NOVEL NEXT WORLD Chapter 145
“…Riche.”
“It’s more upsetting to see Alexei looking so down,” Anriche said, patting Alexei’s back in comfort.
After hesitating for a moment, he finally embraced her.
Her husband truly seemed exhausted…
‘I feel sorry for him.’
Anriche unconsciously tightened her arms around him.
Alexei softly murmured, “The opponent is the First Prince, isn’t it?”
“That’s right.”
“So the safest course for our family would be…”
After trailing off for a moment, Alexei sighed and continued, “It would be to handle this issue delicately without antagonizing the royal family. But still…”
Alexei gazed down at Anriche.
His usually calm blue eyes were shaking today, unable to find their focus.
“If we dig deeper into this matter… Riche, would you try to stop me?”
Alexei scoffed quietly at himself.
‘How ridiculous.’
He had boldly declared in front of the emperor that he would “investigate without question,” and yet here he was, unable to even trust his own actions and seeking his wife’s opinion.
‘I didn’t want to burden Riche…’
But Anriche, who had been gazing up at him, shook her head decisively.
“No.”
“May I ask why you answered that way?”
“Because I want you to be a father Elliot can be proud of.”
Opening up, Anriche smiled brightly at Alexei.
“I think I need to return the favor for something you once told me.”
“…Something I said?”
“Yes.”
She nodded vigorously.
“You once told me…”
“What did I say…?”
“You said to do my best in the multi-passenger carriage business.”
Her smile deepened a little.
“And that the children would be proud of me doing my best.”
Ah.
Alexei blinked.
She was talking about the time the emperor had summoned him regarding the multi-passenger carriage business.
Was it not time to put work aside and spend time with the children?
It was when Anriche had been troubled about that very thing.
“I still think the same as back then.”
“Riche.”
“You are doing the right thing. So let’s do your best in that work.”
As if encouraging him, Anriche patted his back gently.
“Please become a wonderful adult that Elliot and Liliana can be proud of.”
“…Do you really think so?”
“Of course.”
Strangely enough, the moment Anriche said that, Alexei felt a bit lighter on his shoulders.
As if someone had come to help carry a burden he hadn’t even realized he was shouldering.
“Really, you are something else.”
After carefully observing Alexei’s expression, Anriche spoke teasingly.
“Your complexion is finally looking better.”
“Well, perhaps it’s because I heard Riche’s comforting words?”
“Even if you flatter me like that, I have nothing to give you in return.”
“I mean it, though.”
Alexei chuckled softly.
His previously troubled heart had calmed down, like a lake after a storm.
‘How strange.’
When she was by his side…
He felt a conviction that he could overcome any adversity.
***
A few days later.
The incident took a new turn.
A lawsuit against the Count Everett family was suddenly filed.
The one who submitted the lawsuit was none other than Jeanette Rondini, the daughter of the fallen Rondini barony.
***
A peaceful afternoon.
Anriche was sitting in the living room next to Delphina, checking the mail that had arrived for the duke’s family.
Suddenly, she widened her eyes.
“What on earth is this?!”
At her bewildered muttering, Delphina looked at her in confusion and asked, “My dear, what’s the matter?”
In response to that question, Anriche instinctively looked around.
“Where are the children?”
“They’re in the playroom right now.”
Only after hearing Delphina’s answer did Anriche hand her the mail.
“Please take a look at this, Mother.”
“What on earth could be so alarming?”
As Delphina took the letter without a second thought, her expression suddenly turned to one of shock.
“Why is there a notice from the court?!”
The notice, stamped with the court’s seal, stated that a lawsuit had been filed.
Delphina quickly began to examine the notice.
After a short while, her face contorted with anger.
“What is this?!”
“The Count Everett family has been accused of producing and distributing counterfeit currency?!”
“It seems that the lawsuit has indeed been filed with such charges.”
“That’s absurd! When did the Count and Countess Everett even pass away?!”
Delphina raised her voice without realizing it.
“And Liliana is still just seven years old! There’s no way she could do such a thing!”
Anriche fully empathized with the incredulous feeling. She explained in a suppressed voice, “According to the lawsuit, it says that the deeds committed by the Count and Countess Everett during their lifetime have now come to light.”
“No, what a ridiculous…!”
Just as Delphina was about to vent her frustration again, a soft voice interrupted.
“…Mother?”
It was Liliana.
Startled, Anriche and Delphina quickly turned around.
“Lily?!”
“Oh no, dear!”
Liliana stood before them with a pale, frightened face.
She looked so fragile that a gust of wind could blow her over.
“A lawsuit… you say?”
Liliana repeated in a trembling voice.
“Lily, that’s…”
“Counterfeit currency distribution?! What does that even mean?”
Liliana stumbled over her words.
Ah.
Anriche sighed inwardly.
‘I was trying to ensure Lily wouldn’t make that face again…’
The expression on Liliana’s face was just like when they first met at the Rondini Orphanage.
She looked utterly terrified and confused, not knowing what to do.
“T-That can’t be true. Our parents wouldn’t do such a thing…”
“Right, there’s no way.”
Anriche hurriedly stood up and embraced Liliana.
The child desperately burrowed into Anriche’s arms.
Tears had begun to well up in her light green eyes.
“There must be some mistake, right? Isn’t that so?”
“Exactly, it must be.”
While comforting the child, Anriche turned to Delphina.
“Mother, could you please take care of Lily for a bit?”
“And you?”
“I’m going to see Alexei. I need to discuss this matter with him.”
“Go ahead. Be careful.”
Delphina nodded.
Anriche hurriedly exited the room.
***
Buried under a pile of documents in the palace, Alexei received unexpected news.
“Your Grace, the Duchess has come to see you.”
“Riche?”
This meant Anriche had entered the palace to find him.
With a puzzled expression, Alexei nodded.
“Please bring her in right away.”
“Yes, Your Grace.”
A moment later,
Anriche rushed into his office, her steps hurried.
“Riche, what brings you here…?”
“There’s a lawsuit filed against the Count Everett family!”
As soon as she faced Alexei, Anriche blurted out.
He was taken aback.
“What? A lawsuit? What do you mean?”
Hearing his bewildered response, Anriche realized that Alexei was completely unaware of the situation.
‘This can’t be.’
Anriche bit her lip and pressed on.
“Take a look at this.”
She handed him the notice she had brought.
Alexei quickly read through it.
After a moment,
His face hardened.
“…They’ve filed the lawsuit without any advance notice to keep me from responding.”
Anriche silently nodded.
Alexei’s gaze moved to the bottom of the notice.
“The complainant… Jeanette Rondini?”
Seeing the name of the complainant, Alexei twisted his lips into a smirk.
“Interesting.”
Alexei, the only duke in the empire and the trusted right hand of the emperor, found the situation intriguing.
To block him from receiving this news in advance was no ordinary feat that a typical person could achieve.
Moreover, Jeanette had a grudge against Liliana.
For her to accuse the already deceased Count and Countess Everett of being the masterminds behind the counterfeit currency…
“She must be quite a significant figure.”
His bright blue eyes turned as cold as a lake frozen over with thin ice.
And the one who stood to gain the most from this lawsuit…
“The First Prince and the Empress.”
Alexei clenched his teeth tightly.