Chapter 63
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 63
She knew it instinctively. This was the limit of what she could extract from Benjamin Dawson through goodwill alone. Prying beyond the line he had drawn would not only be pointless but would also needlessly provoke his resentment.
"I understand completely."
Vanessa slowly retreated from the invisible line Benjamin had drawn. She gathered the will from the table and tucked it safely away inside her hat.
"Thank you for listening to me."
"...I'm sorry I couldn't be of more help."
"Not at all. You've been more than helpful."
Although she had essentially been denied what she so desperately wanted, there was no trace of disappointment on Vanessa's face. Instead, she even offered a faint smile, as if to put him at ease. Benjamin hesitated for a moment, struck by her resilience.
Vanessa searched inside her sleeve as if looking for something, then bit her lip in embarrassment and looked up at him.
"By any chance, do you have a pen I could borrow?"
"Of course..."
Benjamin readily pulled a pen from his breast pocket. For a while now, the image of a five-year-old girl had been flickering over Vanessa's features, and compared to his growing unease, this was a trivial favor to grant. Having spent his life signing documents, he still carried a fully inked pen out of habit, even after several years of retirement.
Vanessa carefully took the pen and began to write on a napkin. Just as he was thinking that her handwriting was remarkably mature and elegant for a young lady, she capped the pen and looked up.
"It's embarrassing, but this is the best I can offer."
The young woman's eyes shone with a clear, steady light as she slid the napkin toward him.
"I need an advisor to provide legal counsel regarding my inheritance. I would like to hire you for that role, Mr. Dawson."
Neatly written on the napkin were the simple terms of employment and a fee. The amount was not extravagant, but it was by no means small. It was as if she had meticulously researched the standard market rates before coming to meet him.
Benjamin suppressed a wry laugh. Contrary to her gentle appearance, she possessed a remarkably bold and shrewd character.
"An old man like me, who retired well over five years ago?"
"Are the terms insufficient?"
"They are standard. Except for the rather distant payment date for the retainer."
Vanessa met Benjamin's gaze head-on.
"I need someone experienced who knows inheritance law inside and out. Most of all, I need a skilled and trustworthy lawyer who can begin the work without my uncle finding out."
"..."
"As I mentioned, I believe the will was altered. I can't shake the suspicion that I'm missing something."
Vanessa clenched her hands tightly in her lap. The more she examined the will, the stronger her unease grew. Her late father had been a far more meticulous man than she remembered; he had specified even the most minute details regarding the businesses he ran. In that vast document, only one thing was missing: any mention of her future.
Upon her parents' death, everything—down to a single blade of grass and a single brick in Gloucester—had been transferred to her uncle. Although Ingram, which inherited the laws of the ancient Salic Empire, did not recognize female succession to the family line, it was hard to understand why she had been completely excluded from matters unrelated to land or titles.
To think, she couldn't even keep the white pony she had received for her birthday. The pony, left at a pasture in Delta, was eventually sold off to another ranch without a word. She remembered the heartbreak when she first found out.
"When I checked, the names of the businesses my father had personally written into the will were all erased. I was told that this is usually requested by the other party when investment relations are dissolved. However, looking at the ledgers from that time, there is no record of any large sums of money changing hands."
"..."
"So, I searched the newspapers and found five companies that Somerset had invested in. Two have gone out of business, and two are ignoring my letters. The remaining one did send a reply. They said that if I contacted them one more time, they would inform my legal guardian."
Benjamin stared at Vanessa, his eyes dark with thought. It was pointless to suggest she visit them in person. Would anyone take a girl who had just come of age seriously? They were already hostile over a mere letter.
Even if the late Count Somerset had made other arrangements for his daughter, the fact that no one had contacted her led to only one conclusion. Whatever those arrangements were, those who feared the truth being revealed had likely colluded to keep it hidden.
Perhaps her uncle is blocking it from his end.
Lost in thought, Benjamin watched Vanessa. Though this meeting must have been uncomfortable for her, she maintained a perfectly upright posture. Even as her fists trembled violently beneath the table, her composure above it was absolute.
She was a remarkably sensible young lady, a rarity these days. She seemed to have learned that it was best not to show all her cards when proposing a deal, though her lack of real-world experience meant her emotions couldn't quite keep up with that lesson—a minor flaw.
"..."
Had Lady Vanessa been cunning, he would have feigned ignorance. Had she been foolish, he would have ignored her. But it was difficult to turn away from her desperation, her sincerity, and the steadfast integrity she had maintained despite her loneliness.
He let out a sigh and pulled the napkin toward himself.
"Very well. Let us give it a try."
* * *
Vanessa stepped onto the deck, cooling her burning cheeks with the back of her hand. Only when the river breeze washed over her did reality slowly return.
She had thought she would be overjoyed if she managed to persuade Mr. Benjamin Dawson, but ironically, the first thing to grip her was a strange fear. She was now truly embarking on an irreversible path with her uncle. Whether there had been a misunderstanding or not no longer mattered. That was the nature of suspicion—it left wounds on a relationship that could never heal.
"My lady."
Vanessa, who had been resting her hands on the ship's railing, turned at Mary's voice. The maid had somehow managed to weave through the packed crowd and now held out a small plate she had struggled to protect. On it were bite-sized pieces of fruit, cookies, and chocolates.
"I brought you some refreshments."
"Thank you, Mary. I was so distracted I hadn't even thought of it."
"I would have been quicker, but the naval officers held me up. They were completely blocking the stairs to the deck."
Just as she was about to bite into a grape, Vanessa paused.
"...Naval officers?"
"They say they're the heroes who led the Battle of Potsdam to victory. Apparently, the Santal Company invited them personally."
At those words, Vanessa instinctively looked toward the stairs. If they were the heroes of Potsdam, could River Ross be here too? People said he was a non-commissioned officer serving directly under the famous Duke of Battenberg.
"If you aren't going to the ball, you should go back to the cabin and rest. Lady Rosalyn gave me the key, saying she would be late."
Perhaps Vanessa's pensive expression looked troubled. To Mary, it was a sign of exhaustion, and she quickly pressed a hand to Vanessa's forehead to check her temperature.
"Fortunately, your fever isn't too high."
Since childhood, Vanessa had suffered from motion sickness on long journeys. High fevers and nausea were common, and sometimes she would be bedridden for days. Compared to those times, today was a rare day when she felt relatively fine. Aside from a slight fever, her body felt light, as if her constitution had somehow changed.
"What about you, Mary?"
"I... I must stay by your side, my lady."
Her words were those of a loyal maid, but her pale, shaken gaze drifted to a distant spot. It was as if, in the crowded space, she had spotted a familiar face.