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Chapter 31
“I swear by the Goddess Vanasa that I never said I was impotent on our first night.”
A murmur swept through the courtroom. Only after the gavel struck again did silence return. Irriot slowly began to speak.
“Marchioness Radian told me, in tears, on our wedding night that she was afraid of physical relations. Having grown up without a mother, it seemed she had received incorrect sex education from a maid. I found her both adorable and pitiful, so I suggested that we begin our marital relationship only after we were both prepared.”
Radian was dumbfounded by the shameless lie.
Since he could not refute her virginity, he was now claiming that their lack of intimacy had been her own choice. Acting like a kind and considerate husband, he seemed intent on portraying her as the one committing perjury so that the divorce case would be dismissed.
“However, after the tragic accident that claimed the lives of her father and brother, my wife fell into deep grief. I did not want to become a beast who would force himself upon a woman crying that she felt alone in the world. A year passed that way, and just as her wounds seemed to be healing, I was looking for the right time to bring up the matter again. I find it very difficult to understand why my beloved wife has chosen to do this.”
Pretending to be the perfect gentleman, he even squeezed out a few tears.
The spectators were becoming confused.
“What’s the truth?”
“I have no idea.”
“I knew it the moment that woman started flaunting herself just because she had a pretty face. She must be a spy from an enemy nation trying to disgrace the ducal house!”
“I’m going to wait until the end before deciding. There’s no evidence yet.”
“Look at his face. Does that look like the face of a man lying about loving his wife? Even from here I can feel how heartbroken he is…”
“She definitely seems like a sly fox. Hah. She’s completely played us for fools!”
Judging by the voices, it seemed he had even planted people among the observers to steer public opinion.
The tide was now turning against Radian.
“The Marchioness has proven her virginity by agreeing to the holy-water blood test. How does Marquis Irriot intend to prove his claims?”
“I brought this with me in case something like this happened, though submitting it fills me with misery. I present a recording crystal that can prove my innocence. I ask that only Your Honor view it.”
With trembling hands, Irriot passed the recording orb to his lawyer.
The lawyer looked at him sympathetically before carrying the orb to the judge.
Adjusting his monocle, the judge activated the recording crystal.
“Ah… ahhh—!”
An embarrassingly intimate moan echoed through the sacred courtroom.
A silence heavier than any verdict followed.
“I will review this in a private room. We will also take a ten-minute recess.”
The judge left the courtroom with heavy steps.
But once the atmosphere had frozen over, it was impossible to restore.
Amid the painfully awkward silence, Irriot wore the expression of a lamb laid upon an altar.
The evidence had only been shown briefly, but it appeared to be a video of Irriot satisfying his own desires alone.
Honestly, Radian had never expected him to go this far.
The prolonged battle of arguments was giving her a headache. She pressed her temples firmly.
The stares directed at her were painful, but she endured them silently.
After what felt like an eternity, the judge returned to his seat, cooling his reddened cheeks with the back of his hand.
“Ahem. The court accepts Irriot Scanan’s submitted evidence.”
After clearing his throat, he looked toward Radian.
“Since Marquis Irriot has submitted evidence, it is only appropriate that Marchioness Radian submit hers as well. What do you say?”
He was asking whether she could prove her virginity in front of the entire courtroom.
Ignoring the curious gazes around her, Radian nodded.
“…Yes. I can.”
During the ten-minute recess, a priest who had apparently been waiting brought holy water and a needle and placed them before her.
The holy water inside the glass was so clear and transparent that Radian could see her reflection in it.
As she picked up the needle, the slight vibration caused ripples to spread through the water, distorting her face.
Holding the needle, she pricked the tip of her ring finger.
A sharp sting flashed through her fingertip, and soon a round droplet of blood formed.
In the silence of the courtroom, Radian raised her finger over the glass.
Drip.
Unable to resist gravity, the droplet fell into the holy water.
Red spread through the crystal-clear liquid.
If the body was pure, the water would turn blue.
Everyone held their breath and waited.
One second.
Two seconds.
Three seconds.
The water remained red.
Radian bit her lip in anxiety.
Then—
“…Ooooooh!”
The water slowly began turning blue.
Several seconds later, it had become a vivid azure, as though no drop of blood had ever fallen into it.
Radian lifted her head and looked at the judge.
Wearing an unpleasant expression, he declared:
“The court recognizes Radian Scanan’s virginity.”
A small cheer rose from the crowd.
Radian let out a sigh of relief.
As she glanced around, she noticed several familiar faces among the strangers.
Wendy, clutching her hands tightly.
Michael, Shan, and Sylvia watching her attentively.
Duke Aite.
Marquis Jinadion.
And near those familiar people was a pair of curious red eyes.
…Vian?
Unable to believe her eyes, Radian rubbed them.
He was disguised, but how common were red hair and golden eyes?
What was he doing here?
Radian stared at Abinian in disbelief.
Delighted that their eyes had met, he flashed her a bright smile.
‘Why are you here?’
‘You’re beautiful today, too.’
The absurd response nearly made her legs give out.
She staggered slightly.
Looking concerned, he gestured subtly toward her side.
What?
Narrowing her eyes, Radian tried to interpret his meaning.
This time he smiled awkwardly.
“…Dian. Marchioness Radian Scanan?”
“Yes?”
Good heavens—even her voice cracked.
Her cheeks turned red, matching Vian’s hair.
Apparently, the judge had been calling her repeatedly.
Embarrassed, she straightened her posture again.
The judge did not bother hiding his irritation.
“Please pay attention. This is a sacred court.”
“Yes, understood.”
“Even if you were merely the daughter of a baron and received little education, you have spent a year as the Marchioness of House Scanan. You should conduct yourself with dignity.”
“Yes. My apologies.”
Radian bit her lip.
Even after her straightforward apology, the judge continued grumbling.
Most of it amounted to criticism of her.
Was he really going to make it this obvious that he had been bribed?
The thought was so ridiculous that she almost laughed.
At that moment, Irriot’s lawyer brought another recording crystal to the judge.
“Can this one be viewed here?”
Recalling the earlier incident, the judge asked jokingly.
Laughter erupted from the gallery.
The lawyer smiled calmly and nodded.
“Yes, of course. It clearly reveals the true nature of the Marchioness.”
The lawyer’s confidence made Radian frown.
What kind of evidence was he so sure about?
The judge connected the recording crystal to the courtroom’s large display screen.
Curious and malicious eyes alike fixed themselves upon it.
On the screen, Radian was walking through the rain with someone.
“Isn’t that the Marchioness?”
“…I think so… but who’s that man?”
The murmuring voices sounded distant.
Her head suddenly spun.
Others might not recognize him, but Radian could see clearly who it was.
It was the day she had gone to have her dress made—the day she had walked beneath an umbrella with Michael.
Who could have imagined someone would secretly record that?
Swaying, Radian leaned against the table.
She had expected countless headaches from this trial.
At least she had eaten a solid meal beforehand.
“Good heavens, Radian. Was that man the reason you wanted a divorce?”
Even though everything had already been discussed, Irriot looked utterly shocked, as if he knew nothing.
But behind those blinking eyes, she was certain triumph lurked.
“The Marchioness has been using her virginity as a weapon while carrying on a romance with another man. She has deceived everyone.”
“It’s a misunderstanding. I can explain—”
“A misunderstanding? Ha! I expected you to say that, which is why we brought a witness.”
Cutting her off, the lawyer called the witness.
At that moment, Marquis Jinadion rose from the witness stand once more.
Wearing a sorrowful expression, he faced the judge.
“Your Honor, a few days ago I happened to witness the Marchioness’s affair. Recently I realized that the reason she disregards her family members and fails to respect her husband is because of this man. Therefore, I used a recording crystal to preserve evidence. As you have seen, they appeared very affectionate together…”
He paused briefly before continuing in a trembling voice.
“I personally witnessed them sharing a passionate kiss.”
“How disgraceful!”
“The shameless woman!”
It was a blatant lie.
Radian stared coldly at Marquis Jinadion.
She and Michael had never even come close to kissing.
“…Though it was not captured in the recording crystal.”
Jinadion added the final part in a tiny voice.
But no one paid attention.
The video ended.
The lawyer retrieved the crystal and held it up toward the spectators.
“As you can see, this recording crystal was manufactured by House Scanan. Recording crystals made with genuine Scanan mana stones cannot be edited or tampered with.”
The golden crest of House Scanan gleamed upon its surface.
“Plaintiff—or should I say defendant now? Does the Marchioness have anything to say?”
At the judge’s openly mocking question, Radian glared at him.
