I Think My Husband Might Be a Murderer - Chapter 14

“This is fraud!”

Shouting about sham marriages and demanding repayment from me.

Even as Finn Schneider screamed at the top of his lungs, none of it really mattered.

I still couldn’t believe what was happening.

The small house was swarming with navy men, which made it feel even more surreal.

So, am I considered a witness right now…?

I was seated next to Johannes Schultz, facing Finn Schneider and Pavid across the room.

It couldn’t have been more uncomfortable.

To be interrogated right after a proposal, alongside the man who proposed—this was the farthest thing from romantic.

“Even if His Grace gives you money, it’ll all be taken anyway! A proposal in that situation? Unbelievable!”

Finn Schneider continued to blabber, even throwing in threats toward Duke Schultz.

“I’m going to report every bit of this injustice during the formal investigation.”

“And why do you think this is a sham marriage?”

“Well, that’s…”

“I don’t exactly seem like the type to waste a fortune on someone I barely know, do I?”

“Surely it’s not a fortune for House Schultz!”

The Young Duke fixed him with a chilling stare.

Only then did Finn Schneider seem to realize the situation and shut his mouth.

“The loan company Banux. Operates in two-man teams targeting single women.”

Johannes Schultz finally spoke, breaking the silence. He straightened his posture in the chair, and the sudden shift in presence was so powerful it felt like even I was being crushed.

“They alter old contracts in subtle ways.”

Finn Schneider lowered his head and kept his mouth shut.

Sir Fret answered in his stead, “Yes. Typically, they pair a charming ‘bait’ with a threatening brute like Pavid.”

“Charming?”

Duke Schultz furrowed his brow and looked back and forth between Finn Schneider and Pavid.

Where? His look seemed to say.

“It’s how they lower their targets’ guard. I didn’t expect the owner to go around posing as a department manager, though.”

He must’ve really wanted to save on payroll. Sir Fret muttered under his breath and added, “By the way, Miss Prim, your standards must be quite low. I don’t see how anyone could mistake him for charming.”

“Indeed.”

Even Duke Schultz briefly agreed. I flailed my hands in protest.

“Absolutely not! He just seemed kind… and his manner was polite…”

“Criminals are often charming. Well, not these two, of course.”

Sir Fret laughed heartily and then began carefully examining the worn-out loan contract.

“The scent has mostly faded. We’ll need to look more closely to be certain, but…”

I swallowed nervously.

“Modifying a loan contract is simple. It involves using a special ink. It’s made from chakra coal, a glossy substance mined in small quantities.”

Sir Fret then pulled out a fountain pen from his inner coat pocket and opened an inkwell handed to him by a navy officer. A strange smell pricked at my nose.

“First, you write using this special ink. When heat is applied, the color disappears, making it easy to alter.”

Dipping the pen into the inkwell, Sir Fret began to write. So far, nothing seemed unusual.

But once he applied heat using a lighter, the letters began to vanish. Several navy officers, myself included, widened our eyes.

“Then, you fill in new numbers using regular ink…”

There wasn’t a single trace of tampering. It looked as if it had been written that way from the start.

“See? Flawless, isn’t it?”

Sir Fret turned to Duke Schultz with a proud expression, like a puppy seeking praise.

“Undeniable fraud. Not to mention attempted human trafficking. That’ll earn them quite a sentence.”

Duke Schultz replied dryly. But Sir Fret seemed quite pleased with the remark, as if it were praise.

“Y-you’ve got no proof! You can’t prove I used that ink!”

Finn Schneider’s shrill voice echoed through the room.

He wasn’t wrong.

Even if he had used the special ink, the color had already vanished, so there was no way to prove it.

But Sir Fret ignored him and continued, “An interest rate of 50 percent is outrageous. Even if there’s no legal cap, the industry follows an unspoken rule. Anything over 24 percent is considered unethical.”

He then pulled out another item from his coat—a small dropper bottle filled with a clear liquid.

He dropped the liquid onto the loan contract. Slowly, red letters began to appear.

“Seems you forgot something important.”

“……”

“There are traces of tampering right here.”

A red stroke appeared at the end of the number 5, making the 50 look like 60.

“This is evidence of special ink use. When acidified water is applied, it becomes visible. The original interest rate was likely 10 percent.”

“Then…”

“It means Miss Prim’s father repaid both the principal and the interest.”

Sir Fret clicked his tongue regretfully. But his light green eyes gleamed with amusement, and his eyes curved with charm.

Duke Schultz remained composed, though his tone had grown slightly coarse.

“Running a business through such garbage tactics. Impressive.”

“Well, that’s…”

“I hope you’re not about to utter some nonsense like this was your first time.”

“No, sir!”

Everyone’s eyes turned toward the large man.

It was Pavid, who had been watching Finn Schneider’s reaction the whole time. Perhaps deciding he had to save himself, he wiped his cold sweat and began confessing everything.

He explained that they had used chakra ink to create the loan contract, stored the paid contracts separately, and defrauded women left alone.

“We’ve already secured sufficient evidence, and now we have a confession. We can proceed to trial.”

Sir Fret slammed the table with a loud thud and continued with a broad smile.

“How many women have you sold, you piece of filth?”

“Ugh…”

As if he were falling into ruin because of Pavid, Finn Schneider glared at him like he wanted to kill him.

But under Duke Schultz’s watchful eye, he couldn’t do anything more.

“What shall we do?”

At Sir Fret’s dry question, I turned to look at Duke Schultz.

“P-please… Just don’t let my father hear of this. I’ll do anything you ask!”

Finn Schneider even began to weep.

But I didn’t feel the slightest pity. This was the man who had tried to trick me, take my home, and sell me off.

Duke Schultz, wearing a gracious expression like he was bestowing great mercy, said, “Well. One must pay the price for one’s crimes. You’ve acted worse than an animal.”

He gave Sir Fret a nod and stood from his seat without hesitation.

“It’s best we leave now.”

Then he reached a hand toward me. The gesture was thoroughly gentlemanly.

Dazed, I stared at his large hand. Then I remembered I had accepted his proposal and hurriedly extended my own.

Right now, it seemed best to appear a convincing couple to everyone here.

“The house…”

“Fret will tidy things up.”

“Me?”

Sir Fret tilted his head like this was the first he’d heard of it, but it didn’t work on Duke Schultz.

“…Yes, of course.”

In a thoroughly sulky tone, Sir Fret walked off, muttering to Finn Schneider as he went.

“The great Duke Schultz—no, Colonel—plans to hand you over to the Metropolitan Police. Who knows, maybe you’ll win a Courageous Citizen Award. Or is there such a thing as a Courageous Colonel Award? I’d love to get an Outstanding Aide Award myself.”

I could practically see the expression on his face.

***

Navy soldiers were stationed outside the house.

A crowd had also gathered. Just a moment ago, they wouldn’t even look at me and had run off.

I couldn’t help but feel a little bitter.

Even Mrs. Pensler seemed to have been roused by the commotion. Upon spotting me, she shouted, “Edith! Edith!”

Her plump hand waved high in the air from within the crowd.

As I tried to make my way toward her, Duke Schultz stopped me. I looked up at him questioningly, and his lips, previously sealed tightly, finally opened.

“Now isn’t the best time. I believe it would be wise to return to the estate first.”

He glanced around and added, “It’s not the most pleasant of situations.”

Indeed, everyone’s attention was focused on Duke Schultz.

Here and there among the crowd, I even heard the click of camera shutters.

“Ah.”

Johannes Schultz was officially declared missing.

“Is this because of me…?”

“It’s not.”

He replied curtly, then turned his blue eyes away from me.

“I’ve hidden long enough. It’s a bit sooner than planned, but not an altogether bad situation.”

He muttered something cryptic, then guided me toward a carriage waiting nearby. It bore the navy’s insignia.

Before boarding, I offered Mrs. Pensler an apologetic look. Though she still appeared dazed, she nodded in return.

“Be careful.”

Taking his hand, I stepped into the carriage.

Once I was seated opposite him, Duke Schultz knocked on the carriage wall. The coachman shouted for the crowd to clear the way, and the people reluctantly stepped aside.

Neither of us said a word.

The carriage rattled strangely as it slowly set off toward Evanstein Castle.