Chapter 4.29

Almost letting herself fall into his grasp, Liz snapped back to her senses.

“Ah… Fine, fine!”

Liz turned toward him and stammered with a face as red as a tomato.

“Someone I love…”

He smiled contentedly and pressed his lips against hers.  

But the kiss didn’t end there.  

Instead, his hand slipped under her blouse.  

Startled, Liz’s eyes widened.

“I-I already said it!”  

Valentine chuckled softly and pressed his lips again.

“I never said I’d stop.”

Liz clung tightly to his arm.  

“No, you can’t!”

Liz’s face flushed even redder as she stammered.

“It’s always… just me…”

Liz lowered her head deeply.  

After returning to Holt, so many things had happened, and Liz was no longer alone.  

Thankfully, Liz was in good health, though the strain she had endured during her early stages of pregnancy was concerning.  

As a result, the physician strictly recommended absolute rest until the delivery.  

Even without such advice, Valentine treated Liz like a princess of an entire kingdom.  

Whatever food she craved, music she wanted to hear, or anything she wished to see, he placed it all in her hands.  

Even the lawsuit against Archibald was to be handled by a proxy, but Liz firmly refused.

Ultimately, Liz was able to take even more rest than the physician had recommended.  

But there was one thing. It was nearly impossible to completely suppress the passion between the reunited couple.

“Of course. I mustn’t cause you any hardship, must I?”

He undid Liz’s clothes.  

Since their return to Holt, Valentine hadn’t laid a hand on Liz even once.  

Ironically, however, Liz had been in his arms countless times.

“But, ah!”

Now clad only in her skirt, Liz leaned back onto the sofa as if pushed.  

His tongue traced her neckline, savoring her soft skin.  

Red marks began to bloom along her collarbone.  

Valentine moved his lips gently but persistently.

“This… Ah, how can you say this isn’t hard…”

Liz, watching as her rounded chest disappeared into his mouth, eventually turned her head in embarrassment.  

He slowly withdrew his lips and looked up at her.

“Then, should I stop?”

Liz glared at him with an aggrieved expression.

“That’s not it! You keep… Ah, constantly…”  

“Constantly?”  

“I mean, you keep… It’s always just me…”

Unable to articulate clearly, Liz mumbled.  

But her voice, mixed with sobs and heated sighs, only served to provoke Valentine further.

‘This is why…’

He sighed deeply to himself but smiled as if nothing was wrong.

“I’m fine.”

Valentine smiled and knelt.

“You know this, don’t you? The patience of a Winchester.”

His head disappeared beneath her skirt.  

Liz finally sighed and closed her eyes.  

Her trembling hands gripped the armrest tightly.

***

Liz was sound asleep on Valentine’s bed.  

There wasn’t a single part of her body that hadn’t been touched by his hands or kissed by his tongue.  

However, thanks to the soft towel in his hands, her body was clean.

“Mm…”

A peaceful sigh escaped Liz’s lips.  

Seeing this, Valentine finally looked up at the ceiling and let out a low groan.  

The patience of a Winchester?  

He laughed bitterly.  

He had long known that such a thing was meaningless in front of Liz.

“Hah…”

It had been excruciating to hold back when her small lips called his name, or when her pale body flinched every time he wiped away the traces.  

Valentine gazed down at Liz with dazed eyes.  

He wanted nothing more than to lie atop her body, but he dared not.  

Valentine clenched and unclenched his left hand for a moment, then quietly stood up and pulled a blanket over her body.  

He let out a deep sigh and headed toward the bathroom.

Night fell over the sanatorium.  

During the medical staff’s early morning rounds, the physician entered each darkened room to record the patients’ conditions.  

The last room was the Dowager Duchess’s, where a small light was still on.  

The physician tilted her head in curiosity and entered.

‘Did someone forget to turn off the light?’

The Dowager Duchess’s condition had suddenly worsened earlier that day, prompting additional examinations.  

Perhaps someone had forgotten to turn off the light afterward.  

The physician quietly opened the door without knocking, assuming the Dowager Duchess would be asleep given the late hour.

“Ah!”

The physician gasped.  

Under the dim light, the Dowager Duchess was sitting upright in bed.  

She looked as she had long ago when her mind was still intact.

“Madam, are you all right?”

Though startled, the physician quickly regained her composure and approached the Dowager Duchess.  

The Dowager Duchess was staring intently at a newspaper on the bed.  

It was an article about the Winchester family’s trial.

“Yes… He has done it again…”

The Dowager Duchess muttered under her breath.  

The necklace she always wore around her neck was lying on the table.  

An inexplicable fury engulfed her.  

The physician swallowed nervously. Of course, it was understandable for the Dowager Duchess to be enraged after seeing an article about Archibald.

However, the Dowager Duchess’s fury was clearly beyond ordinary.  

Even the physician hesitated, unable to say more under the oppressive atmosphere.

“I have a request.”

The Dowager Duchess spoke while glaring at the newspaper in her hand. The physician unconsciously bowed her head.

“Please, go ahead.”  

“Prepare a carriage. I have somewhere to go.”  

“Right now?”  

The Dowager Duchess nodded.  

The startled physician responded.

“Madam, it’s far too late at night. At dawn tomorrow…”  

“No. It must be now.”

The Dowager Duchess spoke with a resolute expression.

“The darkest night. I must move when no one notices.”  

“But…”

The physician tried to dissuade her several more times, but the Dowager Duchess wouldn’t yield.  

Left with no choice, the physician nodded.

“I will call for a carriage. You’re heading to Winchester Manor, correct?”  

“No.”  

“Pardon? Then where are you going…?”

The Dowager Duchess’s firm reply widened the physician’s eyes.

“Not even the children must know. I am…”

Finally, the morning of the final trial arrived.  

Liz and Valentine prepared themselves and left the manor to board the carriage.  

Everything was perfectly arranged. The only concern was the Dowager Duchess.

“I’m worried about Mother…”

Since that day, the two had tried to visit the Dowager Duchess again.  

However, she continually refused their visits, claiming she wanted to rest. It was unusual.  

Although her condition was said not to have worsened, it was still a worrisome situation.

“We’ll finish this properly and visit her with good news. So let’s focus on the trial.”

Valentine reassured Liz.  

His arm was still bandaged, but the splint was gone.

“Yes. Of course.”

Valentine lightly patted Liz’s shoulder.  

Soon, the carriage stopped in front of the courthouse.  

A crowd of reporters had already gathered outside.  

Seeing this, Liz inhaled nervously.  

It was still an unfamiliar sight for her.  

Sensing her unease, Valentine stepped out of the carriage first and extended his hand toward Liz.

“It’s all right. I’ll handle it.”

He spoke calmly but firmly.  

Encouraged by his demeanor, Liz nodded.

“…Yes, Valentine.”

Liz took Valentine’s hand and stepped out of the carriage.  

The reporters quickly swarmed toward them.

“It’s the final trial. How are you feeling right now?”  

“Do you think you’ll win?”  

“What are your plans going forward…?”  

“Step back!”

The voices of reporters, guards, and security personnel buzzed around Liz’s ears.  

She instinctively shut her eyes tightly.  

At that moment, Valentine spoke.

“As you said.”

With just one sentence, everyone present fell silent.  

Valentine continued in a low voice.

“As you said, less than two hours remain until the final trial. Please write your articles after confirming the results yourselves.”

Valentine placed his arm around Liz’s shoulder and turned away.

“But…!”  

“Your Grace! Could you say more…?”  

“Duchess Winchester!”

The reporters quickly rushed toward them again.  

However, the two entered the courtroom without any further answers.

“How on earth…”

Archibald stared at the prosecutor, Valentine, and Liz with a pale face.  

Their preparation was thorough, and Archibald’s crimes were undeniable.  

The information about the alias accounts provided by Isabel, as well as evidence of smuggling, was all presented.  

The judge nodded and placed the documents on the desk.

“Who… Who did this…? All of this is false information! Please verify it again!”

Archibald shouted, but the judge’s expression remained unchanged.  

With a stern tone, the judge spoke.

“Archibald Winchester has been found guilty of selling Holt’s weapons and military information, as well as smuggling timber. He will be strictly punished for undermining the foundation of Holt’s industries.”

The judge struck the gavel and continued.

“The defendant, Archibald Winchester, is…”

At that moment, the courtroom doors creaked open.

“What is this?”  

“Who’s coming in now…?”

Standing there was an elderly gentleman with graying hair.  

Valentine murmured in disbelief.

“Viscount Gerald?”

It was an entirely unexpected figure. Liz, too, looked visibly shocked, her lips parting slightly.

“Why… Why is His Lordship here…?”

Others who recognized Gerald also began murmuring.  

Most people present were aware of the strained relationship between Gerald and Valentine over Liz’s matter.

“Could Gerald be betraying Winchester?”  

“Well, Archibald is also a Winchester, so it’s not exactly betrayal…”  

“But still…”

Ignoring the commotion, Gerald removed his hat and bowed deeply.

“Honorable Judge, I have someone I wish to bring to this trial.”

The dignified atmosphere emanating from the elderly nobleman, who had pursued a single goal his entire life, filled the courtroom.  

The murmuring audience fell silent under the weight of his presence.  

In the tense silence, Valentine forced himself to speak.

“Your Honor, the verdict has already been reached. Calling a witness at this stage is procedurally improper.”

The judge hesitated to respond.  

Archibald, too, looked flustered but quickly calculated his options.  

Knowing the relationship between Gerald and Valentine, Archibald saw Gerald’s appearance as a potential opportunity.  

Having made his decision, Archibald shouted quickly.

“The trial isn’t over yet! Preventing a witness from testifying would be the true breach of procedure!”

“But…!”

Liz clenched her fists and shouted.  

Archibald retorted sharply.

“Do you have something to hide? If not, there’s no reason to refuse a witness!”

At his words, Liz bit her lip.  

Of course, she had nothing to hide and was confident in her innocence.  

However, she couldn’t shake the feeling that Gerald’s unexpected appearance would do more harm than good.

“Hmm…”

The judge stroked his chin.  

Gerald, Archibald, Liz, and Valentine.  

After carefully observing each of their expressions, the judge finally spoke.

“…Permission granted. Bring in the witness.”

Valentine let out a low sigh. Archibald’s lips curled into a smirk, while Liz struggled to maintain a composed expression.  

Only Gerald remained expressionless.  

Gerald gave a slight nod of gratitude to the judge.  

Then, he turned toward the door and spoke.

“Please, come in.”

The sound of a wheelchair rolling into the courtroom echoed.  

Seated in the wheelchair was Valentine’s mother, the Dowager Duchess of the Winchester family.

“The Dowager Duchess Winchester!”