After the Wicked Wife Leaves

Chester stared at the Duke with a horrified expression.

 

‘How could the duke…’

 

Erich Lennon Blant, a war hero.

He was a steadfast commander who never lost his composure in any situation and was regarded as the Empire’s strongest swordsman, to the point of being called the Grim Reaper.

But now, the Duke was sitting down, repeating the exact words as if he had lost his mind.

 

“She can’t be dead.”

 

Gradually, Erich stared at the hateful river that swallowed her.

 

‘It’s because of me.’

 

If he hadn’t left like that, maybe she could have avoided falling into the river.

This speculation constantly weighed on Erich’s guilt, crumbling his weakened reason and sense of reality.

Soon, he saw the vision of Cornelia struggling in the water before him.

 

『Save me, Erich. Please…….』

‘No, Cornelia. This time…’

 

Without a moment’s hesitation, Erich plunged into the deep blue river.

 

“Your Grace!”

 

Knights rushed to stop him from diving into the water, but he ignored their restraining hands like a madman.

 

“Let go; I must save my wife!”

 

Until now, he had only said cruel words to her and never reached out his hand first.

So, this time, he had to grab her hand.

He must not let go.

 

“Your Grace, you can’t!”

 

Erich pushed aside the knights and reached out to Cornelia amidst the rough currents.

 

“Cornelia, take my hand, please!”

 

But… his outstretched hand passed through hers.

Then Cornelia, in her green dress, said.

 

『You know. You’re already too late.』

 

Gradually, Erich’s mind became increasingly hazy, and his body grew heavier.

Erich tried to regain his senses, but the fatigue that had accumulated over the past few days was overwhelming.

Moreover…

 

『So stop pretending to care and just die.』

 

Somehow, Cornelia was whispering those words from within the water.

 

‘Alright, as you wish…’

 

Engulfed by the currents, Erich closed his eyes.

 

☪︎ ִ ࣪𖤐 𐦍 ☾𖤓 ☪︎ ִ ࣪𖤐 𐦍 ☾𖤓

 

Almost without swaying, I took in the final scenery of the capital from the top-quality carriage.

 

‘Farewell at last.’

 

For the first time, I was leaving the place where I was born—the place I thought I would never leave again.

But instead of fear, relief prevailed.

Because I was moving away.

From my mother-in-law, who viewed me as an eyesore; from Medelin, who had many suspicious corners; and from my husband, who would one day kill me.

Now, free from threats, I stroked my belly, thinking I could live with my child in peace.

 

‘Though we can never see your dad again, mommy will make you happy. So let’s live happily, just the two of us.’

 

☪︎ ִ ࣪𖤐 𐦍 ☾𖤓 ☪︎ ִ ࣪𖤐 𐦍 ☾𖤓

At the moment Erich was about to give up everything, a scream-like voice came from the darkest recess of his consciousness.

 

[No!]

 

A young boy looked at him with a face that appeared to be about to cry.

It was Cornelia’s child he saw in his dreams.

 

[Dad!]

 

The boy embraced Erich with his small body.

Then, Erich’s floating body slowly began to rise in the currents.

 

[Don’t give up. Mom is…]

 

The child’s voice grew fainter and fainter.

Soon, the boy shouted as if he were wailing.

 

[There are still people targeting Mom!]

 

With those words, Erich’s consciousness, which had been suppressed, awakened.

Opening his eyes underwater, Erich clenched his fists tightly.

 

‘Yeah, there’s still something I must do.’

 

Gradually, his body began to rise to the surface.

 

☪︎ ִ ࣪𖤐 𐦍 ☾𖤓 ☪︎ ִ ࣪𖤐 𐦍 ☾𖤓

 

As the azure dawn lit up the sky, the sun peeked over the horizon.

Finally, the trial that many in the capital had been waiting for was dawning.

Chester had not been able to fall asleep until that hour, and he watched the Duke with anxious eyes.

 

‘It almost ended in disaster.’

 

The Duke, who had jumped into the river alone, had soon sunk into the water after trying to grab something.

The river would have quickly swallowed the Duke if he hadn’t regained his senses halfway through and the knights hadn’t pulled him out.

 

‘He seems to be greatly shocked, so it would be better if he didn’t attend the trial…’

 

At that moment, Erich’s eyes, which had been closed, suddenly snapped open.

Chester was so startled that he fell backward.

 

‘Oh no, what an embarrassment.’

 

After a moment, Chester quickly got up and spoke to Erich.

 

“Y-Your Grace, are you awake?”

“How long has it been since I lost consciousness?”

“Uh, about ten hours!”

 

At Chester’s reply, Erich looked at his watch and raised a brow.

 

“The trial will then commence in a few hours.”

“Yes, that’s right.”

 

With Chester’s affirmation, Erich stood up and spoke sternly.

 

“I will attend the trial.”

“But, Your Grace, you shouldn’t attend the trial.”

“I said I would attend the trial.”

 

Chester looked into Erich’s eyes, wondering if he had lost his mind as he had earlier.

However, Erich’s pupils held a clear and intense light, unlike usual.

 

“But, Your Grace, are you really okay to attend in your current condition?”

“Yeah.”

He was fine as long as he could find out who killed her and take revenge.

“I’m fine.”

 

Erich’s response was indifferent, as if he were willing to endure everything.
Chester sighed as he felt Erich’s answer was akin to resignation.

 

“Understood. I will make the preparations then.”

 

As Chester left, Erich’s blue eyes gleamed sharply in the darkness.

There was a lot to deal with right now.

The enigma surrounding this carriage mishap, coupled with the dubious facets of the Emperor’s faction, remains a mystery.

 

‘If the Emperor is involved in this too…….’

 

In a surge of anger, Erich clenched his jaw.

 

‘It doesn’t matter who killed her. I will stake everything to hunt them down and kill them.’

 

Once he had exacted his revenge and found her body, Erich planned to end his own life.

 

‘It will be the only atonement I can make for you.’

 

With his resolve firm, tears streamed down Erich’s face.

 

☪︎ ִ ࣪𖤐 𐦍 ☾𖤓 ☪︎ ִ ࣪𖤐 𐦍 ☾𖤓

 

“I wonder what the outcome of today’s trial will be.”

“Honestly, I don’t think they’ll face much punishment because they’re both high-ranking nobles, and there’s no clear evidence.”

 

These words reached both Medelin and Grand Madam Blant, sitting as defendants.

Medelin, who had no communication with her parents, seemed relieved to hear that.

But Grand Madam Blant had been confident from the beginning.

 

‘Well, even if that imposter ignores me, it doesn’t matter. I am the true power behind the Blant family.’

 

She had already hired a lawyer and sought legal advice.

The lawyer predicted Grand Madam Blant would be acquitted.

 

‘Well, they can’t punish me with such flimsy evidence.’

 

She continued to claim that it was just menopause medication and insisted that the letter was written by Medelin alone.

Furthermore, the coachman, who tampered with the carriage, is dead, and the maid, who was an accomplice, disappeared.

Additionally, only Grand Madam Blant was aware of the existence of a secret ledger, safely hidden away, detailing the transactions of this incident.

In such circumstances, there was no basis to punish her.

 

‘Well, unlike me, she has a letter, so she can be punished with impunity.’

 

Was it because Marquis Arzen, her father, did not appear at the trial?

Seeing Medelin deflated, Grand Madam Blant suppressed a laugh.

Just then-

 

“Wait, isn’t that the Duke of Blant?”

 

Upon seeing Erich enter the courtroom, Grand Madam Blant’s face twisted.

 

‘Why is he here… I heard he was causing a scene  looking for that wretch’s body.’

 

She felt disgusted looking at Erich.

Still, as his mother, she felt that he should care about herself more than the dead.

 

‘Well. He’s not my real son, after all.’

 

The Grand Madam remembered the letter she had received from Zenon.

 

[A person suspected to be the real Duke of Blant has been discovered in a small village in the north. Due to his illness, a visit is difficult, but financial support is needed for his treatment.]

 

The Grand Madam’s face immediately turned murderous.

 

‘Once I get through this trial, I will bring my real son here.’

 

A deadly aura emanated from the Grand Madam’s eyes as she gazed at Erich.

 

‘If that happens, I will frame you for impersonating the Duke and execute you as cruelly as possible!’

 

And Erich, whose eyes met the Grand Madam’s, received that gaze impassively.

As if her murderous intent were nothing to him.

 

‘That one…!’

 

Just as the Grand Madam was glaring at her fake son,

 

“Everyone, please be quiet!”

 

With those words, the doors of the courtroom were opened.

 

“His Imperial Majesty, the Emperor, is entering!”

 

Leading the procession was the Emperor, followed by judges and clerks.

People rose to their feet and bowed their heads in unison before the Emperor.

The Emperor took a seat in the center, the highest seat, and opened his mouth.

 

“Everyone, please raise your heads and be seated.”

 

Following his command, everyone in the courtroom took their seats.

The Emperor fixed a cold gaze on Erich and then began to speak.

 

“We will now commence the trial regarding the incident involving my daughter, Princess Cornelia Odile Blant, the Duchess of Blant.”