Chapter 57……………………………………………..
At the mention of the name Joshua, a face vaguely surfaced in Riena’s memory.
Right, there had been such a boy—the butler’s quiet, timid young son.
She had met him only once as a child, almost ten years ago, so her memory of him was faint.
Duke Cassius frowned.
“Why is your son suddenly brought up here? Just tell me why you betrayed me in silence.”
“Father! Even if you say the same thing, you could say it more gently.”
As if it were second nature, Riena tried to stop her father from making the atmosphere harsher. At times like this, she was always the one to manage the situation and draw out a better outcome.
“Uncle Caden, I remember. When I was little, Brother Joshua came to the castle, right?”
Riena chatted cheerfully, as she always did.
“But… is something wrong with Brother Joshua? Is that why you left us?”
Judging by the butler’s expression, she had hit the mark.
“What exactly happened? Please tell me. I’ll do my best to help in any way I can.”
“…Joshua is ill.”
“My goodness! Is it serious? What illness?”
Illness? So he left Cassius to be with Edel because of exorbitant medical expenses?
It didn’t make sense. There was no way Cassius would refuse to cover what Edel could manage. The Cassius family was not stingy with their servants.
While she comforted the butler with a concerned expression, Riena’s mind was racing elsewhere.
Although she had already investigated the butler’s personal affairs, information about Joshua was remarkably sparse. As if he had not been outside for years.
‘I never even considered that he’d have a son, or any connection to Edel in the first place.’
When the butler disappeared, she focused on the speculation that it was due to covert maneuvers at the Craide Count family, currently the most antagonistic rival to Cassius.
In any case, the butler had a huge influence—not only on Duke Cassius but also on the outcome of the trial. It was vital to try to appease him here if possible.
“If Joshua is in a condition to receive visitors, I’d like to meet him. I wonder how long he’s been suffering.”
Riena was confident. After all, it wasn’t just anyone—the butler had been closely observing her for over ten years.
Though his attitude toward her was more reserved than toward other servants, she could be certain: the butler also harbored affection for her.
However, strangely, the more gently Riena spoke, the darker his expression became.
“So, it seems all three of you did not hold onto that incident back then.”
He spoke calmly, but with a sorrowful expression.
“Liandro, the young viscount, I assume you are no different.”
Duke Cassius raised his eyebrows.
“That incident?”
As Riena tried to recall what incident he meant, something flitted through her memory—a small commotion that had happened the day she met Joshua.
“My son still has nightmares about that day.”
The butler began his story.
After hearing of a past that she and her family had been unaware of, Riena’s first reaction was:
‘That really happened…’
She was surprised and bewildered.
It was astonishing that the butler’s son had been unable to live a normal life for so many years, but even more shocking was that the cause was that minor commotion from years ago.
‘Just from that, he was so emotionally hurt?’
To be honest, it was a past she barely remembered. Embarrassingly, she had been admired by countless boys since childhood. And many of them had been punished by her father and brothers.
It was common to have one’s life threatened by words, or even physically disciplined in duels with the Cassius family. Mikhail, the one she was currently dating, had also endured countless trials.
So, in comparison, Joshua’s ordeal was mild. Even if a sword had been pointed at his neck, he had come away unscathed.
She wasn’t the only one to think that way.
“Really? For something so trivial…”
Even Duke Cassius, initially taken aback, soon snorted.
“You turned your back on me over something so insignificant, Caden?”
“Insignificant…?”
“Yes. Why blame me for your son’s weakness?”
The butler’s face was painted with emotions she couldn’t discern—resentment? shock?
This wouldn’t do. At this rate, the butler would never return to Cassius.
“Father, you’re being too harsh.”
“Mind your place. This is a conversation between Caden and me.”
Rarely, Duke Cassius ignored his daughter’s words. Riena assessed her father’s state coolly.
“I trained with real swords at that age.”
Dangerous. He had lost his rational thinking. He refused to admit his fault.
“And now, just because he faced some threats, he wastes half his life in a room? Ask anyone passing by if that’s normal.”
Even Riena wouldn’t dare stop him here. But if she could dissolve the tension after leaving the room…
“Wait! Both sides are too emotional right now. Let’s discuss this later.”
Ultimately, the Duke had no choice but to heed his daughter, as he always did.
“New sister-in-law, for now, go back. Once both sides calm down, we can revisit this…”
“Don’t you regret what you just said?”
Edel didn’t look at Riena at all. Instead, she asked the Duke:
“Do you really not regret what you just said?”
“I do not.”
The butler spoke to Edel in a resigned tone:
“That’s enough for me. It was a futile hope. He was only capable of that.”
“Caden!”
“Duke, then it’s my turn.”
“What?”
“I have business here as well.”
Duke Cassius clicked his tongue.
“What is it? Speak quickly and leave my house.”
Even faced with such harsh words, Edel remained unshaken:
“Let’s end this trial now.”
“End it?”
“I mean I request a consensual divorce. Then the trial must automatically conclude.”
“Why tell me? Go to your husband Liandro.”
Duke Cassius openly scoffed at the idea.
“If you were going to agree to a divorce willingly, you wouldn’t have brought this to trial.”
“True, but the situation has changed. You saw yesterday, right?”
Edel leaned leisurely against the sofa.
“That you cannot easily defeat me in court.”
“You prepared well enough. And… what of it?”
The Duke glared at his daughter-in-law.
“We are Cassius. If we take our time and press relentlessly, crushing your ragtag group is no trouble at all.”
This was the policy Riena had conveyed to the Duke from the office before Edel’s group arrived.
Riena felt relieved. Though somewhat tense, he had followed his daughter’s will.
Edel tried to persuade the Duke.
“But, Duke, what’s the gain? Dragging this mud fight out will only tarnish your eldest son’s honor.”
“Funny you say that, when you were the one who sullied my son directly.”
“As I said, I only told the truth. If the truth caused dishonor, it’s because he acted in a way that deserved it.”
“This scandal will die down in time anyway.”
“Isn’t a parent’s role to guide their child correctly? Our marriage was flawed from the start.”
“So you want a divorce?”
“Yes. If possible, please persuade your son. Even if that fails, as head of the family, you can influence the marriage of family members, even against their will.”
Some heads of noble houses had such authority and often used it to arrange marriages as they wished.
“You’re completely doing as you please. I refuse. A true parent respects their child’s will.”
“You know it too, don’t you? This isn’t about your son’s benefit. It’s your stubborn pride.”
The Duke’s facial muscles twitched violently.
“You just refuse to admit it. Your faults toward Joshua, and that Caden left you because of it.”
“Silence.”
“Do you think I was the one who abandoned it? No. You abandoned Caden first.”
“I said, shut your mouth!”
Bang! The Duke slammed his fist on the table, splitting it in two.
Watching beside them, Riena didn’t understand Edel’s approach. Even if what she said was true—rather, because it was true—the Duke would never admit it.
Most people deny and rationalize their faults rather than face them. Thus, provoking him as Edel did…
‘Edel, unfortunately, your method of persuasion is all wrong. And Father will never go against my will.’
That had always been the case. There were only two exceptions: one when Riena herself took a dangerous risk, and another… well, neither applied here.
With Elliot joining their side, the victory of Cassius—and Riena—was inevitable.
Riena smiled inwardly, confident.
“I’m not asking you to listen to me empty-handed.”
Edel actually smiled.
“If you grant a consensual divorce, I’ll give you a gift that will delight the Duke greatly.”
Duke Cassius widened his eyes briefly, then twitched his mouth.
“What nonsense… you think you can…”
“It’s something you’ve been desperately seeking and wanted to possess.”
“Haha, you intend to give me a relic kept at the cathedral? Too bad, but I don’t even want it.”
The Duke’s laughter grew louder.
“If there’s anything I desire, it’s a gift from my daughter. Not something from someone like you.”
“Oh? In that case, I won’t give it.”
“Do so.”
“The time capsule left by the late Duchess.”
Suddenly, the Duke’s laughter stopped.
“What did you just say?”
“I actually found it—the location of the time capsule left by the late Duchess.”
Edel tilted her head slightly, feigning disappointment.
“I heard you searched desperately for it over ten years, but I guess that was false. Why are there so many rumors lately?”
Ahaha, Edel laughed, even in this tense situation where no one else could.
