~Chapter 100~
This man knew exactly where I was weak and pushed in. He spoke as if he knew I couldn’t refuse at a moment like this.
Family…
Family with Armians.
It wasn’t a new topic.
At the Founding Festival, I had attended as his fiancée, and among his vassals, some even called me the Grand Duchess already.
But still… why did every single word from his lips feel so special?
“Family…”
“If you dislike it—”
“No! I mean… I like it.”
The words spilled out too quickly, making me sound desperate. Embarrassed, I stammered.
“…I want to be Your Highness’s wife.”
Silence fell for a moment.
“What did you just say?”
“Marriage. Let’s do it.”
“I didn’t hear that clearly.”
“…You heard me.”
“I did. But it’s so sweet, I want to hear it again and again.”
Armians leaned down and kissed the top of my head.
It wasn’t even skin, just my hair — but it still tickled and made my heart flutter.
The attendants around us finally snapped back to their senses once Armians stepped back from me.
“Your Grace, how could you propose in the middle of the street?”
“And you haven’t even finished preparing the ring yet!”
“This is invalid! My lady, you should reject him so His Grace learns what proper timing for a proposal is!”
Armians turned to the last speaker.
“Beril. Your tongue is unusually long today.”
“Why are you looking at me like that? Do I look like the one who got rejected today? Hm?”
“……”
I stepped away from them, and right away Marina came up beside me. She must have found all the noise overwhelming too.
“My lady, truly, congratulations!”
I looked up at the tall building ahead.
I knew that inside, many things would be decided. Yet the heavy tension I had felt earlier was completely gone.
Even the wind that blew through my hair no longer bothered me.
I straightened my tilted hat and smiled.
“…Thank you.”
Inside the courtroom, the air was even heavier and colder than outside.
Despite the packed audience, not many dared to speak.
Scanning the seats, I spotted Charlotte.
She noticed me too, her lips twisting as she clenched her fists. It was a silent threat: Just wait and see.
In my previous life, that look had frightened me. I had nowhere to go and couldn’t resist her then.
But now things were different. Now, she only looked ridiculous.
I lifted my hand and waved lightly. Charlotte’s face crumpled further, and she snapped her head away.
The Count arrived just barely on time.
“It’s been a while, Bella. Are you well?”
His fake warmth made me sick the instant our eyes met. I frowned, but then my view was blocked by a broad back.
“Bella doesn’t need to see such things. Her body hasn’t fully healed — do you want her eyes to be poisoned too?”
It was Armians.
“The Grand Duke! Always scheming to drive a wedge between father and daughter! But it won’t work! A wise court will understand my fatherly love!”
At the Founding Festival, he had cowered like a turtle retreating into its shell. Yet now he shouted as though itching for a fight.
Does he have something he’s relying on?
“Everyone, be seated. The trial will begin.”
The judge entered before I could study the Count further.
It was Baron Milson, known for fairness, but also for being strict and rigid.
The Count and I sat down almost at the same time. Then knights brought in the Countess, bound with ropes, and placed her at the defendant’s seat.
She wore a black dress, like one in mourning. Prison had clearly not treated her well — her cheeks were sunken.
Yet her sharp nature hadn’t changed. The moment her eyes met mine, she raised her brows in hostility.
Not frightening at all.
I sat calmly, waiting for the stage I had long prepared for. And soon, it came.
“My name is Melina. I worked as a maid in House Rohiltern two years ago, so I witnessed how Lady Bella was treated…”
Melina testified that I had been denied proper meals, that except when dragged along as Charlotte’s attendant, I only wore rags, and that I was often slapped or beaten by the Countess and Charlotte.
The Countess muttered curses with every word, grinding her teeth — “Ungrateful wretch, how dare you—”
If knights hadn’t restrained her, she might have lunged and grabbed Melina’s throat.
The more the Countess lost control, the more detailed Melina’s testimony became.
She asked for no money in return. What she wanted was only the Countess’s ruin. Just as her legs had been twisted, she wanted the Countess’s life twisted too.
“Witness, I noticed you limp badly. Why?”
“The Madam often vented her anger by beating servants. Many were injured and thrown out. I was one of them.”
“I see. A tragic story indeed.”
Two more maids gave similar testimony.
The Countess had always lashed out but never cleaned up the mess. Finding witnesses was easy.
She looked at them with betrayed eyes, as though shocked that they even had voices to speak against her.
“Gi-give me a chance to explain!”
The Count looked rattled, but also prepared.
“Go ahead.”
“The evidence is clear, yes. Everything the maids said is true. But!”
He cut his words short, glaring at his wife.
“It was all her doing! I never once laid a hand on the girl! The sins were hers alone!”
The Count clicked his tongue.
“She tricked me too! Or else, how could I have cherished as my own daughter a child that isn’t even mine?”
There was only one child he could mean — Charlotte.
The courtroom erupted.
Charlotte bit her lip hard, avoiding the stares in silence. The judge slammed the gavel to quiet the noise.
“Continue.”
“The truth is this. She knew the child was illegitimate. And she knew if exposed, that child’s inheritance would vanish! So before the truth came out, she tormented Bella — my late brother’s daughter — to drive her away!”
The judge thought for a moment before saying:
“If the Count’s claim is true, divorce will be granted. But if false, your reputation will be ruined. Do you still stand by your words with evidence?”
“I swear before the heavens, not a word is false!”
The Count pointed toward the audience.
“And Charlotte is here. Let us use the Imperial reagent! Then everything will be revealed!”
The Empire had a potion for verifying blood ties. It was used whenever someone claimed to be an illegitimate child of nobility.
“…Very well. The use of the reagent is permitted.”
Court magicians brought the vial and poured it into a basin. The liquid glowed a milky white.
The test was simple: both supposed parent and child put their hands into the basin. If the liquid stayed white or turned clear, they were related. If it changed color, they were not.
The Count rubbed his hands together and smiled at the Countess, as if eagerly awaiting the outcome.
Charlotte tried to run but was caught and dragged forward. Even at the basin, she shook her head violently.
“No! Please, no! Father, how can you do this to me? I am your daughter! Yes, I sinned and was disowned, but I am still your blood!”
“Then you should have no reason to refuse. If you are truly mine, nothing will happen.”
Tears welled in Charlotte’s eyes. The Count met her gaze and whispered:
“If you really are my daughter, I’ll apologize today.”
The standoff dragged on. Finally, an impatient knight forced Charlotte’s hand into the basin.
Though it was just water with reagent mixed in, Charlotte reacted as if her hand were melting.
“No, no, nooo—!”
The instant her hand touched the liquid, the color shifted.
Bright red, like blood.
Another truth was revealed to the world.
Charlotte was not the true daughter of Wilhelm Rohiltern.
DRAMAAAAA WOOOOOOO