CH 48

“I mean… That’s…”

Count Barten could no longer speak coherently and fluttered.

“Your Majesty, it’s not the Barten estate that matters now. By all means, retribution must overtake the Duke.”

Marquis Letran, standing next to Marquis Sios, spoke with a decisive grin, as if the knight was walking on the battlefield.

Hearing the same words repeated countless times was so exhausting.

Raymond cut short Marquis Letran’s speech.

“We’ll arrange a trial in three days.”

“No… wait. Yes?”

The nobles present, who thought that the trial would be postponed, now stood there with stunned faces.

The trial had been postponed for several months, and everyone wondered if they had heard wrong now.

“I said that I would open the trial that you all so eagerly demanded. Any complaints?”

“His Majesty changed his mind so suddenly…”

“The behavior of my nobles in recent months has displeased me. Looking at you all these days, I now wonder if I have become too soft for you.”

He was somehow not a good-natured Emperor. He ascended the throne, killing his father and brother with his own hands, and no matter how puffed up he was, he still couldn’t block the tyranny built on blood.

His character was also not so sweet.

When the atmosphere around Raymond became oppressive, all the nobles hurriedly stared at the floor.

This is because he was such a monarch who, even if he sat quietly for several years, everyone knew perfectly well that heads can fly in an instant if he makes a decision.

“I’m sorry, Your Majesty. I was blinded by my loyalty to the Empire and went against the wishes of His Majesty. It’s my fault that I don’t control the nobles. Please, what is my punishment?”

Marquis Sios rose from his seat and bowed to the Emperor.

Then the nobles stood in a row and bowed their heads after the marquis.

Raymond laughed at this crowd, which echoed the Marquis.

And from their place they looked at the Marquis’s back with cold eyes.

“The court has already been appointed, so not a word more about the Duke.”

As Raymond was about to end the meeting, the Marquis Sios opened his mouth.

“But, Your Majesty, shouldn’t we summon Lady Croft to the Duke’s trial?”

Raymond froze at that moment.

He looked coldly at Marquis Sios.

“I already warned you not to cross the line.”

Raymond’s voice ringing in the audience was terribly low. As if the beast slowly bends down before biting the victim’s neck.

Even the air in the hall froze with tension. Marquis Sios’s face shuddered, but at another moment he opened his mouth:

“Your Majesty, Lady Croft is the only successor to the Duke. If the judge imposes punishment on the Duke, the young lady should also be held accountable.”

“Sios Bilan.”

Raymond’s deep voice called out in the hall, calling out the full name of Marquis Sios.

“I hope the day will not come when I will just call you by name again. Otherwise, neither the title of minister, nor the shield in the form of Edmund will save you anymore.”

“…I will keep it in mind.”

The Marquis, who heard the warning, was silent further. Raymond looked around and said:

“Lady Croft has been 6 years since she left the Empire,” Raymond said in with sad voice. “I think it strange your intention to involve her, the former Empress, in this matter, when even the guilt of the Duke hasn’t yet been established. As if some of you were planning to destroy the Croft family…”

He looked around at all the frightened nobles and continued:

“This is my last warning. One more superfluous word, and I will order to rip out your tongues.”

The nobles held their breath and bowed their heads low.

As if they were afraid to catch the eye of the Emperor.

“Premier, get ready for trial in three days. Today’s meeting is over.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

* * *

“Mom!”

Carlisle, running through the garden, suddenly came running up to me while I was reading a book.

“I brought you the most beautiful flower in the whole garden. This flower is just like my mother!”

The purple flowers that Carlisle brought were wild violets.

The moment I saw it, memories flashed through my head.

“This flower looks like you.”

I don’t remember exactly when, but a long time ago Raymond gave me this flower, laughing, just like Carlisle now.

In hindsight, it seems that the relationship between us at the time was pretty good. Because he was not yet the Emperor, and I didn’t even realize my unrequited love for him.

If I went back to that time now… I would…

“Mom?”

Having disappeared for a moment in my old memories, I came to myself at the voice of Carlisle.

“Hm?”

Trying to get rid of past memories, I smiled and took the flowers.

“Wow it’s so beautiful! Thanks.”

I took the flower and kissed the child on the cheek. Carlisle smiled and ran back into the garden.

I looked at several purple flowers in my hand and waved my hand gently.

Then the withering petals came back to life.

“I’ve seen it so many times, but it’s still so unusual for me.”

Smiling at Helen’s words, I carefully wrapped the flowers with my handkerchief.

It was a gift from Carlisle, so I wanted him to stay beautiful longer.

“Fortunately, Carlisle was able to adapt.”

“Yeah. I was worried that if he missed the Lund Kingdom… He had adjusted better than I thought.”

Carlisle was really better here than I was. With his peculiar smile and puppy look, he won the hearts of the owners of the mansion.

How many maids had he met in those two days? When I put his clothes away in the evenings, candy wrappers fall out of my pocket every time.

“The day will come when Lord Carlisle will become the head of the family.”

This was undeniable.

I nodded as I watched Carlisle happily play with the maid.

Then a servant hurriedly came up to me.

“Ellie. Letter for you.”

The white envelope with no name was a letter from my father.

I immediately took out the letter and read it.

“…Fortunately, my father is doing well. Anyway, the trial will be soon,” I put down the letter and told Helen with a worried face.

“Is His Excellency very worried?”

“He’s worried about me, not about himself.”

The letter was full of fears that I would be in danger during my trial.

“Because the Duke doesn’t know Ellie’s abilities. Everything will be fine.”

“I didn’t think the trial would be so early.”

We haven’t yet had any witnesses or proof of my father’s innocence. However, it will still be possible to change the course of the proceedings by taking something with you.

“By the way, Ellie, who is the judge?”

“I don’t know that. His Majesty has not yet decided, or is deliberately hiding…”

“It would be nice if he was a loyal person to us, but… Knowing the atmosphere in the capital, it will be difficult to find such a person, right?”

I couldn’t say no.

Almost all the nobility in the capital turned their backs on my father.

Although he had close friends, they didn’t hold a high title. They were too weak to serve as a judge.

“But there is one…”

At that moment, the name of a nobleman came to my mind.

He held a neutral position and was famous for an honor comparable to an important nobleman.

“Can he help?”​