Chapter 17 The Titan Family Is Actually This Poor
No matter how anxious the Mephist couple felt, Holden wasted no time once he got the key and rushed straight to the study.
As soon as he pushed the door open, morning sunlight streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows toward his feet. By the desk near the window, Anne sat reading a book with a cup of tea beside her, looking like she'd been in the study for quite a while.
Anne was the last person Holden wanted to see right now. He was here to check the accounts, and she just happened to show up in the study where the ledgers were kept. Wasn't this proof of guilt?With this thought, he looked at Anne with utter contempt. "Did you know I was coming and wait here on purpose?"
Anne had been absorbed in her book. She was nearly finished with this biography, which was why she'd come to the study—to make it easier to pick out her next one. Caught off guard by his words, Anne paused and turned to look at Holden with confusion on her face. "What?"
Holden held up the key in his hand and sneered. "I came to the study to get the ledgers, and you just happen to be here. Aren't you afraid I'll find out what you've done from the accounts?"
Hearing such an unreasonable accusation, Anne simply glanced at Holden calmly. Sunlight fell gently on her, bathing her in a golden glow that made her look both gentle and dignified. "I don't know why you would think that."
"Is that how you see me—as someone who spends every day scheming and plotting? I have no life of my own, no business of my own, so if I come to the study it must be because I heard you were checking the accounts, not because I simply wanted a quiet place to read? You're the one who's afraid. You're just scared that your family really can't produce the betrothal gift, afraid other nobles will mock you for being unable to marry Candy even with the King's decree, afraid that the Titan family has no money and can't survive."
"You covet my dowry but don't have the courage to admit it's for yourself. Holden, you're a coward."
Holden froze. Was he really that kind of person? No, impossible. He was the leader of the Dawn Knight Order, a war hero, the second son of the Titan family. How could he covet a woman's dowry!
But the family and Candy... Holden furrowed his brow in pain. What Anne said was indeed the truth. These past few days, he'd been constantly thinking—what if his family couldn't produce the betrothal gift and Candy couldn't marry him?
It concerned both his own and his family's reputation, as well as his love. Holden felt like his head was about to explode. But when his eyes swept over Anne and saw her still sitting calmly in the chair by the window, her gaze cold and distant, it was like a needle suddenly piercing his swollen, confused mind. Holden suddenly calmed down.
Anne's coldness made Holden suspect that even if he and his family fell into ruin and became everyone's laughingstock, she would watch from the sidelines just like this. How could such a woman, who hated his betrayal of their marriage to the core, possibly do nothing!
With this thought, Holden stopped backing down. He pointed to the door behind him. "If you're going to keep making excuses, I have nothing more to say. But if you want to prove you're not afraid, take your book and leave. Don't set foot in here again until I'm done with my inspection, and don't try any tricks. This is my final warning!"
Anne stood up, her face cold. "I can leave, but if you find out this has nothing to do with me, you must apologize for everything you've said and done!"
Holden was furious. "Fine! Since you insist, if I do find something, not only will you be responsible for my marriage to Candy, I'll also report this to the King and have him severely punish a vicious woman like you who damages her family. I'll let the whole world know that the orphan of the Virlet family is this kind of scum!"
Anne laughed coldly. "The innocent have nothing to fear. Why would I worry about being punished for something I didn't do! Go ahead and petition the King. We'll see who ends up bearing the guilt!"
She picked up her book and walked straight out of the study without giving Holden another glance.
Standing behind her, Holden glared with wide eyes in anger. This woman was still making excuses!
He'd originally just wanted her to contribute part of her dowry to temporarily help him get through this crisis and marry Candy. But after this confrontation, with harsh words already spoken, Holden would never let her off easily.
Gripping the key tightly, Holden walked to the safe with a dark expression, unlocked it, and pulled out the thick stack of documents.
As a noble's son, Holden could read and had studied household management in his youth, so checking the ledgers wouldn't be hard. He first found the book recording liquid assets. It should contain annual tax records from farmers, merchants, and commoners, plus income from estates, tea plantations, and wineries.
But when Holden finished reading this year's accounts, aside from a small amount of tax revenue, there was no record of income from the land at all!?
His eyes widened as he flipped backward, all the way to five years ago, before he saw the last entry about the estates. But even then, the income recorded in the ledger was practically zero.
Had they really been sold!?
"Impossible..." Holden's eyes widened in disbelief as he opened the tax records to examine them carefully. He discovered that starting three years ago, tax revenue from each area was precisely documented, but nothing had been collected from merchants. Just as Holden frowned in confusion, he noticed a small notation: "balance: 5 years 6 months."
What was this?
Somewhat puzzled, Holden cross-referenced the notes and flipped forward, then followed the records to another red notebook. He opened it irritably, and the color gradually drained from his face. By the time he reached the end, Holden's face was ashen.
This notebook recorded the family's debts over the years!
Not only some neighboring nobles, but even nearby merchants were listed. Looking at those figures, Holden understood why merchants hadn't paid taxes these past few years.
Because all their tax payments had gone to pay off the Titan family's debts!
Even then, the family still owed over five years' worth of taxes, not counting what other tax-exempt nobles owed.
Holden thought about how he'd gone door to door trying to borrow money and been refused. His hands trembled as he turned to the current account summary.
With just one glance, Holden nearly fainted.
The vast Titan family had only one hundred gold coins left!?