When Liam arrived at the Count of Weatherby's mansion, Baron Beaumont and Count of Hudson were also there.
"Welcome. Count of Highbury."
"I am very sorry to have to come to you with such unpleasant news. How heavy must it be for you."
Liam offered some comforting words to the Count of Weatherby.
The Count of Weatherby, a young nobleman who was usually friendly with Liam, was delighted with his consolation and exploded with anger.
"I am so angry that my wife had a miscarriage because of the King's wicked mistress. He forced my wife to pay bribes, and when she refused to comply, she did this to her."
"Did this happen right after you went to the palace?"
"About a week later, she complained of pain. The same thing happened to Baroness Beaumont, who went to the palace that same day and received something like purification, so it is certain."
The Count of Weatherby looked at Liam.
"I believe you know how I feel. Wasn't it widely rumored that the Countess of Highbury was the first to suffer...?
"What...?"
Liam turned his gaze and looked at Count Hudson with a stern face.
The Count of Hudson was here as Penelope's guardian.
Originally, Isaac should have come, but Penelope was not the first wife and was legally cut off from the Bellingham family, so her father, the Count of Hudson, was the current legal guardian.
Liam didn't look too favorably on Count Hudson.
'A person who acts like a clown in social circles.'
It was uncomfortable to be in the same room as the Count of Hudson, who was either a true nobleman or a fraud, and who went around telling stories about his daughter to the people in order to beg for invitations to social gatherings.
He also didn't like the fact that the Duke of Linchester, who was Charlotte's father-in-law, introduced the nanny Charlotte had chosen to the Count of Hudson. When he heard that Charlotte had miscarried, instead of offering words of comfort, he quickly took someone away.
Even Count Hudson seemed to go around telling people that he felt a kinship with Liam.
'Ha! That sounds like a connection.'
Liam felt sick at the feeling of being dragged down to that clown-like position in an instant.
"I don't know who spread such bad news, but I don't like the idea of my misfortune being the subject of gossip."
It was the horse that shot Count Hudson.
Who could have spread it? It was obviously the Count of Hudson, who wanted to make a big deal out of it, talking about a sense of community and such.
Count Hudson changed the course of the story with a cowardly laugh.
"They say that misfortune is lighter when shared. By the way, it was ambiguous with only the Count of Highbury and my argument, but now that the number of victims has increased, it has become clear. That wicked woman uses her devilish tricks to do such a wicked thing."
Liam responded stiffly.
"I have never made any claims, so please don't mix them up."
The Count of Weatherby, reading the strange war of nerves between the two, intervened as if to calm them down.
"That is why we have called the Count of Highbury. We are certain that this is her doing, but what do you say? You will join us in the case. Shouldn't we clear your name?"
The three men's gaze was focused on Liam.
If Liam, who had a high reputation and connections in the judiciary, would join the lawsuit, it would be a fight worth fighting even for Bridget, who had the power of the King.
Of course, if Julian were to sabotage the trial again with tyranny and force, the trial would be meaningless, but then it would develop into a political light of enormous weight.
One way or another, Bridget would go down in history as a witch, and that's exactly what the men gathered here wanted.
Baron Beaumont argued.
"We can't just sit by and watch the King's government take bribes and do things like this, can we, Count Weatherby? I hear she's already amassed a huge fortune."
"That's right. For the sake of the country, we can't just leave that woman alone. It might actually be a good thing that she's been caught like this. We should use this opportunity to expel that woman from the palace."
Count Hudson nodded vigorously.
"That is a very reasonable statement. I have known that woman since she was young, and she is no ordinary woman. She is a woman who will ruin the country."
Liam felt a little empty.
That was because he felt the conversation was increasingly flowing from anger at the damage done to resentment toward Bridget.
The Count of Weatherby already had three children by his wife. The Baron of Beaumont also had two sons and two daughters.
The two men had children who wouId become successors and did not grieve greatly over the inheritance of their wives.
Of these, Liam was the only one mourning the loss of his baby and worrying about his wife's health.
Liam, whose heart was breaking with grief, found their story untouching.
He asked sharply, angry that he was the only one who needed comforting.
"Do you have any evidence?"
"Evidence?"
"This is clear evidence that the miscarriage was caused by Viscountess Winston."
"There is no context."
Count Hudson chuckled.
"Trials involving powers are fought with circumstantial evidence and witnesses rather than evidence. Don't you know?"
Liam's eyebrows twitched.
How could he not know? Liam just said indirectly that he wasn't sure if it was Bridget's doing.
'Oh, I hate that guy so much.'
***
Meanwhile, Charlotte was comforting the Countess of Weatherby in her bedroom.
"How are you feeling?"
"It's not very good. But thank you for coming to visit me. How about Madam?"
"It's Mrs. Weatherby who is in bed. Is this the time to be worrying about someone else?"
Charlotte took Countess Weatherby's hand and comforted her.
Then Charlotte suddenly found her gaze on Countess Weatherby's fingernails.
Charlotte's expression hardened as she discovered something.
'...'
Charlotte went home earlier than her husband because she couldn't keep the patient for long.
Her face was stern the whole time.
She was sitting in the living room, deep in thought, when she called the butler.
"Please prepare a carriage for me so I can meet Baroness Beaumont."
By the time she returned from visiting the Baroness Beaumont in hospital, Liam was back at the mansion.
"Liam, what did the Count of Weatherby say?"
"He said we should file a lawsuit together. It's obvious why he called me."
"What do you plan to do, honey?"
"Me? What do you want me to do?"
"I am..."
Charlotte looked at Liam with wavering eyes.
She shook her head. Her eyes were sad.
"Don't get involved, Liam. Stay out of this. It's ominous."
"Is it ominous?"
Charlotte looked around in case anyone was listening, then whispered something to Liam.
***
People were excited when they heard that Bridget and Penelope were going to court.
Could there be a more entertaining spectacle than this?
So the trial of the two became a hot topic, and on the day of the trial, the congregation was filled with onlookers.
Bridget looked at Penelope, who was sitting at the manuscript table across from her.
"..."
Penelope was glaring at Bridget.
Isaac, who appeared upon hearing the news, sat in the pew closest to the dock and whispered to Bridget.
"Bridget, what's going on? I'm telling you straight, I didn't know Penelope was up to this. I just found out today. I've been so busy lately. I really didn't know. You know what I mean, right?"
At that time, Eric, who was present as Bridget's witness today, blocked Isaac's face as he stuck his head out.
"Excuse me."
"Ouch. What is it?"
Isaac, whose nose had bumped into Eric's leg, pinched the bridge of his nose and glared at Eric.
Eric waved his hand, looking down at Isaac as if he found it pitiful.
"Please step aside."
Isaac saw Eric as a young man in military uniform and spoke fiercely.
"Oh, right. I'm Viscount Winston. I'm Brigitte's husband. How can you tell me to step aside when I'm staying by my wife's side?"
"I'm Eric Spencer. I'm here as a witness for Mrs. Winston."
"Ah, ah..."
When Isaac heard the name Spencer, his eyes widened and he abruptly got up and left the room.
"Oh, I'm sorry for being rude. I'll go back there, so please sit here. Please give your testimony."
Eric looked at Isaac with displeasure, then met Bridget's eyes and smiled broadly.
"It will be all right, Mrs. Winston."
"Thank you for coming Sir Eric."
"Of course, I should come. You got involved in such a ridiculous thing."
He clenched his fist and encouraged Bridget.
Not even knowing that Julian was looking down at him from the highest spot on the third floor.
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