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This was the second mission, using a power of attorney handwritten by Archduke Richard.
It was exactly 'spraying insecticide on the insects that intrude on Elena's life.'
“Ah, no, Officer...
What?
An attack on nobles?
That’s unreasonable.”
The face of Elena's brother, whose arms were folded behind him and tied, seemed to not understand what was happening.
“We received a report that two members of the public were assaulting a noblewoman named Elena Richard in this house.”
"Rie Richard?
That's impossible.
That girl is just a commoner!
She's my daughter."
Elena's father, who was also handcuffed and unable to move, blinked and looked at me and the policeman alternately.
The policeman looked at me for a moment and then asked in a slightly confused voice.
“Um… are you really Elena… Richard?”
Apparently it was because I looked shabby for a gentleman.
When the policeman had a skeptical expression on his face, the two quickly turned towards him with cringing faces.
"There must be a misunderstanding.
Ray Richard...isn't that the guy in prison now?"
“The girl obviously lied.
She is used to lying, so we are disciplining her for that now.”
Futilely, the policemen nodded in agreement and tried to gently untie the two men.
'Oh, my God!
'Are these the so-called police!'
My eyes widened in astonishment.
Gentleman or not, there is domestic violence happening clearly before their eyes, and yet they agree that it is 'discipline'?
I took the marriage certificate out of my pocket and held it out to the two men they called my father and brother, and deliberately recited in a stern voice.
“Article 262, Paragraph 1 of the Imperial Criminal Code: Whoever assaults a noble shall be severely punished.”
“...!”
Then I suddenly turned my head towards the policeman and extended the document.
“Article 262, Paragraph 2 of the Imperial Criminal Code: Anyone who witnesses the incident of assault and does not take appropriate action shall also be severely punished.”
They opened their mouths in astonishment as they looked at the official document that prominently bore the imperial seal.
In the newly registered Peerage Register when submitting my marriage certificate to the Duke, my name ‘Elena Richard’ was clearly written.
Fortunately, thanks to a change in the law made by Crown Prince Lawrence, the novel's protagonist, when he marries the commoner Vivian, a commoner who marries a nobleman can also become a nobleman.
Thanks to this, Vivian's father also received the title of Baron.
Elena's father shouted.
“Did you really marry the murderous Archduke?”
“You see.
He has many powerful followers.
He will definitely be angry when he learns that his wife is being treated like this.”
Their faces turned pale as they understood that this was a warning that he would use his followers to kill them if necessary.
Of course, in reality, he's unlikely to do that for me, his fake wife.
After that, I went to talk to the policemen, who were standing there hesitating, not knowing what to do.
“Smith Leonard, 27, born February 4, 11349, Public Safety Division, Police Department.
Peter Theodore, 32, born April 17, 10447, same department.
Your supervisor’s name is Jared Cooper, 9913.”
“What?
Why do you know our personal information in such detail...?”
This was their personal information that I quickly looked at when I went to the police station.
Finally, I whispered the magic words that would move public officials to take action.
“If you don’t arrest them now, I will file a complaint.
Every day.”
As those words ended, the police rushed toward Greg and Cain.
***
the next day.
In a dark, smelly visiting room, I sat across from Archduke Benedict Richard, my husband.
“The marriage was successfully registered.
We are now a legal couple without any legal problems.”
“….”
For some reason, he just stared at me without speaking.
However, his eyes seemed softer than they had been yesterday, and I smiled.
“It seems we are now in the same boat to escape from hell.
Please take care of me.”
“What happened to your face?”
Instead of holding my hand, a sudden question came to me.
I rubbed my cheek in embarrassment where there were blue bruises from hitting my family.
“Ah, no big deal.
I was busy catching the family parasites yesterday.”
I evaded the answer instead of telling the truth.
Yesterday, I used the Archduke's name to threaten the police and my family.
He cannot find out that I used his name in my family matters that are not related to the trial.
Fearing this would be a breach of contract, I quickly changed the topic of conversation.
"Now let's talk about the trial.
You are currently accused of stabbing and killing the father of Crown Princess Vivian, the wife of the Crown Prince, with a dagger."
“Ha, you talk like a real lawyer.”
“Because I'm a real lawyer.”
“You lie so brilliantly without even blinking your eyes.”
“At least I'm your lawyer, right?”
He heaved a light sigh, as if he had given up.
Of course, it wouldn't be easy for him to consider me a lawyer now, so he seemed to assume that I was constantly lying.
I shrugged nonchalantly.
As long as I win at trial, I don't care whether my client believes me or not.
I moved the pen between my fingers and looked at the Archduke.
“Okay.
So, as a lawyer, I’ll ask you the most important question first.”
There was a slight tension over the small table separating us.
I took a deep breath and continued talking.
“Do you like Vivian?”
This question, which was perhaps unexpected, caused a twitch to appear on Archduke Benedict Richard's face.
I stared at it in silence for a moment, remembering the original novel.
‘Hmm, maybe I touched a sensitive spot.’
According to the content of the original novel, Archduke Richard, the emperor's illegitimate son, lived a lonely life with no one to turn to.
Then Vivian appeared in his life, the heroine of the novel radiant like the rays of the sun...
He already felt an inferiority complex towards Lawrence, the legitimate son of the Emperor and the protagonist of the novel, and when he lost Vivien, whom he loved, he hurt them both, even ending up killing Vivien's father at the end of the novel.
As if deep in thought, his lips finally moved.
"no."
Yes, this is the correct answer.
I nodded satisfied.
Whether it is the truth or a lie, the answer he must give when asked the same question in the courtroom is 'no'.
Of course, his answer was likely honest.
What is the point of love when one's life is at stake in prison?
Even a thousand-year-old love will grow cold on the cold prison floor.
“Very well.
So let me ask the question in a different way.”
I asked my next question.
“Have you ever loved Vivian?”
The reason I am so sure of his love is because of the 'crime motive'.
Motive is very important in a murder defense.
Trial outcomes vary widely depending on whether the motive was spontaneous or planned, or whether there was a motive worth mitigating.
A child who is abused by his parents and accidentally kills them cannot be equated with a child who kills his parents simply because they refused to lend them money to gamble.
Anyway, he is accused of killing Vivian's father.
If he was still in love with Vivian at the time of the incident, it could be considered a murder of passion, motivated by a man's hatred for his lost love.
The police department seems to have already figured this out.
"no."
When I heard his unhesitating answer, I gently raised the corner of my mouth and smiled.
This is exactly why he needs a lawyer.
A trial should be a show that combines scattered evidence and statements to create the most convincing story.
"This time you were wrong.
You don't need to be honest in court, but lying outright leaves a bad impression.
It may weaken the credibility of your other statements."
Since his love for Vivian was so well known here, it was necessary to confess some things even if they were a little unfavorable.
I kindly gave him the correct answer.
“It would be better to say, ‘I was once in love with her, but I completely abandoned her after she married Crown Prince Lawrence.’ That is, you were not in love with Vivian at the time of the accident.”
Did you understand?
I winked at him and was about to move on to the next question, but suddenly a firm sound came from his mouth.
“I never loved Vivian for a moment.”
The pen I was twirling fell from my hand.
Oh, that changes things a little.