Chapter 86 Father’s Sin
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
We were led to the underground room of the White Lily Cafe. The stairs were dusty, and the long, rectangular room was also dusty. Although the electricity was working, the room was dimly lit. There were glass display shelves lined up, and tableware was decorated on them.
Cups, large and small plates, bowls… it was a magnificent display of only tableware. At the very least, all the visible items were tableware.
”…Hmm.”
However, the tableware lined up on the shelves looked like something one could buy at a normal store. As someone who runs a confectionery shop, I could tell that they didn’t seem like extremely expensive items.
Now, appraiser grandpa narrowed his eyes, his gaze sharp like a hunter’s.
”My, my, this is… may I take a little time?”
”Of course.”
Claire seemed to be shrinking into the corner of the room.
”I’ve read the letter. …You’re angry, aren’t you?”
”I understand the feeling of not wanting to let go of Father’s mementos.”
I said quietly. The items here were undoubtedly Aide’s inheritance. What to do with the belongings of a deceased family member was a difficult problem. Some people would throw them away without hesitation, while others would keep them forever. I didn’t intend to question the morality of that.
”However, if Sword’s story is true, we need to know about the items related to the crime.”
”…Yes. There are gray items in Father’s collection, that’s for sure.”
At that, Claire let out a sigh.
”But I don’t know how gray they are. That’s the truth.”
”…We’ll find out from now on.”
Honestly, there were things I wanted to say beforehand. But I still needed to reserve my judgment.
Sword’s words, his subtle tone… if I trusted everything he said, I’d be caught up in his pace.
As I waited, Appraiser Grandpa approached us.
”I’ve finished taking a look.”
”How was it? Please tell us honestly, without holding back.”
”There’s nothing particularly valuable. They’re all recent tableware, after all.”
Oh, is that so? That’s a bit different from what Sword said. The appraiser grandpa picked up a silver cup.
”For example, this cup has the mark of the renowned workshop, Luarsche. However, the coating is cheap. In other words, it’s a fake.”
”Hmm… Are there a lot of items like that?”
”About half of them are, I’d say. From my perspective, they’re obviously fakes. The rest are from unknown workshops, so they’re not worth much.”
Appraiser Grandpa shrugged his shoulders.
”If Sword Dupont knew about this collection… it’s suspicious that he’s aware of its value.”
”Was it stolen goods?”
”Stolen goods? Hmm… There aren’t any famous pieces, so it’s not like they bought stolen valuable items and got ripped off.”
”T-that’s impossible.”
Claire said it clearly.
”The fakes here were made by my father.”
”…What? So, more than half of this collection was made by him?”
Just by glancing at it, there were over hundreds of pieces of tableware. It would have taken a considerable amount of time to make just half of them. If the owner of the brōtḥel was making fakes while running the business, that’s incredible talent.
”And the unknown pieces that the appraiser grandpa mentioned are my mother’s work. What’s here is just my mother’s unseen work and proof of my father’s sin ―― there’s nothing more than that.”
”My, my… Your parents’ work…”
The appraiser grandpa coughed. This turn of events was unpredictable, it seemed. I didn’t expect it either. I didn’t think that everything here was made by Claire’s parents.
”My father was quiet, and he didn’t teach me everything… but he told me that he met my mother through pottery when he was young.”
Claire spoke, reminiscing.
”And then I was born, and my mother passed away… There were various troubles with running the White Lily Cafe. My father created fakes and sold them as a solution.”
”Sold them? So, what’s here is…”
”He sometimes bought them back, it seems. I don’t know the reason. He didn’t tell me.”
”……”
Aide’s distress was visible. When times were tough, he made fakes for the brōtḥel, and when he had extra money, he bought them back, perhaps. Claire must have been troubled too, but it seemed she couldn’t bring herself to talk about it that much.
The appraiser grandpa nodded there.
”If that’s the case, where did he make it? He can’t create something like that here. You need a specialized workshop.”
”…My father would sometimes disappear for several days. He was probably making it during that time. I don’t have any proof, but…”
There’s only one person who knows Aide’s collection inside out and wants to keep it by their side.
”Sword Dupont.Did he cooperate with your father?”
Please bookmark this series and rate ☆☆☆☆☆ on here!
Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
Report Error Chapter
Tags: