Chapter 6 – Part 3

“Kristin, I have one more question,” Beatrice Charlotte said, her tone gentle but probing.

“Yes, My Lady, please go on.”

“Was not marrying Duke Raphael also for the sake of the family?”

Kristin hesitated to answer immediately. Her commitment to the Edith family was sincere, but beyond that, she wanted to survive. She never wanted to experience the cold, suffocating death she had felt in the water ever again.

“Even if I became a duchess, I wouldn’t be able to handle the jealousy and spite from other noble ladies. Wherever I go, I’d be met with cold and disdainful stares. They’d see me as someone who became a duchess in one fell swoop by marrying a great duke,” she explained, her voice trembling slightly.

—

“Even if I became the Duchess, I would still be entangled in rumors,” Kristin said, her voice steady but sorrowful.

“Poor Kristin. Even if I wanted to protect you, the rumors continued to spread. I’m sorry I couldn’t protect you,” Beatrice Charlotte replied, her tone filled with regret.

“It’s all right. I’m already exhausted from those rumors. I don’t want to face or hear them any longer. I don’t intend to become a duchess just to endure more of them,” Kristin confessed, her eyes meeting Beatrice’s with a resolve that spoke of deep weariness.

“The Edith family desperately needs a stable income. Even if it doesn’t directly translate to power, I need to have something in my hands to survive. I won’t miss the opportunity to buy Levi Mine with the inheritance my mother left me. I plan to use it for the future of my family. No matter the outcome, it’s my decision,” Kristin said with determination.

Beatrice Charlotte pondered Kristin’s words, her eyes briefly closing as she weighed the situation. When they opened again, they were filled with a firm resolve.

“If you are determined, Kristin, I will support you. First, let’s go to the bank and transfer all of Elesia’s money into your account.” Beatrice suggested.

“No, My Lady,” Kristin responded quickly.

She needed to protect the inheritance from any potential threats, especially from her stepmother, Rose. Ten billion gold was a staggering sum that could easily fund a luxurious noble life for years.

With Elena’s debutante ball approaching, Rose’s focus might not be on Kristin yet, but once preparations were complete, she would surely start watching Kristin more closely.

If Rose discovered the existence of this account, it could jeopardize Kristin’s plans. She urgently explained to Beatrice,

“My stepmother has often monitored my actions. For now, please keep the money in your care until I need it. If there’s any word of me visiting the bank with you, Rose will surely be suspicious.”

“All right, then I’ll gather the money, and we’ll head to the Oakley region.”

Kristin nodded. “The jewels I have should suffice as a down payment for the mine. I also plan to compensate the miners trapped in the accident. Someone has to look after them.”

Kristin took out the jewels she had been keeping in her pouch, showing them all to Beatrice.

These were the jewels Elesia had given Kristin on her birthdays—sapphire, aquamarine, garnet, amethyst, emerald, and more, totaling fourteen. Elesia had intended to give Kristin a fifteenth jewel but had passed away before she could.

“Those trapped miners and their waiting families are pitiable too, but if this is truly what you want, Kristin,” Beatrice said, her voice trembling with emotion.

“My Lady,” Kristin began.

“Elesia once saved me from death. She introduced me to my current husband, the Baron. I owe her a great debt,” Beatrice said firmly.

“Thank you for your help. I feel stronger knowing you’re with me. I’ve always felt so alone,” Kristin admitted, her eyes softening with gratitude.

“You are not alone. I’ve always wanted to protect and help you. I’m glad I can finally do so now,” Beatrice replied warmly.

“The accident at Levi Mine does trouble me,” Kristin said.

“The newspaper article is concerning. But if I were the mine owner, I’d want to sell such a troublesome mine quickly. Without proper repairs, accidents will continue,” Beatrice agreed.

—

Kristin and Beatrice prepared to leave for Oakley, driven by a shared determination to turn the tide for the Edith family and honor the memory of Elesia.

The Levi Mine.

Finally, Kristin found the mine through a newspaper article.

In the past, Raphael had received a report from the mine manager that many diamonds had been found at Levi Mine. Kristin had learned this by overhearing his discussions with his aides. If the past held true, the mine certainly contained diamonds.

Kristin felt a strong sense of responsibility, not just for the diamonds but for the trapped miners. She knew all too well the terror of being buried alive, awaiting death.

‘How on earth am I going to resolve this?’

A headache surged through Kristin. She attempted to get out of bed, but dizziness forced her to sit back down. Steadying herself with her hands on the floor, she accepted Beatrice Charlotte’s help to stand.

“Thank you for your help, My Lady.”

“Don’t mention it. Let’s go, Kristin.”

Beatrice Charlotte entrusted her boutique to an employee, and after preparing, they headed to Oakley.

* * *

Oakley was located in the deepest part of the Union Empire, surrounded by mountains. The city, shrouded in a cold, gray hue and dust, perfectly encapsulated its identity as a mining region with its smoky, hazy air.

Kristin, Beatrice Charlotte, and Lenci couldn’t help but feel the despair permeating the region. The entire city was somber due to the collapse at Levi Mine.

Kristin, visiting for the first time, had limited information. The newspaper article mentioned that Oakley had a merchants’ association responsible for mining operations, overseen by Neil Morrison.

Neil Morrison, a prominent Marquis and wealthy figure in the empire had entrusted the management of Levi Mine to his son, Liam Morrison.

However, according to the article, Liam was known for his lack of competence, preferring leisure, and lacking a sense of responsibility, which resulted in inadequate safety measures. The mine entrance had collapsed during extraction due to poor internal design and weak supports.

Moreover, continuous safety inspections had been neglected entirely.

Unfortunately, Neil Morrison was traveling abroad at the time of the accident, leaving the site without its chief overseer. His son, Liam, shirked responsibility, claiming ignorance and insisting safety measures had been followed.

Despite being the manager, he had no clear understanding of the mine’s operations. Consequently, Neil Morrison had to manage the most critical aspects of the mine, compensating for his son’s incompetence.

Unlike his father, who had diligently built his merchant business to become a wealthy man and acquired the title of marquis, Liam Morrison seemed to only exploit his status as a marquis’s son. He was said to chase after young ladies while showing little care for the miners.

Kristin thought back to the articles she’d read before coming here, and it didn’t make sense.

Why didn’t the Merchant Association have any complaints about someone like Liam Morrison?

Just as Kristin was pondering this question, she heard the answer from the coachman.

“You’ve arrived. May I ask why you came here?”

“I was wondering about the Levi Mine, and I read in the newspaper that someone named Liam Morrison is connected to the Merchant Association, is that correct?”

“Yes, it’s the same Liam Morrison, the manager, and the merchants here. The merchants don’t know much about the mining business, they just invested in it because they heard it would make them a lot of money. The merchants hired the men to work here, but they say nothing is right.”

“What? Is that true?”

Kristin was surprised.

“The so-called Merchant Association is just a name. In reality, all the merchants involved have been business partners with the Morrison family, putting forth their people as the ‘association members’. Unless this accident made the news, no one outside this region would have known.”

Hearing this, Kristin felt a sense of despair. There was no proper person in charge, and corruption was rampant. The grim scene before her was heartbreaking.

The collapsed mine resembled a mere pile of dirt, and the entrance was blocked by rocks, soil, and wood, with a “No Entry” sign visible.

When the mine collapsed, the workers’ families tried to rescue them, but they lacked the necessary equipment.

Additionally, it was difficult to secure the wages for the workers who would carry out the rescue operation.

The newspaper article she last read mentioned that “if there is an emergency shelter inside the mine, they might be there.” That thought briefly crossed her mind.

If the miners buried in the mine were still alive, it would be nothing short of a miracle.

Kristin spoke to the coachman who was about to depart.

“But how do you know so much about this incident? We came here from 7 Willington Street in the capital.”

“Well, you see,”

The coachman, who was in his fifties, answered with a hearty laugh.

“My son runs a restaurant for the workers here. Because of him, I come here a few times a week. Working in the city is nice, but there are many commoners traveling between this place and the shopping district, and I travel to various regions, so I know the local situations well.”

Kristin pondered over his words for a moment.

Normally, if there was an accident in any part of the Union Empire, it would take at least a day, and possibly a week or more, before it was reported in the newspapers.

Even if she read the newspaper today, in most cases, the accident site would have already been cleaned up.

Given that it took less than an hour to get from 7 Willington Street to here, it would have taken at least two days for a newspaper to report on the accident, no matter how fast it was.

Reporters would have had to travel back and forth to investigate the incident and find witnesses and the workers who worked there.

However, if at least two days had passed, Liam Morrison, who caused the incident, would certainly no longer be at his mansion.

So where could she find him?

It would take a lot of money to clean up the site of the accident, and it wouldn’t be easy to get the mine up and running again.

When Raphael bought this mine cheaply in the past, she hadn’t seen any newspaper articles about the mine collapsing.

Before the Duke purchased the Levi Mine in the Oakley region, he found out it was listed cheaply in the real estate market and acquired it with ease.

It was almost as if it was destined to be his.

The Duke made quite a profit from this mine.

Raphael learned about this opportunity from his aide, who traveled through every region of the Union Empire countless times. Although the contract was made through real estate, the mine owner, Liam Morrison, sold it off cheaply as if he was trying to get rid of it due to some issue.

The Duke was pleased to have acquired the Levi Mine at such a low price.

Suddenly, Kristin realized.

The Duke had no idea that the Levi Mine was on the verge of collapse when he bought it.

The Duke, who never made mistakes, had purchased the mine without proper investigation because the Levi Mine was one of the largest in the Oakley region.

Although the Duke may have profited from this acquisition, the miners’ lives were already in shambles.

If the mine had collapsed after the Duke purchased it, the aftermath would have been severe, and he would have struggled to manage it.

Kristin’s lips curved into a smile.

‘You seemed so smart and flawless, but that wasn’t the case after all, Duke Raphael. However, even if you had encountered this situation, you wouldn’t have let it slide easily.’

With that thought, Kristin made a decision.

She would find Liam Morrison and ensure that she bore all the responsibility and provided compensation if he sold the Levi Mine to her.

That was the only way she could get her hands on the mine.

Therefore, she had to find Liam Morrison no matter what.

Kristin asked the coachman again.
“Do you happen to know where Marquis Liam Morrison is?”

The coachman glanced at Kristin and cautiously replied.

“My son told me that he frequents a tavern. He’ll probably visit the tavern one last time before being summoned to the palace.”

A tavern.

He must be planning to have his last meal before being taken to the palace.

Kristin decided to meet Liam Morrison based on the coachman’s words.

“If you’re curious, the tavern is called Brandon’s. It’s about 100 meters down that way, you can’t miss it.”

“Thank you for the information.”

‘Brandon Tavern.’

Kristin’s companion, Beatrice, placed a protective hand on her shoulder, signaling her readiness to accompany Kristin to meet Liam.

“Let’s go, Kristin.”