Chapter 3 – Part 2

Kristin’s carriage soon arrived at the Edith estate.

As she slowly got out of the carriage, Vernon, Rose, and Elena all approached her simultaneously.

And all of them had terrifying expressions, ready to unleash their anger on her.

However, Kristin remained unfazed, displaying a calm demeanor that was uncharacteristic of her past self.

If it had been the Kristin they knew, she would have been unable to say a word, hanging her head in guilt.

Contrary to their expectations, Kristin held her head high as she unloaded her luggage from the carriage as if nothing had happened.

“Kristin, you…”

“Kristin, even if you have many complaints about me, this is not the way to act.”

“Are you out of your mind? You rejected the wedding with Duke Raphael and now you betray us?”

The three-spoke to Kristin in agitated voices.

Rose, realizing that Viscount Vernon was beside her, slowly lowered her raised hand. If Viscount Vernon had not been there, she would have slapped Kristin as she had done before.

Kristin looked at the three of them and smiled before speaking in a clear, unflinching tone.

“I simply didn’t want to go through with a marriage I didn’t want.”

Her voice was steady and unwavering, surprising Rose, who now spoke in a nearly pleading tone.

“Still, Kristin. For the sake of the Edith family—”

“For the sake of the Edith family, you say? Someone who wasn’t even born into this family and has always looked down on us?”

“What nonsense are you spouting? How dare you speak to your mother like that!”

“It’s my fault, My Lord. I’ll try to persuade Kristin to marry the Duke”

“Very well, Rose.”

“That won’t be necessary, Mother.”

“Kristin.”

“I never imagined you’d do something so absurd, sister. Just a few days ago, you were blushing over the duke’s letters and taking him to your room. Was all that just an act?”

Elena’s mocking tone was met with a calm response from Kristin.

“You have no right to say anything to me, Elena.”

Kristin then addressed Viscount Vernon.

“Father.”

“I don’t want to speak to an irresponsible daughter. Not for a while.”

“However, if you knew what Duke Raphael and I discussed in my room, you’d be truly astonished. We don’t need to marry him for the Edith family to become wealthy. I want to make up for my mistake with this information.”

Kristin thought quickly.

If she suddenly started talking about the mine to her father, he would surely dismiss it as nonsense without listening properly.

Furthermore, the Oakley region, where the mine was located, was largely undeveloped and considered a wasteland, purchasing its mines and lands seemed like madness to the nobles.

Even though the mines were being sold at a bargain price, their scale was considerable, requiring a significant amount of wealth. At this point, the Edith family would have to risk their entire fortune to buy the mine.

Therefore, there was no way Vernon would make such a reckless and dangerous decision.

So Kristin decided to turn it to her advantage by claiming that Raphael had provided this information.

They certainly knew that she had spoken with him in the room when he visited the Edith mansion a few days before the wedding.

So they would suspect that what she was saying now wasn’t a lie.

However, they would likely be disappointed and resentful that she had returned to the insignificant Edith family without having a wedding and had missed out on a lot of wealth. Still, they wouldn’t be able to easily reject her proposal.

Especially since the information about the mine came from none other than Raphael.

Additionally, if they bought it first, they could live without financial worries for the rest of their lives.

“This isn’t something I should discuss here. I’d like to speak in the study.”

“Why can’t you say it here?” Rose asked, looking at Kristin disapprovingly. Kristin shrugged and smiled calmly.

Then, she carefully replied to Rose.

“It’s something Father needs to hear and decide on. If the servants overhear it, rumors might spread and reach other nobles.”

At the mention of servants, the servants who had been working nearby scattered, sensing the tension.

“Don’t mind us. Please speak comfortably,” said the head maid, one of the servants. Kristin winked at her in gratitude.

“Thank you. But I feel more comfortable discussing it in the study.”

“What exactly do you need to say?”

“I’ll explain once we’re upstairs. It’s information that Father will be pleased to hear.”

“If it’s not credible information, you’ll have to face the consequences for your actions, Kristin.”

* * *

Rose and Elena were left in the drawing room, and Kristin lightly bowed to them in apology before heading up to her father’s study.

Kristin’s heart pounded as she climbed the stairs.

Even though she knew the future because of her past experiences, she couldn’t fully trust that her father would go along with her plan.

“Why on earth did you act that way today?”

“Father.” Kristin couldn’t tell him the truth. He wouldn’t believe her even if she did.

If she claimed she had experienced death and come back, he definitely wouldn’t believe her, and if she was unlucky, she might be forced into a marriage with the Duke.

She didn’t want that to happen.

Kristin took a sip of the tea the servants brought, then spoke slowly.

“Duke Raphael already has someone else.”

She only said this much.

“What?” Vernon looked at her with a mixture of disbelief and curiosity, gesturing for her to continue.

Kristin pretended to hold back tears and said, “I found out that there’s already someone else he cares about.”

“That’s… ridiculous. How did you find out? Are you sure? If what you’re saying is true, I won’t let it slide.”

Kristin, unable to bear watching Vernon stand up in a fit of rage, gently grabbed his arm and spoke quickly.

“I never even thought that Duke Raphael might have someone else. But when he visited our mansion a few days ago, he accidentally dropped a letter in my room. That’s how I found out.”

“He’s trying to disgrace our Edith family while pretending to be good to you? Bring me that letter immediately. I will ensure that whoever that person is, they won’t be able to show their face in the Union Empire.”

“I’ve already torn up the letter. How could I keep it? Even though the Duke wouldn’t ask about it if the letter were found in my room, who knows what he might do to me.”

“Damn it, who is this woman that Duke Raphael has feelings for?”

“Father, it is Princess Rebella, the princess of a neighboring kingdom. She’s someone incomparable to me.”

“That damned Duke.”

“Father, please calm down. I’m all right. So even if we have to pay a penalty, I’d rather just let this whole thing go.”

“I never imagined you would go through something like this. Why would he toy with you when he has Princess Rebella? That vile Duke.”

Vernon felt sorry for his daughter. If what she said was true, the marriage was doomed from the start. He didn’t want to turn his daughter into a divorced noblewoman.

He could find another good match for her in the future.

Kristin could sense her father’s pity, but she didn’t feel any genuine care from him. To Vernon, money was the most important thing.

That’s why his gaze was still wavering with frustration.

“I’m sorry, Father.”

“Well, there’s nothing we can do about it now. Let the past be the past.”

When Vernon said that, Kristin, putting on a sorrowful expression, decided to get to the main point she wanted to discuss.

“Our family can’t afford such a large penalty. And I believe the dowry we received has been nearly all used up. I asked Mother and Elena to return everything Duke Raphael gave us.”

“I know. I heard some things have been sent back. But Rose took the dowry, saying it would be used for you later. I’m sure she has kept it safe.”

Although Vernon said that, there was an anxious look in his eyes.

Having observed Rose for years, he knew her love for luxury and vanity would mean the money was likely gone.

As they had done in the past, Rose and Elena had spent every penny of Kristin’s dowry. The amount was enough for a noble family to live comfortably for a year without working, but Vernon couldn’t easily make that kind of money again.

Seeing her father’s anxious expression, Kristin spoke again.

“Whether we have the dowry or not, we’ll have to pay much more than that as compensation. But, we already know that our family can’t make such a large amount of money.”

“That’s true.”

“So, I want to give you an important piece of information. Are you curious about the information Duke Raphael gave me? It’s about a mine.”

“A mine?”

“Yes. I heard there’s something very valuable hidden in that mine.”

“A mine? I don’t know what you mean by valuable, but you know buying a mine is a waste of money. You’re not talking about that desolate Oakley region, are you?”

Kristin nodded, a sly smile forming on her lips.

“Yes, Father. It’s that place. The Oakley region.”

“Kristin.”

Vernon’s eyes, calling Kristin, were filled with a mix of suspicion and a peculiar delight.

The thought of the Oakley region made him believe he could somehow gather the money.