The Wicked Wife's Dark History Keeps Coming Back To Haunt Her - Chapter 286
Since the Emperor ascended the throne, dozens of charity events had been held, and for ten years the Delphinium Foundation had never missed a single one.
Yet the two men, who had never had private meetings until now, suddenly began meeting frequently as if to boast of their friendship?
After reading Duke Bayern’s report, the Emperor felt that the Finance Minister’s hidden side was even filthier and more sordid than he had imagined.
The Nord River dam construction.
That project had been recommended by the Finance Minister.
Imperial tax collectors who collected taxes from Duke Nord’s territory and other lands belonged to the Ministry of Finance.
They must have been falsifying the tax records all this time.
In any case, it was difficult to accept that such a filthy man had only now become close with the chairman of a foundation handling massive funds.
If they investigated the purpose of their meetings, the truth would come out.
“I have been watching those two as well, so please do not worry too much.”
Perhaps it was because the trust he had built toward Marquis Dunklin had finally developed a small crack.
In the past, the Emperor might have lightly scolded him for speaking carelessly.
Instead, the Emperor nodded at Carlisle’s words.
“For now I intend to investigate this matter secretly. Therefore you should organize the laws they have violated and the legal basis for punishment, and report it to me.”
“At Your Majesty’s command.”
After Carlisle left the room, the Emperor summoned an imperial investigator.
“Conduct a thorough investigation into the corruption taking place in the Duchy of Nord. Investigate it so thoroughly that there will be no way for them to escape.”
“Yes, Your Majesty. I shall carry out your imperial command.”
The Emperor’s blue eyes glinted fiercely.
Corruption committed in a project funded by the people’s taxes.
And the outrageous tax collection corruption.
All of it would be exposed by the imperial investigators’ inspection, and those responsible would receive their punishment.
* * *
House Bayern, the dungeon—
A wrinkle formed along the bridge of Hozi’s straight nose.
He always thought the same thing, but the foul and overpowering stench was something one could never grow accustomed to.
After walking for a while, he opened the basement door where the knight from House Azelot he had captured earlier was imprisoned.
Creeeak…
The chilling noise, like a scream, echoed through the silent space, and the two men slumped against the wall like corpses flinched.
Originally they had been isolated, but thanks to Hozi’s ‘kindness’ the two had been allowed to stay together.
Hozi crouched in front of them and pushed up his glasses.
“Please get up. It is about time for both of you to return home.”
“…W-What are you planning?”
“Y-You’re not going to kill us…?”
A sharp crescent like smile appeared at the corner of Hozi’s mouth, and his eyes curved gently.
“Do you remember the companion of yours who left earlier?”
At his words, the two men’s eyes trembled violently.
“Well, it seems he pinned the corruption he committed on the two of you. Count Azelot is apparently furious and says he will not leave you alone if he finds you.”
“W-What…?”
“I simply feel sorry for your situation. Betrayed by a colleague you trusted. Being imprisoned is miserable enough, yet you must also bear a false accusation…”
The two of them were not entirely innocent either, but they were indeed pitiful.
After all, what he said wasn’t a lie.
The man who had left earlier, seeing that the two hadn’t returned for a long time, had already reported to the Count that the corruption he himself committed had been done by them.
‘I expected as much.’
Ash had released the two men from the underground cell after allowing their hatred toward their departed companion to mature.
They would probably head straight to House Azelot to complete the picture he had drawn.
Watching the two men limp away from House Bayern while supporting each other, he murmured.
“…Hmm, to think my foresight would be this excellent.”
He had originally planned to release them from the dungeon soon anyway, but who would have thought His Grace would order him to poison House Azelot at just the right moment.
“Hozi, give Count Azelot’s household a little shake.”
Fortunately the timing had coincidentally matched. Otherwise his workload would have increased when he was already busy.
“…And look into that domestic investigator as well. As quickly as possible.”
…So the remaining matter was that domestic investigator.
Hozi’s clear, glass-like eyes flashed sharply.
He was curious about what kind of person that investigator really was.
Just what had she been thinking when she accepted the supplementary investigation?
Hozi’s steps became light, almost as if they moved to a melody.
It had been a long time since something interesting had appeared.
