Obviously, It’s My Child - Chapter 226

But Claire’s thoughts were different. She never believed this incident was a real accident from the start.

Most likely, it was insurance fraud.

The sailor who caused the accident disappeared within three days.

The sunken ship was a large sailing vessel, but it was something that was nearing retirement.

How could she be sure that the cargo was truly high-quality materials suitable for large-scale construction? It had all sunk into the sea.

‘Maybe someone bought damaged timber somewhere, loaded it onto a ship that was due to be decommissioned, caused an accident, and made a tidy profit.’

Wasn’t this an insurance policy with an undefined scope of liability?

Moreover, Claire had another suspicion.

Shipwrecks weren’t uncommon, but was it really just a coincidence that the ship sank after colliding with the port? Especially at this point in time?

The lawsuit itself was likely the ultimate goal.

Joanna said,

“But if Lady Augusta doesn’t intervene directly to make the lawsuit invalid, Marquisate Ludendorff will go bankrupt.”

“Maybe they could mediate and come to a settlement.”

“But they’ll have to solve the financial issues first. Lady Augusta probably doesn’t have that kind of personal wealth.”

Joanna said that the dowry Lady Augusta took when she became the Empress’s lady-in-waiting was likely all she had.

‘That can’t be true.’

Claire silently disagreed with that statement.

Augusta was the administrator of the Lotus Palace.

To say she didn’t accumulate any personal wealth while she was devoted to her duties as the head of the drug trade. Only a fool would believe that.

The issue Augusta was contemplating was probably something else.

[The problem is loyalty.]

When Erich said it so casually, Claire expected nothing less from him.

If Augusta were to use her private wealth to save the Marquisate, she would risk exposing the source of that money.

If she allowed Marquisate Ludendorff to go bankrupt instead, it would create a rift in the Empress’s support base.

The Ludendorffs had been a family willing to replace its heir to demonstrate loyalty to the Empress.

There was also a symbolic meaning behind it.

If the eldest Arren son, who had been cast out, returned to claim the family, it would have the effect of countering the Empress and Augusta’s propaganda.

But Erich said,

[Will she be loyal to the family, or to the imperial family? This has been an issue for a long time. In this case, you could replace the imperial family with the lord. No matter which side Augusta chooses, she’ll be in a difficult position because of internal competition.]

[Internal competition?]

[If she gives up the family, she’ll be seen as incompetent; if she saves the family, she’ll be seen as disloyal. Haven’t you considered that?]

[There must be someone sowing discord. I hadn’t considered the loyalty issue. Rather, I focused on what the Empress would lose by abandoning Augusta. Or, if Augusta abandoned Ludendorff, she’d lose one of her sources of power. She’d lose in the internal competition…]

There would, of course, be internal conflict and competition, but Claire had been focusing on the practical abilities involved.

[Marquis Ludendorff is no help at all.]

[True. Coming here, he’s just been a burden.]

They complained, but Erich laughed as though he’d heard something amusing.

When the conversation turned to money, Archduke Victoria’s voice darkened as she sighed.

“Regardless of the Marquis’ position, the insurance payout to Count Brüning must be made, and I’m worried about that.”

“Are you thinking of covering it, Your Grace? It must be quite a large sum.”

“The reason I proposed creating reinsurance from the start was to handle large accidents that the Shipowners’ Union insurance alone couldn’t cover. Although we haven’t secured full agreement yet, we must lead by example.”

Archduke Victoria’s tone was serious.

“If the port remains blocked like this, the only ones who will suffer are those who rely on Ludendorff port for their livelihood.”

“Your Grace, your consideration is truly admirable.”

Claire smiled as she spoke.

“Since we already agreed to guarantee the payouts, we’ll take care of normalizing Ludendorff port.”

“Really?”

“Since Your Grace is covering the Shipowners’ Union’s insurance, why shouldn’t we be able to do the same?”

Claire mentioned that she would send experts from Bismarck port to help with the salvage.

“Of course, the costs and insurance payments will ultimately be charged to Marquisate Ludendorff. But fortunately, my husband’s wallet is well-stocked, so we can afford to wait and collect it slowly.”

“Indeed, generosity comes from the coffers.”

Archduke Victoria smiled.

“Thank you.”

“It was my suggestion from the start.”

And she was the one who laid the groundwork. Regardless of what others did afterward, some responsibility fell to her.

Especially for the people who depended on the port for their livelihoods, as Archduke Victoria had expressed concern about.

Just then, the butler announced a guest.

“Madam, Lord Ludendorff has arrived.”

“Ah, it seems Lord Hermann came to greet you.”

Claire gestured for him to be let in.

Hermann entered holding three camellia flowers, each one made of silk. His frock coat also featured a boutonnière of the same flowers.

“I apologize for interrupting your conversation.”

As soon as he entered, he handed a flower to Victoria, Claire, and Joanna, then kissed the back of each of their hands.

Claire gave a wry smile.

“Lord, I can’t let my guard down even until the very last day.”

“I’m a man with no duties, so I must make sure to please the ladies. We’ve been pruning camellias at home lately, and seeing the flowers, I couldn’t help but think of you, Duchess.”

He added,

“Baron Bloom too.”

“Camellias suit Claire very well, but me?”

“Winter flowers bloom through adversity.”

“Didn’t I advise you last time that it could be dangerous to do that to just anyone?”

“I don’t give them to just anyone without meaning, but I think Miss Joanna deserves to receive flowers.”

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