I Married a Sick Husband - Chapter 39

“What do you mean?”

 

“When I was young, when the Duchess was in a bad mood, she used to play with a fan.”

 

“Playing with a fan? I don’t quite understand…”

 

“It was not quite difficult. I was always on the losing side, and she was always on the winning side.”

 

The meaning of those words was clear.

 

The people who realised the meaning, looked at the Duchess of Schwartz with astonished faces.

 

The Duchess Schwartz’s face was distorted.

 

“I think you misinterpreted my intention. I was just going to give you something you like as a gift….”

 

Meredith turned to Duchess Schwartz.

 

She was biting her lips so hard that it was bleeding and staring at Meredith as if she was going to kill her.

 

‘…As expected, people don’t change.’

 

Meredith laughed silently and concluded.

 

“You must have thought I was messing with the duchess.”

 

“…….”

 

“I thought you forgot everything about that time.”

 

“I… I don’t know if I understand correctly, Your Majesty.”

 

Felix asked Meredith with a puzzled look on his face.

 

“So, Duchess Schwartz abused you as a child…… Are you saying that you’ve been victimised?”

 

“……Abuse.”

 

Meredith now turned into a smileless face, and only moved her lips to answer.

 

“That’s probably the right way to term it.”

 

As soon as Meredith said her words, the nobles sitting in the audience roared loudly.

 

“No way!”

 

At the same time, a scream was heard.

 

“My mother has never abused Her Majesty. It’s a setup!”

 

It was Catarina.

 

She asked Meredith in a shrill voice.

 

“Why are you lying? Did you hate mother that much?”

 

“…… Are you saying I’m lying?”

 

“Yes! Even though my mother is a sinner now, you cannot accuse her of a crime she does not have!”

 

“A crime she does not have… … .”

 

Meredith pulled a word out of Catarina’s words, muttered quietly, then looked at Duchess Schwartz.

 

The Duchess of Schwartz flinched and shuddered at the sudden gaze.

 

Before long, Meredith’s thick lips opened.

 

“Answer me, Duchess Schwartz.”

 

“… … .”

 

“Am I lying?”

 

With that question, Meredith looked straight at the Duchess of Schwartz.

 

Her eyes were so sharp and clear that no one could tell a lie in front of her.

 

“Was there any harassment that I faced as a child?”

 

“……”

 

“Answer me, Duchess of Schwartz.”

 

“Yo-….”

 

“Wait a minute.”

 

Then, someone broke the tense atmosphere.

 

Everyone’s eyes, including Meredith’s, turned to the person who stopped the situation.

 

A woman in a black veil rose from her seat and slowly removed her veil.

 

“How about taking a break for a while, Your Majesty the Emperor?”

 

It was Empress Dowager Blair.

 

Everyone, including Meredith, was taken aback by her unexpected persona.

 

“Why, Her Highness, Empress Dowager?”

 

Theodore seemed not to be taken aback.

 

His face was so expressionless that no one could know the truth.

 

“It hasn’t been that long since I started.”

 

“Of course. But the trial has entered a new phase, right?”

 

Blair grinned and brought up her own reasons.

 

“I think the Duchess of Schwartz also needs some time to relive her memory. If it’s something that happened when Her Majesty was young, it’s been quite some time since then.”

 

“…..”

 

“Isn’t that so, Her Majesty?”

 

Meredith looked at Blair with a puzzled look for a moment, then moved her gaze to Theodore.

 

‘Do as you please.’

 

He seemed to be saying that with his eyes.

 

“…..”

 

Meredith thought for a moment before opening her mouth.

 

“Would 10 minutes be enough?”

 

“It is more than necessary.”

 

Blair nodded, still smiling.

 

***

 

Meredith was visited by an unexpected person as much as an unexpected recess.

 

“Dear, won’t you give me five minutes?”

 

At Blair’s cordial request, Meredith nodded her head.

 

And moved her seat with Blair.

 

To a lonely place where no one comes.

 

“I didn’t know mother would come this far.”

 

Meredith’s surprised emotions were revealed without any filter.

 

“It doesn’t look so nice.”

 

“You should come. It is an important position.”

 

Blair said in a voice that it was natural.

 

“It’s a place to punish those who dare to insult you.”

 

“… … .”

 

“I did guess that you grew up being treated badly… … I didn’t know you would have been abused.”

 

Blair narrowed her brows slightly and slowly raised her hand.

 

Then, after carefully wrapping her arms around Meredith’s shoulder, she patted her.

 

Meredith looked at Blair in shock at the unexpected action.

 

“…What a pity.”

 

“….”

 

“How could they even do that?”

 

“Yes?”

 

“I have a request.”

 

Meredith looked at Blair with puzzled eyes.

 

But deep down, I could guess what she was going to say.

 

“Do me a favour.”

 

“Mother, that… … .”

 

“I will give you a present instead.”

 

“What…”

 

“I am sure you will be satisfied. I can promise you.”

 

Blair asked, making eye contact with Meredith.

 

“Isn’t this mother’s first request? Won’t you listen?”

 

“……”

 

“It’s fine as long as it’s not the death penalty. Exile would be good.”

 

“… If mother wants it.”

 

Meredith nodded and opened her mouth.

 

“I will listen to mother’s wishes.”

 

Anyway, the punishment Meredith wanted was exile.

 

But she came forward and asked for a favour, and I don’t know what it was, but she even gave me a present.

 

‘There’s no reason to refuse this side.’

 

Rather, it was a good thing. Blair would trust herself even more if she did this ‘favour’.

 

“If Your Majesty sentences you to death, I will ask for mercy by exile.”

 

“Thank you so much, sweetheart.”

 

When the desired answer came, Blair smiled brightly and hugged Meredith.

 

Then she whispered softly into her ear.

 

“Don’t worry. You will definitely like the gift.”

 

“… … .”

 

“I’m not very happy with this situation either.”

 

……Neither am I, but why are you?

 

Meredith didn’t understand what she was saying.

 

But Blair showed no sign of answering.

 

She just held Meredith tightly.

 

***

 

After talking with Blair, Meredith returned to Theodore’s side.

 

“What did you and the Empress Dowager talk about?”

 

As soon as we sat down, Theodore asked about that.

 

Meredith opened her mouth nonchalantly.

 

“She asked me for mercy.”

 

“I knew it.”

 

“Yes. It must be a request from Duke Schwartz.”

 

“Are you going to listen?”

 

“I couldn’t even get in on my request.”

 

Theodore looked at Meredith with a face asking what she was talking about.

 

“She asked that I put her in exile.”

 

Hearing Meredith’s words, Theodore laughed soundlessly.

 

“The other side sees us so cruelly.”

 

…… To say that, didn’t His Majesty originally think of the death penalty too?

 

“Your Majesty the Emperor.”

 

Just then, Felix came over and asked Theodore.