Chapter 49: The Viscount’s Involvent
A few days had passed since the eting between Kaiser and Duchess Irene Frostvine. She had left with a satisfied smile on her lips.
At that very mont, Kaiser was in his office, absorbed in reading a thick comrcial report. The dim light from an oil lamp illuminated the docunts spread out on his vast desk. Suddenly, discreet knocks sounded at the door.
Toc... toc...
A feminine and respectful voice then filtered through: "Lord Kaiser, may I disturb you for a mont?"
"Enter," he replied without looking up.
The door opened to reveal a servant, who bowed slightly before speaking. "I apologize for interrupting you, young master, but you have a visitor. Miss Jessica Karlton requests to see you."
At that na, Kaiser abruptly raised his head, a glint of surprise crossing his gaze. He stood up with a swift movent, pushing back his chair. "Have her escorted to the south terrace. Inform her that I will join her in a few monts."
The servant bowed again before withdrawing to relay the ssage.
Considering that the visitor was none other than Jessica Karlton, Kaiser adjusted his attire. He slipped on an embroidered silk indoor jacket over his shirt, ensuring a presentation that was both casual and elegant, then left his office.
...
Jessica was already waiting on the south terrace, an open space bathed in sunlight, shaded by a trellis of climbing roses whose light fragrance floated in the air. She was absentmindedly observing the gardens when footsteps echoed behind her.
"Please forgive my delay," declared a voice she recognized imdiately.
She turned and saw Kaiser advancing toward her with a confident step. He stopped at a respectful distance, giving her a slight smile.
"No, it is I who should apologize," she hurried to respond, hands clasped in front of her. "I ca without warning; I hope it does not inconvenience you too much."
"No need to be so formal, Jessica," he replied with feigned warmth. He then approached, took her hand with gentle firmness that surprised her, and placed a light kiss on it. "You are as radiant as ever."
Jessica felt a wave of heat rise to her cheeks. Kaiser, for his part, made an elegant gesture toward a small garden lounge arranged under the trellis. "Let us sit. The sun is pleasant." He guided her to a wicker armchair before taking his place facing her.
Once settled, he began the conversation with studied ease. "Your visit is a pleasant surprise. These past few days, I have not stopped thinking about our last conversation... and about you." His gaze lingered, charged with apparent sincerity. "It is rare to et soone as refined and sensitive as you in our world."
Jessica lowered her eyes, a mixture of pleasure and nervousness palpable in her. "You are too kind, Kaiser. Sotis, I feel... so insignificant."
"Insignificant? You? Co now," he retorted, leaning slightly forward, capturing her gaze. "Your insight and pure heart are treasures. Your father is an influential man, that is true, but I bet you know a great deal about many things that escape others."
Encouraged by his attention and flattering words, Jessica stiffened for a mont, as if in an internal debate. Then, with sudden determination, she opened the reticule she carried on her arm. "Actually... it is precisely about my father that I wished to speak to you. I... I took sothing."
Kaiser kept a neutral expression, though his interest sharpened. "What do you an, Jessica?"
She pulled out a bundle of carefully folded papers and handed them to him with a slightly trembling hand. "These are copies of docunts from my father’s office that you asked for. Contracts, letters, and pages from his main ledger."
Kaiser accepted the docunts without haste and began to peruse them. His face remained impassive, but his eyes scanned every line. The papers, records of accounts and private contracts, revealed a system of highly complex transactions. They mainly involved opaque comrcial agreents concluded with the "Southern rchants’ Guild," an organization notoriously linked to the smuggling of weapons and forbidden artifacts.
A deeper analysis highlighted the direct involvent of Viscount Karlton. Recurring paynts, carefully disguised under innocuous headings like "consultation fees" or "land compensation," were transferred to an offshore account controlled by one of his proxies.
Furthermore, delivery docunts attesting to convoys of "steel" or "grain" actually corresponded, according to coded annotations in the margins, to shipnts of unmarked weapons and illicit substances from border territories.
The viscount was not a re passive beneficiary; he acted as a true accomplice.
In exchange for these substantial bribes, he provided the smugglers with official passes to cross customs, stifled erging investigations by directing guards toward false leads, and used his political influence to discredit anyone getting too close to the truth.
The evidence clearly outlined the contours of a criminal symbiosis: the black market network thrived under the viscount’s active protection, and the latter saw his personal fortune grow in direct proportion to their illegal activities.
"I see," he murmured finally, raising his eyes to Jessica. His gaze was grave. "This is very serious, Jessica. These docunts prove that your father is deeply involved in illicit activities. You took a great risk in bringing them to . Why did you do it?"
She fixed her gaze on him, her eyes shining with intense emotion. "Because... because I trust you. You listened to , treated
like a full person, not just the poor viscount’s daughter that I am."
A slight smile played on Kaiser’s lips. He carefully folded the docunts. "You did well. Your trust is not misplaced." He placed a hand on hers. "I will examine all this with the utmost attention. You have been very brave."
A silence settled, charged with the tension that had just dissipated and sothing else, more personal. Kaiser gently withdrew his hand and let his gaze beco more intimate.
"You know, Jessica... this matter can wait a few hours." His voice had lowered a tone, becoming more caressing. "What if we finished what we started?"
Jessica understood the allusion imdiately. A vivid blush flooded her face, and she looked away, suddenly shy. After a brief hesitation, she responded with a barely perceptible nod.
"Good," whispered Kaiser, standing up. He extended his hand to her. "Let us go sowhere more intimate. My bedroom is quieter."
She accepted his hand and stood. Kaiser led the way, guiding them through one wing of the manor. As they walked along a corridor, they crossed paths with the sa servant who had announced her earlier. The young woman stepped aside respectfully against the wall.
"I do not wish to be disturbed in my private apartnts for the rest of the afternoon," declared Kaiser in a tone that brooked no reply. "Ensure that no one cos up."
"Of course, young master," replied the servant, bowing her head, carefully avoiding eting Jessica’s gaze.
They continued to a massive wooden door. Kaiser opened it and stepped aside to let Jessica pass. "After you."
She crossed the threshold, heart pounding. Kaiser entered behind her and gently closed the door.
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