Leave the Divorce to a Professional Lawyer

“Your Honor,” Natasha began, taking a step forward to open her statement.

Her gaze lightly brushed past the opposing counsel before settling on the judge. Holding a stack of documents in one hand, she projected an air of confidence.

Her voice was calm and deliberate.

“I believe we can all agree that preserving a single life is more important than maintaining a family. What meaning could there possibly be in upholding a family built on someone’s sacrifice? Even the gods above would not desire such a thing.”

She glanced briefly upward, closing her eyes as if in silent reverence.

To Natasha, a trial was akin to a well-rehearsed play.

The opposing counsel was merely a supporting actor meant to highlight her brilliance. Every move they made, every counter, was something she had anticipated and controlled.

All Natasha had to do was plan how to corner them dramatically and which scenes would strike the judge’s heartstrings.

“In the year 565 of the Empire, this prenuptial agreement was first drawn up, and the marriage commenced. Unfortunately, there was no romance in a marriage without love. But what my client, Miss Estelle, endured cannot be justified by such a simple explanation.”

Natasha handed over the evidence she had prepared to the court clerk.

“This is a testimony from a former employee of the Duke’s household. According to this anonymous witness, ‘The Duchess’s meals were either too salty, too spicy, or bizarre to the point of being inedible.'”

It was inconceivable that anyone would easily accept a notorious villainess as their Duchess.

Especially if their master, the Duke, turned a blind eye to it. There was even less reason for them to stop.

Moreover, for reasons unknown, Estelle, who seemed like a completely different person after a poisoning attempt, passively endured their schemes, which only emboldened them to intensify their harassment in retaliation for their past grievances.

“After the first year, the employees who led the harassment were all dismissed, and it seems those who recognized Estelle’s true nature welcomed her warmly… But that doesn’t erase what had happened before.”

Claude’s expression hardened slightly as his past negligence was laid bare in court.

Natasha subtly observed Estelle’s face. She appeared more composed than expected, the look of someone who had long since become numb.

“Your Honor! That evidence is highly biased! It could easily have been fabricated!”

“I submit additional testimonies from five employees who worked at the Duke’s household in 565, corroborating this account.”

This time, it was the opposing side that was left speechless.

“The details are quite specific. There are many overlapping points in the testimonies. It’s difficult to dismiss this as fabrication. The evidence will be admitted.”

Bang, bang, bang!

The trial had begun with Natasha in the lead.

Once she had seized control of the flow, she had to press the advantage.

“Your Honor, the Duke was well aware of this situation and was deeply outraged. He thoroughly investigated those involved and punished them. The misdeeds of the employees cannot be held against the Duke. I submit the list of employees dismissed in 565 as evidence.”

The defense, anticipating this line of questioning, had prepared their response in advance.

The list of dismissed employees was so extensive it seemed to stretch over ten pages.

“Considering that noble households typically dismiss fewer than ten employees per year, this number is unusual. While the Duchess’s suffering is regrettable, the Duke is not responsible for it, and instead, he took active measures to address the issue.”

“Agreed.”

The judge nodded.

“I object.”

Every play requires a twist.

“Proceed.”

“When was the first time the Duke dismissed an employee in relation to this matter?”

“…Officially, all were recorded as ‘personal reasons,’ but this was merely customary.”

Of course, they wouldn’t want to publicize that they couldn’t even manage their own household staff properly.

“Very well. Then, who does the Duke recall as being the first person he dismissed? You may refer to the list if you wish.”

“The counsel is pressuring with irrelevant details!”

“It is relevant!”

The judge finally intervened to mediate between them.

“Settle down. Defendant, you may answer.”

The judge added quietly.

“If you took active measures to resolve this issue, you should at least remember the first person you dismissed.”

A cold silence swept through the courtroom.

The list, easily more than ten pages long, was presented to Claude, but he hesitated to respond.

“It’s been three years already. It’s natural for memories to fade!”

“Are you saying that your wife’s harassment by the servants, though it occurred three years ago, is something that can be so easily forgotten? I’m not asking for the reason behind every dismissal. Just identify the first person you recognized as a harasser and personally dismissed.”

Natasha stood before Claude, pointing to the list with her finger.

“Don’t you know?”

Claude’s gaze drifted past the paper and up towards her. He intended to scrutinize the face of this audacious lawyer who was pressuring him.

Her light blue eyes met his deep blue ones directly.

Suddenly, Claude realized that this impertinent lawyer seemed oddly familiar.

– Though it’s a face I’ve never seen before. When did she arrive?

She was the very maid he had tested based on Estelle’s reaction!

‘Though the atmosphere is different, she’s still recognizable.’

Back then, her downcast eyes gave the impression of meekness, but now, facing him directly, she bore a striking resemblance to a cat—proud and confident.

She smiled slyly.

“Ha.”

So that’s how it was.

Claude finally understood everything. He had wondered when she had found the time to meet with a lawyer. But the truth was the reverse.

The lawyer had secretly infiltrated his household!

“How dare…”

Though he could have ordered her execution immediately for the crime of defying a great noble like himself, the situation did not allow for it.

“Duke, it seems your memory is failing you.”

This was a sacred courtroom.

Even an emperor couldn’t refuse trial or commit insolence here.

Clenching his fists tightly, Claude tried his best to recall the distant past.

–Does the food not suit your taste?

–Pardon?

–Your expression doesn’t look pleased. I’ve heard you enjoyed lavish meals at the Count of Blanche’s estate.

–Ah, no, that’s not it…

Their marriage and his ascension happened almost simultaneously, and he was so preoccupied with his duties afterward that he rarely had dinner with Estelle.

It had been nearly three months since he last saw her, and her stiff expression had irked him.

‘She used to be all smiles just at the sight of me. Has marriage changed her feelings? What a foolish woman.’

Inwardly thinking this, he began to speak, but something about her reaction seemed off.

Normally, she would have whined and asked for a different dish. Instead, she smiled awkwardly and declined, saying it was fine.

–…Butler.

–Yes, Your Grace.

–Bring me that steak.

–Understood.

At his command, the maidservants who were serving the meal hesitated for a moment.

It was at that moment his suspicions were confirmed.

–…Fetch the head chef. Immediately.

The bite he took was excessively salty, like chewing on a lump of salt.

–Did she really eat half of this?

The salty meat was already half-gone. Without a single complaint.

“I remember now. It was the head chef. I don’t recall his name, but there was only one person in charge of the kitchen. Joseph Wellington. He was the first.”

He was as confident as ever.

“No, you’re wrong.”

“What? That can’t be. I gave the order myself.”

“There was a maid who was dismissed exactly three days after the wedding.”

Her finger pointed precisely to one name on the list of those dismissed.

Julie Julette.

“She was a maid who was fired for spilling tea while serving.”

Natasha delivered the highlight.

“That was the official reason.”

But the truth?

She was a maid who packed her things and left immediately after being caught by the butler pretending to serve tea and deliberately spilling it.

“Your Honor! The counsel is making baseless assumptions without any concrete evidence!”

“Sustained. Counsel, please refrain from making statements that lack supporting evidence.”

“Your Honor, where would we find evidence of such subtle harassment from three years ago? However, given that Miss Estelle, the sole witness and victim, has acknowledged these events, I ask that you take this into consideration.”

But the judge was unyielding.

“Without clear evidence, the claim is dismissed.”

Natasha clicked her tongue softly.

Depending on the judge’s disposition, there was a chance this could have been accepted, but this judge was particularly strict.

Still, this much was within her expected range.

“However, what is clear is that the timeline of the harassment claimed by the Duke differs from the timeline claimed by Miss Estelle. This is important. While it is said that every effort was made to prevent the harassment, it’s difficult to say that it was entirely successful, isn’t it?”

It was a natural shift in focus, as smooth as flowing water.

She quickly moved past the unfavorable topic and highlighted the points most advantageous to her.

This was basic lawyerly skill.

“During that time, my client endured unbearable suffering, which caused deep emotional scars. This has led to a deep distrust of her husband, the Duke, and has had a severe impact on their marriage.”

Before the trial, Natasha had asked Estelle if she could pretend to be engrossed in his madness and undergo a psychiatric evaluation just once, but she had been flatly refused.

It would have been even better if she could have submitted a psychiatric report, but putting that regret aside, she continued.

“My client is already experiencing great distress simply by staying in the residence where the harassment took place. She is currently living in a separate residence due to this.”

Without a moment’s hesitation, the lies flowed smoothly from her lips.

The thought crossed Estelle’s mind that the suggestion of living separately might have been made just for this moment.

‘Miss Estelle is insisting that it is no longer possible to continue with this marriage. The three years promised in the contract have been fulfilled, so it’s time to…”

Her gaze remained fixed on Claude.

He, rigid with tension, was being overwhelmed by Natasha’s presence as she looked down at him.

Her clear voice rang in his ears.

“…request a divorce.”