The Male Lead Knelt Before Me - Chapter 138

Chapter 138

Translator: Missme
Editor: Missme

Madam Selvin continued calmly.

“I told them that His Highness had raised demonic beasts on the royal hunting grounds and was having them kill young ladies as a game he enjoyed.”

“A game……? But I thought he killed them in order to avoid leaving any evidence.”

It’s not what I was expecting.

“What you said was correct, Lady. However, I stated this because I believed that telling them the truth would harm your reputation.”

With a light shrug, Madam Selvin said.

“First and foremost, my intention is to accuse His Highness of what he did, so there is no need to mention you.”

“That is certainly correct.”

If she told the truth, everyone would know about my deal with the crown prince.

“That’s why you came to tell me that.”

“That’s correct. Just in case, the reason why the Crown Prince attempted to kill you will not receive much attention. That wouldn’t matter because I’d already made the accusation.”

Madam Selvin took a deep breath and continued.

“There is nothing to worry about because the goods or amount I favor to you will also be known as the pure kindness I gave as a guardian.”

“Thank you very much for your concern.”

Madam Selvin laughed at my remark, saying, ‘that’s nothing’.

“Then I’m done with what I have to say, so I’ll get up right now.”

“Wait a minute, Madam Selvin.”

I asked Madam Selvin, who was about to get up from her seat with the Bible in her hand.

“May I inquire as to your future plans?”

“In the future……”

“After the Crown Prince’s punishment had been determined.”

It wasn’t because Madam Selvin did something good.

Despite the fact that it was an order from the Crown Prince, she was still an accomplice.

But I couldn’t help but be concerned.

Because she had accused the Crown Prince.

“Rather than directing my master in the right direction, I followed the wrong orders, so I intend to follow the trial results.”

“……”

“If I have to pay for my sins, I will pay accordingly, and even if I am freed without being punished, I will return all my property to the temple and atone for my sins for the rest of my life.”

“Temple?”

“That’s correct. I’ve already asked the temple for forgiveness, so my decision will not change.”

Selvin smoothed the Bible in her hand as she spoke.

That’s why she carried the Bible with her the entire time.

“Even if they are not pleased with my atonement, I will still do it.”

I couldn’t say anything. No, it was more that I couldn’t speak freely.

I’m not sure if I’m one of ‘them,’ as Madam Selvin referred to them, but I didn’t deserve it.

Because whatever I say here will be nothing more than an arrogant consolation.

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The trial resumed a few days after Madam Selvin’s visit.

Originally, it was supposed to be resumed after a long break.

However, Selvin’s confessions and statements allowed investigators to gather evidence quickly.

Naturally, the trial date was pushed forward.

Selvin testified exactly as she had told me. That the Crown Prince has been raising the demonic beast on the royal hunting ground for several years, duping noble women from the middle family with money and feeding them to the demonic beast.

Selvin’s testimony was flatly denied by the Crown Prince. Naturally, no one believed Selvin’s testimony.

Nonetheless, the apparent remains of a woman had already been discovered in the royal hunting grounds.

Furthermore, it was revealed that the identities of the aristocratic women Selvin testified about matched those of the women who went missing a few years ago and were never found.

In the face of overwhelming evidence and testimony, the crown prince’s infidelity was rendered futile.

Furthermore, as Selvin predicted, the reason “why the prince tried to kill me” was overlooked.

The trial, which began with Vivian’s attempted murder of me, gained prominence in the second trial as the essence of the prince’s murder of an aristocratic woman.

In the end, the Crown Prince was dethroned, sentenced to death, and stripped of all imperial family authority.

At the same time, the trial’s outcome surprised many people, including myself.

No matter how heinous the Crown Prince’s actions were, he was still the Emperor’s son.

This was because everyone expected the Crown Prince to be dethroned and no one expected the death penalty to be imposed.

Surprisingly, the Emperor and Empress maintained their composure.

They agreed with the court’s decision, claiming that the Crown Prince, who has already killed innocent imperial subjects, has lost credibility as the next emperor, and that keeping the Crown Prince alive would destroy the royal family’s beings.

As the knights dragged the prince away, he complained about how he could do this to himself.

Not to mention that everyone was sick of the way they looked.

Furthermore, Selvin was sentenced to divide all of her property fairly among the temple, the royal family, and the families of the victims, as well as to atone for life in the temple.

Vivian’s punishment was also decided.

Perhaps because she attempted to murder me, as the daughter of the Archduke and his wife, she received a harsher sentence than Selvin.

She was not only stripped of her authority as the daughter of a marquis, but she was also ordered to leave the country.

Originally, she was sentenced to death, as was the Crown Prince, but the sentence was commuted in light of the petition I wrote.

I left the court with Caleb after seeing Vivian and Selvin walk by the knights with resigned expressions for the last time.

Finally, it was over.

⇺⇺⇺⇼⇻⇻⇻

Vivian was sent out of prison following the guidance of Imperial Knights.

The cold air entered the lungs deeply, as if to freeze the body.

It was as if the sharpened blade had completely scratched the inside.

Vivian let out a soft cough.

It reminded her of the guards’ jokes about the severe cold arriving in the morning and how winter was cruel before spring.

It was cold, as they said, but Vivian was only allowed to wear the dress she wore during the hunting competition.

This is because inmates were not permitted to visit or receive support from their families until the trial was completed.

Even if there had been no such clause, the Marquis’ family would not have helped her in any way.

‘Who would want to help a criminal?’

The knights who are now leading her did not ask her how she was doing, far from showing sympathy.

This is also true for the Marquis couple, who regard her as one of their own daughters.

‘Of course, they won’t come again today.’

Vivian was certain, but she couldn’t figure out why she was so bitter.

Vivian, who smiled at herself, decided to think of something more pleasant.

Think about the Crown Prince’s expression when he was sentenced to death.

‘It was a face as if the world had crumbled.’

Although it was unfortunate that she could not witness his death with her own eyes because she was deported before the Crown Prince’s execution.

Vivian, who tried to cover her arms casually in the cold, stopped when she realized the existence of a steel furrow pulling her wrist tightly with a clanging sound.

‘Still, I might be able to lease these soon.’

She was exiled to the Kingdom of Irgenia on this day.

She only needs to cross the border to be free of these shackles.

Kingdom of Irgenia……

Vivian recited the name of the kingdom she was going to go to.

When the investigator gave her the option, she initially tried to go to the Principality of Adele.

It was originally her birthplace and where she would have lived if nothing had happened.

However, as the Archduke and his wife rejected her, Vivian had no choice but to choose except for the Empire and the Principality.

So, among many countries, she chose the Kingdom of Irgenia.

Because it is closer to the Principality of Adele.

She wants to see her hometown, even if only from a distance.

It made no difference that there were no relatives present.

After all, she had been labeled a sinner and stripped of her aristocratic qualifications, so she had nothing left of herself.

It’s just…… going back to the days when she was “Lena” and somehow surviving.

‘It’s fine. I’m sure I can do it.’

I’ve done it before, so it won’t be difficult for me to do it again.

Perhaps.

That was when she lowered her eyes and thought.

“It’s a shift turn.”

An unfamiliar voice was heard and someone stopped them.

However, Vivian did not raise her head.

She couldn’t afford to be distracted by the appearance of the knights who would lead her.

“Shift turn? We haven’t gotten any information.”

“I just got permission. This is a certificate bearing His Majesty’s seal. Hand over the prisoner.”

The knights who were guiding Vivian paused, but when they saw the sign, they retreated.

Several legs are visible on the ground.

‘This is an unscheduled shift……’

Furthermore, with the Emperor’s approval

Vivian had a thought at that precise moment.

‘Are they trying to kill me?’

Vivian’s reasoning was indeed justified.

She accused the crown prince and had him sentenced to death.

Perhaps the Emperor despised her, believing that if it weren’t for her, his son would be safe.

Apart from the fact that his son was a murderer, the Emperor, as a human being, may have preferred to blame others rather than the Crown Prince.

Furthermore, the emperor is the crown prince’s father.

Previously, the crown prince had his subordinates kidnap and murder her.

As an Emperor, there’s nothing he can’t do.

Vivian’s breathing became stale.

Even if it had been a miserable life, dying was terrifying.

As a result, when Elena offered to save her if she told the truth, she told her the truth.

She was shaking with fear, and goosebumps were running down her spine.

Then.

Her shoulder was swathed in a cape.

It was a long, wide black cloak that reached the ankles.

Vivian looked up, taken aback.

Since she’s been imprisoned, no one has ever done her this favor.

“It’s cold, so cover yourself up.”

A voice came from above her opponent’s head before she could see his face.

And the voice belonged to someone Vivian was very familiar with.

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