My Former Lover Didn't Die And Came Back - Chapter 41

The seats in the administrative court were sparsely filled, reserved only for acquaintances. An elderly couple and a young couple sat together in a circle, all blond, indicating they were the family of the defendant, Adrian.

A little distance away, coworkers and acquaintances were seated. Since the trial hadn’t started yet, murmurs of conversation leaked out.

“Isn’t his wife showing up today?”

“My goodness, on her husband’s trial day. How cold-hearted.”

Bang bang.

The sound of the gavel marked the beginning of the trial. Soon after, Adrian Cavendish, looking gaunt, appeared at the defendant’s seat with his lawyer, causing an elderly woman in the audience to sigh.

“Silence.”

The judge’s call quieted the courtroom. The trial proceeded in order. First, Adrian’s charges were listed. Then, various records submitted as evidence by the Eleanor Empire’s military were disclosed to the audience.

Adrian’s lawyer loudly argued,

“There is no direct evidence that the defendant committed these charges. It’s clearly fabricated.”

In response, the military faction countered,

“But there is also no evidence that he didn’t commit them. The company in question is operated under the defendant’s name. If anyone has committed a crime, the defendant is the most likely.”

Adrian’s lawyer stood up,

“Merely being in the company’s name doesn’t suffice to hold him responsible. The defendant was appointed as a diplomat two and a half years ago. Yet, the company has been operating until recently. This means it was operated by a representative. We submit as evidence the testimonies of coworkers who can vouch for Adrian Cavendish’s diligent work.”

A couple of neat-looking young men then stood side by side in the witness box to support the lawyer’s testimony.

Murmurs began to spread among the audience.

The flustered military faction hesitated before standing up to counter. Revealing the defendant’s innocence would tarnish the military’s honor, so they felt the need to deflect.

“The claim that the company was operated by a representative is mere speculation.”

Creak.

The thick wooden door at the back of the audience section slightly opened and a tall soldier entered, but those fully engaged in the heated debate didn’t notice him. He leaned against the wall as if he had always been there.

“What if there is evidence that someone else operated the company?”

The lawyer countered. Adrian’s younger brother had carefully chosen this competent individual. He added,

“There is someone claiming to have directly operated the company. The defendant’s wife. We will submit as evidence the testimony of Mrs. Blair Cavendish, the defendant’s wife, along with three merchants from Blue Port Market.”

The audience quieted down at his credible voice. Soon, Blair appeared. She walked lightly across the stone floor without making a sound and stood in the witness box, raising one hand.

“Swear.”

Blair raised her hand to swear to tell only the truth. As her hand lowered, the lawyer asked,

“Please state your name.”

“Blair Cavendish.”

Blair answered with her eyes slightly downcast.

“What is your relationship with the defendant?”

“We are married.”

“If it’s not too intrusive, may I ask how long you have been married?”

“It’s been three and a half years. I took over the company shortly after we got married. We didn’t change the name because it was too much of a hassle.”

As new claims were made, people began to listen more intently. Murmurs spread here and there.

A man leaning against the wall at the back of the audience clenched his fist tightly, but no one noticed. Blair continued speaking from the witness stand,

“I have been directly operating the company for three years. So, if these charges are true, I should be imprisoned.”

* * *

The doors of Blue Port Administrative Court opened and people streamed out like a flood. Some looked happier than when they entered; others looked gloomier.

The last to walk out was a woman with long blond hair. She slightly lifted the hem of her outing dress with gloved hands and hurried out. A tall man in an Imperial military uniform with short black hair followed her.

Cedric grabbed one of Blair’s arms, causing her long hair to flutter as she turned around.

“Let’s talk.”

Cedric spoke urgently, holding onto Blair.

“Are you going to imprison me now?”

Blair shot back with sharp eyes.

“……”

Cedric’s mouth remained firmly closed as their gazes locked.

Blair was angry. Flames seemed to flicker in her blue eyes.

“Do you think I would imprison you?”

Cedric spoke in a suppressed voice. As if he would confine Blair in such a narrow space.

“If I’m guilty, wouldn’t that happen anyway?”

As Blair countered, Cedric let out a heavy sigh.

“……”

In the cold air, his breath formed a white mist, blurring the statue of justice behind Blair.

Blair’s appearance on the witness stand today was something Cedric didn’t expect.

In his view, she was still angry with him. The issue with her parents was definitely his fault. That must be why she hasn’t cooled off yet.

“There was no need for you to take the stand.”

He hoped she wouldn’t unnecessarily attract attention. If she divorced her husband and remarried him, she would certainly receive enough attention anyway.

“I need to be able to trust you. You might suddenly change your mind and not release my husband.”

“It’s for your own good. Why do you need to draw attention?”

Being talked about for a love affair is particularly distressing for a woman. He could bear any blame directed at him. But he hoped she wouldn’t suffer anymore.

Ha, Blair let out a hollow laugh and continued,

“Why? Because you want me to get a divorce so you could marry me? Are you angry because people talk about me? Afraid it will tarnish the Fitzgerald family’s honor?”

“I’m not afraid of that.”

Cedric shook his head as he replied.

That’s really the case. His adoptive parents and sister might not welcome marrying a divorcee, but he had the courage to push through.

“I intended to keep my promise to release Adrian.”

“How could I trust you?”

“…….”

Clench. Cedric tightened his free hand, the one that was not holding Blair’s arm. He expected that she would come to distrust him. But hearing it from her lips was heart-wrenching.

For a moment, she looked at him as he stood silently, before she opened her mouth.

“……When did you know?”

“…….”

Cedric’s brows slightly furrowed. He had a bad feeling. What was she asking now?

“Huh? Answer me. Cedric.”

His mouth slightly opened, but then he froze, still holding her arm.

“Why won’t you answer?”

He froze, as though he had forgotten how to breathe. The expression of the woman facing him was as serene as if she were asking about the weather. How nice it would be if that was what she was asking.

He lifted his head with a hollow look in his eyes. Beyond Blair’s shoulder, he saw a statue of a woman made of stone. The landmark of Blue Port Courthouse. A symbol of justice, carefully carved from white stone.

It felt as if the cold woman’s sword, which she held in her hand, could target his neck at any moment.

The lovely woman shook his arm persistently and asked.

“Huh? I’m asking you. Cedric.”

“…….”

“When did you know Adrian was the culprit?”

Cedric simply looked at himself, reflected in Blair’s blue eyes. No, in fact, there was nothing else he could do.

Cedric opened his mouth, which had been firmly shut.

“……The week after you woke up.”

“The day you took the lock off the bedroom?”

“……Yes.”

His answer came out mixed with a sigh.

Blair blinked hard, her frail shoulders trembling momentarily. She bit her lip tightly, then spoke with difficulty as she exhaled heavily.

“……Knowing that…… you proposed to me?”

Her voice leaked out, unable to fully contain her emotions.

“…….”

“Knowing that……you slept with me?”

The man’s hand holding Blair’s arm trembled.

“You tried to impregnate me…… after I lost my parents and was out of my mind……?”

Her voice grew louder, anger melting into it.

She reminisced about a few days ago. Everything happened the day she found a letter at her parents’ house. The day she hurriedly changed clothes and tidied up the messy house to visit her husband. It was when she remembered memories of a night she had been drunk while cleaning the guest room. She remembered Cedric holding her as he changed his address to her while she was drunk.

She thought too much on the train ride to the capital. She tried to forgive him, and yet she couldn’t.

Cedric met her gaze with sunken eyes.

“……Since the funeral, you haven’t even looked me in the eye.”

Blair closed her eyes tightly again at Cedric’s softly spoken answer. A sigh escaped her lips.

“Tell me honestly, Blair. You think I caused your parents’ death,”

He said urgently.

“It’s not because my parents died!”

Blair shouted.

“…….”

“I told you, it was a natural disaster.”

Her eyes began to redden. Her voice seemed to struggle to contain her emotions.

“……Yes, seeing you on the day of the funeral wasn’t easy. I couldn’t be happy. Should I be……?”

“…….”

“It’s not because my parents died that I couldn’t accept you.”

“Then what is it.”

“Don’t you know……?”

Ha, a laugh of disbelief escaped.

“……You should have told me everything on the day you learned all the truth!”

Blair shouted at Cedric. A pained voice burst out.

“……Is that so important?”

“You knew I felt guilty! You knew I was sorry for sending you there!”

She cried out, laughing and crying at the same time, and her eyebrows furrowed. The man’s expression remained icy, but his hand that was holding her trembled violently.