The Reason Why the Forsaken Fake Returned Chapter 53

There was circumstantial evidence, but no solid physical proof. A noble patron to guarantee her identity. With those two conditions lining up, Shailoh had, thankfully, avoided being taken into custody.

 

“However, from this moment on, you are forbidden to leave the capital until permission is granted. We’re letting you go on the condition that you cooperate fully with any further investigations at any time.”

 

Only after repeating himself several times did the investigator finally release Shailoh. With Caleb’s help, she climbed into the carriage that had been waiting for her and let her head fall back. All the strength drained from her body.

 

“I feel like I got swept up in a typhoon. Accused of murder, of all things.” As she recalled the moment she’d heard those words, her skin crawled all over again. A chill ran down her spine, and cold sweat trickled down. She closed her eyes to calm herself, and a gentle hand stroked her hair.

 

“You did well to go along quietly. And to tell Doris to contact me.”

 

“Caleb…” Shailoh’s eyes flew open, and she straightened up. “The ones who killed Olivier were the Diponz family. They killed him with the very same poison that killed the Grid Merchant Guild Leader.”

 

Caleb narrowed his eyes, as if he hadn’t expected that.

 

“I’m sure Evan had a hand in it. He might even have met Olivier in person. I don’t know why he left the poison behind like a trail for someone to follow… It feels off to say it was just to frame me.”

 

“Even if we assume Evan Diponz did something to Olivier, there isn’t a single witness who can testify he ever visited him. Even if what you’re saying is true, there’s no way to prove it.”

 

“That’s exactly why I couldn’t bring it to light. If I handled it wrong, I could’ve ended up being branded the culprit for good.” Her stomach burned with self-loathing. Shailoh buried her face in both hands and went on in a dry voice. “Olivier grabbing my handkerchief right before she died was probably her way of telling me the Diponz family was behind it.”

 

“What if there was something else she needed to tell you privately?”

 

“…What?” Shailoh lifted her head from where she’d buried it in her hands.

 

The carriage, which had been rattling along, gradually slowed and came to a stop in a secluded park.

 

“Caleb?” Puzzled, she glanced out the window and saw someone starting to approach the carriage. Uneasy, she shot Caleb a sidelong look, but his expression didn’t change at all. She only realized it was someone she knew when the man knocked on the carriage door.

 

“Miss Sasha Griche.”

 

“Baron Boris?”

 

He looked even more haggard and gaunt than the last time she’d seen him, but it was unmistakably Baron Boris. If the rumors were true that he hadn’t been sleeping or eating, his hollowed cheeks certainly proved it.

 

Shailoh opened the carriage door and spoke up, worried. “What are you doing he—”

 

“Please take this.” Before she could finish, Baron Boris cut her off and handed her a thick envelope stuffed with documents.

 

“What is this?”

 

“Olivier… asked me to secretly give this to Miss Griche if anything ever happened to her. And then Baron Carl happened to get in touch with me…” His voice, steeped in deep sorrow, trailed off. “I don’t know what it is, but… please put it to good use.”

 

As if he’d finally set down a heavy burden, Baron Boris turned away after handing the documents to Shailoh. At the sight of his retreating back, Shailoh couldn’t hold herself back and called out to him.

 

“Baron, why are you giving this to me? Even if Olivier asked you in advance, I just came back from the authorities as a murder suspect.”

 

“Sasha!” Startled, Caleb tried to shut the carriage door, but Shailoh braced herself and held it open.

 

Baron Boris turned back, drained, and answered in a plain, matter-of-fact tone. “You would never have killed Olivier.” The certainty in his voice left Shailoh at a loss for words. He calmly added, “Because a friend of Olivier’s could never be someone wicked. In some ways, she trusted you more than she trusted me.”

 

“Why do you think that?”

 

“Because she never confided anything deep to me. I only found out about Baroness Elton… and about her younger brother after everything had already happened. Even after that, I never heard the details. It’s my fault for being too busy to pay proper attention.” Every word was soaked with longing, regret, and pain.

 

Shailoh bit her lip, heart aching, and once more called out to his retreating figure. “Baron!”

 

“…”

 

“Olivier… loved you. That’s why she wouldn’t have wanted to drag you into this. It wasn’t a long time, but I do know what kind of person she was.”

 

No answer came back. The carriage door shut, and the carriage rolled away again.

 

* * *

The documents Olivier had passed on to her were none other than a set of investigative records on Duke Diponz’s iron mine business over the past few years. Before they could even rest, the two of them shut themselves up in the office and went through the papers one by one.

 

“This one too. The numbers don’t add up.”

 

“But unless you’re really determined to comb through it, it’d be hard to notice.”

 

“Ever since they opened dealings with the Grid Merchant Guild, they’ve been getting more and more brazen.”

 

“After they killed the guild leader, they naturally merged with the guild and grew that big…”

 

The moment she recalled that day three years ago, a half-formed phrase flickered at the edge of Shailoh’s mind. The Grid Merchant Guild Leader had definitely said something right before he died. “Sigurd…”

 

“Sasha?”

 

The thought that had been about to connect snapped at the sound of her name.

 

Caleb pulled a single sheet out from the stack and handed it to her. “Take a look at this part.”

 

“Taxes… they’ve been evading them.”

 

“And not just a little, either.”

 

“At this level, we’re talking about three years’ worth of a decent-sized territory’s budget.”

 

“There has to be a real ledger somewhere, the one with the double entries.”

 

“Most likely at Diponz’s main mansion. They’ll have hidden it in some secret place no one can find.”

 

Caleb nodded. “I’ll plant someone inside the Diponz family for now. They hardly ever take on new people, so I don’t know how long it’ll take.”

 

There was no time to just sit still.

 

“I need to go see Claire.”

 

“Right now?”

 

The moment she tried to stand, a large hand caught her arm and tugged her back down. Shailoh ended up awkwardly perched on Caleb’s knee. He wrapped an arm around her waist and gently tried to talk her down.

 

“Sasha, a lot has happened in the last few hours.”

 

“I know. But just visiting Claire should be fine. She hasn’t been moved to the prison yet. She’s still here in the capital.”

 

“That’s not what I mean.” Caleb let out a quiet sigh, then covered Shailoh’s eyes with his hand and shifted her so her head was resting on his thigh.

 

“Caleb? This really isn’t the time—”

 

“Claire Elton, no, Claire Diponz will be transferred to the prison four days from now. We still have time.”

 

“But—” Her attempt to push his hand away from her eyes was cut short by his next pointed question.

 

“How many hours have you actually slept? Since we got back to the capital, you haven’t even had four hours, have you?”

 

“Well, that’s…”

 

“Sasha.” With his other hand, Caleb stroked her hair and gently advised her. “You’re great at everything, but once you get absorbed in something, you have this bad habit of completely ignoring your own body.”

 

She wanted to deny it, but he wasn’t wrong. At a loss for words, Shailoh finally raised the white flag.

 

“Fine. I’ll rest.”

 

Only after she surrendered without a fight did the hand covering her eyes withdraw. Shailoh slowly opened her eyes and looked up at Caleb. It was the first time they’d been alone together since that night when they’d gone all the way and then parted the next morning.

 

“Has nothing happened since the third prince’s engagement ceremony?” Shailoh reached out and brushed his jaw. It was smooth and fair as marble. Her lover always looked like a sculpture a god had painstakingly carved, perfect from every angle.

 

“What do you mean?”

 

“Since they declared war so openly, they must’ve made some kind of move by now.”

 

“There hasn’t been much activity yet. Unless I come to the forefront myself, there’s no way they’d recognize me first.”

 

“Really?”

 

“Of course.”

 

“You’re not just saying that to make me feel better, are you?”

 

“Look who’s talking. You’re in no position to worry about anyone else.”

 

At her repeated questions, Caleb let out a soft laugh and, out of habit, playfully brushed the bridge of her nose. Only after hearing his firm answer did Shailoh finally relax and smile, her expression easing.

 

“If the Diponz family falls from power, that works in your favor too, doesn’t it?”

 

“Yeah.”

 

“And that’s part of why you’re helping me so actively.”

 

Caleb didn’t deny it. From the start, they’d reunited because he’d been chasing the Diponz family’s weaknesses. His honest answer actually put Shailoh at ease. If he’d lied and said no, she would’ve been disappointed instead. Their interests aligned, and on top of that, they were in love. It was a splendid relationship.