Caroline sighed and said, thinking that Jeremiah’s cold reaction was because of what happened in the study.
“What is it? It’s because of Lord Genon.”
As soon as Genon’s story came up, Jeremiah’s expression turned sour.
“Wouldn’t it be better to quickly reprimand him and kick him out? There’s no need to lock him up in prison.”
“I’ll make the judgment and punishment.”
It was a clear line that told her not to meddle unnecessarily.
When Genon’s story came up, Karina chimed in with a look of joy.
“I went to prison to see Lord Genon earlier.”
“...So?”
“Lord Genon said something interesting. He said that there was someone else who planned and suggested what happened in the study today.”
As she said that, Karina fixed her cold gaze on Caroline.
It was a gaze that clearly implied, ‘That was you.’
“...”
The intense gaze made the people start to murmur.
Karina put a stop to it.
“What on earth were you thinking, Caroline?”
“...!”
“Huh!”
When Caroline was openly pointed out as the mastermind, the people gasped in surprise.
All eyes around them were focused on them.
No one spoke, and a silence so desolate that one could hear breathing enveloped the surroundings.
“That’s nonsense. I don’t know anything about this.”
Caroline snorted and tried to act innocent.
“Even though there’s evidence?”
“Evidence? What evidence?”
Caroline acted confidently as if to tell them to show it to her.
Karina nodded to a corner of the venue.
There, a maid was standing there, trembling with fear.
It was the maid who had tried to hand the note to Genon.
“The maid working under the Princess came to see me, saying she had something to tell Lord Genon, who was in prison.”
Karina took out the note she had seen earlier.
“This is the note that the maid was trying to give to Lord Genon.”
Karina unfolded the note in front of everyone as if showing off.
[Keep your mouth shut until I take you out.]
“Are you still going to evade your responsibility?”
Caroline said with a smirk on her lips as if she found it funny.
“I don’t remember writing anything like that. I don’t even remember that maid’s face.”
Caroline glared at the maid as she said that.
“If you still want to say that I wrote this note, shouldn’t you ask that maid yourself?”
The maid’s face turned pale with fear as she received Caroline’s gaze.
As soon as everyone’s eyes were on her, the maid began to tear up and started to squirm like crazy.
Karina, who had expected Caroline to act like that, sneered.
'You're going to pretend not to know and get away with it? That's ridiculous.'
"This isn't the only evidence."
The eyes of those around her turned to her at Karina's words.
"Caroline. I heard that you wrote a promissory note to pay a large sum of money to Lord Genon when you proposed the job today."
"...!"
Caroline's eyes widened momentarily at Karina's words and her pupils trembled slightly.
"I never did that."
Karina laughed at Caroline's lie that would be exposed right away and continued speaking in a relaxed manner.
"You said you would also hand over the quaint five-story mansion in the Lenton area, right?"
"I told you I don't know anything about it. I don't understand why you're arresting a living person. You're not saying this because I said something hurtful to you earlier, are you?"
Caroline shamelessly tried to ignore it.
Instead, she cornered Karina as if she were a strange person.
"There's evidence, but you keep evading it, so there's nothing I can do."
Karina smiled, lifting the corners of her lips, took out the documents, and shook them lightly for everyone to see.
“What are those?”
Karina answered Jeremiah’s question.
“The promissory note and the deed of transfer of the mansion that Lord Genon handed over as evidence to prove that what I said was true.”
Jeremiah’s eyes widened slightly in surprise upon hearing her words.
“Here, Caroline is your handwritten signature as well.”
“...!”
Caroline’s signature was clearly visible at the bottom right corner of the documents.
“Oh my...!”
Exclamations escaped from the mouths of several people standing nearby.
“Is everything the Grand Duchess said true?”
“I guess it’s true since there’s even a signed document.”
Those who were listening to Karina and Caroline’s conversation around them murmured.
“In the world, what happened earlier was planned by the Princess.”
“What exactly happened earlier?”
“Well, well, in the study earlier, Lord Genon...”
Everyone started talking about the story again.
Karina handed the document to Jeremiah indifferently.
“Your Highness. Check it yourself.”
“...”
Jeremiah accepted the document.
Jeremiah’s expression hardened as he checked the contents.
The veins in his temple stood out as he recognized Caroline’s handwritten signature.
The hand holding the document crumpled the paper as if it had been held with too much force.
“No! I indeed gave Lord Genon a promissory note, but it was for a business investment.”
Caroline said in an urgent voice.
“If you need the contract, I’ll show you. It’s true.”
Karina asked with a bitter laugh.
“Business investment. Then how are you going to explain the transfer deed of the mansion?”
Caroline’s eyes widened at Karina’s question.
However, she glared at her fiercely and protested desperately.
“Lord Genon was starting a new business, but he didn’t have a proper space, so I just provided him with a place. What was so wrong with that?”
“Without saying a word to me?”
A low voice flowed from Jeremiah.
Unlike usual, the voice was chillingly cold.
“That’s...!”
Caroline bit her lower lip and took a deep breath before speaking softly.
“Yeah. It was my fault for signing the investment contract without saying anything. But that’s really all.”
Seeing Caroline trying to escape again, Karina intervened with an expression of incredulity.
“That’s so different from what Lord Genon said?”
“Lord Genon lied. He must have been greedy for the huge investment.”
Caroline pretended to be shocked, put her hand on her forehead, and exhaled.
“I’m really embarrassed, too. I didn’t know Lord Genon would frame me like this.”
She hated that sight so much.
“Then why did you hide the fact that you signed an investment contract with Lord Genon?”
“Hide? The Archduchess speaks so strangely. I didn’t hide it; I was just going to tell her later. I’m so busy and distracted by the charity event.”
Caroline stared straight at Karina.
It was a look of clear contempt as if she thought someone like her could touch her.
Karina snickered as if it didn’t hurt her at all.
“Then how about this?”
Karina signaled to Mikhail, and he let the children outside into the banquet hall.
“Wow!”
“It’s spacious!”
“It’s so warm!”
A dozen children entered the auditorium, exclaiming in surprise.
However, unlike their bright expressions, the children’s appearances were shabby.
Their heads and faces were dirty from not washing properly, and their hands and fingernails were dirty with dirt.
Some of the children had runny noses because they were wearing thin clothes in the cold weather.
“What are they?”
Caroline frowned.
The other nobles in the auditorium were also bewildered by the sudden entrance of the children.
“Everyone, come here.”
The children came closer to Karina’s call.
“Caroline. Do you know these children?”
Carina asked Caroline.
Caroline made a face of not knowing anything.
At that moment, a child who was looking at the sparkling jewels on the hem of Caroline’s dress sneezed.
“Ahhh!”
“Ugh!”
Caroline grimaced and got angry.
“Where are you sneezing on? You filthy thing!”
Caroline roughly pushed the child away.
“Ugh!”
The child who was pushed away fell backward.
“What are you doing!”
Karina quickly went to the child who had fallen and comforted the startled child.
Caroline snorted as if she was in awe and said,
“Grand Duchess! Are you thinking? Where did you bring these dirty beggars to this place?”
Caroline continued to speak in a scolding tone as if she was being caught.
“Even though it’s a charity event, it’s not a place where you can bring in street beggars and feed them. Did you decide to host the event without knowing that?”
“I know. It’s an event to learn more about the relief work and charity work being done in the North.”
Karina answered calmly, examining each child one by one.
“That’s why I brought these children.”
“...?”
Caroline had a puzzled expression on her face.
“Caroline. Do you really not know these children?”
“How would I know these rascals? I don’t know what you’re trying to do.”
Karina scoffed at Caroline’s ignorance.
“This is really strange. These children are from the Ellie Orphanage that you support as part of your poverty relief project.”
“...!”
Karina’s words stirred the auditorium.
“The Ellie Orphanage receives 100 gold in support funds every month. I’d like to hear an explanation as to why the children are acting like this. Caroline.”
People started to whisper at the mention of 100 gold per month.
“They receive 100 gold per month.”
“The orphanage is receiving that much support?”
“Isn’t 100 gold the equivalent of a month’s operating expenses for a noble family?”
“But why do the children act like that?”
“At first, I thought they were really strays because they were so skinny.”
“That’s right. Do they feed them properly?”
“How did they spend all that support money...”
Caroline’s expression was filled with disappointment.
The Northern Relief Project authority was officially under her responsibility, under the pretext of helping the Grand Duchess.
“I don’t know. The orphanage’s affairs... I heard that the orphanage director takes care of it...”
Caroline racked her brain to find a way out.
Karina snickered at the sight.
Karina wanted to jeer at Caroline’s flimsy excuse.
“Yes, Caroline. Is this the only thing you don’t know?”
Karina said sarcastically and nodded to Mikhail, who was waiting with a stack of documents.
“Here it is.”
Mikhail handed the stack of documents he had brought to Karina.
“What is it? It’s because of Lord Genon.”
As soon as Genon’s story came up, Jeremiah’s expression turned sour.
“Wouldn’t it be better to quickly reprimand him and kick him out? There’s no need to lock him up in prison.”
“I’ll make the judgment and punishment.”
It was a clear line that told her not to meddle unnecessarily.
When Genon’s story came up, Karina chimed in with a look of joy.
“I went to prison to see Lord Genon earlier.”
“...So?”
“Lord Genon said something interesting. He said that there was someone else who planned and suggested what happened in the study today.”
As she said that, Karina fixed her cold gaze on Caroline.
It was a gaze that clearly implied, ‘That was you.’
“...”
The intense gaze made the people start to murmur.
Karina put a stop to it.
“What on earth were you thinking, Caroline?”
“...!”
“Huh!”
When Caroline was openly pointed out as the mastermind, the people gasped in surprise.
All eyes around them were focused on them.
No one spoke, and a silence so desolate that one could hear breathing enveloped the surroundings.
“That’s nonsense. I don’t know anything about this.”
Caroline snorted and tried to act innocent.
“Even though there’s evidence?”
“Evidence? What evidence?”
Caroline acted confidently as if to tell them to show it to her.
Karina nodded to a corner of the venue.
There, a maid was standing there, trembling with fear.
It was the maid who had tried to hand the note to Genon.
“The maid working under the Princess came to see me, saying she had something to tell Lord Genon, who was in prison.”
Karina took out the note she had seen earlier.
“This is the note that the maid was trying to give to Lord Genon.”
Karina unfolded the note in front of everyone as if showing off.
[Keep your mouth shut until I take you out.]
“Are you still going to evade your responsibility?”
Caroline said with a smirk on her lips as if she found it funny.
“I don’t remember writing anything like that. I don’t even remember that maid’s face.”
Caroline glared at the maid as she said that.
“If you still want to say that I wrote this note, shouldn’t you ask that maid yourself?”
The maid’s face turned pale with fear as she received Caroline’s gaze.
As soon as everyone’s eyes were on her, the maid began to tear up and started to squirm like crazy.
Karina, who had expected Caroline to act like that, sneered.
'You're going to pretend not to know and get away with it? That's ridiculous.'
"This isn't the only evidence."
The eyes of those around her turned to her at Karina's words.
"Caroline. I heard that you wrote a promissory note to pay a large sum of money to Lord Genon when you proposed the job today."
"...!"
Caroline's eyes widened momentarily at Karina's words and her pupils trembled slightly.
"I never did that."
Karina laughed at Caroline's lie that would be exposed right away and continued speaking in a relaxed manner.
"You said you would also hand over the quaint five-story mansion in the Lenton area, right?"
"I told you I don't know anything about it. I don't understand why you're arresting a living person. You're not saying this because I said something hurtful to you earlier, are you?"
Caroline shamelessly tried to ignore it.
Instead, she cornered Karina as if she were a strange person.
"There's evidence, but you keep evading it, so there's nothing I can do."
Karina smiled, lifting the corners of her lips, took out the documents, and shook them lightly for everyone to see.
“What are those?”
Karina answered Jeremiah’s question.
“The promissory note and the deed of transfer of the mansion that Lord Genon handed over as evidence to prove that what I said was true.”
Jeremiah’s eyes widened slightly in surprise upon hearing her words.
“Here, Caroline is your handwritten signature as well.”
“...!”
Caroline’s signature was clearly visible at the bottom right corner of the documents.
“Oh my...!”
Exclamations escaped from the mouths of several people standing nearby.
“Is everything the Grand Duchess said true?”
“I guess it’s true since there’s even a signed document.”
Those who were listening to Karina and Caroline’s conversation around them murmured.
“In the world, what happened earlier was planned by the Princess.”
“What exactly happened earlier?”
“Well, well, in the study earlier, Lord Genon...”
Everyone started talking about the story again.
Karina handed the document to Jeremiah indifferently.
“Your Highness. Check it yourself.”
“...”
Jeremiah accepted the document.
Jeremiah’s expression hardened as he checked the contents.
The veins in his temple stood out as he recognized Caroline’s handwritten signature.
The hand holding the document crumpled the paper as if it had been held with too much force.
“No! I indeed gave Lord Genon a promissory note, but it was for a business investment.”
Caroline said in an urgent voice.
“If you need the contract, I’ll show you. It’s true.”
Karina asked with a bitter laugh.
“Business investment. Then how are you going to explain the transfer deed of the mansion?”
Caroline’s eyes widened at Karina’s question.
However, she glared at her fiercely and protested desperately.
“Lord Genon was starting a new business, but he didn’t have a proper space, so I just provided him with a place. What was so wrong with that?”
“Without saying a word to me?”
A low voice flowed from Jeremiah.
Unlike usual, the voice was chillingly cold.
“That’s...!”
Caroline bit her lower lip and took a deep breath before speaking softly.
“Yeah. It was my fault for signing the investment contract without saying anything. But that’s really all.”
Seeing Caroline trying to escape again, Karina intervened with an expression of incredulity.
“That’s so different from what Lord Genon said?”
“Lord Genon lied. He must have been greedy for the huge investment.”
Caroline pretended to be shocked, put her hand on her forehead, and exhaled.
“I’m really embarrassed, too. I didn’t know Lord Genon would frame me like this.”
She hated that sight so much.
“Then why did you hide the fact that you signed an investment contract with Lord Genon?”
“Hide? The Archduchess speaks so strangely. I didn’t hide it; I was just going to tell her later. I’m so busy and distracted by the charity event.”
Caroline stared straight at Karina.
It was a look of clear contempt as if she thought someone like her could touch her.
Karina snickered as if it didn’t hurt her at all.
“Then how about this?”
Karina signaled to Mikhail, and he let the children outside into the banquet hall.
“Wow!”
“It’s spacious!”
“It’s so warm!”
A dozen children entered the auditorium, exclaiming in surprise.
However, unlike their bright expressions, the children’s appearances were shabby.
Their heads and faces were dirty from not washing properly, and their hands and fingernails were dirty with dirt.
Some of the children had runny noses because they were wearing thin clothes in the cold weather.
“What are they?”
Caroline frowned.
The other nobles in the auditorium were also bewildered by the sudden entrance of the children.
“Everyone, come here.”
The children came closer to Karina’s call.
“Caroline. Do you know these children?”
Carina asked Caroline.
Caroline made a face of not knowing anything.
At that moment, a child who was looking at the sparkling jewels on the hem of Caroline’s dress sneezed.
“Ahhh!”
“Ugh!”
Caroline grimaced and got angry.
“Where are you sneezing on? You filthy thing!”
Caroline roughly pushed the child away.
“Ugh!”
The child who was pushed away fell backward.
“What are you doing!”
Karina quickly went to the child who had fallen and comforted the startled child.
Caroline snorted as if she was in awe and said,
“Grand Duchess! Are you thinking? Where did you bring these dirty beggars to this place?”
Caroline continued to speak in a scolding tone as if she was being caught.
“Even though it’s a charity event, it’s not a place where you can bring in street beggars and feed them. Did you decide to host the event without knowing that?”
“I know. It’s an event to learn more about the relief work and charity work being done in the North.”
Karina answered calmly, examining each child one by one.
“That’s why I brought these children.”
“...?”
Caroline had a puzzled expression on her face.
“Caroline. Do you really not know these children?”
“How would I know these rascals? I don’t know what you’re trying to do.”
Karina scoffed at Caroline’s ignorance.
“This is really strange. These children are from the Ellie Orphanage that you support as part of your poverty relief project.”
“...!”
Karina’s words stirred the auditorium.
“The Ellie Orphanage receives 100 gold in support funds every month. I’d like to hear an explanation as to why the children are acting like this. Caroline.”
People started to whisper at the mention of 100 gold per month.
“They receive 100 gold per month.”
“The orphanage is receiving that much support?”
“Isn’t 100 gold the equivalent of a month’s operating expenses for a noble family?”
“But why do the children act like that?”
“At first, I thought they were really strays because they were so skinny.”
“That’s right. Do they feed them properly?”
“How did they spend all that support money...”
Caroline’s expression was filled with disappointment.
The Northern Relief Project authority was officially under her responsibility, under the pretext of helping the Grand Duchess.
“I don’t know. The orphanage’s affairs... I heard that the orphanage director takes care of it...”
Caroline racked her brain to find a way out.
Karina snickered at the sight.
Karina wanted to jeer at Caroline’s flimsy excuse.
“Yes, Caroline. Is this the only thing you don’t know?”
Karina said sarcastically and nodded to Mikhail, who was waiting with a stack of documents.
“Here it is.”
Mikhail handed the stack of documents he had brought to Karina.
“Caroline. These are the various contracts you signed. In addition to the contracts, there are also ledgers listing your unfair gains, bribes, and backroom dealings.”
“What... What did you say?”
Caroline looked bewildered.
“There seems to be a lot you don’t remember, so I’m going to tell you everything in detail.”
Karina smiled brightly and continued.
“You don’t really get it when you see it like this, do you? It’s okay. I was like that at first, so I completely understand.”
Karina unfolded the first page of documents and began to recite the contents one by one.
“In exchange for supporting the Elli orphanage as part of the poverty relief project, we decided to receive half of the support money as a personal trust, Caroline. In exchange for providing investment funds for the Lupins shipping business, we agreed to receive 40% of the annual import volume of diamonds and rubies from abroad as a bribe. At the top of the Dipello investment...”
“What... What did you say?”
Caroline looked bewildered.
“There seems to be a lot you don’t remember, so I’m going to tell you everything in detail.”
Karina smiled brightly and continued.
“You don’t really get it when you see it like this, do you? It’s okay. I was like that at first, so I completely understand.”
Karina unfolded the first page of documents and began to recite the contents one by one.
“In exchange for supporting the Elli orphanage as part of the poverty relief project, we decided to receive half of the support money as a personal trust, Caroline. In exchange for providing investment funds for the Lupins shipping business, we agreed to receive 40% of the annual import volume of diamonds and rubies from abroad as a bribe. At the top of the Dipello investment...”
As Karina continued speaking, Caroline’s eyes opened wide in shock. Her emotional turmoil was evident.
The business people who had greeted Caroline were sweating profusely, anxious that their names would be mentioned.
“What... Stop!”
Caroline, barely coming to her senses, screamed.
“This is all a conspiracy!!”
The business people who had greeted Caroline were sweating profusely, anxious that their names would be mentioned.
“What... Stop!”
Caroline, barely coming to her senses, screamed.
“This is all a conspiracy!!”
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