Chapter 47

47

The trial of the noble who committed the crime was much more complicated than that of a commoner. Due to the many procedures involved, the preparation period usually took anywhere from a week to a month. Therefore, it was highly unusual for the trial to be held just two days after the incident. Naturally, many people were focused on it. Commoners and nobles alike gossiped about the case.

“The young master of the Chester family was notorious for being a rascal.”

“The lady of the Valentina castle was almost raped by that man!”

“I heard that the young master of the Chester family had been chasing after the lady for a long time...”

People whispered and chattered about my relationship with Lennon and the extent of the humiliation I had endured. It was a vulgar interest. If they weren't the people of Veronice, whom Theodore cherished, I might have already imposed severe punishment.

However, not everyone enjoyed the rumors about me and Lennon.

“These people! What nonsense are you spouting this early in the morning! Have you forgotten who that lady is? She's our lord's wife!”

A woman in her thirties suddenly appeared and brandished a broom at the crowd.

“And why are you talking about the lady's usual behavior when the one who tried to rape her is the one at fault! Have you been hit on the head with an axe or something?!”

Indeed, such talk had been going around. People speculated that my usual behavior was so bad that it attracted men...

“Go confess to the lord before you get punished! Get out of here and go home, you shameless people!”

The people who had gathered to gossip glared at her, muttering, “Here she goes again,” and slowly dispersed.

The woman flipped them off and spat out a coarse curse before turning around.

“...”

From a distance, I buttoned my coat properly and followed the woman.

After a while, the woman arrived at a sturdy two-story house. When she opened the gate, the door to the main house swung open, and a child suddenly burst out. The child spread their arms wide and shouted,

“Mom!”

The child ran over and was warmly embraced by the woman, who smiled so sweetly that it was hard to believe she had just been so fierce.

“Did you have a good day, my son?”

“Yeah! Did you bring bread?”

“Of course. Come, let's go eat.”

“Okay!”

I stood there and watched the mother and child hold hands and head into the house. Soon, the door closed, and they disappeared from sight.

“...”

I glanced at the nameplate on the stone wall. It only had the woman's name, suggesting she was raising her child alone without a husband.

If I weren't curious about her story, I would be lying, but I didn't want to pry into her affairs.

I took a few large gold coins from my pocket and put them in an envelope. I wrote “Lily Valentina” and my name on the envelope and placed it in the woman's mailbox.

People usually check their mail after breakfast, so she would find it soon.

The reason I wrote my name straightforwardly was simple.

I thought that the woman wouldn't use money left in her mailbox by an unknown person.

The envelope not only had my signature but also my seal, so she wouldn't doubt that the gold coins were from me.

This was just... a token of gratitude. I wrote "thank you" on the envelope as well.

It wasn't out of pity for a single mother. I was genuinely grateful to her.

“...Maybe I should head back now.”

Though I was disguised as a maid, I pulled my hood down low and quickened my pace, just in case.

I would soon learn the result of the trial.

* * *

Theodore attended the trial in my place. As my legal guardian, he had the right to attend on my behalf.

It wasn't that I couldn't attend because I found it awkward to see Lennon and Florentine again. On the contrary, I was disappointed that I couldn't witness the moment they were officially declared criminals.

The reason I couldn't attend was...

“Yikes! S-Surprise! Lady, why is this spirit acting like this...?!”

It was because of Theodore's spirit, Seraphim.

Since Theodore burst into anger and enveloped me after Lennon's attack, Seraphim had been popping out unbidden and clinging to me.

Even now, Seraphim had left Theodore's side and was attached to me.

Weapons were not allowed in the courtroom, and spirits were not to be awakened. Since Seraphim was not listening to its contractor and was hovering around me, it was natural that I couldn't enter the courtroom.

Charlotte was afraid of Seraphim. Not just Charlotte, but the others in Valentina Castle were the same.

This was because Seraphim was hostile and threatening to everyone except me and Theodore.

“Really... I can't even get close to the lady because of this spirit, and it's driving me crazy. No matter how much it's the master's spirit...”

I smiled bitterly at Charlotte's words.

Seraphim was clearly overprotective of me. According to what I heard, it was because Seraphim was greatly influenced by Theodore's emotions. ...Because he was overprotective, his spirit was the same.

Additionally, I had the ability to sense spirits. Yes, I truly had the ability to sense spirits.

I wasn't sure if it was due to Theodore's influence or if I had always had it and it just awakened late.

What was clear was that spirits were friendly to humans with the ability to sense them, and thus... I was receiving excessive protection from Seraphim.

“Why don't you make a contract with a spirit, Lady? Then this guy will leave you alone.”

“I don't know... I need a spirit to contract with.”

When a spirit-sensing person makes a contract with a spirit, a spirit like Seraphim will naturally leave them alone.

However, making a contract with a spirit was not easy. One had to find a spirit compatible with them, and it took a long time to persuade the spirit.

Some spirits even tested the humans who came to make a contract with them. One had to pass the test to make a contract, and failing it could result in significant harm, either mentally or physically.

Thus, making a contract with a spirit was not a matter to be taken lightly.

Theodore, too, had spent a long time persuading and taming Seraphim, who was originally his brother's spirit.

Now he could skillfully use Seraphim like an extension of himself, but it was well known that he had struggled with it in the past.

Seraphim's disobedience to Theodore had even made it impossible to control the cracks in the territory.

‘Cracks can only be closed by the power of spirits...’

The power of spirits forms the world, just as magic does. These two forces flow through the world in balance.

However, when this balance is broken, cracks appear in the world.

...There are several hypotheses, but this one is considered the most plausible.

‘If Owen's mage can artificially create cracks...’

...There must be a way to break the normal balance between magic and spirit power.

Is there really such a thing? If so, how can it be discovered? And once discovered... can it be used to find evidence of the Everett family's crimes?

A dark emotion stirred deep within me. It was a desire for revenge. Or perhaps hatred.

What was certain was that I wanted the Everett family to be destroyed.

Just as I had crushed Lennon, if I could do the same to the demons of Everett...

‘...Then perhaps I would have no regrets in life.’

A blue bird-like spirit perched on my shoulder and rubbed against my cheek. Though its essence was fire, it was not hot at all.

I stroked the spirit, which felt like a breeze, and smiled faintly.

Regardless, one of the nightmares that had tormented Lily Everett was definitely shattered.

* * *

Three hours later, news of the trial reached Valentina Castle.

The result was...

Both Lennon Chester and Florentine Elsner were found guilty.

Lennon was convicted of attempted rape and assault of a woman, illegal detention, and Florentine was convicted of conspiracy.

In the trial, Lennon defended himself by saying he was angry because I had insulted him, but it was not accepted.

Given his notorious behavior, the court had a "here it comes" attitude.

In Florentine's case, he continued to claim that he had no choice because he was threatened by Lennon...

However, his claim was not accepted due to the testimony of the witness, Jen Delacruz.

As the situation turned against him, Lennon threatened to sue Jen for assault and Theodore for burning half his face.

While the assault could be seen as an act of justice, burning half his face could be seen as excessive.

This was because Theodore burned Lennon's face after Jen had already subdued him.

Since Theodore used spirit power to harm an incapacitated opponent, it could have been a disadvantageous issue for him.

However, unexpectedly, the Marquis of Chester, Lennon's legal guardian, withdrew the charges.