---
At the Archduke's words, I held my temples, pretending to be exhausted.
“There's no need to hide the truth from me.”
“Didn't you just say that you can't make false statements in court?”
“Sure I said that.
But that wasn't a lie.”
I raised my eyebrows as I reminded him of the truth, and the Archduke sighed lightly.
“No, it's a lie.
That's why I'm correcting the misunderstanding.”
"Most people who come to me say the same thing.
I'm innocent, it's a misunderstanding, that person is lying."
I responded indifferently to his excuses.
These were familiar arguments from accusers.
“I'm really telling the truth-”
“Then why did you kill Vivian’s father?”
I began to feel annoyed that the discussion had gone on for so long since the second question without reaching common ground.
I exploded in anger and responded to him, whereupon the Archduke's face distorted horribly.
“Didn't you say you would acquit me?”
“Yes.
I said I would acquit you, but I didn’t say you were really innocent.”
“What?”
فتح عينيه على اتساعهما كما لو كان مصدومًا.
In fact, I didn't really care about his innocence.
All I cared about was the commission he would pay me after he was acquitted in court.
He clearly misunderstood the role of a lawyer.
How naive!
I sighed deeply.
“Let's be honest.
Our contract is that I will only exonerate you, not believe in your innocence.”
Frankly, all the circumstances of the case were sufficient to conclude that Archduke Richard was the one who killed Vivien's father.
In addition, the motive for the killing is relatively clear.
Crunch-
At that moment, the Archduke suddenly rose from his place with a loud voice.
"I don't need a lawyer who doesn't believe me.
So get out of here!"
“Wait, you can't!
Our contract clearly states...”
“Yes, that was our contract.”
He stared at me fiercely.
Those crimson eyes, which had been staring at me solemnly moments before, now held nothing but wariness and distrust.
“If you can acquit me, I will give you half my fortune.
But if I don’t cooperate, you won’t be able to acquit me.”
“What, what did you say?”
The defendant refuses to defend!
This is something I did not expect at all.
I could only stare in amazement at the man's back as he walked away with disappointed eyes.
And the problem got worse.
The next day, and the day after that, and the day after that, the Archduke refused to meet me.
"What do I do?"
In the end, today was also another day of wasting time.
I bit my lip anxiously.
When the Archduke, whose anger I thought would subside after about a day, made no response, I gradually grew anxious.
Of course, I couldn't give up, so I continued to actively research the case to defend it in my own way.
But if my client, the most important person, refuses to defend and proves uncooperative, then there is no point.
If the Archduke confesses his guilt in court, everything will be over.
As I was walking out of the prison disappointed, without achieving any benefit, I saw Lieutenant Victor Genoa approaching from the other side.
At one point, he became very friendly with me and stared
“Your Highness the Archduchess, is His Highness the Archduke okay?”
I made an effort to pretend to be calm so that no one would find out that I was in disagreement with the Duke.
“Sure, of course.
Are you doing the job I gave you well?”
“Yes.
But, is that all we have to do?
As a man, doesn’t this seem very weak?
It seems as if we cannot kill even an ant.”
How ignorant you are!
I shook my head firmly.
"No.
The appearance that he can't kill anything is the main thing."
What I wanted was to change the image of Richard's band.
When they appear before the prison, they must be unarmed, wear light-coloured clothing, all be shaved, and have their hair neatly styled.
In fact, the soldiers, including Victor, had a masculine look and exaggerated brutality, making them look like henchmen of a murderous mastermind.
Any factors that might negatively affect the image of the Archduke had to be removed.
Fortunately, after they listened to my words carefully, their appearance became completely different.
They looked like a group of religious young men.
'Now all I have to do is change the Archduke's mind…'
The absence of the most important person was painful.
I took a deep breath and headed out for an interview with a reporter from a prestigious daily newspaper.
My relationship with my client was tense, but I had to do my part sincerely.
***
After a few days.
In the visiting room of the underground prison.
Benedict, who had refused all visits from Elena, frowned after hearing that Victor Genoa was visiting him.
“You're treating me like an idiot now.”
Are you selling the Victor name again?
Benedict laughed sarcastically.
Elena must be trying to trick him again with her lame lies.
However, when Benedict heard the guard's statement that the visitor was undoubtedly a man, he quickly rubbed the back of his neck in embarrassment.
After a while, when Benedict went into the visiting room, his face frowned.
“Your appearance...what is it?”
The appearance Victor saw as soon as he opened the door was so shocking that his comment came out immediately.
"How are you, sir?
Don't you think I look very nice and harmless?
It was recommended by Her Excellency."
Victor pointed proudly at the yellow chick drawn on his faded pink shirt.
Benedict's face hardened when Victor mentioned Elena.
“Did you come here on her instructions?”
“No, I'm just concerned that you may be seriously ill, sir.”
Lately, Victor had been feeling something strange.
The duration of the Archduchess's visits was gradually getting shorter.
Concern appeared on her face every time.
So he came to check for himself whether his leader was sick.
Meanwhile, after Benedict confirmed that Victor's visit had nothing to do with Elena, he toned down his atmosphere a little.
“I'm fine, you see.
Instead, you should burn this ridiculous suit as soon as you get out of here.”
“Impossible!
Do you know how effective this suit is?
Thanks to Her Grace the Archduchess these days, things are going very well.”
Victor waved his hands dismissively as he jumped off.
Instead, he presented Benedict with a stack of newspapers.
“Look at this.”
Benedict's eyes trembled as he read the headlines of the daily newspaper.
[I completely believe His Excellency the Archduke.] Exclusive interview with Archduchess Richard for 'Lady Arya'.
“Ha.”
A bitter laugh burst from between Benedict's teeth.
Do you believe him?
The interview was unpleasant.
The content was even more ridiculous.
"To save the life of an ordinary person like me, His Excellency the Archduke did not hesitate to jump into enemy fire.
I fell in love with him at first sight when I saw him. (He values all life, he is not a person who would ever hurt anyone!) For such a kind and wonderful person to be unjustly accused of murder.
We fell in tender love in prison... (deleted)"
The made-up love story that followed was so shocking that he couldn't force his eyes to read any further.
He especially bursts out laughing at the point where she says he's not someone who can hurt anyone.
How many people did he kill on the battlefield?
However, the writing was so realistic that even Benedict, knowing full well that the whole story was a lie, felt his chest full of a little gratitude when he finished reading the article.
“I didn’t know my master had such a warm heart.”
Victor wiped away his tears with a face full of emotion.
It seemed that the more he thought about it and remembered it, the more he thought it was a sublime love story.
Benedict muttered in disappointment.
“This ridiculous article...do people believe it?”
“Absolutely!
After Her Excellency the Archduchess’s interview was published, the sales of ‘Lady Arya’ were said to have doubled.
In particular, the support from women has been overwhelming.”
“……”
Victor continued talking excitedly.
“Subsequent articles continue to pour in, and the voices that until recently were treating Your Excellency as a criminal are gradually turning around.
There is even talk that the Crown Prince, who was opposed to you, may have orchestrated an overly aggressive investigation by manipulating the police.”
He was really happy saying that.
Benedict scratched his stiff cheek anxiously.
“Somehow, following what Her Excellency tells me gives positive results.
I was afraid that time would pass day after day until the trial, but now I look forward to that day.”
He felt bitterness in his mouth.
As he faced the hopeful look on Victor's face, he couldn't tell that he refused to help that woman and that there would be no talk of his acquittal in a future trial.
He caressed the tight, choking area of his throat.
“…What is that woman doing, Elena?”
“Actually...”
At Benedict's question, Victor's face became a little gloomy.
Benedict raised his eyebrows in surprise.
After hesitating, Victor continued speaking cautiously.
After a few hours.
After Victor left, Benedict remained alone in the visiting room, holding his forehead with a serious expression, as if a major disaster had happened.
A deep sigh escaped through his teeth, then he finally muttered seriously.
“I think Elena Christie loves me.”