Chapter 14 – Part 4

When Kristin said this to Finn Declan, he waved his hands and hurriedly replied.

“N-no! While such things did happen, I never committed such acts against other patients. After Lady Elesia’s death, I couldn’t see patients for a long time.”

Upon hearing this, Raphael remained silent for a moment before speaking, as if he had a different perspective.

“If an investigation reveals anything, you will not only lose your medical license forever but also be exiled from the empire.”

“I-I’m sorry. I swear, I never falsified any other patient’s records. You know how doctors like us are treated. I only did it because I was threatened with losing my license if I told the truth.”

“Were you really that scared of such threats? You should have known that a deceased patient could never come back.” Kristin retorted.

Finn Declan, hands trembling, replied,

“If you look at the notebook, you’ll find the fear and truth I felt at the time. To tell you about six years ago, Viscount Vernon came to find me intentionally.”

Did he come intentionally?

This meant he was looking for someone to cover up the matter.

“What do you mean? My father came to find you on purpose? When I was young, he told me he was looking for a skilled doctor to treat my mother.”When Kristin asked with a puzzled expression, he shook his head.

“At that time, I was a relatively inexperienced doctor. I still remember how flustered I was when Lady Elesia came to our hospital.”

Kristin grew increasingly confused. If his words were true, it meant her father never intended to save her mother. It implied he entrusted his wife to an incompetent doctor, fully aware she would die.

“A young woman also visited me and gave me something. She claimed to be Lady Elesia’s maid and asked me to ensure she took a vitamin pill every morning.”

“Did she visit the hospital with my father and stepmother?”

“No, Viscount Vernon and Lady Elesia arrived first. Lady Elesia stayed with Viscount Vernon in the hospital room, and an hour later, the young woman came and handed me the pills.”

Kristin couldn’t comprehend it. She questioned how he could administer medication given by someone who wasn’t even the patient’s guardian under a doctor’s supervision.

“How could you, as a doctor, give medication without properly identifying it?”

When Kristin shouted at him, Finn Declan spoke slowly.

“You might not know, but there was a vitamin pill that was popular during the infectious disease outbreak in the Empire. Nobles took it, believing it would prevent infection. The pill brought by the young woman looked similar to that. She also mentioned that Lady Elesia had been looking for it, so I trusted her and administered it.”

How incompetent. If his words were true, her mother had died an absurd and tragic death.

“After two days of giving Lady Elesia the pills, her condition worsened. Just as I was starting to feel something was off, Viscount Vernon said to me,

‘That pill contains toxic substances. How could you give it to my wife? Do you think you can give any pill to a patient just because it’s labeled as a vitamin? You’re now an accomplice, so you should stay quiet.’”

In that case, it meant her father was indeed an accomplice. Kristin held onto a small hope in her heart. She sincerely wished that her father had been manipulated by Rose without knowing anything.

But after hearing Finn Declan’s words, it became clear that her father had orchestrated everything to cover up the truth and was aware that her mother would soon die.Blinded by his misguided love, he had effectively killed his lawful wife.

“This is so absurd that I am speechless.”

Raphael, seeing Kristin about to collapse, shouted to his knights.

“Arrest Finn Declan. I can’t tolerate this any longer.”

After speaking to the knights, Raphael reminisced about his mother, who had also died from an infectious disease when he was young.

At a young age, Raphael was deeply shocked by his mother’s death.

Ten years later, he learned the truth: his mother had also died due to a medical accident.

As a result, he became distrustful of doctors and chose the most outstanding physician in the Union Empire as his doctor.

“Wait, just a moment.”

When Kristin raised her hand to speak to Raphael, he gestured to his knights to stop.

“Wait a moment.”

“I have one last question. Did my mother know that she would die if she took that medicine?”

The thing Kristin couldn’t understand the most in this situation was her mother.

She couldn’t comprehend how her mother could continue taking the medicine despite her worsening condition.

Finn Declan answered Kristin’s question.

“Viscount Vernon said he had specially obtained the medicine and that it would help if she took it. I didn’t doubt it either, as I never imagined I would be responsible for his wife’s death.”

Hearing that, Kristin couldn’t help but slump to the ground.

Ultimately, her mother had been thoroughly betrayed, even by her trusted spouse.

“We need to take Dr. Finn Declan to our mansion first.”

Kristin spoke to Raphael in a low voice, but her tone was filled with emotion.

Though crying would change nothing in this situation, she couldn’t help but feel sorrow for her mother in the past.

Her mother probably took the medicine with gratitude, believing it had been obtained by her husband for her sake, only for it to slowly kill her.

After leaving the mansion for treatment, her mother never returned alive.

In the six years since that incident, Rose Veronica has occupied the position of the viscountess, despite it not being her rightful place, lavishly spending the Edith family’s wealth.

The family’s territories had gradually diminished, and rumors spread throughout the empire that the Edith family was running out of money.

Elesia’s jewels and estates had been sold off during this time.

Every jewel without an owner became her stepmother’s, and even the small dishes in the house were changed to her stepmother’s taste.

To kill the owner and take everything they possessed—such a cruel and vile method.

“He might try to escape while being transported. I plan to send him directly to the palace prison.”

“But, Your Grace.”

Kristin slowly continued, looking at Raphael.

“Who do you think is the biggest victim in this situation?”

“What?”

Seeing Kristin speak so directly to him, Raphael was momentarily taken aback.

He had brought his knights and advisors here, fearing that Vernon or Rose Veronica might harm Kristin if they got wind of the situation.

However, they were still unaware of what had happened, which was fortunate.

He didn’t want to leave Kristin in such a dangerous situation any longer.

But he was surprised that she insisted on taking Finn Declan to the mansion.

He couldn’t leave a criminal who had caused someone’s death unchecked.

“Both my stepmother and father must face justice. Dr. Finn Declan cannot be the only one to pay for their crimes.”

Understanding Kristin’s feelings, Raphael spoke to his advisors.

“Bind Finn Declan with the special rope. Also, secure all the evidence Kristin has. It will be needed to prove the crimes.”

“Yes, Your Grace.”

Upon hearing Raphael’s orders, the advisors began binding Finn Declan’s hands with a specially made rope.

Unlike the usual rope, this rope was designed with sharp glass fragments, ensuring that any struggle or movement would cause severe pain and injury to the wrists.

Being bound with such a rope caused immense suffering to the criminals.

“Aaaagh! N-no, please! I beg you, not that rope. If my hands are injured, I can never practice medicine again.”

Finn Declan cried out in pain as the rope was fastened around his wrists.

Kristin looked at him and spoke calmly in a low tone.

“It’s too late for regrets now.”

“Kristin, I’ll do as you wish. We’ll go straight to the Edith mansion, right? ”

When Raphael spoke to Kristin, she nodded.

Lenci finally spoke to Kristin, having kept silent until now.

“My lady, are you sure about this? I don’t think the Lady Rose will stay still. I’m scared.”

“Lenci.”

Kristin answered, looking at Lenci.

“Since coming here, I’ve been trying to sever ties with my father. After hearing all the truth from Dr. Finn Declan, I can’t bear it any longer. Lenci, if you were in my position, what choice do you think you would make?”

By now, Finn Declan was already in the horse-drawn carriage.Lenci felt pity for Kristin.

It was something that even a typical noble would find hard to experience.

Thus, Lenci could understand her lady.

Kristin hadn’t come here merely for revenge; she had come to abandon everything.

Lenci realized that Kristin was moving forward for the sake of what was right, even if it meant ruining her life and severing ties with her parents.

Lenci felt truly sorry for Kristin.

Nobles are usually born to live in happiness until they die, but her lady had never experienced such a life.

“I understand. After hearing you, I feel like I won’t be able to forgive them either.”

“That’s enough for me. If you understand my feelings, then let’s go to the mansion. It’s time to finally end everything.”

—

The carriage left the Hudson Mausoleum and soon arrived at the Edith Mansion.

But something strange caught Kristin’s eye as they arrived at the Edith mansion.

The door was entirely covered with roses, and the garden was adorned with flowers and a virgin road as if preparing for a wedding.

Kristin instinctively moved closer to the front door and began to see other things.

Portraits of Kristin and an unknown noble were displayed in one corner of the garden.

Next to them, a large sign written on white cloth read:

[Congratulations on the wedding of Kristin Edith and Elijah Eddington.]

Kristin was quite shocked by what she saw.

Additionally, a middle-aged noble, short and fat, who seemed to be the groom, was combing his remaining hair and adjusting his uniform.

Judging by his uniform, he appeared to be a noble from a remote region of the Empire, and it seemed that was the best uniform the Empire had provided him.

It was certainly not suitable for a wedding.

The sleeves were completely worn out, the fabric had faded to gray, and the buttons were barely hanging onto the jacket.

It was a total disaster.

“My Lady, what on earth is going on? ”

Lenci slowly approached the front door on behalf of Kristin and saw Elena and Rose in the distance.

They were checking each other’s appearance, dressed in formal gowns as if celebrating the wedding.

Elena and Rose were smiling brightly, as if truly happy at that moment.

Kristin then realized that this wedding was her stepmother’s new scheme.

“Kristin.”

Raphael spoke again in a very angry tone, looking at the noble, who appeared to be Kristin’s groom while observing Kristin’s expressionless face.

“Did you have any idea about this? It makes no sense that you would marry such an old noble.”

Kristin kept watching them, then covered her mouth with her hand as she saw her father, Vernon, waddling into the garden dressed in formal attire.

“Father is here? And he didn’t stop this?”

At that moment, they heard Vernon’s voice from a distance.

“Is this the person Kristin wants? Did she say she wanted to marry Elijah Eddington?”

“Yes, she did. I’ve tried to dissuade her countless times, but Kristin insisted on marrying him.”

“Is that true? I heard about it before, but I still can’t understand. How does this Baron Eddington from a distant region know our Kristin?”

“Well, you see.”

Rose whispered something to Vernon, and his eyes widened as he replied.

“You’ve managed to get Kristin the groom she wanted despite everything. Ah, what a pity about Duke Raphael Rodney, though.”

“My Lord, as I’ve told you before, Kristin hates noise. It’s better that she didn’t become a duchess who’s constantly in the spotlight. Besides, Baron Eddington will surely take good care of her.”

“Even so. Not informing me beforehand and suddenly holding a wedding is just unreasonable.”

“What can we do? If not now, Kristin might never marry. You don’t want her to remain single forever, do you? ”

“S-single? That’s unthinkable.”

“Even if the wedding is delayed for three years, they can still live together. Who would object to such a thing, especially considering Kristin’s distinguished service? She will surely be forgiven for marrying later, my Lord.”

“But still.”

“We still have Elena, who will marry Marquis Winston. We have plenty of opportunities to bring glory to our family. Trust in Elena, my Lord. She is wise.”

“Hahaha, that’s true. Then I suppose I should follow Rose’s suggestion.”

Kristin barely suppressed her boiling anger as she watched them.

Standing beside her, Raphael also looked at her and spoke.

“Shall we go in? It seems they’ve prepared for the wedding, and we can’t miss using the stage. For the criminals, of course.”

With that, a glint of interest shone in Raphael’s eyes.

~End of Volume 3~