---
Archduke Richard, holding the contract in his hands, stared at me sternly before saying with biting sarcasm.
“You are asking for half of my wealth after I am acquitted and the confiscated money is restored?”
“Yes.
To clarify, this is not a gift, but rather a division of assets after divorce.
The gift is subject to the gift tax, but the division of assets is not.”
"Ha!
That's ridiculous."
I shrugged.
Why, is this the first time you have used a tax savings lawyer?
“My rule is not to work without a down payment.
But since you are the Archduke, I will make an exception and work without a down payment and take my fees only upon success.”
“Do you know how much half of my wealth is?”
Of course I knew.
I clearly read in the novel how you obstructed the hero’s projects and snatched up wonderful investment opportunities to amass huge wealth.
“Absolutely.
Without me, all that wealth would be confiscated.”
Wouldn't it be better to save half of it?
I looked at him with eyes that clearly said this.
The Archduke took a deep breath, then narrowed his eyes at me.
“How will you prove my innocence?”
“Oh, I can't tell you that now.
It's a professional secret.”
If I told you that here, you would defend yourself alone and dispense with me, you cunning one!
Do you think I will fall for this superficial trick?
I shook my head in refusal.
A tongue click came out of his throat when he heard the definitive answer.
I smiled.
“Okay, okay...
So, customer...
I mean, Your Excellency...
All you have to do now is sign this contract.”
“انتظري، أريد إضافة شرطٍ آخر للعقد.”
Contrary to my slight concern that he might reduce my fees, he simply suggested that we keep our personal feelings to ourselves.
This was to my advantage.
Clients who lose in court usually have bad feelings toward their attorneys.
There's a reason I was so crazy cautious in my past life.
“Yes... that's good... let's do it.”
Unlike me, who responded coldly, the Grand Duke watched with wide eyes as his proposed condition was added to the contract.
Honestly, it was a useless condition, but his expression was more serious than ever.
I showed my confidence and kindness, maintaining the spirit of service until the end, and handed him the second document from my chest.
“Here too, please sign here.”
“Have you already prepared the marriage contract...?”
His eyes widened in surprise.
I shrugged indifferently.
“I am a person who is always prepared.”
While he was filling out the marriage contract, I looked at the contract that would bring me great wealth and smiled happily.
“Elena Christie.”
"Yes?"
I instinctively responded to the sudden call of my name and looked at him.
“Even if it is a contractual marriage, I have to know the name of my future wife before signing.”
“Ah...”
It seemed that he was reading my personal information on the marriage contract form.
I realized that I had never mentioned my name before and proposed marriage directly, so I scratched my cheek in embarrassment.
Some time ago, he seemed to have lost the will to be surprised or to object to this ridiculous situation, and a resigned expression appeared on his face.
“Okay, Elena Christie.
What are you going to do now?”
After he signed all the documents, he seemed relieved.
It's as if he decided to let things go as they wanted.
“Now, Your Excellency...”
I slowly smiled ecstatically and took out a piece of paper from my pocket.
It was his turn to sign the final document.
∗∗∗
After preparing all the papers perfectly, I left the prison feeling refreshed and headed towards the demonstrators led by Lieutenant Victor Genoa.
They were muttering as if something was wrong.
Then the youngest of them pointed his finger at me.
"Lieutenant!
Isn't that the woman?"
All the demonstrators' eyes turned to me, and Victor Genoa approached me with angry steps.
“Miss!
Did you steal my ID card before?”
“You mean this one?”
When I carelessly handed him his ID card, Victor exploded in anger.
“Ha!
Do you dare to steal and then brag so brazenly?
Arrest her quickly and report her to the police...”
“Wait a minute!”
I sighed and extended my arms to prevent the knights from approaching.
Then I smiled brightly.
“I had something to say to all of you, so thank you for coming to me first.”
“…..?”
They looked at me as if I was crazy.
But who am I?
I ignored them and continued.
“From this moment on, you must obey me.”
“What did you say?”
“Is this woman crazy?”
The knights hummed harsh words.
Victor leaned closer and spoke in a threatening voice.
“Miss, if you keep talking nonsense, you might get into big trouble.”
“If you don't believe me, check this document.”
I took two cards out of my pocket, opened them with both hands, and placed them in front of Victor's nose.
Victor frowned and examined the papers in my hands, then his face gradually turned pale.
One was the marriage certificate, and the other was that last problematic document signed by Archduke Benedict Richard.
『I, Archduke Benedict Richard, delegate all my powers to Duchess Richard, Elena Richard.
I command everyone who submits to Richard to treat the Duchess as they treat me.』
Victor blinked in shock.
The rest of the young men froze in their places, silent.
“What...what is this...”
“Well, from now on you have to follow the Duchess's orders faithfully, right?”
After I had the most effective document a lawyer could obtain—a handwritten authorization by the client—I began to organize the situation step by step.
The first thing to be done was to disperse the demonstrators, who seemed to everyone like a 'horde of villains' or an 'invisible gang'.
“This kind of protest will negatively affect the trial.
Starting tomorrow, you will do as I order you.”
The soldiers with angry faces tried to object, but after seeing the authorization, they mustered up their patience and bowed politely.
In any case, their actions so far have been of little benefit at trial or public opinion.
“We will obey your orders, Her Excellency the Duchess.”
After giving some directions to the Archduke's subordinates, I returned home.
My father, drunk as usual, shouted at me.
"Elena!
Elena, you damned bitch!
How dare you miss work today?"
Then I heard a sarcastic voice from the side.
“I was saying there is no need to keep an insect like her in this house.”
Elena's brother, Ken, was also present this time.
Considering he came home days later like that, he must have run out of gambling money.
He pulled the corner of his mouth maliciously.
“I bet with you instead of money this time.”
"What?
What did you say?"
“It is an amount that you will not be able to collect even if you work for fifty years, so follow me silently.”
Ken chuckled and grabbed my wrist roughly.
A blue bruise soon appeared on my already thin wrist.
I screamed and pushed his hand away from me forcefully.
“Why should I earn money for you?”
"What?
Are you crazy?"
The two seemed to be surprised that Elena, who had never disobeyed them before, did not move as they wanted now.
Elena's father pointed at me, his face flushed.
“I raised you, so of course you should return the favor!”
“What an upbringing!
It is disgusting that I should be bound to you in such a terrible bond as family.”
At first, my words were to provoke them.
But somehow, my situation intertwined with my previous life, and I was filled with overwhelming anger.
“How can such healthy men live off a little helpless girl?”
These were the words I never had time to say in my past life while running away from home.
I screamed in a sharp voice at the two men, who had been consumed by hatred and greed.
“I hope you disappear forever from my life!”
“You bastard!”
Slap!
Sparks shot out before my eyes.
Ken's fist swung towards my face with a punch.
"Yes."
Slap!
While I was moaning, that father grabbed me by my hair and slapped me in the face.
“You naughty and insolent person, speaking without thinking with that mouth.
I will beat you severely now until you come to your senses.”
Pick up the broken shovel handle from nearby.
I wiped my swollen cheek with my hand, then the corner of my mouth twitched.
“You are the ones who need to come to your senses.”
At the same time, with a crash, the old wooden door opened, and uniformed men burst into the house.
I had a plan.
I had called the cops before returning home.
After assessing the situation, they advanced and surrounded the two men.
"Don't move!
Greg Christie, Ken Christie.
You're under arrest for assault on nobles."
I tightened my bruised lips and smiled.
The phrase 'first strike always wins' is wrong.
In fact, 'first strike always loses'.
Whoever strikes first will face legal action and financial compensation.