Chapter 83
Chapter 83
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 83
Chapter Title: The Signed Check
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It didn't take long for Karin to reach a decision.
"Wait a moment."
Karin issued instructions to the butler before rising to her feet and entering the study that Manfred usually used.
Her lover had always loved to show off.
He would earnestly warn her not to breathe a word of the top-secret matters to anyone, yet he never missed a chance to boast about how much trust he received from "that person."
He had even claimed that this very mansion was a home he'd obtained with "that person's" help.
Rummaging through her memories, Karin opened the drawer that Manfred typically used.
Turning the handle of the third drawer, which concealed a hidden mechanism, revealed a secret compartment beneath the floor.
'Here it is!'
Karin snatched the signed check inside.
She carefully pocketed it and stepped out of the study, only to hesitate just before handing it to the butler.
It felt too risky to simply hand over a check large enough to buy an entire mansion.
"...I suppose I'll have to go myself."
"Pardon? You mean you yourself, ma'am?"
"Yes. Let's go take a look at that red diamond or whatever it is. Prepare a carriage to the pawnshop."
All the way to the pawnshop, Karin fiddled with the check tucked inside her sleeve.
The check bore "that person's" signature.
A heavyweight whose name even Karin recognized.
With this, the red diamond brooch was as good as hers.
Stepping down from the carriage in the dingy pawnshop alley, Karin followed the butler inside.
"Hey, our lady here wants to see the item."
"The item...?"
"That fine red diamond brooch that came in?"
"Ah, yes. Quite the rare treasure."
A mild-mannered middle-aged man unlocked the safe and carefully retrieved the brooch.
Even in the dim interior, it shimmered with a captivating luster that drew the eye.
As Karin instinctively reached out to stroke its surface, the pawnbroker swiftly whisked it away.
"Can't have it getting fingerprints on it."
"Hmph! Fine, I'll just buy it myself! Show me the ledger—how much did you give Paula Seller for it?"
"Quite a sum. Not something just anyone could afford..."
"That measly amount!"
Karin slammed the check down next to the brooch with a sharp thud.
The man slowly reached out and picked up the check.
His eyes widened in shock upon seeing the signature, at which point another man in the corner shed his robe and straightened up.
What she'd taken for a mere pawnshop guard revealed himself to be far bulkier than expected.
A subtle menace gleamed in his exposed eyes.
'What the...?'
The moment Karin sensed something was off, the man—whose movements were fluid like a beast's—swiftly knocked out the butler and pinned her down.
"Let go of me!"
Karin twisted and thrashed, but his grip was ironclad; she couldn't budge a single finger.
"Just need to check one thing, then I'll let you go, milady."
Peter, now without his robe, took the check from the pawnbroker's hand.
His face hardened coldly as he read the signature.
Karin began trembling like a cornered rat at the sight of his fierce expression.
"I-If you don't let go right now, I'll scream...!"
"Guess I can't do that now, can I?"
Peter struck the back of Karin's neck, even as she blustered to the end.
He'd pulled his blow as much as possible to avoid killing a civilian, but she still collapsed unconscious in one strike.
Hoisting Karin's limp body over his shoulder, Peter winked at the pawnbroker.
"What happened here today stays secret, got it?"
"Don't worry—I've done business with Viscount Verben for years. No need to doubt me."
"We'll settle the brooch with this. As for the check and brooch..."
"Yes, I saw nothing."
Peter burst into laughter at the quick-witted pawnbroker.
"Miss, Sir Peter wishes to see you."
I'd been experimenting with a new hairstyle alongside Laura when I jumped up and rushed to the door.
Had the task I'd assigned him been completed?
I opened the door to find him waiting, his expression rather grim—which suggested my plan had worked.
'Good thing I deliberately tipped them off to the pawnshop today!'
A woman with such fierce jealousy toward the legal wife that she'd flaunt even a shabby betrothal bracelet would surely covet the brooch too.
I'd predicted she'd head straight to the pawnshop the day after Paula visited.
Peter, whom I'd sent with money to retrieve the brooch, bowed his head to me and spoke.
"Milady, I got the brooch back."
"But...?"
"Well... something else came up too. I wrestled with whether to tell a young lady like you, but I reckon I can't handle this alone."
Peter held a check in his hand.
I immediately flipped it over to inspect the signature.
My blood ran cold as my worst suspicions unfolded before my eyes.
'Dominic Kalenberg.'
I never imagined that name would crop up here of all places.
Every time we dug into family matters, Uncle was somehow tangled up in it.
I was truly sick of it now—and grinding my teeth in rage.
Realizing Professor Seller had been splashing around Uncle's money like water only sharpened my fury.
'No way he handed over this much for nothing.'
It couldn't be coincidence that Uncle gave such a massive sum to a mere professor, who then abused and overworked Erich.
Professor Seller had tormented Erich on Uncle's dime.
And Uncle's son Mark had the gall to call Erich a "defective product" right in front of me.
Who the hell does he think he is to talk about my brother that way?
"Wh-What should we do, milady?"
"Uncle's, right?"
"Yes."
"Who brought it?"
"That woman calling herself Professor Seller's mistress came strutting in, bold as brass, trying to buy your brooch with it."
"And her...?"
"Caught her. Shall I wake her and bring her here?"
Obviously.
But I had an even more crucial task for Peter.
I widened my eyes as dramatically as any baby struck by inspiration.
"Eeeeek!"
"What's wrong?"
"It's Uncle's check! Did that thief steal from Uncle?!"
Take that, childish illogic!
Illogical or not, I'd snagged a chance to ransack Professor Seller and his mistress's house—I wasn't letting it slip.
If Uncle had commissioned the professor for something and paid him off, there had to be more evidence left behind.
Even a few extra signed checks from Uncle would be enough to stoke Grandfather's suspicions.
"Can't Peter search their house more?"
"Pardon?"
"Uncle would be sad if it got lost. Like when Mariella loses homework with her name on it."
"Word is, you hid that homework under your bed yourself..."
"N-No!"
How did he know?
Betty must've blabbed.
Vowing to scold her later, I pressed on with the baby act to wrap things up.
"Gonna tell Grandpa."
"What about the woman?"
"Bring her? Take to Grandpa."
"Understood. I'll ask Sir Kira to escort her to the office."
Perfect.
"And I'll go poke around that woman's mansion. Just in case she's the big-time 'thief' you mentioned, milady."
Peter emphasized "thief" with a grin.
He didn't truly think she was a thief, but he seemed thrilled at the chance to put Uncle in a bind, one way or another.
That was Uncle's karma, through and through.
The knights loyal to Father had never much liked Uncle even before.
Plus, Uncle had badmouthed the Northern knights right in front of Marquis Schleman of the South.
'No way they'd like him after that.'
Not that I did either!
Clutching the check and brooch, I strode confidently toward Grandfather's office.
'Professor Seller, you're finished!'
No matter what, I'd pry him away from Erich's side.
And while I was at it, land a solid blow on Uncle too.