It Was A Wrong Marriage From The Beginning - Chapter 4
Translator: Nieye
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Chapter 4
“My lady!”
Lucy finally burst into sobs, her freckled nose scrunching up as she cried. Seeing Lucy’s distress somehow eased the heaviness that had been weighing on Ana’s chest.
‘At least there’s someone who cares about my misfortune.’
She comfortingly rubbed Lucy’s back.
“Unfortunately, that’s not where it ends. Please bear with me a little longer. I’ll let you cry to your heart’s content soon.”
“Pardon, y-yes… Sniff.”
Lucy obediently followed her mistress’s words, wiping away the tears and runny nose with her sleeve and straightened up.
“Fortunately, the deposits in my name and not owned by the family were still there. Without my seal, they couldn’t withdraw them. But even that was targeted. They caused a scene at the bank, demanding why those funds couldn’t be taken.”
Lucy swallowed hard, as if her throat had gone dry.
“W-who…?”
“Is there anyone other than my father who I entrusted our family’s property to?”
A sigh that she’d been bottling up finally burst forth. Ana touched her throbbing forehead with her hand.
“I immediately rushed back to the mansion hoping to find my father. But he wasn’t there. When I asked Henry, he said my father left a message stating that he would be gone for a few days and left in a hurry.”
“…”
Lucy was about to say something, but quickly closed her mouth. Ana spoke as if she were peering into Lucy’s thoughts.
“You’re right to think so. He fled. Anyway, I paced around, waiting for him to return. But the next day, instead of my father, it was Edward who came to the mansion. He came to apologize for the disastrous tea party.”
“Why would he apologize… Oh!”
Lucy, who was confused, seemed to grasp something and widened her eyes. Ana nodded with a somber expression.
“When those guests were behaving rudely towards me, behind it all was Countess Haimel, that is, Edward’s mother. If she hadn’t condoned it from the beginning, none of it would’ve happened.”
Lucy’s expression turned ashen as she nodded.
“…That makes sense.”
“That’s when I heard about Marquis Nomen.”
Ana recalled the gloomy memory of that day.
[I’m sorry, Ana. I didn’t expect my mother to behave that way.]
Edward’s usually relaxed face twisted in self-blame. Ana, with a face made sharp by lack of sleep, forced a smile.
[It’s okay. It’s not your fault.]
However, as if her words had triggered something, tears suddenly began streaming down her face. Startled, she covered her mouth with her hand. Edward, taken aback, quickly moved to her side and tried to comfort her.
[Ana, please don’t cry. It feels as if my heart is being torn apart when you cry.]
[Edward… I don’t understand how something like this could happen…]
Ana buried her face in the handkerchief he offered, crying softly. She didn’t want to show her vulnerable side to her childhood friend, but the overwhelming despair made it impossible for her to hold back tears. Edward looked at her with pity before letting out a deep sigh.
[Actually, rumors about your family’s difficulties have been circulating for a while.]
[…What are they saying?]
Ana lifted her face abruptly. Did this mean that the sudden incident wasn’t the only thing? But the surprises didn’t end there.
[I’m not sure if it’s okay to say this, but… your father has been asking me for money.]
Edward’s words hung in the air. Ana’s father went to her fiancé and asked for money? It was such shocking information that it left her dumbfounded.
Edward lowered his head as if embarrassed.
[I’m sorry. I gave it to him with good intentions. I didn’t know it would be used for gambling…]
[…Wait, did you say gambling?]
Another wave of shock hit her. Gambling? Ana felt like her world was falling apart at the seams.
Edward awkwardly covered his mouth and mumbled.
[I tried to prevent it on my side, but eventually, my mother found out…]
[Ah…]
It finally clicked. That’s why that incident happened at the tea party. Edward’s mother, Countess Haimel, had been expressing her intentions to Ana.
Extinguish yourself along with your father. You are leeches on my son.
Overwhelmed by shame, Ana lowered her head and clenched her skirt tightly. She felt so embarrassed that words couldn’t describe it. Just as she was silently choosing words of apology in her mind, Edward cautiously spoke.
[But there are even worse rumors going around.]
Ana’s face drained of color. How could things get any worse from here? Her heart tightened like a noose.
[Ana, have you heard of Marquis Nomen? He comes from a prominent family in the East.]
Ana furrowed her brow, lost in thought.
[…I’ve only heard the name. Isn’t he a nobleman known for having gone through several divorces?]
[Right. It seems he’s in contact with your father now.]
[Why…?]
Even though she didn’t know the details, a chill ran down her spine. Her face turned pale with a sense of foreboding. Edward quickly reached out and gently held her slender shoulders.
[Don’t be too scared. It seems that Count Evercline is receiving investments from Marquis Nomen.]
[…Investments?]
Ana turned slightly, shaking off his hands. Edward looked at his hand for a moment and then smiled nonchalantly.
[From what I’ve secretly gathered, that seems to be the case.]
Ana tightly held her cold hands together and nervously murmured.
[I’ve heard that he’s one of the richest men in the empire. Could our family be restored if that’s the case?]
[It’s possible. So, maybe there’s no need to worry beforehand?]
[You think so? Thank you, Edward. Hearing your words puts my mind at ease.]
Ana forced a smile onto her face. Edward smiled too, as if a burden had been lifted, and cautiously asked.
[Then, what do you plan to do next?]
Ana fell into deep thought.
The situation had changed significantly. What was initially thought to be an embezzlement by a mere estate manager could turn out to be even more serious.
‘Gambling… Worst case scenario, he might squander the money he took, and who knows, he might even put the property as collateral.’
But in the empire, unqualified individuals were prohibited from buying or selling real estate. Therefore, Somerset House always required confirmation of ownership before transfer. Plus, most of Evercline’s properties were owned by Ana.
‘Did my father conspire with Mr. Machi and forge my seal?’
It was a headache. Ana’s face twisted, and she spoke sternly.
[First, we need to find the missing estate manager as quickly as possible. They might not have disposed of all the assets yet.]
There was so much to do. She needed to check if there was any information about the wanted Mr. Machi at the Investigative Office, see if there were any changes in the property registration at Somerset House, and… consult with an attorney about her father.
‘Above all, I need to seize all of my father’s rights and verify the amount on the bills that need to be paid immediately.’
Ana couldn’t leave her father’s aide untouched. He had been particularly close to her father, making him a likely accomplice. He had always cast her eerie glances, and the fact that she could fire him was a small satisfaction amidst this chaotic mess.
As Ana contemplated all these thoughts, she felt like the air was getting thin.
[You’re planning to handle everything yourself? I could…]
Edward’s expression turned regretful as he tried to take Ana’s hand, but she held onto her teacup tightly, rendering his attempt futile.
Ana forced a smile.
[No, Edward. You’ve already done so much for me.]
[…]
[I’ll do my best, somehow.]
Edward gazed at Ana before giving her a gentle smile.
[Still, if things get too difficult, let me know. I’ll help anytime.]
[Yeah. Just your words mean a lot to me.]
Ana got up to see Edward off. He followed suit and headed toward the entrance. Before stepping out, he turned back, lightly kissing Ana’s cheek and whispering softly.
[But it’s not too far away.]
Ana was perplexed by his unexpected words.
[What do you mean?]
[You won’t have to suffer for much longer. Good days will come soon, right?]
With these meaningful words, Edward smiled warmly and retreated. Ana closed the door, feeling frustrated.
“And a few days later, my father returned.”
Ana shook her head in disbelief. Her father had shamelessly shown up as if nothing had happened, only after Ana fired his aide and the family’s attorney, and after she struggled tirelessly to handle the situation alongside the butler, Henry.
As feared, he even scraped up the money specifically saved for managing the household affairs. Ana had no choice but to use her savings along with the reserve funds she had set aside from her yearly budget to cover the outstanding bills.
After settling all the overdue bills and calculating future expenses based on the record books, she realized that they could survive for about six more months with the remaining funds.
‘We must resolve this within six months…’
Ana held back another sigh and continued her story.
“I asked him where the money from the vault and the property deeds went. He said the estate manager had tempted him with an incredible investment opportunity, guaranteeing returns of over 500%. So he quickly emptied the vault and handed it all over. That’s when Mr. Machi disappeared.”
When the ownership of a property changes, it must be reported to Somerset House, but there is no obligation to do so when it’s being used as collateral. Ana bit her lip hard, wondering where those certificates might be by now.
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