Chapter 48

48

The decision of the Earl Chester surprised everyone. Lennon was his only brother, and everyone expected him to protect him, but instead, he was the one who most earnestly desired Lennon's punishment.

The Earl Chester is said to have said this:

"Having a brother who is not up to the task has caused great harm to the imperial society. I sincerely apologize to the Duchess of Valentine, who could not attend this meeting, and to His Excellency the Duke of Valentine, I am deeply ashamed and truly have no face to show."

He then sincerely apologized to his father, Owen, and Hessen for the misfortune that befell his precious daughter and sister.

Precious daughter and sister... Let's skip the part that sounds funny.

"I wish for my brother to receive a severe punishment in this opportunity."

Lennon Chester was a reckless troublemaker, but it seems his brother Hillary Chester was not.

Indeed, although he was a man of few words and hard to read, he had never caused any problems.

In any case, Lennon and Florentine were imprisoned in the noble prison in the basement of the palace. They were each sentenced to 15 years and 5 years of hard labor.

During their sentences, they would lose their noble status, have their heads shaved, and their eyebrows completely removed. This rule applies to all, regardless of gender or age.

However, in Florentine's case... Her family, the Elsner family, was considering an appeal against the verdict and was making every effort to get her out of prison, so her sentence might be reduced to 1 year of hard labor and 4 years of probation.

Well... Even if that happens, as a lady of the noble social circle, Florentine's life would be over.

No one would recognize her as a lady anymore.

And in Lennon's case, there was no chance of a reduced sentence.

Therefore, he would have to serve the full 15 years.

Most people become incapacitated after serving 15 years. The hard labor is so severe that it ruins their bodies, and the impoverished prison life weakens them mentally.

It's a good thing.

I'll get to see the reckless Lennon Chester, who lived without a care in the world, become incapacitated.

...Of course, if I'm still alive by then.

"Madam, Master has just arrived!"

Charlotte's voice woke me from my thoughts. I turned to look at Charlotte and smiled slightly.

"Is that so? I should go to greet him."

"Yes, yes, go quickly. You should hear the details!"

Charlotte was more excited than I was. She had been as angry as Theodore about Lennon and Florentine's misdeeds, and had repeatedly said they should be sent to hell and spewed all sorts of curses until the verdict was announced, which finally brought a smile to her face.

Especially, Charlotte was terribly afraid of Lennon. Every time she mentioned his name, a clear look of disgust would appear on her face.

"That bastard will have his head and eyebrows shaved and be used like a slave, so it's a fitting punishment."

Charlotte said this without hesitation, then added, "Oops, watch your mouth. Use polite words," and laughed.

Smiling at Charlotte, I took a step outside the open door.

I felt refreshed.

* * *

A few days later.

Theodore's continuous opposition put me in a difficult position.

"…It's just expressing gratitude, right?"

"It's fine if it's in my name, but you can't do it yourself."

What kind of logic is this?

What he was opposing was my expressing gratitude to Jean de La Croix, who had helped me in the greenhouse and even testified in court.

This was something I should do as a matter of human decency. But Theodore was stubbornly insisting that I shouldn't do it myself. His opposition had no logical basis.

"Give me a valid reason why I shouldn't. If I don't find it convincing, I'll ignore your opposition."

"…"

My firm words made Theodore look pitiful. …I was momentarily speechless, stunned.

Is this man… crazy?

"Lily… I feel very petty for having to say this."

His voice sounded pitifully contrived. I glared at him and frowned.

"I don't want you to have any connection with Jean de La Croix… in any way."

"…?"

"That man…"

Theodore scowled and sighed, as if the mere thought of it annoyed him, then continued.

"Jean de La Croix has a crush on you."

"…"

"Romantically."

I squinted my eyes and glared at him, wondering what he was talking about. Theodore sighed deeply again and looked at me with a desperate expression.

"That's why it's not okay. …I don't like it."

"…"

So, he was jealous.

Because Jean de La Croix had a crush on me.

More precisely, he was wary that I might also have a crush on Jean.

I asked, incredulous.

"It could just be a friendly crush. How can you be sure it's romantic?"

"…I can tell. That guy… is too obvious."

Too obvious?

I recalled how Jean had treated me.

On second thought, it was a bit strange. He had talked nonsense, and most importantly… his spirit had left its power in me.

Was all of that because he had a crush on me as a man?

…It was hard to believe.

We had only talked at the exhibition that day. Before that, we had only exchanged formal greetings.

"Hello, Duchess of Valentine."

"Prince de La Croix, have you been well?"

Something like that.

…No matter how I thought about it, it seemed like Theodore's misunderstanding.

I shook my head and said.

"That's not possible. It's just a friendly crush. You're mistaken."

"But, the way that man looks at you…"

Theodore struggled to explain, moving his lips. I ignored him and declared.

"I'm going to send a letter of gratitude. It's the right thing to do."

"…Huh."

Theodore dropped his head and buried his face in his large palm. After a quick dry wash, he raised his gaze and spoke.

"…There's a condition."

"…Tell me."

I was baffled by the idea of conditions but decided to hear him out.

Theodore moistened his lips with his tongue and spoke with a slightly tense expression.

"Call me…"

So, the condition he proposed was.

"Lily."

"…Yes."

"Lily…"

"…Yes, Theo."

It was to call him by his nickname.

While reading the worried and apologetic letter from the Dowager Countess of Fynes, I almost crumpled the paper. I was extremely annoyed.

This was because Theodore kept interrupting me, asking to hear his nickname, so I had to call him dozens of times.

I folded the letter I had finished reading and snapped at him.

"Aren't you tired? Stop it."

"…Yes, madam."

His obedient answer made me feel like the bad person. After all, I had been annoying him for hours.

I took a deep breath to calm down. Theodore, who had been watching me intently, began to speak.

"Lily, since that day… you seem to have changed, and I like it."

"…?"

I was puzzled by what he said, and a crease appeared on my forehead.

Regardless of my expression, Theodore smiled kindly and said.

"You treat me more… casually, or rather, more freely, and I feel a bit relieved."

…He almost said 'casually.' Have I been treating him too casually lately?

"I don't know how to put it, but it feels like the burden on your heart has lessened a bit."

"…"

…Is that so?

Indeed, that day, I had untied one of the things that had bound me.

And I had resolved one of the vengeful feelings and hatred that had tormented me.

That's why I've been feeling quite good lately.

Throughout my life, I had imagined killing Lennon Chester countless times, but I could never actually do it.

I was afraid.

Lily Everett had no allies. If I harmed Lennon, I would be expelled from the family, and not knowing how to survive on my own, I would surely die.

I would starve to death on the streets, freeze to death, be mauled by stray dogs, or in the worst case, be caught by a pimp and sold to a brothel.

The world was cruel. And it was even more cruel to a woman like me.

I wanted to survive. Despite the unbearable pain of my reality, I wanted to live.

The hope for life and the fear of death made me protect myself. The way to survive in this world was to crouch as small as possible and appear infinitely weak.

Weak and harmless.

That way, no one would see me as a threat.

To avoid being attacked, I had to not be a dangerous presence.

…But now, I have… given up on all that.

I realized that my body was irreparably damaged. It was probably due to the toxicity of the long-term use of sleeping pills, but perhaps I had foreseen this long ago.

When the heart is too hurt, the body eventually hurts too.