Chapter 146………………………………………………
Thud.
The clear sound of the judge’s gavel echoed through the courtroom, and the interior fell deathly silent.
Everyone waited for the verdict.
The urgency of someone awaiting a judgment is impossible to measure—but since the defendant was the defendant, the audience watched as if they themselves were the plaintiff, hanging on the judge’s every word.
The judge looked down at Priscilla.
Priscilla, feeling powerless for the first time in her life, still could not lift her head.
The judge, standing above her for the first time, felt a grim sense of superiority as he read the verdict.
“Case No. 9422. Based on witness testimony and, above all, indisputable evidence, it has been revealed that the defendant, Priscilla Eckhart, continuously abused the plaintiff, Lloyd Eckhart, over a long period. Among child abuse cases, this crime is particularly heinous, and the testimony also revealed that the defendant attempted to manipulate witness statements. Therefore, the following sentence is pronounced: the defendant, Priscilla Eckhart, is sentenced to life imprisonment. Furthermore, all noble privileges of the defendant are revoked, and her assets will automatically be inherited by the plaintiff, the victim and rightful heir.”
Child abuse cases are not subject to appeal. Combined with the severity of murder charges, Priscilla will never again be able to show her face in noble society—or society at large.
The maximum punishment had been handed down, and cheers erupted throughout the courtroom.
Yet Lloyd, the very person who had won, remained blank-faced and expressionless.
The judge noted the oddity of this but did not concern himself further.
The important thing was that Lloyd had survived.
Next, the trial of the Viscount and Viscountess Velli would proceed immediately.
With a sense of relief as if no obstacles remained ahead, the judge struck the gavel with firm, decisive force.
Thud thud!
“That is all. Court adjourned!”
The trial, long as it had been, was over.
Yet now that it had ended, Lloyd could hardly believe it was real.
“Really… is Mother really going to prison?”
Child abusers were sent to prisons in the cold northern regions.
It was hard to picture Priscilla shivering there, without furs, armchairs, or a fireplace.
Though she had exchanged some final words with her lawyer, all Lloyd could remember was Priscilla.
Her look of resentment, claiming she had done nothing wrong, her determination to plot and survive even in prison—she remained as steadfast as ever.
Somehow, despite everything, he felt admiration rather than anger.
In any case, Lloyd had won the trial.
He hurried to the waiting room.
He wanted to see his family as soon as possible.
“I’ll reassure the children not to worry, and I’ll tell them we can finally be a real family. And Minerva…”
With Minerva, he wanted to receive both congratulations and comfort.
The moment Lloyd touched the cold doorknob, the door suddenly swung open without any force from him.
“Lloyd!”
“Dad!”
“Dad!”
The faces he had wanted to see moments ago crowded around him, eyes wide with anticipation.
Minerva stepped forward, unable to hide her concern.
“Is it over?”
“Yes. It’s all over.”
Lloyd nodded, smiling unconsciously.
He wanted to embrace Minerva, but the children’s gaze kept him from doing so.
Ayla and Aslan ran up and surrounded him.
“Dad, did you win?”
“Yes, we won.”
“Did you knock them down?”
“……”
He could not honestly say “yes,” because someone had literally done the knocking down.
Aslan’s question carried a different meaning entirely, yet Lloyd remained silent.
Minerva’s eyes narrowed at his reaction.
“…By any chance, Lloyd… did you hit the Viscount?”
“Uh, it kind of happened.”
Oh no. Minerva held her forehead.
“Why on earth, even in the courtroom…? No, never mind. That guy probably said something unnecessary anyway. You did well.”
She rambled but could not hide her exasperation.
In hindsight, using violence in court could have been disadvantageous, but with Ribera in danger, Lloyd had not had time to think.
Seeing Lloyd unusually quiet, Minerva rubbed her forehead and then patted his back.
“I only said it out of worry, so don’t worry too much. If you did it, there must have been a reason.”
“…No, honestly, I should have just restrained myself. Going so far as to hit him was reckless on my part.”
Restrain?
Whom?
It seemed a lot had happened in the courtroom.
Just as Minerva was about to ask in detail, a knock came from outside.
“Your Highness, may I have a moment?”
“That voice…”
Minerva’s expression hardened, and she looked at Lloyd, as if asking him to explain.
Though he did not like her either, Lloyd calmed Minerva first.
“The Viscount attempted to use violence against the Viscountess in court, so I intervened. I think she came to express her gratitude. And I, too, received her help. A conversation shouldn’t be a problem.”
The children, listening as well, were surprised.
Help from Ribera?
They were curious, but Minerva, uneasy about Ribera’s motives, could not let the children interact with her.
After firmly instructing the children to stay inside, Minerva went outside with Lloyd.
Ribera, for some reason, was being guarded by two knights.
Or rather, “guarded” was more like “restrained.”
They were not physically bound, but to Minerva, it looked like the knights were monitoring her.
Ribera bowed to Lloyd.
“I heard you won. Congratulations, Your Highness.”
“What’s the matter?”
“I wanted to express my gratitude before my trial begins.”
“Trial?”
Minerva was shocked to hear Ribera was going to court.
Ribera, however, remained calm, as if it were someone else’s problem.
“Yes, Princess. I will be on trial with the Viscount for child abuse.”
Hearing this, Minerva felt even more confused.
First of all, I don’t remember reporting her… Did Lloyd report her?
Lloyd quickly explained as she looked at him in surprise.
“I prevented the Viscount’s false testimony, and she confessed everything. She admitted abandoning the child at an orphanage to die.”
“…Ah.”
So that was the help Lloyd had received.
Minerva immediately understood the situation.
Though she hated to admit it, Ribera had undeniably provided crucial help to Lloyd.
All Minerva could do was fidget helplessly in the waiting room.
“…What is this?”
A strange, uneasy feeling washed over her.
But when Ribera spoke again, Minerva could not put a name to this mysterious feeling.
“My child… did die. But…”
Ribera hesitated, her gaze falling behind Minerva—much lower, to be precise.
When Minerva and Lloyd turned, puzzled, they saw Ayla and Aslan peeking through a slightly open gap.
“You two! I told you not to come out!”
They had not listened, and Minerva had been trying to keep them inside, but in that moment, they had nudged the door open.
With Aslan’s sharp hearing, Ayla had certainly heard everything.
Ribera could not take her eyes off Ayla.
She seemed like she wanted to speak to her.
Minerva hesitated to push Ayla back into the waiting room.
If Ribera was confessing voluntarily, maybe giving her one more chance wouldn’t hurt…
But what if she said something foolish and hurt Ayla even more?
While Minerva and Lloyd hesitated, Ayla bravely stepped outside and stood before Ribera.
“Do you have something to tell me?”
Among the three cautious adults, the courageous child looked truly admirable.
Despite being deeply hurt before, Ayla did not fear Ribera.
Even though she had cried a lot that day, she faced Ribera again, knowing she might be hurt, but refused to hide completely.
She had the courage to face a harsh world.
And if she inevitably cried, she trusted her family to comfort her and heal her quickly—a smart, resilient child.
Ah… I abandoned a child like this.
Ribera lowered her head deeply. But she could not hide the quiver in her voice.
“I… to you…”
