Episode 56. I'm Tired Because My Fiancé Is Powerful
"Your Majesty, Stone is a traitor who killed his father, and a cunning devil!"
Vanessa's testimony greatly shook the people.
Stone had been losing trust since it was revealed that the tattoo on Adele's body was fake. Public opinion soon turned toward Adele.
"Well, it's obvious how arrogant nobles like the Oswalds would treat their young stepmother."
"I mean, what kind of fool would hand him poisoned tea with her own hands?"
"Miss Adele was really falsely accused."
People gradually began to sympathize with Adele.
"Is the testimony over?"
Jan asked.
"No. There's still one more person left to testify."
Jan stared at Marvin at Christine's words.
"Isn't that man a royal doctor?"
Marvin rolled his eyes anxiously, looking back and forth between Stone and Christine. Then he fell to his knees before the Emperor.
“Please kill me, Your Majesty!”
“What mortal sin have you committed?”
Jan unconsciously glared at Stone. He had intended to use him as Christine’s opponent, but this was no match for him.
Was he really not enough to deal with him?
Should he continue to hold hands?
While he was calculating intricately again, Marvin confessed his sins.
“In fact, I owed a lot of money through gambling. But the Oswalds approached me, saying they would help me pay off that debt.”
“They dared to bribe the palace’s royal doctor? What did they want in return?”
Marvin sobbed and buried his head in the ground at Jan’s scolding.
“They knew that I was Miss Adele’s personal doctor, so they ordered me to prescribe a drug that would harm her. But I am a man who deals with life! That is something I can never tolerate, so after much thought, I am telling you the truth. Sob!”
Meanwhile, Seira’s expression hardened as she watched the situation from the stands. The hand holding the fan was visibly shaking.
'That traitor!'
Christine said to the Emperor as if he were angry.
"I already confirmed with the loan sharks that the Oswalds guaranteed the doctor's debt. If they didn't bribe him to harm Adele, why would they have guaranteed the doctor's debt?"
Seira, who was becoming anxious, eventually ran out of the stands and entered the stadium.
"That was... the price I paid for asking him to take good care of my stepmother, Adele, Your Majesty."
"Pfft!"
Christine burst into laughter as if he couldn't hold it in, and smiled sweetly at Seira.
"Don't say things that even a dog wouldn't believe."
"The Count, choose your words!"
The Emperor scolded, but there was nothing more he could do. After all, there were so many people watching. And everyone seemed to trust Adele more than Oswald.
If things were going to go this way, it would be better to wrap this up quickly, for the sake of the Oswalds.
Jan, who had been pressing his temples and frowning, quickly calmed down his expression.
“We cannot judge right or wrong here regarding the death of the former Marquis Oswald.”
“Your Majesty, there is a solid witness!”
When Christine shouted in protest, Jan shook his head.
“The witness alone is not enough to prove guilt. Just as we could not execute Miss Adele due to a lack of evidence, we cannot execute Stone until we find solid evidence. We will send an investigator to investigate this case thoroughly. After that, we will hold a trial to determine right or wrong.”
Jan paused for a moment and looked at Marvin, who was kneeling.
“Also, Sir Marvin is stripped of his position as the Imperial doctor as of today. So, let’s end this matter here and proceed with the rest of our scheduled schedule!”
He finished his words as if declaring them and left the stadium with a very tired face.
The Empress, April, and the Prince followed him.
***
“It’s not easy to deal with the Oswalds after all.”
Zimmer clicked his tongue as if he were disappointed.
He didn’t expect a dramatic reversal, but he still thought he had a chance since he had played a sure card. However, only the weakest Marvin was punished. If Zimmer was all exhausted, how much worse must Christine be?
However, Christine’s reaction was unexpectedly calm.
“Are you okay, Captain?”
In Zimmer’s experience, he was most scared when he showed an unexpected reaction.
“I didn’t expect much anyway. I just wanted to clear Adele’s name.”
Was that his intention?
“Yes, I think that’s for sure.”
The people who had treated Adele as a great villainess until just now clicked their tongues as they brought up the Oswalds. The expressions they were looking at her with were filled with pity and regret.
That seemed to be what Christine wanted.
“Well then... As promised, my family is now finished...”
At that moment, Marvin approached him, hesitating. Before he could testify, his family was under Christine’s protection. Of course, it was only nominal protection; they were hostages.
“I sent all your family to my estate.”
“Huh? No, if you make such a unilateral decision...”
“If you don’t like it, you can bring them back.”
Marvin quickly waved his hand. Since Christine had paid off all his debts, he was free from the threats of loan sharks, but he was firmly attached to the Oswalds. He was actually afraid of what those terrifying men would do to his family.
“No! Can I go to the Count’s estate too?”
“If you want.”
“Thank you. You forgive me like this, and even take care of my family.”
“But there will be no second forgiveness.”
Christine’s eyes became fierce as if warning him.
Thinking about what he did to Adele, no, thinking about how she had to suffer for several days by being fooled by that bastard’s lies... Even if he killed him right away, it wouldn’t be enough.
“Yes, Count! Thank you, thank you!”
Vanessa approached him carefully.
“Thank you, Count. I hope there will be a day when I can repay this favor.”
“It was just a deal. It’s enough that you testified about Adele.”
Vanessa smiled faintly as she looked back at Adele, who was approaching her.
“At first, I thought it was someone. It’s the first time you’ve seen such a comfortable and happy face. I think I can live with that kind of expression someday, too.”
“I hope so.”
“I wish you both happiness.”
The two retreated under Zimmer’s guidance.
***
“Chris...”
Adele, who had been quietly watching the situation, approached him. She put her dress and outerwear back on and put on the cape Christine had put on him.
“I’m fine.”
“No. It’s cold.”
He even carefully opened the front. At times like this, they felt more like protectors than lovers. This wasn’t a bad feeling for Christine. Sometimes, he missed the days when she was under his protection.
“I’m sorry. I had no choice but to reveal the terrible things you experienced at Oswald’s. I know it must have been a memory you didn’t want to remember.”
“There was no other way to clear my name.”
“Thank you for understanding.”
“No way. Thank you for believing in me. And for saving me...”
The green eyes that had been looking up at him became tearful, and Adele hugged his waist tightly and buried her face in it.
She had lived her life repeating countless times that she didn’t care about rumors of her being a villainess, that it was okay.
However, she had been hurt and in pain countless times whenever people whispered. To protect herself, she had to always find a place to hide with an indifferent expression. She had lived her life pretending that nothing was wrong.
Now that her innocence was revealed, all the sadness from before came rushing back. Countless emotions poured out uncontrollably along with her tears.
Before she knew it, her shoulders shook and she began to sob sadly.
He silently hugged her with his long arms and patted her back. That was more comforting than any other consolation.
“Thank goodness. Really.”
Christine muttered softly as if talking to himself.
Because he was the one she could lean on and cry with.
Because he was the one who could comfort her tears and make her not hurt anymore.
Yes, he guessed that’s what he had wanted all along.
For her to be completely his.
That was when some time had passed.
Adele lifted her head from Christine’s arms.
“But, come to think of it, not everything is so good.”
She playfully wrinkled her nose with her eyes wet from crying. She must have felt a little embarrassed.
“What do you mean?”
“It’s good that I’ve lost your image as a villainess, but thanks to that, I won’t be able to do anything bad.”
“What?”
“It was good that I didn’t have to worry about my image when people pointed at me as a villainess. Now that’s a bit disappointing.”
“Ha, more and more.”
Adele sighed playfully as she watched Christine looking dumbfounded.
“I think it’s also a bit tiring to have a fiancé who’s so capable.”
“That’s right. It’s really tiring to have a fiancé who’s capable.”
Adele’s eyes widened at his soft, secretive voice.
His strange expression was like that of an animal that had a tasty meal in front of it. She knew what that meant.
Gulp.
“Wh-why are your eyes so drowsy?”
Adele slowly backed away.
He came closer and wrapped his arms around Adele's waist. She was instantly trapped in his arms as if she was being sucked in.
"To show you how capable your fiancé is."
A voice whispered lewdly in her ear.
Adele swallowed dryly without realizing it. She couldn't tell if it was because she was scared or because of some kind of anticipation.
"I know full well, so I'll decline. You must be really tired today, so why don't you go and rest?"
"Sharing the same bed as you is resting. I'll show you my abilities."
"You're crazy. There are so many people around, how can you say something like that...!"
Adele looked around, embarrassed, but...
"It doesn't matter."
Instead, he quickly picked Adele up and hugged her. He walked through the stadium and through the crowd of spectators while holding her.
The people who had gathered like clouds quickly stepped aside to make way for him. In addition, some people whistled and cheered him on, while others jeered at him with envy. Of course, most of the nobles clicked their tongues and whispered.
However, it was clear that they were all envious of these young lovers.
Adele buried her face in his chest and hugged his neck tightly in embarrassment. Then she decided to let other people’s gazes be. Because he was like a safe fortress. It seemed that nothing could harm her if she was with him.
However, Christine’s steps suddenly stopped.
Stone had come up in front of them.
Adele quickly got down from Christine’s arms and blocked Stone’s path. She didn’t want to leave Stone’s affairs to him alone, even if she didn’t know about anything else. Of course, she was able to muster up this courage because Christine was by her side.
However, Stone’s business right now didn’t seem to be about her.
“Today’s match was fun, Count.”
He said politely to Christine. His blue eyes were sharp as metal.
“I’m glad you thought so.”
Christine responded with eyes as sharp as blades.
“I’m really looking forward to the upcoming fight.”
Christine snorted in laughter.
“Just step aside gracefully, Marquis. I’m the type of person who needs to be crushed and crushed by someone who dares to attack me with empty boasts.”
Stone also raised his head and laughed loudly.
“I love life, throbbing prey. My blood is boiling hot right now because I haven’t found prey that I like in a long time. In that sense, I really like you, Count.”
The two looked at each other and laughed.
“What do you mean?”
“It’s good that I’ve lost your image as a villainess, but thanks to that, I won’t be able to do anything bad.”
“What?”
“It was good that I didn’t have to worry about my image when people pointed at me as a villainess. Now that’s a bit disappointing.”
“Ha, more and more.”
Adele sighed playfully as she watched Christine looking dumbfounded.
“I think it’s also a bit tiring to have a fiancé who’s so capable.”
“That’s right. It’s really tiring to have a fiancé who’s capable.”
Adele’s eyes widened at his soft, secretive voice.
His strange expression was like that of an animal that had a tasty meal in front of it. She knew what that meant.
Gulp.
“Wh-why are your eyes so drowsy?”
Adele slowly backed away.
He came closer and wrapped his arms around Adele's waist. She was instantly trapped in his arms as if she was being sucked in.
"To show you how capable your fiancé is."
A voice whispered lewdly in her ear.
Adele swallowed dryly without realizing it. She couldn't tell if it was because she was scared or because of some kind of anticipation.
"I know full well, so I'll decline. You must be really tired today, so why don't you go and rest?"
"Sharing the same bed as you is resting. I'll show you my abilities."
"You're crazy. There are so many people around, how can you say something like that...!"
Adele looked around, embarrassed, but...
"It doesn't matter."
Instead, he quickly picked Adele up and hugged her. He walked through the stadium and through the crowd of spectators while holding her.
The people who had gathered like clouds quickly stepped aside to make way for him. In addition, some people whistled and cheered him on, while others jeered at him with envy. Of course, most of the nobles clicked their tongues and whispered.
However, it was clear that they were all envious of these young lovers.
Adele buried her face in his chest and hugged his neck tightly in embarrassment. Then she decided to let other people’s gazes be. Because he was like a safe fortress. It seemed that nothing could harm her if she was with him.
However, Christine’s steps suddenly stopped.
Stone had come up in front of them.
Adele quickly got down from Christine’s arms and blocked Stone’s path. She didn’t want to leave Stone’s affairs to him alone, even if she didn’t know about anything else. Of course, she was able to muster up this courage because Christine was by her side.
However, Stone’s business right now didn’t seem to be about her.
“Today’s match was fun, Count.”
He said politely to Christine. His blue eyes were sharp as metal.
“I’m glad you thought so.”
Christine responded with eyes as sharp as blades.
“I’m really looking forward to the upcoming fight.”
Christine snorted in laughter.
“Just step aside gracefully, Marquis. I’m the type of person who needs to be crushed and crushed by someone who dares to attack me with empty boasts.”
Stone also raised his head and laughed loudly.
“I love life, throbbing prey. My blood is boiling hot right now because I haven’t found prey that I like in a long time. In that sense, I really like you, Count.”
The two looked at each other and laughed.
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