HEAD 49

~Chapter 49~

The judge, looking completely exhausted, asked:

“What is it?”

“I am Gavin, the butler who has worked at the Fox estate for 13 years.”

The butler, suddenly appearing, looked around at everyone.

No one knew why he was there.

Gentlemen in the audience with pocket watches, ladies in the latest puff-sleeved fashion—all had puzzled faces.

Even Count Fox, his own master, was no different. Maybe he thought the butler was just there to pick him up…

“Your Honor… I have brought evidence… for the sake of justice.”

The audience began to buzz loudly.

It was always these dramatic moments that completely changed a trial.

The butler was not a good person. He hadn’t cared much when Lily was falling apart during her marriage, just like the other servants.

But the year after Lily ran away had been horrible. Count Fox’s temper grew worse and the servants suffered nonstop.

The butler had only one reason for coming now: he really just wanted to see Count Fox “get what he deserved.”

“This is the divorce paper the lady left behind before she ran away!”

Everyone in the courtroom was shocked.

Count Fox, who had been sitting with his mouth hanging open, pointed at the butler.

“You little rat! You said you burned that…!”

He realized he had spoken too much and closed his mouth—but everyone had already heard it.

“Wait, there was a divorce paper?”

“He said she was just confused…”

“He burned it and tried to make her look insane?”

The courtroom grew even louder.

By now, the divorce paper was in the judge’s hands.

This was not just any piece of paper.

It was proof that Lily really had left a divorce paper behind.

If it was real, all the lies about Lily being crazy would lose their power.

It would prove Lily was telling the truth.

• It was Count Fox who drank the alcohol.

• He was the one who hit her.

• Lily had chosen to go to Blake on her own.

“We will have to examine if this is real, but for now, this is valid evidence. Thank you for helping justice.”

Judge Quamir was famous for being fair—a man who judged many noble disputes and was related to the current emperor.

He wasn’t swayed by bribes or threats, and always decided by his own beliefs.

“Even though I already hit the gavel, I think my ruling must change.”

The courtroom was still loud as the judge spoke sternly.

“Just in case, the duke and Lady Fox should still be separated. But I see no reason to keep the duke locked up.”

From across the room, Lily and Blake met each other’s eyes.

“Let’s meet again in three days. Good work, everyone.”

The result was finally out.

Count Fox looked like he had just watched the end of the world. He just stood there, not moving from his podium.

The audience was thrilled and hurried out to spread today’s story.

Blake walked over to Lily.

He’d had a bad feeling, like maybe he’d never see her again—but now things had worked out so well!

“You should stay at the hotel with the others. I’ll find my own place to sleep.”

“Of course! You can’t leave a lady without a place to stay.”

“If you can joke, I guess you’re back to your old self.”

Now, they could say goodbye without any worries.

Lily hugged Blake.

“Don’t ever do anything so dangerous again. Promise me.”

“All right.”

“You have to stay safe for the next three days. Promise again.”

“I’m not a kid…”

“Don’t babble.”

Blake hugged her even tighter.

And he thought,

Yes, I just have to stay safe for three days. How hard can that be?

After letting her go, he glanced at Count Fox, still standing like a statue, then left the courtroom.

The audience was still talking with excitement.

“What a twist! I can talk about this a hundred times! Not since that incident ten years ago, when a count gave his wife’s necklace to his mistress and then got shot by his wife’s lover!”

“Didn’t Lady Fox even look beautiful when she cried?”

As they reached the main entrance, people went quiet seeing Blake.

“Anyway, it’s true she fell for that man, right?”

“How else can you explain it? Count Fox has lost everything.”

“I invested in his business… damn, I’d better get my money out.”

News of this dramatic day at court spread quickly through the capital.

Even coach drivers hoping for fancy customers were waiting nearby, so Blake easily found a ride.

“Yes, sir, I’ll bring the carriage right away.”

The driver ran off to the back.

Blake waited at the center, where the white columns stood in perfect symmetry. People made way for him, like parting the Red Sea.

He waited for a long time.

The sky turned red. Soon, there was no one left around.

Blake, still waiting patiently, finally realized something was wrong.

He was annoyed.

Should I just walk? But he decided to check the back, just in case.

This only made him more annoyed—there were only marks left by the carriages that had been there.

Then, to make it worse, he started to hear faint gunshots. It sounded like training at the royal drill grounds nearby.

So that’s what the soldier with the rifles was for…
With all the weapons and guards at the court, it seemed like a big drill.

Now his head was starting to hurt, on top of his annoyance.

Blake tried to stay calm, running his hand through his black hair.

“Stupid barbarian…”

Count Fox appeared, crying.

He was going to lose the lawsuit, and now everyone knew he’d lied. His social life was finished.

He always loved bragging to others, but now that was gone forever.

He looked years older than before.

He dragged his feet, looking pitiful.

Blake warned him.

“I can’t let it go like before. You’d better leave.”

Blake remembered the fight in Aquaouz.

There had been noise and trouble, but he’d controlled himself, even if he’d beaten up the guy.

So I can hold it in now, too.

His blood was pumping, and he wanted to destroy everything, but he tried his best to hold back.

Until Count Fox spoke again.

“So, you must have done something with Lily, living under the same roof! That filthy woman… I treated her well! How could she do this to me? She’ll be punished by heaven!”

“You know what?”

“What?”

“The one with the mental problem isn’t her—it’s me. Sorry to disappoint you.”

And then his memory went black.

When he woke up, he was in a jail cell.

Across the bars, Lily was standing with a look of disbelief.

“Didn’t you promise not to do anything dangerous?”

“I did.”

“Didn’t you promise to stay safe for three days?”

“Did I…?”

“How many hours has it even been since we promised?”

Blake just shrugged awkwardly.

He remembered a little—he didn’t think he’d killed Count Fox, at least. That was good.

“I really like you, Blake.”

Her sudden words made Blake’s heart flutter for a moment.

But though Lily was smiling, there was something a little scary about her.

“You never keep promises, you act on your own, and you say things you don’t mean, but I still like you.”

“Okay, it’s my fault.”

“You always say that just to get out of trouble, but I still like you.”

“It wasn’t my fault—soldiers were training nearby, you know how loud it gets…”

“War trauma, right?”

Lily sighed.

Her husband was now in the hospital, with at least one or two new injuries.

The good news was that there were witnesses who saw it was the count who started the fight.

Just then, the judge was walking past after work.

“By law, you’ll have to stay here for a day or two for the assault charge. That’s fine—it means you won’t have to find a place to stay before the trial resumes.”

“You don’t look happy about it…”

“Why not? I paid the jailer, Mr. Cotton, a lot of money for you. He’ll treat you well.”

The jailer waved, holding his drink.

“Too much money to say no, ha ha!”

“Gianna paid with your money. The city jail is usually dirty, but soon they’ll bring you a new blanket.”

“Of course, money is best!”

“You’ll get a new court date for the assault, but that’s for later. For now, goodbye, Mr. Violent. We shouldn’t stay together too long.”

Blake felt like if he didn’t call out to Lily now, he’d regret it later.

“Miss! Miss!”

He called out urgently as she turned to go.