Garden of May - Chapter 149
Benjamin Dawson returned carrying two mugs of dark beer, then pulled a thick stack of documents from his bag. He placed them onto the table—its surface stained with old, unidentifiable grime—and soon the papers piled up in heavy, endless layers.
Vanessa’s face stiffened as her gaze flickered between Dawson and the documents.
At a glance, she knew that they were her father’s will. They were bound in the same format as those submitted to the courts.
“To get straight to the point, you were right. The will currently in effect is forged. From beginning to end, every single part of it.”
Vanessa hurriedly grabbed the top document and flipped through several pages. Then she reached for the next bundle beneath it, scanning it the same way. And then the next.
Unbelievably, they were all original wills that had been discarded. Judging by the circumstances, her father must have updated his will every year since inheriting the Somerset title.
“How… is this even possible…?”
“Mr. Wiltshire here has been keeping all of them.”
“What I’ve brought today is only from the last few years. The Count had been drafting new wills consistently for nearly fifteen years.”
Wiltshire interjected anxiously.
“Each time a new will was made, the previous one was sent to me. Per the Count’s instructions, I stored them in the company vault.”
“Of course, these are all invalid now. They’ve been stamped as void on every page, so they won’t hold up legally. But…”
“They can show us what was omitted—or altered—in the current will.”
Vanessa finished quietly. Her fingers brushed lightly against her lips.
The words she had just spoken lingered there, cold as metal. A strange premonition rose within her. Once she read these documents, she wouldn’t be able to go back.
“Exactly. I’ve summarized the parts you absolutely need to see.”
Vanessa straightened her posture and accepted the documents. She had barely turned a few pages when she encountered a section that began with unfamiliar lines.
Quickly, she reached into her bag and pulled out a pair of thick-framed glasses. They didn’t correct her vision, but they had belonged to her father.
Whenever she wore them, her mind seemed to steady. And right now, she needed clarity more than anything. Taking a slow breath, she began reading from the top.
R, V, ll, lX, CLXXXXll
A code? Or just a sequence of numbers? Each page began with it, repeated like a pattern. There had to be meaning behind it.
But she didn’t have the time or the clues to decipher it now. She moved on to the next sentence.
For a long while, the only sound in the room was the soft rustle of paper turning.
The ticking of the clock on the wall and Vanessa’s occasional murmured reading were the only things that broke the suffocating silence.
“…must not exceed…”
Her fingers trembled as she traced the final line.
Dawson quickly pushed a glass of water toward her. Vanessa took a grateful sip, then lifted her gaze to Wiltshire.
“So… if what’s written here is true, then this means…”
Wiltshire cast a wary glance at the dozing man at the bar, then leaned forward, lowering his voice.
“Simply put, Miss—you are set to inherit a limited liability company.”
“…Is that even legally possible?”
“It’s closer to a loophole. It’s rare, but not unheard of.”
Dawson replied, taking a sip of his beer. He tapped the table lightly with his fingers as he continued.
“As you know, noble titles come with land granted by the king. Inheriting a title essentially means inheriting that land. Under Ingram law, what’s restricted is a woman’s right to inherit land.”
Vanessa already knew this.
The Ingram Parliamentary Code had been built on the foundation of old imperial law and was revived about 150 years ago by Malua of Deroveus.
A move meant to undermine his own sister’s rightful claim during the War of Succession.
“But there are no such restrictions when it comes to inheriting a limited company. It’s a relatively modern concept.”
“Ever since your birth, the late Count had been searching for alternatives. Considering that most noble wealth was tied up in land at the time… he was truly a remarkable man.”
“And that foresight led to the creation of the Morretz Investment Company—the one you’re set to inherit. It was established with capital from five major enterprises, including Grint Shipping, May Textile Works, and Dirk Coal. In return, it operates by sharing in their profits.”
“…Why didn’t I know any of this until now?”
“Because the one truly in control of the company is Mr. Townes.”
“Mr. Townes…?”
Wiltshire immediately raised a finger to his lips, pressing it there as if afraid someone might overhear.
“He’s the man who controls the largest gang in the South. And his connections reach all the way into Parliament.”
- Protected: Garden of May Chapter 152 - Jun 16, 2026
- Protected: Garden of May Chapter 151 - Jun 16, 2026
- Protected: Garden of May Chapter 150 - Jun 16, 2026
