Chester stared at the Duke with a horrified expression.
“How could the Duke...”
Eric Lennon Brant, war hero.
He was a solid leader who never lost his composure in any situation and was considered the strongest swordsman in the empire, even nicknamed the Soul Reaper.
But now, the Duke was sitting, repeating the same words as if he had lost his mind.
“She can't be dead.”
Gradually, Eric stared at the hateful river that swallowed her.
“Because of me.”
If he hadn't left like that, she might have avoided falling into the river.
This guesswork constantly weighed on Eric's feelings of guilt, crushing his fragile mind and sense of reality.
Soon, he saw a vision of Cornelia struggling in the water in front of him.
『Save me, Eric.
Please…』
“No, Cornelia.
This time…”
Without a moment's hesitation, Eric jumped into the deep blue river.
“Your Highness!”
The knights rushed to stop him from diving into the water, but he ignored their bound hands like a madman.
“Let me; I have to save my wife!”
Up until now, he had only said harsh words to her and never extended his hand first.
So, this time, he had to hold her hand.
He must not leave her.
“Your Highness, you can't!”
Eric pushed the knights aside and extended his hand to Cornelia through the rushing currents.
“Cornelia, take my hand, please!”
But… his outstretched hand passed through hers.
Then said Cornelia, in her green dress.
『You know.
I'm already late.』
Gradually, Eric's mind became more foggy, and his body became heavier.
Eric tried to regain his senses, but the exhaustion that had built up over the past few days was overwhelming.
Moreover…
『So stop pretending to care and just die.』
Somehow, Cornelia was whispering these words from within the water.
Well, as you wish...
Submerged by the currents, Eric closed his eyes.
Almost without flinching, I enjoyed the final view of the capital from a luxury carriage.
A final farewell.
For the first time, I was leaving the place where I was born—the place I thought I would never leave again.
But instead of fear, relief prevailed.
Because I was moving away.
About my mother-in-law, who saw a flaw in me; About Madeleine, who had many suspicious angles; And about my husband, who will kill me one day.
Now, free from threats, I massaged my stomach, thinking that I could live with my baby in peace.
Even though we can't see Daddy again, Mama will make you happy.
So let's live happily, just the two of us.
At the moment when Eric was about to give up everything, a scream-like voice came from the deepest corner of his consciousness.
[No!]
A little boy looked at him with a face that looked like he was about to cry.
It was Cornelia's child that he saw in his dreams.
[Dad!]
The boy hugged Eric close to his small body.
Then, Eric's floating body began to slowly rise in the currents.
[Don't give up.
My mom …]
The child's voice became weaker and weaker.
Soon, the boy screamed like a sob.
[There are still people targeting my mother!]
With these words, Eric's consciousness, which had been suppressed, was awakened.
Opening his eyes under the water, Eric clenched his fists hard.
“Yes, there is still something I have to do.”
Gradually, his body began to rise to the surface.
As the blue dawn illuminated the sky, the sun peaked above the horizon.
Finally, the trial long-awaited by many in the capital was taking place.
Chester could not sleep until that hour, and looked at the Duke with anxious eyes.
It almost ended in disaster.
The Duke, who jumped into the river alone, soon drowned in the water after trying to catch something.
The river would have quickly swallowed up the Duke if he had not regained his senses midway and had not been pulled back by the knights.
He seems very traumatized, so it would be best if he didn't attend the trial...
At that moment, Eric's eyes, which had been closed, suddenly opened.
Chester was so surprised he fell backwards.
“Oh no, how embarrassing.”
After a moment, Chester quickly got up and spoke to Eric.
“Your Highness, are you awake?”
“How long has it been since I lost consciousness?”
“Um, about ten hours!”
At Chester's response, Eric looked at his watch and raised an eyebrow.
“Then the trial will begin in a few hours.”
"Yes, this is correct."
With Chester's confirmation, Eric stood up and spoke sternly.
“I will attend the trial.”
“But, Your Highness, you should not attend the trial.”
“I said I would attend the trial.”
Chester looked into Eric's eyes, wondering if he had lost his mind like before.
However, Eric's pupils held a clear and intense light, unlike usual.
“But, Your Highness, are you really okay to attend her in your current state?”
"Yes."
He was fine as long as he could find out who killed her and get revenge.
"I'm fine."
Eric's response was indifferent, as if he was ready to bear everything.
Chester sighed, feeling that Eric's answer was more like giving up.
“Understood.
I will make preparations then.”
As Chester left, Eric's blue eyes flashed sharply in the darkness.
There was a lot to deal with now.
The mystery surrounding this chariot incident, along with the suspicious aspects of the Emperor Faction, remains a mystery.
“If the Emperor is involved in this too...”
In a burst of anger, Eric clenched his jaw.
"It doesn't matter who killed her.
I'll bet everything to hunt them down and kill them."
Once he had his revenge and found her body, Eric planned to end his life.
“This will be the only atonement I can offer you.”
With his unwavering resolve, tears streamed down Eric's face.
“I wonder what the outcome of today's trial will be.”
“Honestly, I don’t think they will receive a big punishment because they are both high-ranking nobles, and there is no clear evidence.”
These words reached Madeleine and Grand Madame Brant, sitting as defendants.
Madeleine, who had not communicated with her parents, seemed reassured upon hearing this.
But Grand Mrs.
Brant was confident from the beginning.
Well, even if that faker ignores me, it doesn't matter.
I am the real power behind the Brant family.
I have already hired a lawyer and sought legal advice.
The lawyer expected that Grand Mrs.
Brant would be acquitted.
Well, they can't punish me with weak evidence like that.
She continued to claim it was just menopause medication and insisted that the letter was written by Madeleine alone.
Moreover, the driver, who tampered with the carriage, died, and the maid, who was an accomplice, disappeared.
In addition, only Grand Mrs.
Brant was aware of the existence of a secret notebook, safely hidden, detailing the transactions of this incident.
In such circumstances, there was no basis for punishing her.
Well, unlike me, she has a message, so she can be punished with impunity.
Was it because the Marquis of Arguin, her father, did not appear at the trial?
Seeing Madeleine shrinking, Grand Madame Brant suppressed a laugh.
At that moment-
“Wait, isn’t that Duke Brant?”
Seeing Eric enter the courtroom, Grand Mrs.
Brant frowned.
Why is he here… I heard he was making a commotion looking for the body of that unfortunate woman.
She felt disgusted as she looked at Eric.
However, as his mother, she felt that he should care more about her than the dead one.
Well, he's not my real son, after all.
The Grand Lady remembered the letter she had received from Zeno.
[A person suspected to be the real Duke of Brant has been discovered in a small village in the north.
Due to his illness, visiting is difficult, but financial support is needed for his treatment.]
The eldest lady's face instantly turned murderous.
Once I get through this trial, I will bring my real son here.
A murderous aura emanated from the eldest lady's eyes as she stared at Eric.
If that happens, I will accuse you of impersonating the Duke and execute you in the cruelest way possible!
And Eric, whose eyes crossed with the eldest lady, received that look indifferently.
As if her killing intent meant nothing to him.
That...!
As the eldest lady stared at her fake son, “Everyone, please be quiet!”
With those words, the doors to the courtroom opened.
“His Majesty the Emperor enters!”
The procession was led by the emperor, followed by judges and clerks.
The people rose to their feet and bowed their heads unanimously before the Emperor.
The Emperor sat in the middle, the highest seat, and opened his mouth.
“Everyone, please raise your heads and sit down.”
Following his order, everyone sat in the courtroom.
The Emperor fixed a cold look on Eric and then began to speak.
“We will now begin the trial regarding the incident involving my daughter, Princess Cornelia Odile Brant, Duchess of Brant.”