Chapter 63
The wallpaper and flooring were familiar.
She forced herself to recall the hazy memory—
When her store had collapsed after her father’s betrayal, and she’d been sorting through the mess in the pouring rain—
That was when she met Wilhelmina.
The emotions of vengeance she’d resolved upon back then surged again within her.
‘The madam said she would help me.’
It was an unreasonable request, yet because Wilhelmina said she would help, the anxiety vanished.
Of course, Wilhelmina couldn’t offer direct aid, but just the fact that she was with her made Jane feel at ease.
While Jane was reminded of her gratitude toward Wilhelmina, the door opened at just the right moment.
“Madam.”
“You don’t need to get up.”
As Jane tried to rise, Wilhelmina waved her hand dismissively.
Instead, she pulled a chair over and sat beside Jane.
The escort who had entered with her, Nata, gave a small smile before stepping outside and closing the door.
Only Jane and Wilhelmina remained in the room.
“You seemed exhausted. Did you sleep well?”
“Yes, I’m all right now. I could move this very instant.”
“Rest a little longer. It’s still raining outside.”
Come to think of it, the spring rain was still pouring down heavily.
The sound of rain hitting the window seemed even fiercer than yesterday.
“You were out cold—do I need to explain everything again?”
“No, I remember.”
“Do you? Then I’d like to hear your side of the story.”
Wilhelmina had heard a rough summary from Johan, but she didn’t know Jane’s family circumstances.
Jane parted her lips. Speaking of the past felt like chewing sand, but she calmed herself and began.
“…I’m the youngest of three. I have two older brothers—each of them oversees one of the main Goldrail locations, the flagship and the central shopping district.”
Jane’s father, Yulkes Goldrail.
He had three children.
His wife passed away from illness not long after Jane was born.
To outsiders, Yulkes was the very model of a self-made man.
He built up his trading company through savvy and grit, and within twenty years of founding Goldrail, he gained noble status.
In the conservative western markets, few merchants rose this quickly.
And he was just as selfish and calculating.
He valued wealth more than human relationships, and naturally, he made many enemies.
He wasn’t the type one would call “good.”
“But because he was that kind of man… I had expectations.”
Jane continued in a voice scrubbed of resentment.
In commoner households, educating daughters wasn’t common.
At best, a well-off family might hire a governess to teach manners, but it was unrealistic to hope for something like a noble academy education.
So unlike her brothers, Jane never received a proper education.
It wasn’t until Yulkes gained noble status that she was finally taught arithmetic and economics.
Jane was overjoyed, thinking her chance had finally come.
She thought her father had finally accepted her as part of the trading company and studied diligently.
To Yulkes, wealth and honor were the highest values.
She believed that if she could bring him those things, he would recognize her.
And perhaps as a reward, Yulkes gave her a small branch store.
“Just when things were finally picking up, he told me to give up being a merchant and prepare to be a housewife. …Ah, it’s not that I object to marriage. It’s just, my dream was…”
“I understand. You don’t need to explain further.”
Realizing that she might be insulting Wilhelmina, who had also been married off unwillingly, Jane quickly tried to backtrack.
Wilhelmina shook her head, unconcerned.
“So he took away your store because of your marriage.”
It was a scheme to connect the Goldrails to a noble house.
As a merchant who had risen to nobility, Yulkes still couldn’t easily break into high society—but if Jane married into a noble family, she could host her own parties.
That would naturally open the door for her brothers to be matched with other noblewomen.
His intentions were obvious.
“Yes. And he justified it in all sorts of ways. That I disrespected the Doman Trading Company, or that there’s no pride in working with a commoner-run restaurant…”
“I want to hear more about the Doman Trading Company. Can you explain?”
“Ah, yes.”
Jane wasn’t sure why that was important, but she recalled her dealings with Doman and began to explain slowly.
“Their main goods are…”
Though Jane’s explanation used merchant jargon, Wilhelmina followed easily.
When she finished, Wilhelmina rested her chin on her hand in thought.
“Madam?”
“…You discovered the Doman Company’s accounting fraud purely through your own effort?”
“Yes, I never planted a spy, despite what they claim.”
“Do you have any evidence?”
“I believe it would come up in an investigation.”
“Hmm. I see.”
As Wilhelmina lapsed into silence again, anxiety crept in.
Jane feared Wilhelmina might think she’d acted recklessly by making enemies of the Doman Company.
‘She might think I abused the knowledge she gave me.’
The guilt of using Wilhelmina’s insights for something so petty made Jane’s face pale.
It was a different kind of fear than when her father had betrayed her.
Jane opened her mouth, stammering.
“Th-that… I wasn’t thinking clearly at the time…”
“Then, if given the time and funding, could you investigate more trading companies?”
“…What?”
“You said evidence would turn up with enough investigation. Then if we devote proper time to it—what? What’s wrong?”
“…It’s nothing.”
Jane covered her face with both hands, trying to hide her relieved expression.
Wilhelmina tilted her head curiously but returned to her usual tone.
“We need results from other companies too. If Doman isn’t the only one, then there are probably skeletons in the closets of every major company in the Layton territory.”
“There will be. Eight or nine out of ten would try to hide their ledgers.”
“Can you find proof besides the ledgers?”
Jane removed her hands and fell into thought.
Comparing ledgers to actual inventory would be best—but without an insider, that was tough.
She’d have to personally visit remote branches, production sites, and distribution chains…
“It should be possible.”
“Good. Then let’s move on to the next phase.”
Next phase?
Jane gave Wilhelmina a questioning look, unable to guess what she was planning.
Wilhelmina calmly began to lay it out.
“You need to become a whistleblower.”
…The idea Wilhelmina proposed was unfamiliar.
Not strange, exactly—but unreadable.
And yet, the outcome she painted was incredibly sweet.
“Do you think… that’s really possible?”
“If you do it well, and if Mikhail is the person I think he is—then yes.”
Despite her words, Wilhelmina’s gaze was full of certainty.
As if there was no doubt Jane could do it. As if she was sure Mikhail would agree.
That belief gave Jane strength.
Her father hadn’t believed in her, but Wilhelmina did.
Jane still didn’t fully understand the emotion blooming in her chest.
“Can you do it?”
“What’s the deadline?”
“About three months. I’ll need time too. I can’t make the arrangements right away.”
Jane quickly calculated the time and costs for investigating the companies Wilhelmina wanted.
Including travel time, starting now and over the next three months…
“It’s possible.”
It would be tight, but it could be done.
As Jane nodded confidently, Wilhelmina smiled with satisfaction.
“Good. From now on, we’ll communicate through letters. I’m sorry to say this, but once the rain stops, you’ll need to leave the annex. It wouldn’t be good if people found out I’m supporting you.”
“No need to apologize—it’s a blessing for me.”
Jane’s eyes sparkled with gratitude.
Wilhelmina leaned back slightly, her expression unreadable, and muttered to herself, “She’s doing it too, huh…”
“For now, rest a bit more. It’s already evening. Let’s discuss the remaining plans tomorrow morning.”
“Yes, understood.”
With a clear goal ahead, Jane felt more at ease.
All she had to do now was try her best. That thought alone improved her complexion.
Just as Wilhelmina was about to leave the bedroom, a question came to Jane’s mind.
“Ah, Madam.”
“Yes?”
“I have something I’d like to ask.”
“What is it?”
“Um…”
Now that she was trying to say it, the words wouldn’t come easily.
Jane hid her embarrassment—
