The Wicked Wife’s Dark History Keeps Coming Back To Haunt Her - Chapter 304

But the result of that was this.

Count Conwell was told that the painting Emil completed last year also showed prominent characteristics of a left-handed painter.

It was clear that he had injured his right arm only this year.

How could he ignore the opinion of a court painter who had seen and painted countless works over several decades?

Count Conwell had no choice but to conclude that the child was either originally ambidextrous, or left-handed.

“…So, in order to confirm the exact truth, I asked Duchess Nord for that child’s early works.”

But the only reply he received was that they had all been destroyed in a fire.

“So as soon as I received the reply, I looked into it personally, and it was true that a fire had broken out at the Delphinium Gallery.”

“…The timing is awfully convenient.”

At Nina’s words, Count Conwell nodded.

“Ordinarily, one would be inclined to let it pass at this point, but I couldn’t let it pass like that.”

Whether Emil had originally been left-handed, or ambidextrous.

The talent that child possessed was real, but…

The investigator he sent even found traces that paintings had been used as firewood at the orphanage where Emil had stayed.

Only part of the half-burned fragments could be salvaged, so it wasn’t possible to determine exactly whose works they were.

Far from resolving the question, the situation had only grown more troubling, so how could he decide on an official patronage under such circumstances?

“So I resolved to dig into the matter myself, and soon learned a horrifying truth.”

“A horrifying truth?”

At Nina’s question, Count Conwell rubbed his cold palms together.

“…To tell the truth, even though I’ve come to see the two of you, I still don’t know if this is the right thing to do.”

Up to now, he had lived without looking back, to the point that others would ask if he had no fear at all.

If he hadn’t possessed that much nerve and stubbornness, he wouldn’t have been able to preserve the reputation of the Conwell Gallery.

But even he was afraid to say this aloud.

It was such a serious matter that he felt one wrong move might even put his life at risk, and the people involved were far too powerful for him to touch.

But no matter how afraid he was, he couldn’t pretend not to know.

“…Did you perhaps know that the painters affiliated with the Delphinium Foundation are being conditioned with dr*gs?”

Whether the exhibition was held or not.

That gifted young painter would also be sent back to that dreadful orphanage.

But that was merely someone else’s circumstance.

Ash asked in a cold voice, as if he didn’t feel a shred of pity.

“What does that have to do with us?”

Count Conwell swallowed dryly and said,

“I will hand over information on the place where the Delphinium Foundation grows the ingredients for the dr*gs, and on the manufacturing facility as well.”

He too had eyes and ears.

Duchess Nord was a member of the Delphinium Foundation, and recently the friendship between Marquis Crewe and Marquis Dunklin had grown especially close.

If House Dunklin fell, wouldn’t that reduce the strength of their hostile faction?

If they crushed the shadowy force manufacturing dr*gs strictly forbidden by the Imperial Family, that would in turn become a merit to House Bayern.

* * *

Late at night.

Having finished bathing, Ash crooked the corner of his lips.

‘To think I’d find a puzzle piece in such an unexpected place…’

He accepted Count Conwell’s proposal.

He had already suspected that one of the orphanages connected to the Delphinium Foundation would contain a manufacturing facility.

But because they were scattered throughout the Empire, it hadn’t been easy to pinpoint a specific location.

But thanks to Count Conwell indicating the exact place, they had managed to save time.

‘Now all that remains is to uncover its connection to Marquis Crewe.’

If that happened, House Nord would sink along with it, so this was by no means a losing bargain.

Ash shook the moisture from his hair and entered the bedroom.

Perhaps because of the guest who had come during the day, Nina’s mood had been troubled.

There was a trace of gloom in the back of Nina as she looked out the window.

“Wife, it’s all thanks to you.”

He drew in Nina’s slender waist and pressed his lips to the nape of her neck.

“Mm, thanks to me for what…”

He nibbled at the nape of her neck, which wriggled adorably, and slowly caressed her belly.

“Because you, with the single-minded determination to secure independence funds, discovered the son of Viscount Reginald, and that’s how we came to be connected to Count Conwell.”

Was it because the memory of having once felt competitive toward the son of Viscount Reginald rose again?

“W-Wait, ah…”

“So before long, I’ll be able to… remove them from before your eyes.”

Ash rubbed his lower body between the softness of her behind as he nibbled at her earlobe.