Chapter 62
We had left early in the morning, but since we didn’t stay long at the clinic, we ended up spending some time at a nearby café. It was quite rare—a full three-story building solely operating as a café. I’d heard it was famous even in the capital, but it was my first time visiting.
Luckily, we got a seat by the window on the third floor. Since there weren’t many tall buildings around, the view of the capital city stretched out before us.
I took a sip of the tea brought by the server and looked out the window.
The restlessness I’d been feeling seemed to ease just a little.
“Everything ends today.”
I set down my teacup and spoke as if talking to myself, but addressed Richard.
Richard looked at me quietly and nodded.
“It ends. By the way, how are you feeling?”
He suddenly asked. I put down my teacup, looked at him for a moment, then turned my gaze back outside the window.
“I thought I’d feel relieved… but I don’t, really.”
In just a little while, it would all be over. I’d finally reclaim everything that had been taken from me by Duke Tristan. I should be feeling light and free—but oddly enough, I didn’t. Instead, there was a faint bitterness lingering in my chest.
“You’ll feel that way for a while.”
Richard spoke in a low voice, as if he understood how I felt.
“Hollow and empty. The joy of regaining what was yours won’t outweigh the feeling of betrayal—how the people around you saw you, and how they tried to use you. That will linger more.”
In his words, I could sense the emptiness Richard must have felt during his own childhood. When I turned to look at him, he was staring quietly out the window. His eyes seemed to hold a storm of emotions.
Of course.
He had experienced all of this when he was just a child.
And the people around him at the time were nothing but hyenas looking to exploit him.
Before his parents died, I’m sure they were all kind to him—but after their deaths, everything must have changed overnight. People revealing their true intentions to steal his title and wealth.
The fear and anger he must have felt as a child… I could feel a sliver of that now.
I thought maybe he was helping me so eagerly because I shared a past similar to his.
That must be why.
Because he saw his younger self in me.
But I’m not sure.
Even though Richard had gone through something similar, I couldn’t fully grasp what he must’ve felt back then.
Because I had Richard by my side now, helping me.
To think I could understand the loneliness of someone who had to survive everything alone—that would be arrogant.
“Still, you have to stay strong. No wavering.”
Richard seemed worried that I might show mercy to Duke Tristan out of sympathy.
I gave him a faint smile and nodded.
“Of course. Naturally.”
I may not have felt the deep despair that Richard had, but even so, there was no way I could ever forgive Duke Tristan.
I held too much resentment toward him.
Because of the abuse and violence he inflicted on me since childhood, my life had been shattered.
I wasn’t naïve enough to overlook all that. I had no power before, so I endured—but now, things were different.
“The trial will start soon. We should get moving.”
I checked the time—it was already past 10:30. I nodded and stood up from my seat.
* * *
When we arrived at the High Court, the normally quiet surroundings were unusually chaotic. Curious, I looked around and noticed soldiers, likely guards, stationed everywhere. Guards were always present in and around the court, but I had never seen so many lined up like this before.
“It’s because of Duke Tristan.”
Richard leaned in to inform me, noticing the confusion on my face as I looked around.
“Ah…”
Only then did I remember that Duke Tristan had caused a disturbance yesterday and had been taken away in restraints.
Since the guards dragged him away, it made sense they’d be the ones to escort him back. And with the potential for another incident, it was only natural they’d increase security.
I thought they might treat him with some semblance of dignity due to his noble status, but clearly, that wasn’t the case.
Not wanting to make eye contact with the stern-looking guards, I moved closer to Richard as we entered the courtroom.
But the situation inside wasn’t much different from the outside.
“Welcome, Count.”
A court official greeted us.
A guard approached Richard and greeted him. Unlike the other guards, his armor looked more robust—he was likely their commander. Richard acknowledged him with a nod.
“You’re doing a great job.”
“Thank you for saying so.”
“I just hope nothing unpleasant happens today. My wife had an unfortunate experience yesterday.”
Richard glanced at me as he spoke. The guard, upon hearing him, bowed politely in my direction.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, ma’am. I’m Taymon Black, commander of the security unit guarding the High Court. I sincerely apologize for the harm caused by our delayed response yesterday.”
“It’s fine. Everything was resolved in the end.”
I awkwardly accepted the greeting of the man who introduced himself as the commander.
“There won’t be any lapse in security today, so you don’t need to worry.”
After confirming my slight nod, Black turned his gaze back to Richard.
“Duke Tristan will stand trial today in restraints. Guards will be posted around him, so you don’t need to worry about safety.”
“I’m counting on you.”
“Yes, Count.”
After finishing the exchange, Richard and I took our seats on the plaintiff’s side.
Despite being in the same courtroom, I felt slightly intimidated by the presence of fully armed guards.
Still, Duke Tristan being tried in restraints… Even for a duke, attempting to kill someone in court was unforgivable. It was a contempt of court, and more than that, the intended victim was his stepdaughter. Naturally, there would be consequences.
He’d probably have to stand another trial for that offense after today’s case ended.
Just as I was thinking how nice it would be to finish this quickly and go home, a commotion arose outside the courtroom.
Turning my head toward the noise, the door soon opened, and Duke Tristan was dragged in by guards, bound in restraints.
“Let go of me! How dare you treat a duke like this?”
He shouted the kind of line you’d expect from a third-rate villain as he entered the courtroom. His enraged voice and bloodshot eyes said everything about his current state of mind.
Then suddenly, his gaze landed on Richard and me, seated on the plaintiff’s side.
“You! You think you’ll get away with doing this to me? You, a mere count!”
“How dull.”
Richard snorted dismissively, ignoring the duke’s shouts. Tristan raised his voice even more, but Richard paid him no attention whatsoever.
“Take a good look. This is the true form of the man you once feared.”
At Richard’s words, I quietly observed the screaming Duke Tristan.
He had always seemed towering and intimidating to me. Whenever I looked at him, it was like facing a wall of despair—but now, seeing him restrained in front of me, he looked pathetically small.
The wall I’d seen in him was nothing more than a projection of my own fear.
But that fear had now started to peel away. That man, the one who had dragged me to ruin, was merely my stepfather. Now that I saw him for what he was, I couldn’t help but laugh at my past self for being so terrified.
For just a brief moment, the image of Duke Tristan’s grotesque face, strangling me in the middle of the night, flashed through my mind and made me flinch slightly—but it passed quickly.
“You’re not afraid at all now, are you?”
Richard asked softly, as if confirming my feelings. I kept my eyes fixed on Tristan and nodded.
“Not at all.”
There was no denying it. The man I had once feared so deeply—his reality was right there, bound and powerless.
“Still… I thought Cecilia would be here. That’s unexpected.”
It was strange that Cecilia, who had visited Starlight Hotel even just yesterday, wasn’t here today.
Having grown up as the beloved biological daughter of Duke Tristan, I assumed she would show up.
Then again, even if she had, the outcome of the trial wouldn’t change.
Hearing the verdict with her own ears might only be more painful for her. Perhaps not coming was the wiser choice.
Seeing that not even his daughter showed up, Duke Tristan almost seemed pitiful. But still, he wasn’t nearly as pitiable as I had been, suffering under his abuse all those years.
Just as I was sorting out those thoughts, the door opened, and the judge entered the courtroom.
One by one, we all rose to our feet, waiting for the judge to take his seat before sitting down ourselves. While the rest of us remained in silence, Duke Tristan continued yelling alone.
The judge looked down at him briefly, then shifted his gaze away and began summarizing the case.
The reason we, the plaintiffs, had filed the suit. Our position. The defendant’s position. His lies. And the violent incident from yesterday.
The judge’s voice sounded cold and stern—understandably so. Duke Tristan had mocked and disrespected the court multiple times.
He had lied to defend himself and even tried to bring in false witnesses. Then, he’d attempted to commit murder in the courtroom.
It was no surprise that the judge was fed up with his behavior.
“Then, I will now deliver the verdict that I was unable to announce yesterday.”
