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Having noticed Rose's gaze, a tall woman approached with a brisk smile.
“I’m Emily Rodner from the Podium. I’d like to request an interview with you, ma'am.”
The name felt vaguely familiar. Beth had mentioned her once before.
The moment Rose took her business card, a commotion broke out on the first floor. Even Emily looked back at the sound of the crowd's loud buzzing.
The doors swung open and a large number of people poured in, all rushing toward Rose. The bodyguards instinctively surrounded her, blocking her view, but they couldn't block the questions.
The voices of reporters shouting Rose's name echoed loudly through the art gallery.
“Mrs. Crawford, your father has been accused of conspiracy to commit fraud. Were you aware of this?”
At the sound of someone's loud voice, Rose's steps paused for a moment before she was forcibly moved along by a bodyguard.
What crime?
It felt surreal, as if she were hearing things.
Once she stepped outside the gallery, the situation became even more chaotic. Amidst the crowd shouting indistinct words, the bodyguards dragged her somewhere.
She couldn't even see where they were heading.
It was only when she reached the carriage that she heard a familiar voice.
“Mrs. Crawford, over here!”
Ray's secretary, Spencer, hurriedly pulled her into the carriage. Through the window, she could see a crowd of people rushing toward her.
The secretary closed the window curtains and signaled the carriage to depart.
“What is going on?”
Rose asked in an exhausted voice, roughly tidying her disheveled hair.
“I think you should read this.”
The secretary handed her the Daily Oakley Review. It seemed to be an extra edition published in the afternoon.
As she read, it felt inexplicably surreal.
Her father did this? Something so foolish?
He was a man of great greed, but he wasn't the type to do something like this because of that greed.
“Is all of this true? Are these confirmed facts?”
“It seems the Minister has gone to investigate,” the secretary replied with a troubled expression.
If her father really had committed fraud, what should she do then?
Even after learning that Ray was considering divorce, Rose had ignored it for several days.
She didn't have the courage to ask him directly, nor did she have the strength left to endure the answer.
Since returning from the campaign, her body had become easily exhausted for reasons she couldn't understand.
Whenever she returned to her bedroom after dealing with people, she felt a sense of bleakness and heaviness, as if weights were attached to her entire body, sinking her underwater.
Later, when I have a bit more strength, I'll ask. I'll solve it then. Time had slipped away with that mindset.
But if something like this happened, if Ray had to suffer through such scandals because of her...
Wouldn't it be better to leave first?
To hide her anxiety, Rose kept rubbing her wrist for no reason.
Upon arriving at the Crawford estate, the severity of the situation became real.
The servants were managing to maintain their composure and perform their duties, but Agatha and Beth were so shocked that they could barely speak to Rose.
Until nearly eleven at night, the three women waited for Ray in the drawing room, unable to sleep.
When Ray finally returned, Rose's heart sank upon seeing his face.
No matter how much she appeared in the newspapers, the man had always been composed. He had been confident, as if he could resolve everything.
But now, it was different.
A distinct sense of fatigue hung over his face.
“Ray! What on earth is happening?”
Agatha stood up, clutching her hands, to face her son.
After confirming the three women waiting for him, Ray stared at his sister with an expressionless face.
“Beth, it would be best if you went to bed first.”
“But...”
“Listen to me.”
Beth's indignant expression vanished instantly; realizing the gravity of the situation from his firm tone, she stood up without further protest.
Only after his sister left did Ray speak.
“From what I've found, it seems Mr. Davis was framed to some extent.”
“What do you mean 'to some extent'? Either it's fraud or it isn't. What does that mean?”
Agatha shouted in frustration on behalf of Rose, who remained frozen.
“It seems that when he first provided the investment funds, he didn't think it was financial fraud at all. However, about a week ago, he realized it was a scam and requested the return of his investment, but he only received a portion of it back.”
“No, then shouldn't Mr. Davis be viewed as a victim as well?”
“For now, that is only Mr. Davis's claim. Even if it is true, the situation could become complicated because he did not report it to the police separately after realizing it was fraud.”
Ray wiped the corner of his mouth and took a sip of water to moisten his throat.
“Since this involved a small number of nobles, I believe it can be managed if we put out the fire quickly.”
Without a single sigh, Ray continued in a businesslike manner.
“For now, Mother, it would be best if you met with the wives. We need as much information as possible, and it will be important to remove Mr. Davis's name from the petition.”
“I understand. I will find out as much as I can.”
Agatha nodded with a determined expression.
“I believe I must return to the official residence.”
“...I see. Will you be coming back?”
“Probably. But I'll likely have to leave again immediately anyway.”
While the mother and son exchanged words, Rose couldn't say a single thing.
What should she say? That she was sorry?
That she was grateful to him for solving the problem her father caused?
No words seemed appropriate.
In the hallway as she went to see him off, Ray turned and stared at her, but Rose avoided his gaze, unable to meet his eyes.
“Rose.”
His hand landed on her shoulder.
“I can solve this. Don't think useless thoughts.”
At the whispering voice that sounded like an admonition, Rose looked up. His sharp eyes were staring at her.
She couldn't tell exactly what he meant by "useless thoughts."
“Answer me, Rose. Tell me you won't think of anything.”
Eventually, Rose nodded.
He locked eyes with her for a long moment once more before leaving the estate.
Feeling like a criminal, Rose continued to watch her husband's retreating figure.
* * *
Ray, who stopped by the estate briefly in the early hours of the dawn, originally had no intention of checking on Rose.
He had planned to only change his clothes and leave again, but his plans changed after reading the early edition of the Daily Oakley Review.
<Minister Crawford Becomes a Coward, Sacrificing an Ally>
The headline alone made it clear what kind of article it was.
<Last January, Minister Crawford, along with Planto and Antaka, pressured Ladan to abandon the island. In doing so, he dealt a diplomatic humiliation to an ally who had shared life and death with them, and diminished the honor of Orturan himself.
This secretive 'agreement' led by the Minister was kept confidential for as long as two months. This suggests that the Minister himself was not proud of his choice.
An official from the Ladan embassy expressed anger, stating, “He was deceived by an uncertain peace and sacrificed Ladan.”
Due to Minister Crawford's foolish choice, Ladan's efforts to guide the citizens of Calta Island, who had been accustomed to the barbaric customs of Cuetra, vanished in an instant. By handing over the evidence of victory himself, he faded the meaning of the previous war.>
That son of a bitch.
Ray let out a hollow laugh as he read the paper. Archibald Avery was clearly out of his mind.
To attack a member of his own party so maliciously at such a critical time—did he intend to give up on the general election?
If one clung to matters that the King and Prime Minister had condoned in this manner, it amounted to attacking them as well. He seemed blind to everything.
<Minister Crawford's full name is Raymond Anderson Crawford.
Named after his grandfather, who was the Prime Minister of Orturan, and his maternal grandfather, who led the victory at the Battle of Antaka, he is the very symbol and history of Orturan.
Fittingly, in the last war, he bravely protected Orturan and its allies from the barbarians, making us proud.
Why did such a hero become the coward of the era in an instant?
Last August, Minister Ray Crawford married Rose Davis, the daughter of Elliot Davis, a businessman from Bolton.
Since then, the Minister's trajectory has changed significantly.
He succumbed to the strikes in Marilyn, proposed a radical tax reform bill, and has now abandoned his duties as the leading nation of the alliance.
The influence of Bolton, the home country of the Minister's wife, is reflected in his change of heart. Instead of facing problems, he is driving the situation to the worst possible outcome through temporary avoidance.
Throughout its long history, Bolton has never once shown a commitment to loyalty or honor. They have always been preoccupied with seizing immediate profits, clinging to this country or that country.
The Davis father and daughter may have gained a reliable son-in-law or husband after the marriage, but our Orturan has lost a dependable hero and politician.
Is he the Minister of Orturan, or the son-in-law of Bolton?>
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