The Name In The Ledger

Eleanor’s POV

Henry didn't answer my question immediately. He took the letter from my hand, read it once more, then returned it with an expression more serious than before.

“I can't say for certain, Your Grace. However, if this letter is related to the supplier changes, the sender is likely someone who feels they're losing something.”

“Then we have two possibilities. Someone who's been profiting from the old supplier, or someone who doesn't want me interfering in the household finances.”

“It could be the same person.”

I nodded slowly. “Don't report this letter to anyone just yet. I want to find out who knew about the changes before making any decisions.”

Henry looked hesitant. “Wouldn't that be risky, Your Grace?”

“That's precisely why I don't want to discuss it carelessly. I don't know who I can trust.”

He finally bowed. “Very well. I'll be discreet.”

After Henry left my study, I read the letter again. There was no sender's name, no family crest, not even a distinctive mark that could help identify where it had come from. Just a few sentences deliberately written to remind me that my title as Duchess didn't give me the freedom I'd imagined.

If they thought a letter like this would make me back down, they were wrong.

But I wasn't foolish enough to ignore the warning, either.

I opened my desk drawer and took out the notebook I'd been using since yesterday to record the household expenses. If someone felt threatened simply because I'd changed suppliers, then there had to be something bigger at stake than the difference in food prices.

I needed to find out what they were really trying to protect.

“Your Grace?” A servant's voice came from behind the door. “Mr. Robert is here. He has brought some of the documents you requested earlier.”

“Send him in.”

Robert arrived a few minutes later, carrying a thick folder. He placed it on the desk and took out several sheets of payment records.

“I've gathered the documents related to kitchen expenses over the past few months. These are copies I can provide without the Duke's direct approval.”

“Thank you, Mr. Robert. I only need to check a few things.”

Robert didn't leave immediately. His gaze lingered on the notebook in front of me.

“Does Your Grace still intend to review all the transactions?”

I closed my notebook before answering. “As long as there are expenses that don't make sense, of course.”

“I should remind Your Grace that some of these transactions took place long before you arrived at this residence.”

I looked up. “And you believe that's a good enough reason not to examine them?”

“I only want to make sure Your Grace understands that the Alistair family's financial records are not a simple matter.”

“I've never assumed they were. That's why I'm reviewing the documents instead of simply accepting someone's explanation.”

Robert fell silent for a moment before giving a brief bow. “In that case, I'll take my leave.”

Once the door closed, I began examining the documents he'd brought. Most of them contained routine payments, but a few transactions caught my attention. The suppliers' names were different, yet the payment descriptions were almost identical. Several invoices also had dates only days apart, even though the recorded goods were nearly the same.

I copied the dates, amounts, and recipients into my notebook. It wasn't enough to conclude that there had been any financial misconduct, but there were far too many irregularities to ignore.

As I turned one of the pages, a particular name made my hand stop.

Vernon Trade and Supply.

I read the name again.

Vernon.

Memories of the novel I'd read slowly resurfaced. I'd come across that company name in a news report about a scandal involving the Rose family. It had only been mentioned briefly, as part of a conflict that eventually dragged the Rose family into serious trouble.

I couldn't remember all the details. In fact, I wasn't even sure whether the company listed in front of me was the same one I'd read about in The Duke's Unwanted Bride back in my original world. In the original story, the information had been nothing more than a passing detail, overshadowed by the conflict between Eleanor, Isabelle, and Duke Edward.

But now that I was actually living inside that novel, it wasn't a name I could afford to ignore.

“So, what is your connection to the Rose family?” I murmured.

I checked the next sheet. Vernon Trade and Supply appeared again in another transaction, this time involving a much larger sum. The payment description was vague, listed only as procurement and distribution expenses.

I marked both transactions in red ink.

If this was indeed connected to the Rose family scandal, then the problem might be far bigger than the household's inflated expenses. But I couldn't jump to conclusions just because I recognized a name from a novel.

I needed evidence, and I'd do whatever it took to survive in this world.

The system panel suddenly appeared before me again.

[System: Investigative activity detected.]

[Main Quest progress shows no improvement.]

[Main Target Affection Level: -5%]

I let out a long breath.

“Even now, you still have time to remind me about that?”

There was no answer. The panel simply vanished, as though the system only wanted to make sure I didn't forget one thing: investigating the Alistair family's transactions wouldn't make Edward fall in love with me or bring me any closer to completing my quest.

I closed my notebook for a moment.

“If I die before I settle this mess, who's going to care about your affection level?”

Of course, there was no answer to that, either.

I returned to work until I'd finished reviewing several more documents. Before putting them away, I separated the records related to Vernon Trade and Supply from the rest of the transactions. I didn't want that name getting lost among piles of numbers I still didn't fully understand.

*** 

By evening, Henry arrived with a cup of tea.

“Is there anything I can help you with, Your Grace?”

“I want you to find out whether Vernon Trade and Supply is still a supplier to this residence.”

Henry frowned. “Vernon Trade and Supply?”

“Do you know the name?”

“I've seen it in some old documents, but I can't remember whether they're still doing business with the Alistair family.”

“Don't ask Robert about it yet. Find out through the delivery records and any old documents you can access.”

“Certainly, Your Grace.”

I handed him a piece of paper with the company's name written on it. Henry accepted it, but before leaving, he asked, “Does this name have something to do with the letter you received?”

“Possibly. I don't know yet.”

Henry nodded and left the room.

I looked down at the records on my desk again. Vernon Trade and Supply was now the only lead I had. If the company really was connected to the Rose family scandal, I needed to find out how its name had ended up in the Alistair family's transactions.

More importantly, why was someone so afraid of me finding it?

*** 

Meanwhile, elsewhere, Edward received a report unlike the usual ones.

“The Duchess requested a change of food suppliers and submitted a cost-saving proposal to the finance department,” a man from the Alistair family office reported. “The changes have already begun to take effect at the manor.”

Edward didn't immediately look up from the document he was reading.

“Who approved it?”

“No final decision has been made by Your Grace yet. However, the Duchess requested that the price comparison report be submitted to you.”

“And?”

“She also requested access to several old expense records.”

This time, Edward stopped writing.

“Which records?”

“Procurement transactions for household supplies, including several payments made to previous suppliers.”

Edward leaned back in his chair. “Who gave her those documents?”

“Robert.”

“Send him in.”

The man bowed before leaving the room. A few moments later, Robert arrived and stood before Edward's desk.

“You sent for me, Your Grace?”

“How did Eleanor get access to the old transaction records?”

“I only provided copies related to household expenses, as she requested.”

“Did you review the documents she asked for?”

“Yes, Your Grace. She found several discrepancies in the supplier payments.”

Edward tapped his fingers against the desk. “And you allowed her to investigate further?”

“I didn't give her any documents beyond the scope of my authority.”

“Good. Make sure it stays that way.”

Robert bowed. “Certainly, Your Grace.”

After Robert left, Edward turned his attention back to the report on his desk. Over the past few days, Eleanor had displayed a change that was difficult to ignore. The woman who had once been known for her quick temper and constant attempts to get his attention was now busy managing matters she'd never shown any interest in before.

She wasn't asking for money. She wasn't making personal demands. In fact, she seemed far more interested in the figures in the financial records than in her own husband.

Edward had no idea what had brought about this change.

But he knew Eleanor wasn't someone who did things without a reason.

He pulled another file from his desk drawer. The Rose family name was printed on its cover, alongside several old transaction records he had never fully resolved.

His thoughts returned to the question he'd asked Eleanor the day before.

“Have you ever seen any of my father's documents?”

Her answer had sounded convincing, but there was something about her behavior he still couldn't quite understand.

Edward closed the file.

“Call Sebastian,” he said to the secretary who had just entered.

“Is there a particular message you'd like me to pass along, Your Grace?”

Edward glanced once more at the report concerning the changes to Alistair Manor's management.

“No. I want him to investigate my wife.”

He paused before adding in a cold voice,

“Find out when Eleanor started behaving differently, who has been giving her information, and what she's really looking for.”

***