in illegal casinos.

By frequenting the casino, aiming for quick riches, he lost all the remaining land and property of the Edith estate.

After that, Vernon’s life began to fall apart.

Therefore, Kristin needed a way to smooth over everything that had happened at the wedding without ruining her father’s life.

Before heading back to the Edith estate, Kristin told the coachman to stop the carriage.

“Please, stop the carriage. I need to think for a moment”

“Yes My Lady”

As the carriage halted, Kristin noticed a small cave that she had known since childhood, before Viscountess Edith came along.

A sign saying “No Entry” stood at the entrance of the cave, and it was said that no one had entered it for years.

A cave?

“I’ve heard rumors that someone died in that cave,” the coachman said as Kristin stood looking at the cave.

Kristin turned her gaze to the rocks surrounding the cave.

It was a place she had never been curious about before.

However, with these rocks…

Mine.

That’s right. It was a mine – a mine that belonged to Raphael.

Raphael was a powerful mine owner within the Union Empire, possessing dozens of them. He often commanded his aides and knights to find new mines worth purchasing.

When Kristin had seen this happen several times, she hadn’t thought much of it.

However, less than a month after their wedding, she had heard from the servants that Raphael had purchased yet another mine.

The mine was thought to contain only common ores like iron and copper, but it turned out to be a diamond mine, where the value fluctuated greatly depending on the mineral weight.

The original owner had no idea it was a diamond mine and had sold it to Raphael for a low price, then fled to another country with the money, and nothing more was heard of him.

With an abundance of wealth, Raphael’s path was now paved even smoother with the acquisition of a diamond mine.

However, knowing what she did about the past, Kristin couldn’t let the mine fall into Raphael’s hands so easily.

The only hope she had was to find and purchase the mine’s ownership herself.

If she managed to buy the mine, paying the penalty to Raphael wouldn’t be an issue, and it would offer hope for her future life.

It would free her from her father’s reproach, and even provide the money that her father craved.

Although she was concerned about Rose and Elena being happy by her father’s side, she could devise a plan to get rid of them later.

“Then please take me back to the mansion now. I’ve sorted out my thoughts.”

“Yes, My Lady.”

Kristin slowly climbed back into the carriage.

She decided to go to the mansion first, face her father, and then subtly hint at the information about the mine.

Knowing her father, he might scoff at the idea of such a mine, but given his penchant for quick riches, he would likely think positively about purchasing it.

Kristin recalled the name of the region where the mine was located.

‘Oakley.’

That was it. By going there, she could find information about the mine listed for sale.

She decided to find that mine.

Taking the wealth that should belong to Raphael piqued her interest.

‘If he intended to use me, he must pay for his sins. The Kristin Edith who died and returned is not the same as before. I will no longer live being looked down upon by anyone.’

Even though she was a viscount’s daughter, she didn’t want to live a life of obediently attending parties and elegantly sipping tea like other young ladies.

She wanted to live a free life that even noble ladies couldn’t enjoy, a life she couldn’t even dare to dream of.

And the mine would make that life possible.

She had to own it, no matter what.