'I was involved in those crimes?'
Madam Magadha was so shocked that she could not speak.
She swore she had no idea about the charges she was facing.
When she first met Mushikan Veloce, he was already the heir to the Duke's family.
Why would you kill the true successor and assist someone who would impersonate him?
And the Duchess...
'Well, I did tease you a bit.'
To be honest, there were times when she was overcome with an inferiority complex about the government and jealousy toward his wife, which provoked her.
For example, she pretends to send love letters meant for the Duke to his wife by mistake, or she hangs around her wearing clothes and accessories the Duke bought her.
But murder?
She never even thought about that.
“Why on earth did this man make such a ridiculous confession?”
As Madame Magadha muttered in confusion, Chiesa clicked his tongue and gave a hint.
“They say that thanks to that confession, the Duke will likely get a reduced sentence...”
"What?"
“Originally, he was supposed to be sentenced to death, but considering that he cooperated with the investigation, it seems like he may end up with a life sentence.”
“What... So you’re saying that our Mushi sold me and Melina out to get a lower sentence?”
“I don’t know. I’m just pointing out that the Duke benefited from that confession. It’s up to you to decide.”
“What the heck!”
Madame Magadha, who had been blankly staring at Chiesa, who was shrugging his shoulders, suddenly sat up.
And then she ran somewhere in a hurry.
“Hey, where are you going! Hey, Magadha! I helped you out, and now you’re leaving without even saying thank you?”
“Am I saying thank you right now, you stupid bitch?”
“You ungrateful little girl! Hey, don’t you ever think about coming to me again? Got it?”
Chiesa screamed with an expression that looked like she was going to die from annoyance.
Whether she was or not, she was running like crazy, but the place she stopped for a moment was the house she was currently living in with Melina.
Although it was nothing like the Duke's residence, this two-story house with its small garden was a rather splendid retreat for them.
Madame Magadha, who had hurriedly opened the gate and entered, saw Melina drinking tea in the garden and shouted in horror.
“Are you conscious or not? I told you not to come out just in case. What if someone sees you when our ward is already low?”
She quickly took Melina's hand and went into the house.
“It’s because it’s stuffy! I’ve been cooped up in the house for two days already! And who the hell is peeking over the fence and making such a fuss?”
“Oh, be quiet! Stop talking and pack your bags quickly!”
“What’s with all this luggage... Huh? Are we perhaps going back to my house?”
Melina's eyes sparkled.
She was already feeling suffocated being stuck in this tiny house.
When she was young, she wanted to show off her house to others because it was so spacious and fancy, but now why does it feel so small and shabby?
It seems that living in the Duke's residence made her more discerning.
'Why should I hide here when I have such a nice home? It's all because of that bitch, Shayne!'
The only thing better than her is a woman with only one bloodline.
The family was torn apart like this because of that woman's ridiculous accusations.
'Why did you come back alive when you could have just been a lion's food?'
But it seemed like everything ended well because she was told to pack her bags again.
'Then that's true. That girl is some kind of saint. That's ridiculous.'
Melina snorted, "Ugh."
But.
“What kind of house is this? We need to get out of the capital right away.”
“Leaving the capital? No way...Are we running away? Why?”
“Why, why? Because your father reported us!”
“What? What are you talking about? Why is my father accusing us? What crime have we committed?”
“Don’t you know? Did he really sell us out just to get his sentence reduced...?”
“What on earth are you talking about? Tell me more about it!”
“This kid, really! I already have so little time, why are you asking me so many questions?”
Madam Magadha suddenly lost her temper in frustration.
But Melina didn't seem to be moving until she told her the whole story.
She saw her mother glaring at her with stubborn eyes, her hands on her waist.
Eventually, Madame Magadha had no choice but to confess everything she knew.
“Oh, my dad turned himself in?”
Madam Magadha was so shocked that she could not speak.
She swore she had no idea about the charges she was facing.
When she first met Mushikan Veloce, he was already the heir to the Duke's family.
Why would you kill the true successor and assist someone who would impersonate him?
And the Duchess...
'Well, I did tease you a bit.'
To be honest, there were times when she was overcome with an inferiority complex about the government and jealousy toward his wife, which provoked her.
For example, she pretends to send love letters meant for the Duke to his wife by mistake, or she hangs around her wearing clothes and accessories the Duke bought her.
But murder?
She never even thought about that.
“Why on earth did this man make such a ridiculous confession?”
As Madame Magadha muttered in confusion, Chiesa clicked his tongue and gave a hint.
“They say that thanks to that confession, the Duke will likely get a reduced sentence...”
"What?"
“Originally, he was supposed to be sentenced to death, but considering that he cooperated with the investigation, it seems like he may end up with a life sentence.”
“What... So you’re saying that our Mushi sold me and Melina out to get a lower sentence?”
“I don’t know. I’m just pointing out that the Duke benefited from that confession. It’s up to you to decide.”
“What the heck!”
Madame Magadha, who had been blankly staring at Chiesa, who was shrugging his shoulders, suddenly sat up.
And then she ran somewhere in a hurry.
“Hey, where are you going! Hey, Magadha! I helped you out, and now you’re leaving without even saying thank you?”
“Am I saying thank you right now, you stupid bitch?”
“You ungrateful little girl! Hey, don’t you ever think about coming to me again? Got it?”
Chiesa screamed with an expression that looked like she was going to die from annoyance.
Whether she was or not, she was running like crazy, but the place she stopped for a moment was the house she was currently living in with Melina.
Although it was nothing like the Duke's residence, this two-story house with its small garden was a rather splendid retreat for them.
Madame Magadha, who had hurriedly opened the gate and entered, saw Melina drinking tea in the garden and shouted in horror.
“Are you conscious or not? I told you not to come out just in case. What if someone sees you when our ward is already low?”
She quickly took Melina's hand and went into the house.
“It’s because it’s stuffy! I’ve been cooped up in the house for two days already! And who the hell is peeking over the fence and making such a fuss?”
“Oh, be quiet! Stop talking and pack your bags quickly!”
“What’s with all this luggage... Huh? Are we perhaps going back to my house?”
Melina's eyes sparkled.
She was already feeling suffocated being stuck in this tiny house.
When she was young, she wanted to show off her house to others because it was so spacious and fancy, but now why does it feel so small and shabby?
It seems that living in the Duke's residence made her more discerning.
'Why should I hide here when I have such a nice home? It's all because of that bitch, Shayne!'
The only thing better than her is a woman with only one bloodline.
The family was torn apart like this because of that woman's ridiculous accusations.
'Why did you come back alive when you could have just been a lion's food?'
But it seemed like everything ended well because she was told to pack her bags again.
'Then that's true. That girl is some kind of saint. That's ridiculous.'
Melina snorted, "Ugh."
But.
“What kind of house is this? We need to get out of the capital right away.”
“Leaving the capital? No way...Are we running away? Why?”
“Why, why? Because your father reported us!”
“What? What are you talking about? Why is my father accusing us? What crime have we committed?”
“Don’t you know? Did he really sell us out just to get his sentence reduced...?”
“What on earth are you talking about? Tell me more about it!”
“This kid, really! I already have so little time, why are you asking me so many questions?”
Madam Magadha suddenly lost her temper in frustration.
But Melina didn't seem to be moving until she told her the whole story.
She saw her mother glaring at her with stubborn eyes, her hands on her waist.
Eventually, Madame Magadha had no choice but to confess everything she knew.
“Oh, my dad turned himself in?”
“Yes, so pack your bags quickly!”
Madam Magadha, who had been holding on to her husband, brought a large suitcase and stuffed jewelry and clothes into it haphazardly.
“It’s fortunate that I brought at least some jewelry. I almost got kicked out penniless after 18 years of government service!”
She seemed to be grateful that she was able to amass some wealth.
But it wasn't Melina.
'What, then what happens to me?'
Now that her father had confessed, whether it was true or false, her father was no longer a Duke.
That means she is no longer the Duke's daughter.
'This is ridiculous...'
Although she was an illegitimate child, Melina lived with the pride of having inherited noble blood.
Moreover, thanks to monopolizing her father's love, she was able to live a life that was the envy of princesses.
Although she was actually a half-noble, no one could treat her lightly because she was the daughter of the Duke of Velloce.
However...
'Shayne, you little rascal who wouldn't mind being torn to pieces! What crime did we commit to deserve this?'
As Melina was gritting her teeth, Madame Magadha raised her voice again.
“What are you doing, you punk! I told you to pack your bags quickly. Do you want to be dragged off to prison for a crime you didn’t commit?”
“Oh, I got it! Stop yelling so I can take care of it. My eardrums are going to burst!”
Melina responded annoyedly and hurried to her room.
Then he opened two large bags and filled them with everything that could be of value.
'If I had known this would happen, I would have brought everything!'
She couldn't help but feel regretful that she had left the mountain of jewels piled up in her room at the Duke's residence.
'I won't even be able to dream of such things anymore, will I?'
A life where one is served by maids who are of noble birth, even if they are of low rank, eats food prepared by renowned chefs and is the first to snatch up precious jewels and luxury goods that come into the capital.
Tears welled up in Melina's eyes as she thought about losing everything she had enjoyed so naturally, like breathing.
Melina, who was shaking her body with sobs constantly leaking out through her lips, shook her head.
'No, the truth will come out someday. When that happens, you can come back.'
Yes, it definitely will.
Because justice always wins.
'Let's avoid the outside first.'
Clearing one's name was also something that could only be done while alive.
Melina gathered her things again, steeling her collapsing heart.
But.
“Wait a minute, aren’t those people the bastard children of the Duke of Veloce's mistress?”
“Huh? Where?”
“Those women over there with their hats pulled down low. Don’t they look a bit similar?”
Madame Magadha and Melina attracted everyone's attention as soon as they stepped out the front door.
“Yes, she’s all flashy and tasteless, and that sloppy gait with her butt swaying. She’s exactly like that government.”
“Huh? Look at the necklace the woman next to her is wearing. Isn’t that the blue diamond necklace that the Duke won at the VIP auction as a gift for his illegitimate child?”
“Oh, I guess that’s right?”
People who had been glancing at and gossiping about them as they walked down the street began to gather around them one by one.
“Hey, stand over there for a second.”
“Wh, what’s going on?”
“I have something to check, so take that hat off.”
“...Why a hat?”
“Are you deaf? I need to check something.”
“So what are you checking?”
Mrs. Magadha screamed to hide her trembling voice.
But that hysterical appearance only served to confirm their suspicions.
“I just wanted to check your face, so why are you so upset? Is there a reason you can’t show your face?”
“Yeah, that’s suspicious. And you’re carrying such a big bag in both hands.”
“Are you trying to run away?”
“Are you the Duke of Veloce’s mistress?”
People's eyes became sharp.
“Wh, what are you talking about? We’re just about to set off on our journey!”
“Yes, I said I was going to the countryside for some urgent matter. So please get out of the way and stop talking nonsense!”
Even Melina joined in to try to stop them, but it was no use.
“So I said, just check your face and I’ll let you go!”
Someone, frustrated with the sluggish argument, quickly took off their hats.
“...”
“...”
The once noisy street suddenly became as quiet as a mouse.
As the mother and daughter just gaped in embarrassment, the man who had taken off their hat opened his mouth wide.
“I’m sorry for being rude. It looks like you had somewhere to go in a hurry.”
Then he put the hats back on and put his arms around the shoulders of the mother and daughter.
“Well, it’s a dangerous place for women to go alone, so we’ll take you there.”
“Yes, yes. To where your husband and father are.”
In this way, the mother and daughter's escape came to a vain end.
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