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The evil mastermind, Archduke Richard, was described in the novel as a cautious and ruthless person.
Such a man did not look like he would accept meeting a stranger.
So after a lot of thought, I used the ID of a subordinate who was close to him enough to organize a protest for him.
I thought he would agree to the interview if the maid came with an urgent message.
Finally, Benedict Richard appeared in the underground prison interview room and stared at me dryly.
“Are you Lieutenant Victor Genoa’s maid?
What message do you have for me?”
“Marry me.”
His red eyes shook violently as if he was hearing nonsense.
This was normal.
We met for the first time today.
“Didn't you say you were Lieutenant Victor Genoa's maid?”
“Actually, I am not a servant.
I lied to meet you, Your Excellency the Archduke.”
"What?"
He stood up and looked at me with disdain.
His cold appearance, which looked as if not a drop of blood would flow even if he was stabbed, and his huge figure emitting majestic power, were truly astonishing.
“I have no intention of speaking to someone who has not mentioned his real identity.
Get out now.”
“If I told you who I am, would you sit down again?”
“I'm not interested.”
The chains creaked from the wrists and ankles of the man as he turned and began walking.
I expected that he would not agree to the conversation easily.
There seems to be no choice but to talk about the main topic immediately.
I shouted at his back as he was about to leave the interview room.
“Even if I'm the one to prove your innocence?”
At that moment, he suddenly stopped as if he was surprised.
But then he regained his composure and laughed sarcastically.
“Ha.
Now I see that you are just crazy.”
Damn, didn't my attempt work?
I felt anxious, so I quickly got up and blocked his way as he tried to leave the interview room.
“Why don't you stop and listen to me a little more?”
“It doesn't seem like there's anything worth listening to.
The words of a woman proposing to marry a man she's seeing for the first time, and a man who will soon be executed.”
I swallowed under the cold look of his eyes.
Although in my past life I had prided myself on having met enough villains, the man in front of me was completely different.
His overwhelming form was truly fitting for a man called a serial killer.
But my position here was not inferior.
“If you are doomed to death no matter what I do, why don’t you pretend to believe it and listen to me for once!”
Consciously, I extended my shoulders, which instinctively shrank slightly.
The moment our eyes met, the Archduke's eyebrows twitched slightly.
Well, it looks like he's starting to hesitate, so I'll push him forward one last time.
“If after five minutes you think this is a waste of time, I will leave this place immediately.”
I spoke firmly and pointed to the chair he was sitting on.
His long, thin eyes trembled for a moment, then he walked toward the chair with steady steps.
Then he leaned back slightly, as if to peek inside.
“Three minutes.”
"Yes!"
Once I got the okay, I quickly returned to the chair and sat upright towards him.
Then I continued speaking clearly.
“Regarding Your Excellency’s accusations, in the next trial, all your money will be confiscated and a death sentence will be imposed.
At best, it will be life imprisonment if the court shows some mercy.
But of course, according to public opinion so far, there is no possibility of mercy.”
Archduke Richard's chin suddenly rose for a moment.
I quickly added my words so he wouldn't get angry again and leave.
“I have looked into the case a little, and I am confident that I can prove the innocence of His Highness the Prince.”
“……”
The man's eyes, full of doubt, were saying this.
'How are you going to do that?'
As if I heard a silent question, I answered at the speed of light.
“At the next trial, appoint me as your lawyer.”
“Do you have the qualifications of a lawyer?”
His eyes narrowed as he examined me from top to bottom.
It was a look filled with suspicion that a woman who seemed busy with everyday life was unlikely to have the qualifications of a lawyer.
I quietly revealed the truth.
“Well…here…I don’t have it?
The exam doesn’t seem difficult, but there are no bar exams before your trial, Your Excellency.”
“Ha, are you making fun of me now?”
The Archduke rose suddenly as if he could listen no longer.
His expression was unpleasant, as if he felt like he had been tricked.
This was expected.
I rested my chin on my clasped hands, looked at him, smiled, and continued talking.
“This is why I asked you to marry me.”
"What…?"
“According to the law of the Empire, the people allowed to defend the accused in court are: himself, his family, and lawyers.”
Last night, as soon as I set my goal, I rushed to the bookstore.
Then I looked up Empire Law and flipped through the pages like crazy.
I didn't have money to buy the law, so I just had to memorize it in my mind.
In the end, the angry shop owner kicked me out, but I achieved the desired result.
“Out of these three, what option do I have now?
Exactly ‘your family’.”
“……”
The Archduke stared at me with an astonished face.
Then, as if enchanted by something, he slowly sat down on the chair again.
“The quickest way for me to become your family is to get married.
If you really hate marriage...”
I stopped talking, looked at him furtively, and tried to guess his age.
He seems to be in his mid to late twenties at most, would that be appropriate?
“There's also a way to adopt me.”
“You are crazy...”
A half-curse escaped his elegant lips.
For a while now, he's been looking at me as if I'm out of my mind, and it seems like his true thoughts have finally come out.
“What do you think?
Marriage or adoption, choose whichever option you like best...”
“I refuse both.
I will not accept your offer.”
I was surprised by this unexpected answer and opened my mouth.
Usually, clients who come to me say they will do anything and beg me to get them out of prison...
While I was just blinking, Archduke Richard continued.
"Every time I go to the battlefield, I prepare to die.
I don't want to insist on my innocence by creating a hopelessly coercive relationship."
His voice was calm but full of firmness.
I was surprised by his reaction and looked at him thoughtfully.
In the dark interview room, the beam of light that crept like a thread left deep shadows on the man's strong-looking face.
“Ah, so your petty pride is more important than your men.”
I opened my eyes clearly and let out words that shouldn't have come out.
This was my last provocation.
Because my plan to escape from hell really needed it.
Bang!
The Archduke hit the table with his hand, making a harsh sound.
Because of the commotion, the guard looked out the door and into the interview room warily.
I waved my hand as if everything was fine, and the guard turned around again.
“If you continue to act more rude here, you will regret it.”
His closed fist shook violently.
Blood vessels stood out on the pale back of his hand.
But I continued speaking in a reproachful tone.
“Your men outside the prison are protesting day and night for your release, Your Excellency the Archduke.”
I stopped talking for a moment, then took out the stolen ID card, placed it on the table, and pushed it towards him.
“The same applies to Victor Genoa.”
“……”
The prince's face as he looked at Victor's ID card had complex emotions.
“If you accept the fate of execution in this way.
How will your followers feel about the loss?
What should we now call ‘Richard’s Squad’?”
“……”
'Richard's Division' was the name of the 107th Regiment of the Imperial Army, of which the Archduke was commander.
As the emperor's illegitimate son, he initially joined the army to gain merit and gain his father's recognition.
Then, in the end, he drove away the enemy to the point that he earned the title of ‘Battlefield Serial Killer’, and as a result, his reputation in the empire’s army rose.
Although he was a villain who harasses the hero in the novel, there are many soldiers who follow him.
“Maybe that's not the problem.
They should first worry about whether they will save their lives.”
“……”
I quickly recognized the dark expression that appeared on the Archduke's face for a moment.
He too must know.
If he died, the process of purification would certainly begin against those who called for his rescue, precisely those who followed him, so that no roots of trouble would be left behind.
“If you refuse even though you know a clear way to come out as an innocent person, it is no different than deceiving your followers.”
I saw the big fist that had been tightly clenched slowly loosen.
Archduke Richard closed his eyes as if in pain, and moved his lips with difficulty.
“Your words about making me innocent, are you sure of that?”
You succeeded!
I exclaimed in secret, as I saw him almost giving in to my persuasion.
The Archduke let out a slight sigh.
“What do you hope for in return?”
“My terms are simple.”
Finally, I took the necklace and pen from my pocket and placed them before the Archduke.
He looked at the contract suspiciously.
“Ha.”
The Archduke suddenly laughed as he read the documents.
As if there was a very big problem with the documents.