🔊 TTS Settings
~Chapter 40~
These days, everyone at Winter Castle really felt how up and down life could be.
It didn’t matter if you were a maid or a knight. When Lily was sad lately, they were all gloomy too—so down they even burned the jerky by accident. But in the last few days, they felt like they were flying.
“I’m so happy that our master has been sued!”
Maid Victor said it confidently.
Now, everyone finally knew Blake’s full plan.
He would handle Lily’s legal troubles and win her freedom for her.
Finally, their master’s overflowing money would be used in the most proper and just way!
They started to dream up stories as if they were bestselling authors.
“Once the lady—no, once Miss Lily is free, where do you think she’ll go?”
A maid carrying a whole tree for firewood joined in.
“How could she leave us, her lovely family?”
“Maybe she’ll want to stay in the castle?”
“Maybe she’ll live with us forever?”
“Just thinking about it makes me so happy!”
Their feelings spilled over. To show their love, they even split a huge old log in two.
Watching all this, the aide Il Dexter shook his head.
“Please calm down. You crazy people.”
Anyway, he was very busy now.
He had to work nonstop so Blake wouldn’t be found guilty.
Il Dexter stuck close to a lawyer and organized the trial preparations to report to Blake.
“To be exact, you’re being sued for kidnapping and confining Miss Lily. The letter says to return her right away and either be punished or pay damages.”
“Did you hear that? Kidnapping and confinement—whoever made that up is really trash.”
Blake joked to Lily, who was sitting across from him in the office.
Lily gave an awkward laugh, feeling both guilty and thankful.
“Oh, what a bad person I must be.”
“Here’s what you need for the trial: first, a copy of the document proving you’re Lily’s guardian. Then, all the letters Count Fox sent to bribe her. Also, records of everything you spent for Lily. That will prove she was treated as a guest, not as a kidnapped victim.”
“Sounds easy enough.”
“And…”
“It’s not over yet?”
Il Dexter hesitated, then spoke carefully.
“Miss Lily will have to be a witness at the trial. There’s no better way to prove she wasn’t kidnapped.”
This meant Count Fox would also be there—they’d have to face each other.
Blake got up from his chair in anger.
“That’s not allowed.”
“Sir, please! There’s no other way… If Lily doesn’t appear, you could be arrested right after the trial ends.”
“We’ll find another way. Leave us.”
But Lily spoke up.
“I’ll do it.”
“Really? That’s a relief.”
“Since there’s only one noble court in the capital, I guess I’ll go back there after a long time.”
The conversation flowed naturally, and only Blake was left flustered.
“Miss, do you even know where the capital is?”
“I probably know it better than you. You must have visited a lot.”
“I mean, do you know who’s there?”
“I can’t avoid seeing my ex-husband. Besides, with these accusations, I need to prove your innocence myself.”
Il Dexter nodded.
“Sir, you have to get the first step right. There’ll be more lawsuits to fight, so you have to set the tone now.”
“Don’t make it sound so simple.”
“It’s not like I want Lily to suffer! Actually, I like her a hundred, no, a thousand times more than you. Who likes a boss who just yells all the time?”
“So you don’t want a promotion, huh?”
“N-no, that’s not it… I mean, this is all for Lily.”
Il Dexter had to hide behind Lily because Blake’s glare was so scary.
Lily patted poor Il Dexter and said,
“He’s right. I already made up my mind that night. Let me help with what I can.”
Blake wanted to throw everything away and shout, “I’ll do it my way, so stay out of it!”
If Lily met her ex-husband, it would definitely be a pain.
But Blake had promised to discuss everything with Lily, so he had no choice.
Lily knew that, too.
“…You cunning woman.”
“Sorry, I’m so cunning that I didn’t even hear you grumbling, Blake.”
In the end, Lily was included in the group heading to the capital.
There were a few more spots for other servants. Unlike Lily, the Winter Castle people wanted to see Count Fox’s face for themselves.
“I need to see that guy’s face in person. How dare he hurt Lily?”
“Even monsters care about their families. They’ll die for them!”
Born and raised on this tough land, even the maids were as tough as any soldier.
“I’m going! I can walk through mud without leaving footprints. I’ll smack the back of that guy’s head and run!”
“You want a seat just to hit him on the head? I’m a trap expert—I’ll set up a trap in five minutes that even a bear would fall for.”
“I know you’re all passionate, but these things are for knights. I should go!”
As Lily’s parents promised, the trial date was set soon.
The servants spent all their time competing to see who would go. If arguing didn’t work, they weren’t afraid to fight.
Those who survived the selection finally got to ride the horses with pride. To get to the carriage, they had to go farther down the mountain.
“Let’s head out! Hyah!”
Two days before the trial, Blake, Lily, and their group set off for the capital.
“Miss Lily, would you like to try this?”
In the bumpy carriage,
One of the lucky winners was Gianna, Lily’s personal maid. She even managed to ride in the same carriage as Lily.
Maid Gianna pulled out an old but sturdy wooden basket.
It was that same jerky.
Lily had no reason to refuse, so she smiled kindly and took it.
“You need to eat well to prepare for what’s coming! Of course, we’ll protect you too.”
“Don’t worry so much. I’m not going to fight my husband in person…”
The other servants thought, “But we’re going to fight!” but said nothing, just helped Lily.
“Give me some too.”
Blake, sitting across from Lily, spoke up.
“Yes, Master!”
But, unlike how polite they were, Blake only got half a piece of jerky.
“Please eat a lot!”
“Are you kidding?”
“But… this is for Miss Lily. That’s already a lot for you…”
“I saw the whole mountain of jerky loaded onto the carriage.”
“That’s all for Miss Lily! Honestly, it’s still not enough!”
“Is she a hippo?”
A small war broke out inside the carriage. Of course, the servants knew they couldn’t beat Blake.
In the end, Blake won and stuffed a handful of jerky into his mouth.
Lily burst out laughing.
“Hehe, you’re cute.”
She didn’t look nervous. And honestly, she wasn’t. She might feel differently when she saw Count Fox, but for now, whenever she felt anxious, she just thought of the picture in her locket and calmed down.
I trust the child version of myself.
The carriage passed through the northwestern streets of the duchy. The sea was nearby, so the weather was warmer and the sun was bright.
Sunlight shone through the curtains, lighting up Lily’s eyelashes and lips.
At that moment, Blake remembered his birthday—the day he first invited Lily properly.
That day, Lily also sat across from him in the carriage. She had a trendy beige ribbon in her hair, and Blake had thought,
She’s pretty.
He accidentally said the next words out loud.
“You’re pretty.”
“Huh?”
“…The flowers, I mean.”
Just then, the carriage passed by a natural garden full of red and yellow flowers.
“You meant I’m pretty, right? I hear that a lot. Thank you.”
“You used to be more innocent and kind…”
“That’s a good topic. Since we’re at it, can you tell me the childhood stories you remember about us? I can’t remember anything, so I’m curious.”
“Well, we used to eat food like this in a carriage before, too.”
Blake’s rough voice kept going between the servants, who had fallen asleep from exhaustion.
“Back then…”
As old stories came out, the carriage arrived at Aquaouz station.
They planned to rest for a night and then take the train, and a festival was being held in Aquaouz right at that time.
