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~Chapter 48~
‘Neighbors’ was a word for people whose opinions were relevant to the case—a term used in trials for about 48 years.
It meant people close to the plaintiff or defendant, chosen to show both sides were being truthful.
At this trial, only Count Fox’s “neighbors” were called. Blake ignored the tradition.
They began to speak.
“Your Honor, I have a statement.”
“State your name.”
“Count Redrim. I’m Count Fox’s business partner and I’ve known the couple since they got married.”
“What is your statement?”
“To tell the truth, the lady has mental problems.”
Lily looked shocked.
“My mind, what?”
“She is not in her right mind. She’s always drunk, and mixes up dreams and reality—a pitiful woman. Her words shouldn’t count for anything.”
Lily was sure now—the neighbors were her husband’s secret weapon. Or, more likely, her own parents’ plan.
People in the audience murmured.
“Is that true?”
“She doesn’t look like an alcoholic…”
Count Redrim kept going.
“She must have been depressed after the wedding. She was used to being the center of attention, so she started drinking. Count Fox tried to help, but nothing worked. Here are the receipts for the whiskey she ordered every month.”
Lily argued back.
“Those are just the servants restocking the drinks my husband finished. They were in my name because I was the lady of the house. Every time he got drunk, he used violence against me.”
“See? She only says strange things. That’s why she didn’t leave the house for a year—she’s dangerous to others, or at least likely to slander someone.”
“That’s because my husband never let me go out!”
Count Redrim only shrugged, as if Lily’s words were just more proof.
Lily tried again.
“…Fine, say I do have problems and can’t see the truth. Even so, I left because I wanted a divorce. Even if I were crazy, this lawsuit would be pointless—unless this is a trial about my mental state!”
“Surprisingly, it is important. The duke kidnapped her and brainwashed her. The people in his lands probably admired her, and he tricked her with sweet words. She just wanted attention and fell for it. She might even say she left a divorce paper behind.”
Other neighbors nodded.
The judge pressed his lips, thinking it all sounded reasonable.
“The divorce papers are real! I saw the news—someone gave anonymous evidence!”
“You only think it’s true because you read an article.”
Count Fox agreed right away.
“There’s no such thing, my love. Please, come to your senses!”
Lily was bitter. No matter what she said, they’d always have fake evidence.
Father… this is your doing, isn’t it? I can never beat you—not even when you’re not here.
Now, she was an alcoholic, insane, and a helpless woman bewitched by Blake.
She never thought her parents would ruin their daughter’s reputation so openly.
All she needed was to prove just one lie—how?
She remembered something.
There was proof it was Count Fox who drank: he got drunk and used violence, leaving marks still on Lily’s body.
But she couldn’t show her body in public. That was why Count Fox was so confident—if she undressed in court, she’d never be welcomed in society again.
For nobles, dignity was more important than life.
“On my body… on my body…”
Lily’s voice shook as she looked at Blake.
He was busy talking to the lawyer, but still noticed her right away.
Blake’s eyes asked, No… Don’t!
But Lily shook her head.
She had to forget the dignity she’d learned all her life.
Of course. She couldn’t let Blake lose. If he did, Count Fox would decide what happened to him.
“I’ll say it clearly. Everything they said is a lie. It was my husband who drank and used violence every time he got drunk.”
“She’s not in her right mind.”
“I have proof. There are wounds on my body—I can prove domestic violence.”
Lily began to take off her shawl.
It was a horrible feeling. She imagined what would happen once she let her clothes go.
Her head spun.
But… but…
She had to do it, didn’t she?
At that moment—
Blake suddenly stood up at the podium.
“Stop.”
“Defendant, return to your seat.”
“Let’s delay the trial for a few days. We need time to regroup.”
Count Fox protested.
“Then Lily should be in our protection! Who knows how that man might brainwash her again?”
But Blake’s fierce glare made him stop.
“She’ll go wherever she wants. I’ll be the one in custody until then. Is that enough?”
It was the only choice.
They couldn’t keep going, but he also couldn’t let Lily undress in court. He couldn’t let her go, either.
He had to give up something.
If it was himself, so be it.
The judge asked, “Do you all agree?”
Count Fox’s side liked the idea—if Blake was locked up, society would turn against him.
“Fine! Let’s do that!”
Blake knew he’d made a bad move.
They were perfectly prepared. If he was locked up, he couldn’t fight back.
He might really be found guilty.
Lily also realized this and came down from the witness stand toward Blake.
Even when others said it wasn’t allowed, she didn’t care.
“Blake…”
No, no…
But strangely, the words wouldn’t come. Her throat closed up.
Lily realized—
She had also chosen Blake’s imprisonment, just because she couldn’t bear to undress in front of everyone. She was about to abandon her savior.
How could I be such a terrible person?
Tears full of self-loathing ran down her cheeks.
“Why am I like this?”
“It’s all right.”
The courtroom started to clear out for the recess.
Officials came for Lily.
“You have to leave now.”
“Wait, wait! I still have something to say to Blake…”
It was the same officials who gave them five minutes before.
While no one was looking, Blake spoke quickly.
“Listen. Don’t stay alone. As soon as you get out, find the servants and stick with them. Tell everything to Il Dexter—he’ll find another way.”
“No, no, Blake. This is all wrong. I could still go back out there and—”
A higher-up scolded the officials for not moving fast enough.
They gently pulled Lily away.
She left, still crying, her lips trembling and vision blurry.
“Not like this. Please. Wait, Blake. Blake…”
As Blake watched Lily taken away, he thought of his childhood.
He’d grown up from the boy who always felt powerless.
I couldn’t even protect a little girl, but at least I’m different now.
If that boy could see him now, he’d say—
That’s enough. You did well.
“Uh, Duke?”
The guards called to Blake, unsure how to arrest him.
“Sorry, but can we take you to jail now?”
“Wow, we’re being way too polite…”
“You do it, then. I bet everyone would be fine with that.”
The audience didn’t want to leave.
“Let us stay a bit longer!”
“If I see the end, I’ll have so much to talk about! It was so hard to get in here—my club friends are waiting for my story!”
The judge was supposed to be last to leave, but didn’t want to wait for hours.
As he tried to leave, someone suddenly burst in through the side door—the passage only for those involved in the case.
Every eye turned to him.
“Uh, um…”
Lily recognized his face—it was the butler from Count Fox’s house.
Her arms were held by guards, but she wiped away tears and looked at him.
