34

“Bring him before me right now. And bring the Knight Commander too.”

As soon as Earl Portman gave permission, Lennox’s knights followed Richel’s orders.

Soon, the knights brought Mars before Richel.

He seemed unaware of why he’d been dragged there, only looking around warily.

“Kneel.”

At Richel’s command, one knight kicked Mars behind the knee, making him stumble and kneel.

“Why… why did you bring me here?”

Mars’s eyes shook with confusion, then twisted when he saw Earl Portman.

“Now do you know why you were brought here?”

Richel placed her foot on Mars’s knee and asked. Mars nodded.

“But… why are you doing this to me, Lady? I thought things with the Portman family were settled.”

Mars asked, still anxious, his voice trembling.

His personality was nothing like the rumors; Richel found it strange.

She’d heard he spoke rudely to Elsia, but now he was just a frightened, trembling animal.

“Didn’t you know? The woman you called insane is my best friend. Since you called me ‘Lady,’ you must know me well, right?”

“Of course I know. You’re the Lady of the Lennox Duchy. We greeted each other as children. I just didn’t know you two were friends…”

Mars stammered, sweating. Richel grabbed his collar and shouted.

“If you’d known we were friends, would you have acted differently? Why do you treat Elsia and me so differently? Did you think Elsia was easy? Is the Portman family a joke to you?”

“No, no! Please… spare me.”

Mars begged desperately.

Richel thought about hitting him, but seeing his pathetic state, she didn’t even feel it was worth it.

Mars seemed weak before the strong and strong before the weak.

“Pathetic.”

Richel muttered to herself, disappointed.

Mars’s face turned red and he hung his head.

At Richel’s signal, a cold-looking man with sky-blue hair stepped forward. He was Patrick, the youngest ever to become Knight Commander of the Lennox Knights.

The Lennox Knights also served as the Imperial Third Knight Order, whose commander had the authority to summarily punish criminals.

“Applying the crimes of assaulting a noble and attempted murder, I sentence you to 15 years in prison. After release, you are banished from the capital.”

“Fifteen years? That’s too long! Attempted murder? It was just a scratch on the neck!”

Mars protested tearfully.

“You’re lucky the term is short because you’re a noble. You hit a noble’s face, threatened with a knife, and there are plenty of people who were harmed in your former territory. Shall I list all your crimes? Honestly, you should lose your noble status too.”

Mars had nothing to say.

“Lady, please, just this once…”

A desperate voice came from behind Richel. Earl Welsley stood, looking dazed.

“I’ve already been lenient.”

When Richel spoke, Earl Welsley knelt before her and tried to grab her skirt.

But Richel quickly pulled her skirt away.

“Please. My son did wrong, but the punishment is too harsh. I agreed with Earl Portman to banish him from the capital. Why this sentence?”

“That’s just an agreement between you and Earl Portman. The punishment is decided by the Knight Commander, not me. We’re just following the law. If you wanted fairness, you should have kept your son under control. If it were only *ssault, it wouldn’t be this severe.”

Since the Knight Commander belonged to Lennox, everyone saw it as Richel’s order, but she pretended not to know.

“Lady, please, I beg you. Please show mercy.”

Earl Welsley’s desperate plea softened Richel a little.

“Then how about reducing the sentence to five years and paying a fine? The amount will be quite large—are you okay with that?”

Richel quietly told the Earl the amount. It far exceeded the profits from the mine development rights.

Earl Welsley was so shocked he couldn’t close his mouth.

“…”

He seemed to hesitate. Richel decided to wait for his decision.

“Father, you’ll pay the fine for me, right?”

Mars’s eyes changed from despair to hope.

“…The fine is too much. Can’t you lower it?”

Surprisingly, Earl Welsley tried to bargain for his son.

“No, I can’t. I’m just following the law. Reducing the sentence is already a big concession.”

Knight Commander Patrick firmly rejected the Earl’s proposal.

The Earl’s forehead twisted in pain, and silence followed.

“Um…”

Earl Welsley opened his mouth but kept hesitating.

“Take your time. I’ll wait for hours if needed. That’s the least I can do.”

Patrick spoke in an indifferent voice.

“…From now on, I’ll consider Marion my eldest son. I leave Mars’s punishment to the Knight Commander.”

Earl Welsley closed his eyes and spoke in a resigned tone.

Everyone present turned their gaze to him at his shocking declaration.

“Are you serious?”

Patrick asked again, unable to believe it.

“…Yes.”

“Take him away.”

As soon as Earl Welsley answered, Patrick ordered.

“No, Father! Father! Please save me!”

Mars cried desperately for his father, but the Earl turned away.

“Now that it’s settled, I’ll be leaving…”

Earl Welsley bowed with a slightly trembling voice and left.

His shoulders shook as he walked away.

***

[Back to the present.]

“When I told him to pay the fine, he suddenly went silent and declared Marion his eldest son, then left. What a ridiculous family. There were rumors their other investments failed besides the mine. He abandoned his son for money. Ahaha.”

Richel laughed as if amused.

“Thank you, for stepping up for me.”

Elsia was deeply moved by Richel’s kindness and took her hands.

She could have left Mars’s fate to her father, but she was grateful Richel cared as if it were her own problem.

“I just didn’t like how he treated you. I used my authority to put him in a cell with nothing—no window, no anything. I don’t know if he’ll reflect, but I’ll visit sometimes to make sure he never threatens you again.”

Richel scratched her head, embarrassed.

* * *

After Elsia thanked Richel, Adrian also expressed his gratitude. The two exchanged smiles, gazing at each other with loving eyes.

Watching Elsia and Adrian look at each other, Richel sighed softly.

She had rushed to inform Elsia about Mars, but hadn’t expected to find her with Adrian.

It was pleasant to see two people in love come together, but Richel felt bittersweet inside.

She realized her feelings for Adrian too late. That was Richel’s mistake—she hadn’t known as a child not to act as she did.

The young girl hadn’t known that the friend she teased would grow into a dashing man.

If she’d known, she wouldn’t have teased Adrian as a child. Not knowing love, she had thought too highly of herself and teased others.

Seeing Adrian grown up, Richel deeply regretted her childhood actions.

He now exuded a mature charm and looked wonderful.

After awakening to romance, Richel found Adrian was close to her perfect ideal.

The crying boy she remembered was now flawless in family, appearance, personality, manners—nothing lacking.

She knew Adrian better than anyone and was captivated by his charm.

She wasn’t alone. At parties, many women glanced at him.

Though Adrian’s heart wasn’t directed at her, Richel tried hard to win his gaze.

She worked to become prettier, practiced graceful gestures, and discreetly dealt with women who approached him.

Until she heard those words, Richel had hoped Adrian might turn his heart to her someday. She thought the empty spot beside him would eventually be hers.

But with one request, Richel was rejected.

“Let me see Elsia. Even from a distance is fine.”

His request plunged Richel into despair. She never imagined Adrian’s heart was still with Elsia.

“I’m sorry. I don’t think I can grant your request.”

Richel made excuses about the Earl and refused Adrian.

She felt sorry for him, but couldn’t help it. With her current feelings, she couldn’t bear to see Adrian and Elsia together.

But Adrian’s persistent, pleading gaze eventually made Richel give in.