Theodore finished his recollection and looked at Riemann. Then he opened his desk drawer and pulled out the envelope Gillian had left behind, placing it on top.

“You covered up your s*xual ass*ult record with bribes.”

Riemann’s eyes widened.

“That’s…!”

It was something he’d settled with the victim by paying a large sum in exchange for keeping it secret, so it wouldn’t have been recorded in internal police reports. 

He couldn’t understand how Theodore knew about it. Even with Theodore’s money, the police leadership sided with traditional nobles, not commoners.

“That’s what?”

Theodore’s eyes were murderous while he waited for an answer, chin propped on his hand. But Riemann lifted his head calmly.

“That’s a lie.”

The story must have leaked from somewhere, but he could still salvage the situation.

Theodore stroked his chin thoughtfully for a moment, then smiled.

“You underestimate the power of money.”

He seemed not to fully grasp what money could accomplish, even though he’d used money to cover up the incident himself. He probably believed his family’s power as nobles had more influence with the police than money.

Actually, Theodore wanted to see Riemann’s attitude. How would he react when faced with clear evidence?

Suddenly his smile froze and his eyes flashed.

“You lie without batting an eye? Get out of our lives.”

Riemann’s eyes bulged. As a noble who had never experienced contempt from anyone in his life, he momentarily doubted his own ears.

“How dare you do such a thing…”

Then Theodore pulled a photograph from the document envelope and turned it forward. It was the photo Gillian had taken in the cabin. Riemann n*ked and tied up in a pathetic state. 

Even his member, hanging limply between his kneeling legs and looking particularly shrunken and smaller due to the circumstances when the photo was taken, was clearly visible. Riemann’s cheeks trembled as he looked at it.

Theodore tapped the photo with his fingertip.

“Think carefully. No father would want to marry his daughter to a man with such hobbies.”

That meant this photo could be revealed to others.

“Neither would I.”

Riemann shot up from his seat.

“That b*stard forced me…!”

“Right. What’s important is how you ended up in the situation where this photo was taken. That park caretaker said he didn’t know exactly what you did when you brought women there, only suspected, but combined with testimony from the women you brought, it would make pretty credible evidence.”

Riemann was so furious his neck muscles strained. The park caretaker had probably said he ‘only suspected’ to avoid retaliation, but that made him even angrier. After taking all that money.

Theodore stroked his chin.

“But that only matters to me. Do you think people will care about the truth? What matters is that such a photo exists.”

Riemann trembled like he might commit violence at any moment, then spun around violently enough to create wind and stormed out of the room.

Bang!

Excitement filled his head as he snorted like a wild boar on his way out, when he spotted warm light streaming from the main building’s windows. Riemann’s clenched teeth made a grinding sound like breaking bones.

Riemann immediately turned his steps that way. Having visited Ulrich Mansion many times as the fiancé, he knew well that crossing the garden led to the main building.

Entering through the main building’s back door, he heard soft music playing. The sounds of people talking quietly, laughing, and the excited atmosphere approached him like warm air.

Heading toward the hall, he ran right into Gillian standing at the crossroads.

Gillian looked like he was about to make an ‘oh’ sound upon seeing Riemann. At that moment, Riemann’s suppressed rage exploded.

“You, you…!”

Riemann roared like a beast and lunged at Gillian, grabbing his collar.

“You b*stard! Reveal your identity!”

Andrea, who had been talking to someone else and saw this, was startled. She couldn’t react in time, but knowing the inside story, she clearly saw what happened next. 

The moment Riemann reached out, Gillian’s eyes sharpened, then he slightly moved out of Riemann’s arm’s reach and deliberately fell.

“Kyaah!”

Gillian cried out shrilly as he fell.

Everyone was still unable to react to the sudden incident when Jerome’s sword tip shot forward at tremendous speed, aimed straight at Riemann’s chin.

“Don’t move.”

Only then did the women let out small screams. Some couldn’t hide their admiration for Jerome’s skillful technique.

“What is the meaning of this?”

Jerome asked coldly. Unable to move because of the sword pointed at him, Riemann pointed at the fallen Gillian and raged.

“This b*stard’s a man! A man! A cross-dressing pervert!”

Meanwhile, Gillian looked at him pitifully with glistening eyes while lying fallen.

“Lieutenant Flogel, what on earth are you saying?”

“We can verify it right now! Everyone look closely!”

Riemann tried to step forward, but Jerome immediately thrust his sword closer.

“Take one more step and I’ll cut you. I’m serious.”

People stirred at the explosive atmosphere that seemed ready to turn bloody. Andrea finally snapped to attention and tried to step forward, but a middle-aged noblewoman nearby moved first.

“There must be a reason why someone of your standing would make such claims. If it’s not too rude, may we verify this?”

When someone appeared to help, Riemann shouted gladly.

“Yes! Prove it if you’re innocent!”

Having seen it himself, Riemann could only anticipate revealing this b*stard’s true nature to the world and having people pour out looks of disgust and contempt.

Gillian covered his mouth and burst into tears.

“Heavens, how can you make such absurd accusations? I’ve been teased since childhood because of my height and build, but to face such slander… I truly have no face to show my deceased husband.”

“……???”

Even Andrea couldn’t keep up with such a stormy performance.

‘Wh-what are you trying to do going this far…?’

If people really demanded to verify, there would be no way to escape, which worried her greatly.

Meanwhile, Jerome looked down at Gillian, unable to hide his incredulous expression (internally).

‘Shouldn’t you have just become an actor?’

Riemann ran his hand through his hair in disbelief.

“Ha, look at this b*stard acting.”

As the atmosphere intensified, the noblewoman who had stepped forward earlier said kindly:

“Since you have nothing to hide, just let us verify quickly and this will be resolved immediately. Don’t worry. You only need to show me briefly.”

“Who are you to be trusted! Verify it here!”

Riemann raged. Then the noblewoman’s cold gaze turned toward him.

“No matter how wronged you feel, maintain your manners. Does this place look like a back alley where ruffians roam?”

The dignified tone brought Riemann somewhat to his senses. He hadn’t noticed until now, but the middle-aged woman before him was the Marchioness of Biconti.

He quickly showed proper courtesy and greeted her.

“My apologies, Marchioness Biconti. I was too flustered to recognize you immediately. Please forgive my rudeness.”

Even though she had been widowed from the Marquis for quite some time, she was a noble of entirely different caliber. He never imagined such an important figure would attend Ulrich’s party.

Then Theodore finally emerged from his study and approached.

“What’s happening?”

While someone explained the situation, Riemann said to the Marchioness Biconti:

“I apologize, but if we prove this perverted… swindler’s identity in front of everyone, you’ll all understand.”

“But if your claims prove false, how will you handle the aftermath?”

Rather than taking Gillian’s side, it was an extremely practical observation. Riemann bowed his head slightly with pretended politeness and smiled coldly.

“That won’t happen.”

Then another lady asked in disbelief:

“Are you seriously asking us to expose a lady’s body in front of everyone?”

Looking at Riemann, who seemed unaware of how shameful it was to suggest undressing a lady who wouldn’t even readily show her wrists or ankles, the women looked like they wanted to wash their ears clean of hearing such words. Meanwhile, Gillian swallowed tears with an utterly pitiful appearance.

“Please just tell me to die instead. I’d rather jump into the river to prove my innocence.”

When she, famous for her beauty, trembled like a single flower before a storm, the hearts of those already sensitive to aesthetics couldn’t help but be moved.

Seeing people whispering among themselves, Riemann realized even this was going too far. If Jerome weren’t there, he’d forcibly remove the clothes despite the aftermath, but he stepped back before the atmosphere turned more against him.

“Then I’ll ask the Marchioness Biconti.”

A prominent social figure like the Marchioness Biconti wouldn’t side with a cross-dressing perverted swindler.

“Lady Priscilla, would this be alright for a moment?”

The Marchioness Biconti spoke kindly to Gillian. Gillian looked at her briefly, then nodded slightly while covering his mouth.

“If you insist…”

Andrea was shocked.

‘You’re going to let them verify?’

When the Marchioness Biconti gestured, two young ladies supported Gillian. Then the Marchioness Biconti looked around at the gathering and said:

“This won’t take long, so please continue enjoying the party.”

“Everyone, please come this way.”

Theodore was already leading people elsewhere to manage the situation. When Andrea tried to follow the Marchioness Biconti’s group, the Marchioness slightly raised her hand to stop her.

“Miss, please wait here.”

“But…”

It wasn’t easy to go against the words of a Marchioness who had honored them with her presence, especially as the host’s daughter, but she was worried about Gillian. Then Gillian smiled faintly.

“It’s alright, Andrea.”

Then he signaled to Jerome.

“Jerome. Please look after the young lady.”

He was asking Jerome to protect Andrea in case Riemann tried to harm her while he was away.

Jerome nodded resolutely. Then Gillian disappeared into a room with the three women surrounding him.

Soon Jerome, who had withdrawn his sword from Riemann’s throat, glared fiercely.

“Riemann Flogel. Langley will not forget this insult.”

Then he extended his palm to guide Andrea.

“Miss, let’s go over there.”

Since staying here would likely mean hearing nothing good from Riemann, she followed his suggestion. But Andrea couldn’t hide her anxious gaze.

Watching the two people move away, Riemann snorted. Soon it would be that b*stard and his damned master who’d be dragged out.

***

Click.

When the door closed, the Marchioness Biconti said:

“You handle things quite noisily.”

The two women who had supported Gillian here bowed their heads and stepped back, while Gillian turned around. His moist eyes were completely dry.

“Young master.”

Gillian shrugged and spoke in his original voice.

“That b*stard can’t be allowed to spout nonsense.”

He needed to create a situation where people wouldn’t believe anything Riemann said. He hadn’t acted without thinking it through.

Of course, for Andrea’s honor as Riemann’s former fiancée, he hadn’t wanted Riemann to go this far. Even though he could shift the blame for breaking the engagement to the other side, he didn’t want Andrea’s name dragged through gossip. But ultimately, Riemann had revealed his true nature.

“She’s a lovely young lady.”

The Marchioness Biconti said with her hands still folded and an expressionless face. Gillian said out of concern:

“Don’t look down on her for being a commoner.”

“Change is necessary. Having a commoner wife would actually make the emerging classes accept you more flexibly, young master.”

Gillian chuckled.

“You haven’t changed, Bella.”