Chapter 30

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‘If I accidentally mess it up, I might destroy everything.’ (Edward)

Edward was sure Enough would return to his signature cold face and say, “It can’t be.”

The love and concern for his brother as an older brother, that Enoch needs to be honest with his own feelings once in a while. And if he waits for Enoch’s emotions to ripen a bit more, he can enjoy playing and teasing Enoch later.

In addition to that.

‘Because Countess Brierton is still married to husband.’

It was not right to be overly interested in a woman with a husband.

Moreover, since he had no intention of doing an unfair trial for Enoch, Edward decided to take a step back.

‘If Countess Brierton loses, Enoch’s feelings should be sorted out.’

So, there was nothing good about poking Enoch.

“What are you doing? Now we have to go inside.” 

So Edward turned around, pretending not to notice anything.

***

Meanwhile, at that time.

As Ines entered the courtroom, she encountered an unwelcome person.

“Ines!”

He was Ryan.

Ryan jumped up from his seat and tried to approach Ines.

“What the hell is this, you really want to sue me…… !”

It was a mournful call, like the male lead of a tragic story.

Ines made an expression of disgust without knowing it.

But, either way, Ryan only raised his voice exaggeratedly. 

“You said you loved me!”

Just hearing that sad complaint, Ines felt like a villain where she betrayed his love.

Ines was simply amazed.

Ryan’s voice was so loud that all the audience in the courtroom were looking at him with interest.

Fortunately, Ryan’s passionate performance didn’t last long. 

“His Majesty, and the Duke of Sussex are entering!”

It was because Edward and Enoch had just entered the courtroom.

Everyone got up and greeted both of them.

“I see you, Your Majesty, and the Duke of Sussex.”

“Let everyone sit down.”

Edward, who gave a solemn order, took a seat in the judge’s table.

In honor of the Duke and the King, Enoch was assigned a seat right next to Edward.

Meanwhile.

The eyes of Enoch and Ines met.

‘Huh?’

Ines was a little puzzled.

It was because Enoch had a look of awkwardness on his face, and then he averted his gaze.

‘What’s wrong with him?’

He didn’t look angry, but he looked oddly perplexed.

At the same time, Edward opened his mouth.

“We will now begin the trial of the divorce filed by the Countess of Brierton.”

For a moment, Ines’ eyes shook.

It was Ines who got the right to speak first.

Ines’s attorney stood up.

At the same time, Ryan’s eyes widened wide. 

‘Why is Viscount McDowell here?!”

Viscount McDowell.

As a lawyer who has served in high-level positions in the legal profession, he was one of the best lawyers.

He had a very high reputation, so a high fee was the default, and then he was famous for meticulously examining the case.

And, taking all that into account, the fact that Ines hired Viscount McDowell….

‘Ines, that!’

Ryan sharpened his teeth and glared at Ines.

‘You really want to fight me!!

But, as if Ines was asking, ‘What’s the matter?’, she only shrugged her shoulders lightly.

Ryan felt the rage rising to the top of his head.

Just then, Viscount McDowell lifted the glasses from the tip of his nose and opened his mouth. 

“I’m McDowell, defending Countess Brierton. I solemnly swear to tell the truth in this court.”

After that, Ryan’s lawyer got up from his seat.

“I, I’m Turner, Count Brierton’s defense. I solemnly swear to tell the truth in this court.”

However, the atmosphere was leaning towards Ines from the beginning.

It was because the up-and-coming lawyer Ryan hired in front of lawyer McDowell, who had won many cases so far, could not stand up straight.

‘Really, how hard I worked to hire lawyer McDowell… ’

Ines felt the tip of her nose twitch.

Rather, money was not an issue.

However, since divorce proceedings were not so common within the kingdom, it was difficult to find lawyers who were familiar with it.

However, the effects of the art exhibition were significant, and taking on a major event that drew the attention of the entire kingdom was a considerable honor even for a lawyer. After several days of persuasion, he accepted the case.

Besides, Ines had a very high chance of winning, so that must have been taken into account.

‘Before returning to the past, there was no art exhibition, so it was impossible to find a lawyer.’

Ines glanced at the lawyer on Ryan’s side with a smirk. But, she didn’t know why Ryan hired such a young lawyer. Now that Ryan was at a disadvantage, it was not enough time to hire a different lawyer.

‘Did he beat the fee?’

In an instant, Ines hardened on the spot.

It was because of Ryan’s personality that she thought it was a good chance he would do that.

Meanwhile, while Ines was speculating in her head, the trial continued.

A picture was drawn in which one side overwhelmingly pressed the other side, which was a shame to even call it a legal battle.

From the beginning, Ines was perfectly victorious.

“Here are two paintings which have been submitted to the art exhibition of the Duke of Sussex.” 

Viscount McDowell continued speaking overwhelmingly.

“But the style of painting, the method of coloring, and even those using watercolor techniques that are rarely used in the kingdom are the same.”

Not only the king but also the audience looked at the paintings with their eyes wide open. 

“ and ”

“Those two paintings were the ones that caused a huge controversy in the kingdom. But one was presented in the name of the Countess Brierton, and the other belongs to Count Brierton.”

Upon hearing Viscount McDowell’s explanation, the audience’s eyes narrowed with suspicion. 

“They look like a series when it’s side by side like that.”

“That’s right.”

“Can it be like that?”

The audience was whispering.

Edward also couldn’t hide his doubtful expression.

Only Enoch, who had already seen those two paintings, was calm.

‘No, this is going to completely shift the mood to that side!”

Unbearable, Ryan asked for a say.

“Your Majesty, May I speak?”

Edward glanced at Ryan and nodded his head.

“Alright.”

Ryan cautiously stood up.

His high-handed attitude toward Ines was overbearing.

‘What the hell that d*mn lawyer doing?!’

Ryan stared fiercely at his lawyer.

From the beginning, he threatened that he could only pay a fee as small as a rat’s tail. So he had forgotten that he could only hire a rookie lawyer who had just graduated from the law department at the university.

‘Sh*t!’

Ryan, who chewed a swear word inside, changed his expression and looked at Ines with earnest eyes. 

“Dear King, Ines is my one and only beloved wife.”

‘what?’

Ines doubted her ears.

At the same time, Enoch looked at Ryan with a hardened face.

But Ryan only continued to speak with a mournful voice. 

“Honestly, I… I never imagined that Ines would file a divorce like this. I didn’t know she was so unhappy with me.”

‘Because you’ve been ignoring me, Ryan.’

Besides, he didn’t care about Ines’ feelings from the beginning.

Ines got up from her seat as she struggled to suppress her desire to shoot back.

Ryan slumped his shoulders sadly.

“She was such a virtuous and understanding woman, I thought she would understand most of my deviations. However…… .”

The end of Ryan’s voice trembled with emotion.

“I realized that it was my greed….”

But contrary to that sad voice, Ryan was quite satisfied inside. 

‘Okay, everyone’s listening to me.’

At least, he seemed to have succeeded in attracting people’s curiosity. 

Ryan, who pretended to be sad, bowed his head and suppressed a smile, then raised his head again with a sad expression and continued speaking.