Chapter 46…………………………………
This was what Robby said.
Last night, Joshua—the butler’s son—had suddenly suffered a seizure.
It seemed the shock of his abruptly changed environment had only now caught up to him.
Fortunately, a physician arrived quickly for a house call and administered a sedative, so Joshua wasn’t in serious danger.
The problem was that the commotion had alerted House Cassius, who had been searching relentlessly for the head butler.
‘If I’d known this would happen, I should’ve had him stay at the villa too!’
No—this wasn’t the time for regret.
At the time, it had been best for the butler to stay near the general hospital for Joshua’s outpatient treatment.
I needed a solution.
What should I do?
Could the trial proceed without the butler?
I thought for a moment, then shook my head.
If I wanted to win, the butler’s testimony was essential.
Should I request a delay?
No.
This trial had been arranged through imperial intervention.
There was no guarantee postponement would even be allowed just because a witness failed to appear.
‘More than anything… this is the perfect timing.’
Then there was only one answer left.
“Sharon! Can we push the butler’s turn back in the order?”
“Ah, yes. If we adjust the sequence, it should be possible. But…”
“Until then, our side will be at a disadvantage.”
“It can’t be helped. Laura, can you testify as long as possible?”
“Yes! Leave it to me!”
“I’ll also try to stall by asking questions. Though honestly… Cassius’s lawyer is the type to interrogate endlessly anyway.”
The next—and most important—was the butler.
I hesitated, because this could become extremely troublesome…
But Terrence spoke first.
“I’ll go.”
“…Are you sure?”
“Of course. To them, the butler is not a criminal. If anything, he’s someone they should respectfully escort back.”
“Unless they’ve locked him up inside the Cassius estate, bringing him here won’t be difficult.”
Robby nodded vigorously.
“When I saw him, he was still arguing with the duke’s men outside the lodging.”
“Jack will distract them. I’ll slip him out quietly.”
“Me?”
Terrence ignored Jack’s protest completely, then winked at me with one eye.
“Don’t worry. I’ll make sure my hard-earned spectator pass doesn’t go to waste. I’ll return in time.”
“Thank you… truly. Please be careful.”
“I will meet your expectations.”
And with that, he left.
Unfortunately, I wasn’t allowed the luxury of watching the back of someone who never hesitated to do the dirty work for me.
“It’s time for the trial to begin.”
I had my own battle to fight.
* * *
Imperial Central Court of the Asteroth Empire, Courtroom Two.
The space was louder than ever, filled with the voices of nearly two hundred spectators occupying almost every seat.
Among them, the most eye-catching presence was undoubtedly the members of House Cassius seated in the very front row.
Thanks to privileges granted only to a handful of meritorious noble families, they could attend without lottery selection and sit wherever they wished.
People stole glances at the great nobles who were always at the center of attention.
“Are those people from House Cassius?”
“They really are all stunning, just like the rumors…”
Yet today, their expressions were darker than usual.
“They say the eldest son dragged his wife here by force?”
“Shh! Don’t say that out loud. If you speak carelessly about Cassius, you might get hurt.”
The whispers were directed at them.
“But is that rumor even true? The newspapers made it sound like he married her out of love.”
“My friend saw it at a restaurant. The young duke’s wife was being beaten by her mother.”
“And you know what’s crazier?”
“The one who brought the mother-in-law there… was the husband.”
“What? Did he do it on purpose…?”
“No way. Not if he’s human.”
“Either way, I feel sorry for the wife. After what happened today, she seems like a good person.”
“I thought she was cold just from the rumors, but…”
A few days ago, the rumors I’d planted through the information guild were finally bearing fruit.
People’s perceptions were strange.
Once formed, they didn’t change easily—
But given the right trigger, they could flip dramatically.
This time, my good deed of finding the ambassador’s daughter was that trigger.
Of course, many still firmly believed in Cassius’s innocence, given how much effort Riena had poured into shaping their image over the years.
But with only a few exceptions, those people had been unlucky enough to lose the lottery and couldn’t enter the courtroom.
The spectators present here were wavering between:
‘Surely not…’
and
‘It’s suspicious enough.’
Listening to their murmurs from the plaintiff’s seat, I organized my thoughts.
Not bad.
People were always drawn to newer, more interesting information.
And right now, the topic captivating them most was the news I had deliberately revealed today—Diana’s return.
‘It was also meant to keep Riena from responding immediately.’
I met the gaze of someone in the audience glaring at me passionately.
Riena Cassius.
You’re racking your brain right now, aren’t you?
Wondering how I managed to find the ambassador’s daughter.
Considering that most people interpret others through themselves…
She might even suspect I was a regressor like her.
‘Go ahead. Worry yourself sick.’
If possible, be so consumed by it that you can’t even focus on your eldest brother’s divorce trial.
Once I leave the empire, her doubts will naturally disappear anyway.
“The trial will now begin. Please maintain silence during proceedings.”
Not long after the court security officer’s announcement, the judges entered.
The presiding judge, seated at the center, struck the gavel.
Bang. Bang. Bang.
“We will now begin Case 654HFD11, a divorce proceeding.”
After confirming the attendance of myself, Leandro, and our legal representatives…
The judge spoke.
“Plaintiff’s side, please present the claims stated in your petition.”
“Honorable Judge.”
Sharon stood with confidence, as if she had never been nervous at all, and began speaking fluently.
“The plaintiff and defendant were married two years ago, on April 13th, Imperial Year 652, swearing before our Lord Miela to do their utmost for one another.”
“However, thereafter, the defendant repeatedly ignored the plaintiff’s desire to spend time together…”
“He avoided maintaining a proper marital relationship under the excuse of being busy…”
“And even knowing the plaintiff was being unfairly treated within the household, he stood by and allowed it.”
She tapped the documents in her hand, speaking passionately.
“The plaintiff wished to preserve the marriage until the very end…”
“But the defendant did not truly repent, only offering excuses, while engaging in threatening acts such as investigating the plaintiff’s background and following her movements, causing her deep anxiety.”
Leandro’s face twitched with indignation.
It was honestly satisfying to watch.
“The plaintiff has concluded that the fundamental trust between spouses has collapsed, and the marriage can no longer be maintained.”
“Thus, under Civil Code Article 408, Clause 5, she seeks a divorce.”
“However, due to the severe toll this marriage has taken on her mind and body…”
“She requests no alimony, no division of property—only a swift divorce.”
The courtroom stirred.
Because of the distorted media image of me, many had assumed I was doing this for money.
That I wanted to divorce Cassius and take a fortune with me.
Even for those who hadn’t thought so…
Renouncing all financial gain was still shocking.
How many people truly hated money?
‘I don’t hate it either… I love it, actually…’
But sometimes, small things had to be sacrificed for a greater goal.
Compared to the wealth I’d gain from the Andal abandoned mine, this was pocket change!
“Plaintiff. Is that truly your intent?”
Even the judge seemed surprised enough to confirm.
I nodded calmly.
“If I can divorce, I need nothing else.”
My tone was resolute—
But my posture was weary and tragic, crafted to evoke sympathy.
I’d prepared for this.
For days I’d controlled my diet, lost weight, and even had my makeup done to look sickly.
I could feel the spectators’ gaze grow warmer.
Giving up money alone made me seem twice as sincere.
After asking if I had anything further to add, the judge moved on.
“Defendant’s side, please respond to the plaintiff’s claims.”
Leandro’s lawyer, a man with a stern, meticulous face, spoke in a voice that matched his appearance.
“Your Honor. The defendant has only one position.”
“He is wrongfully accused.”
“The faults alleged by the plaintiff stem either from misunderstandings due to differing perceptions…”
“Or from unavoidable circumstances.”
His name was Pharrell.
Cassius’s chief legal officer, responsible for countless disputes.
Before the genius strategist Elliot Lude appeared, Pharrell had been their finest legal talent.
“The defendant, in the year 652, nearly simultaneously with his marriage…”
“Assumed responsibility for managing the family’s territory on behalf of his father, the lord.”
“This was an obligation befitting the heir.”
“To neglect it would mean abandoning the position he was born with and has protected through desperate effort.”
In the novel, this man was remembered more for fawning over Riena than his legal skill—
But here he was, cold and rational.
“The defendant, despite being so busy he could not even eat meals properly…”
“Still tried to protect his household.”
“He provided the plaintiff with an enormous personal allowance…”
“Gave her expensive gifts…”
“And supported her financially struggling maternal family.”
Back then, I’d even found him likable because of how much he doted on Riena.
“Indeed, it is true that the couple spent insufficient time together…”
“But even that brief time was carved out of the defendant’s nonexistent leisure.”
“Regrettably, the plaintiff…”
“Gave no consideration to these circumstances.”
“She made unreasonable demands for time…”
“And repeatedly ignored the defendant’s family members and household staff, who approached in good faith to build harmony.”
What the hell? When did I ever—?!
