I’ll Be the Heroine’s Competent Divorce Partner - Chapter 86

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 86

“She was injured, but her life isn’t in critical danger.”

“……Is that really true?”

“Of course.”

Isabel quickly nodded and lowered her voice to whisper to me.

“Penelope just fell asleep not long ago. So let’s keep quiet.”

“……”

Only then did I calm down slightly and look at Penelope.

At the same time, I felt a lump in my throat.

‘What the hell is this.’

Penelope was in absolutely terrible condition.

Tightly closed eyes.

Pale lips.

Her right arm was splinted and wrapped in bandages, firmly secured in place.

I unconsciously stroked Penelope’s right arm.

‘Why is her arm like this……’

The bandages were wrapped so thickly that Penelope couldn’t even notice me caressing her arm.

……That must mean she was seriously injured.

“Miss.”

Isabel tapped my shoulder a couple of times and gestured toward the door with her chin.

She was saying we should go outside for now.

I nodded and carefully followed behind Isabel, making sure not to make any noise.

Click.

The door closed.

Penelope’s pale figure disappeared beyond the door.

A little while later.

In the deserted hospital lounge.

“What on earth happened?”

I asked Isabel with a sharp voice.

“I think there was some misunderstanding.”

“Misunderstanding?”

“Yes. She didn’t get into a carriage accident. More precisely, she almost did.”

Isabel’s explanation was as follows.

Penelope fell while returning from the fabric market.

A carriage happened to come rushing at that exact timing, but thanks to the coachman spotting Penelope early, they barely avoided a collision.

The carriage managed to stop just in front of Penelope’s nose.

“Then Penelope’s arm……!”

“It was already broken when she fell. But.”

Her dark green eyes grew somber.

“……According to Penelope, she thinks someone pushed her.”

At that moment.

As if I’d been doused with ice water, my spine went cold.

“So you’re saying it might not have actually been an accident?”

“Of course, Penelope could have been mistaken. However.”

Isabel concluded with a heavy tone.

“We can’t deny the possibility that Penelope was really attacked……”

I clenched my teeth tightly.

If someone had deliberately hurt Penelope, who would have a motive to attack her?

‘Penelope isn’t the type to make many enemies in the first place.’

If I had to think about it, the only bad connection she had was with the orphanage where she used to work.

But that orphanage has been completely shut down now, and the orphanage director and his wife have been in prison for a long time.

That means the orphanage side practically can’t harm Penelope.

‘After that, Penelope has been working at Bella Dress Shop the whole time.’

Then it would be reasonable to look for the cause of this incident at the dress shop.

Also, the only notable move Bella Dress Shop has made recently was……

‘Applying for the winter clothing tender project.’

I suddenly raised my head.

‘My person got hurt.’

If I hadn’t brought Penelope into our dress shop, she might not have had to go through such a terrible ordeal.

That means.

I’m partly responsible for this incident.

So.

‘I’m absolutely not going to let this slide.’

* * *

The next day.

Joshua received an unexpected visitor.

That person was none other than.

“Princess, what brings you here? So suddenly……”

“I’m sorry for visiting so urgently. It’s just that this is an urgent matter.”

Elodie, who had politely paid her respects, spoke with a fierce voice.

“Penelope was injured. Her arm is broken.”

“Penelope, you mean……”

“Yes, she’s a person from our dress shop.”

Elodie tried hard not to get excited.

But it was completely useless.

Her voice trembled, unable to overcome her intense emotions.

“Also, according to Penelope’s testimony, someone pushed her from behind.”

Joshua’s expression became serious.

“Pushed her?”

“Yes. Also, the place where Penelope fell was on a main road where carriages pass by. She almost got hit by a carriage too.”

My head grew hot again with surging anger.

Elodie clenched her fists tightly.

“She could have…… lost her life.”

“Princess.”

“Penelope has never made enemies with anyone around her. Also, the only recent change in Penelope’s circumstances was this winter clothing tender project.”

Having finished speaking, Elodie looked straight into Joshua’s eyes.

“Therefore, I think Your Highness the Crown Prince should help with this matter.”

“……”

Her bright blue eyes were filled with rippling anger.

She must care deeply for this person called Penelope.

‘Would the princess get just as angry for me if I got hurt like that?’

Joshua, who had unconsciously thought such a thing, was amazed at his own childishness.

What kind of childish thought was this supposed to be?

Joshua clicked his tongue inwardly and opened his mouth.

“First, I wish Miss Penelope a speedy recovery. You injured your right arm, correct?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“Then it would be difficult for you to participate in design work for the time being.”

In other words.

The party that would gain the most from this incident was the ‘Bremont Dress Shop.’

Joshua’s eyes gleamed sharply.

‘Finally, I have justification.’

Justification to inspect the Northern Command.

The fact that Bremont Dress Shop was consistently selected for tender projects was certainly suspicious.

Nevertheless, it had been somewhat burdensome to act on suspicion alone.

But now a competing company had suffered actual damage.

There was sufficient justification to investigate the entire tender project.

Not only Bremont Dress Shop, but the Northern Command as well. Everything.

“I think the Princess’s suspicions are reasonable.”

Joshua, who had organized his thoughts for a moment, spoke calmly.

“If innocent citizens of the Empire were truly harmed because of this tender project, we must clearly reveal the truth about those crimes.”

“…Your Highness.”

Facing Elodie’s gradually softening expression, Joshua firmly drove the point home.

“Please don’t worry too much. I will ensure this matter is thoroughly investigated.”

* * *

And so, on the day of voting.

The first people to arrive at the polling station were four soldiers from the Petno region and their field commander.

They had come as representatives of the Petno army, the actual users of winter clothing.

However, the soldiers summoned to the capital couldn’t hide their indifferent expressions.

‘Is voting even meaningful? It’ll be Bremont Dress Shop anyway, just wasting taxes.’

‘They don’t even listen when we report to higher-ups.’

‘Honestly, they don’t really care whether we freeze to death or not, right?’

‘Making people go through all this trouble just to put on a show.’

Everyone swallowed their complaints that rose to their throats, suppressing them firmly.

And Second Lieutenant Landen, who had come as the field commander, felt the same way.

They said they would give greater consideration to the soldiers’ opinions, but…

‘As if they would.’

Second Lieutenant Landen scoffed inwardly.

If they were going to do that, they would have listened to their opinions from the beginning.

They had already complained several times that the winter clothing was of too poor quality.

‘Yet they always ignored our words.’

The second lieutenant, who had been sneering coldly to himself, glanced around.

In the distance, he could see a group of people in military uniforms gathered together.

‘Are those staff members from the Defense Supply Support Division?’

Come to think of it, those people were also supposed to vote.

Besides that, scores from an evaluation panel composed of external experts would also be included.

‘Nothing to expect.’

Just as Second Lieutenant Landen was scoffing.

Observers began entering the polling station one by one.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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