[TIDK] 96 – Zachary Crimson

As Isaac listened to Zachary Crimson’s words, he recalled himself at thirteen and Scarlett at twelve.

When he came to his senses after the carriage accident, his parents had passed, and his eyes were dark.

Isaac, only thirteen, spent months in a wheelchair without saying a word.

On the other hand, as soon as she got home from the hospital, Scarlett ran to the cleaning kit and pulled out the mop the maids had initially used. And he remembered hearing the sound of someone wiping the windows.

“I’m good at cleaning. I can wipe off the dirt, which will be in pristine condition. I’ll clean from now on. Oh, and you also need someone to take care of you. I’ll do it; I can do it all!”

Twelve years old.

Only a twelve-year-old girl.

How on earth could she judge the situation so quickly, then?

When Isaac thought about how she could suppress her sadness after that judgement, there was only one answer, Scarlett knew that Isaac’s life would be in even more danger if he were kicked out of this house. Scarlett thought she should protect Isaac without their parents, who suddenly became blind and helpless.

Zachary Crimson said while Isaac was thinking.

“This could ruin the entire family. I don’t know about you, but if your business gets shaky, you’ll be trying to get the money you borrowed from the bank immediately, and then it’ll be quick for the factory to close.”

“Sure? But Great Uncle, your prediction is wrong,” Isaac smiled. But his expression was anything but joyful.

“...”

Zachary stared at him.

“Of course, you know. Grandfather dedicated his life to watch-craftsmanship,” Isaac continued, unaffected by his uncle’s silence.

Watch technology was passed down from the heir of the generation to the next. Usually, except for the family’s heir, the rest of the family did not fully understand the technology of the watches.

Mr and Mrs Crimson were unusual cases. Isaac’s grandfather, Earl Philip Crimson, knew Wendy Tale, who worked at Factory 1, was a genius. So he made Wendy Tale his successor and not his son Willis Crimson. It was possible because Willis Crimson, the heir to the Crimson family, was in love with her.

And they gave birth to Isaac and Scarlett.

Isaac was sure that if his parents had been alive, they would have chosen his sister, not him, as the heir to the family. Scarlett liked to play with watches since she was young, and she was very knowledgeable.

It was based on her genius that she could make watches out of her childhood memories.

Isaac spoke quietly.

“If the business continues like this, one day, people will notice, and there will be a bigger lawsuit.”

“It may not be noticed.”

“No, getting caught is inevitable,” Isaac went on. “You think it’s over if they’re redacted, and sales aren’t made for the faulty watches? Do you think the person who buys our watches are fools?”

“Ordinary people don’t know watches as well as the people of this family,” Zachary said.

“No, people are smarter and more sensitive than we think. It’s not that Scarlett isn’t tactful enough to be expedient. It’s not the way to go as a compromise.”

For Isaac, the good and evil of the world were relatively straightforward.

Scarlett Crimson was good, and Abel Crimson was evil. It was the only clear boundary in his opaque life.

He continued.

“Great uncle, I can see little by little now.”

“…what?”

“One day, my vision will be clear.”

“...”

“Take Scarlett’s side. Then I’ll forgive you to some extent.”

Zachary Crimson gulped down.

It occurred to him that Isaac did not do anything in the attic as others did.

And then the door to the visiting room opened. Both men looked toward the door simultaneously, and there was a sailor.

“This is Pallin Redford. The captain asked me to bring the Earl for Lady Scarlett. Let’s go, shall we?

Zachary, as well as Isaac, looked perplexed at his casual tone. Isaac asked.

“But can I just leave?”

“Yes, my captain wants it.”

Pallin spoke as if it were natural, and Isaac laughed. Then he sighed and buried his face in his hands.

“I’m going to get in trouble with Scarlett when I get out.….”

Pallin then glanced at Zachary and told him to leave.

He’d only heard of Viktor Dumfelt, but he didn’t know he wasn’t this indifferent. Zachary Crimson had only known that Scarlett was excluded from the Dumfelt family. But since Viktor had used his power to release Isaac, he thought Scarlett and Viktor’s relationship was not insufferable.

After Zachary left the visiting room, Pallin turned to Isaac.

“Her memory is a little blurry.”

“What?”

“She forgot about the divorce and came to the Dumfelt Estate.”

Isaac’s expression darkened at his words.

♔♔♔