Chapter 27

Today, I have posted twice.

While Lionel and Edith were visiting a villa in a summer resort, the Oakridge family was in the midst of chaos.

"What the hell is going on!? ...Not only are the inventories of several medicines running low, but we also don't have enough people to make them. And you're telling me that there are complaints about the quality, saying the medicines are less effective?"

Earl Oakridge, his face flushed with anger, confronted the pale servant, and suddenly remembered the documents Edith had handed him when she left for the Granville family.

Edith had said, "Please give these to a trustworthy servant, and if possible, have Father look them over as well." However, he had ignored them and left them untouched.

The servant, still pale, answered in a barely audible voice.

"Edith-sama was the one who managed the inventory of medicines, prepared the ones that were running low, and kept the records. Now that Edith-sama has left the Oakridge family, there's a ... gap in that area."

"Why didn't you say this sooner!?"

Seeing the Earl's angry outburst, the servant trembled.

"Since Edith-sama left, I have consulted with you several times, but every time I mentioned the work she did, you dismissed it, saying that the work done by a stepdaughter was nothing significant."

Indeed, the Earl, recognizing the truth in this, clenched his jaw and, feeling irritated, told the servant:

"Bring the ledger here immediately."

"Yes, sir."

The servant hurried back and handed the ledger to the Earl, who silently flipped through it, his face quickly contorting.

"Ever since Edith left this house, it's been blank..."

Scratching his head in frustration, the Earl groaned.

"Contact Edith at the Granville family's residence as soon as possible. Tell her to come back to this house immediately."

However, when the Earl learned from the Granville family that Edith was at the villa with Lionel, he sank to his knees, holding his head.

"I never imagined Edith was so deeply involved in the Oakridge family's pharmaceutical business..."

"What's wrong, Father?"

Daria, frowning suspiciously, approached her father, who looked pale and was rubbing his temples.

"Well...,"

"Before that, Father, listen to me."

Interrupting her father, Daria spoke with irritation.

"I tried to buy a new dress and accessories for the upcoming ball, but when I tried to pay on credit, they refused, saying the payments were overdue. ...Father, isn't that strange? We should have had our debts with the Granville family cleared, and we should have plenty of money, right?"

"...Daria, do you always do this every time there's a ball?"

"Of course, Father. Now that we have a substantial amount of money, and most importantly, to make me look even more beautiful. It's only natural to always have the best, isn't it?"

"...!"

The Earl, struggling to find words, finally managed to say:

"Why is Edith at the Granville family's villa at such an important time...!"

"...Villa?"

Daria frowned and blinked several times.

"At the villa, with Lord Lionel?"

"Yes, there's no other explanation. But that's not the issue right now...!"

"...When we pushed her to marry Lionel, did he look like he was in any condition to go to a villa? He looked like he was about to collapse, and he didn't seem to have the strength for a trip..."

Tilting her head, Daria muttered this to herself.

Your kind words and encouragement mean a lot to me. Thank you. Thanks to you, I managed to update tonight as well.