The Girl Who Was Forced by Her Stepsister to Marry the Cursed Duke - CH 21

Chapter 21 : 《Count’s POV》And The Karma Will Come Back to You 1

T/N: This is Countess Lyran from the manga adaptation

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“Is there any problem?”

“N-No…”

As the Duke Lönnrot himself delivered the official marriage documents to legalize the marriage to Count Pavada Lyran, his wife, Bavalein, smiled stiffly. The young duke was smiling ever so sweetly. No one would even think of his calling him the 『Cursed Duke』when they saw his current appearance. He was truly the epitome of perfect noble with his impeccable appearance and dignity.

But… When the young duke handed the official marriage registration along with a bundle of other documents, completely unrelated with marriage, to Count Lyran, the count couldn’t help but to break into a cold sweat.

First, there were documents related to inheritance law in this country. Technically speaking, Lyran county only had one legal successor. It was Miltia. The only blood relatives of the previous count.  Bavalein’s daughter from her previous marriage, could never become the legal successor to Lyran countdom.

However, Bavalein, as the second wife of the previous count, did have the right to become a regent in the place of her late husband. The fact was, when the previous count died, Miltia was still a child. So when Bavalein took over the count’s place since the official successor was still a child… There was no legal problem with that.

But after Bavalein finally sat on the count’s chair, she registered her daughter from her previous marriage, Sistana, into the 『noble’s list』. This 『noble’s list』… For the noble… This list was『more important than their life』.

In this country, it was safe to say that anyone whose name was on the noble’s list, was a noble.

Of course, forging the registration was a grave crime. One couldn’t help but to wonder how much she had to pay to bribe the Department of Royal Rostering Management in order to register her own biological daughter as a noble… Pavada himself didn’t know about this incident in full detail but the price definitely wouldn’t be ‘cheap’ even for a ‘count’, who was regarded as  middle-ranked in nobility class.

At this late in the game, it was impossible to have clear evidence of the forgery and so, why did the duke even go out of his way by bringing the documents related to inheritance here?

Despite being a man, Duke Lönnrot had an ethereally beautiful face, just like a woman. His deep green eyes stared straight at the count couple as he ruthlessly said.

“I know the truth but I’d feel bad for Miltia if Lyrant county were to disappear so I will leave you be without denouncing you. I apologize for my discourtesy by bringing several documents unrelated to the marriage registration.”

With his unblemished, slender fingers, Duke Lönnrot pointed at a bundle of tax forms laying next to the inheritance documents with an audible thud.

The Count Lyran family was responsible for organizing the tax collection in this whole region. That meant all tax from the viscount and baron families in this region needed to be managed by the Count Lyran family.

The documents placed in front of the count couple were their accounting statements. However, in between the bundles of documents, there were several conscientiously placed bookmarks along with a stack of reports proving the obvious embezzlement and fraud the count had done.

“But… Since I’m going to welcome the daughter of the Lyran family as my wife…. Of course we don’t want to have any criminals within our midst so we did a little research. You understand what I’m trying to say, don’t you?”

Right here, right now, redress the fraud you’ve done. Return the embezzled money to the national treasury. If you do so, I will spare you bastards by not destroying your family down to ashes.

With great reluctance, both the count and countess nodded their heads. They couldn’t do anything else after this young man shoved the clear evidence pertaining to their crime.

“Y-Yes… W-We will do so immediately but…”

“B-But my Duke, if we do so… It will be difficult for our house to earn our daily bread.”

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T/N: I feel like this punishment is too light after they tortured our MC for so many years but we still have more chapters to go so I will keep my fingers crossed.