Chapter 134…
After finishing her words, Cynthia rose from her seat. Castleton clenched the two fists he had placed on the table, his breathing roughening.
I should go home now!
Cynthia abruptly stood up and headed toward the restaurant’s stairs. Jewelry store or whatever—meeting Castleton had already ruined her mood, so she thought she should hurry back and look at Tession’s face to heal herself.
At that moment, Castleton’s voice came from behind her.
“Just like you said, the Baileys will stop at nothing to eliminate anything that blocks the family’s future.”
“I see.”
“Even if that obstacle is their own blood.”
Cynthia stopped walking. Her gaze dropped low.
“…I know.”
Standing at the top of the stairs, she forced her heavy legs to move and began descending step by step.
Based on everything so far, it really did look as if Elizabeth had been killed by the Baileys. Perhaps the information she had been collecting about the Baileys’ weaknesses became the reason for her death.
After dealing with the troublesome young lady who had been a thorn in their side, they might have even gotten lucky and found a substitute whose voice sounded similar. For them, it must have been the perfect opportunity. They could get rid of the real Elizabeth and install a fake one who knew nothing.
“……”
Cynthia clenched her jaw. Her body felt as though it were cooling with a quiet, rising fury.
Elizabeth had done nothing wrong. She had only… wanted to live.
Her hand trembled violently as she gripped the stair railing. She now truly wanted to bring the Baileys down.
* * *
“Tession!”
Arriving at the Romanov Grand Duke’s residence, Cynthia hopped toward Tession, who had been waiting for her.
“Did you return safely?”
Tession lifted her up and gently spun her as he asked. Cynthia nodded and slipped down from his arms.
As expected, a handsome face was always the best! The moment she saw his soft smile, all her accumulated fatigue seemed to melt away.
“You’ve worked hard.”
“I didn’t know going out could be this exhausting…”
“There’s nothing more draining than meeting someone you don’t wish to meet.”
Tession stroked her hair as he said this.
Hmm…
Cynthia tilted her head and stared up at him. Meeting her gaze, Tession asked:
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
“When did you hear the report? I haven’t said a word about who I met today. You’re awfully fast.”
At her sharp question, Tession closed his mouth.
With only a faint smile, he subtly turned his body away.
“…I have documents to take care of. I should go.”
“Don’t run away! I didn’t say it was bad, did I? Thanks to you, what I have to say will be much easier.”
“I sincerely hope the words coming from your mouth are not the ones I’m thinking of.”
“I’m sorry, but I think they are.”
“Cynthia…”
Tession sighed and ran a hand through his hair. He closed his eyes as if trying to steady his thoughts. Cynthia approached him and took his hand.
“We can’t just look the other way now, can we?”
“And I’m the kind of man who can’t overlook it, my lady.”
“…”
He hated the idea of her stepping into danger more than death itself, but he also couldn’t stop a woman who had resolved herself to walk the righteous path.
If so, then he would simply help her with everything he had and keep her as safe as possible.
Soon, he opened his eyes and looked straight at Cynthia. In his violet gaze, unwavering trust filled the space between them.
“In that case, I have no choice. Whatever it is you intend to do, I will help you.”
“Really?”
“Yes.”
“Then please meet Dale!”
“That butler…”
“He quit working at the Bailey mansion not too long ago. And he knows a lot—really a lot—of their secrets!”
Tession frowned as he remembered Dale visiting the Romanov estate some time ago. He never wanted to see that man puffing himself up beside Cynthia again…
But eventually, he nodded.
“All right. I’ll do it.”
If she wanted it, he had no room to refuse.
* * *
A few days later, Dale was summoned to the Romanov estate and entered the reception room with awkward steps. Having to return to a place he had practically fled from not long ago clearly felt strange.
Seeing him enter with both hands full of documents, Cynthia rose from her seat.
“Dale!”
“Good day, Your Grace. Lady Cynthia.”
Tession, who had been sitting beside Cynthia, also rose. He extended his hand politely.
“Good to see you again.”
“Likewise. Thank you for sending a carriage all the way to pick me up. And… for the considerate hospitality as well.”
Dale hurriedly set the documents on the table and clasped Tession’s outstretched hand.
Huh. Look at that polite attitude. Completely different from how he acts with me.
Cynthia frowned at Dale’s overly respectful manner. Sensing her displeased gaze, Dale turned his head.
“Is something wrong, my lady?”
“Don’t forget that I’m the one who called you here.”
“Ah, of course. Thank you.”
He nodded casually.
She didn’t like his tone, but since he had brought so many documents, she decided to let it go.
“I heard His Grace wanted to help me.”
“You said you wanted to expose the Bailey family’s corruption. In that case, I can help.”
Tession answered lightly, but Dale still looked confused.
“I don’t know if I should be asking this, but… why are you helping me? As far as I know, the Romanov family has maintained a comfortable, mutually beneficial distance with the Baileys. By helping me, the Romanov family gains nothing.”
“You must have been in the Bailey household too long—you think only in terms of profit.”
Tession responded again. He raised an eyebrow, as if wondering how to explain, then simply shook his head.
“You may not understand, but monetary value isn’t the only kind of gain. By helping you, I gain something in my own way. So you don’t need to worry about our family.”
After saying that, he looked toward Cynthia. Realizing what his gaze meant, Cynthia spoke up quickly.
“Please show us the materials you brought!”
At her words, Dale placed the documents on the table. The sheer volume made Cynthia widen her eyes.
“These… all came from the Bailey mansion?”
If so, then it made all too much sense why the Baileys would never let Dale go quietly. How could they ever release someone holding this much information…?
At the same time, Cynthia began worrying about his safety.
There was no way the Baileys had simply let him walk out. It was only a matter of time before they learned Dale had visited the Romanov estate. When that happened, he would be in danger.
Then we will have to protect him…
Dale adjusted his glasses and answered.
“Of course not. The Bailey mansion’s security is airtight.”
“Then where did all this come from?”
“From inside my head.”
Cynthia gaped at him.
“All of this came from your head?”
“Yes. I memorized everything—numbers, dates, people’s roles, relationships. Then I transcribed it all.”
That’s possible…?
Cynthia stared at him as if he were some fantastical creature. No wonder his Spartan training during her time impersonating Elizabeth wasn’t for nothing…
“First, these are documents regarding the Bailey family’s tax evasion.”
Ignoring Cynthia’s stunned expression, Dale opened the first stack of documents.
“They mainly exploited loopholes in the law or omitted income. Sometimes, they even used the names of unrelated third parties.”
“They’re creative with tax evasion, at least.”
The richer they are, the worse they act, right?
Clicking her tongue, Cynthia looked over the papers Dale showed her. The pages were packed with text—evidence that the Baileys had engaged in plenty of illegal activity.
“The next set covers the transaction of illicit money and goods.”
Dale dropped a heavy ledger onto the table.
“Bribes, then?”
“You could call it that. This section should be cross-checked with the notes Lady Cynthia has from Lady Elizabeth.”
At his words, Cynthia pulled out her notebook and flipped to the page where she had recorded short phrases earlier.
“So it wasn’t just ordinary financial movement—it was bribe tracking.”
“Not all of it, but the likelihood is high.”
“How in the world did Lady Elizabeth learn about all this?”
