Edith couldn’t remember how she got back to her room after throwing Walter out of Fortrion Manor.
She walked with long strides without looking back, thinking that he shouldn’t be seeing her cry.
『 At least I was able to find Cassius somewhere along the way and asked him to take care of Walter.』
She did not forget to provide him with plenty of money for living expenses.
Then, she collapsed on her bed, crying for a long time, only to wake up a few hours later.
She lay in bed, huddled up, and as she did, she felt unfamiliar pains all over her body, as if the new sensations Walter had provided last night had left embers behind.
As she thought of each of these pains, every moment Walter had put effort into melting her body and soul came flooding back.
『 I spent the night hoping you would remember me in the future, but I’ll be the one who will remember you the most.』
Why is that man so perfect even at night, leaving behind lingering feelings of regret and longing?
Today, of all days, a fierce wind blew strong enough to shake off the leaves that had barely clung on.
Although she took care of the money, she couldn’t help but worry about Walter.
『 The only person he knew outside the mansion was Helen from the Militia Force, so he must have gone there.』
As she pictured Walter surrounded by armed militiamen, her anxious heart gradually calmed down.
Even though Edith didn’t know who Elizabeth had allied with or what assassins she had sent, if people were willing to fight alongside him, Walter wouldn’t be defeated.
He’s strong, so he’ll be fine.
“…”
But Edith didn’t think she could do anything to help Walter’s broken expression when he heard her tell him to leave because he couldn’t save her.
『 He must have been hurt because of me.』
Nevertheless, she wanted to save him.
Edith thought of this while covering herself with a goosefeather blanket. It felt less warm than the thick and rugged blanket he had carefully wrapped her in last night.
『 I can’t believe I managed to break this branch when I wasn’t in my right mind.』
The cedar tree, which had shed all its leaves to prepare for the winter cold, was a crucial herb that could determine the success or failure of the operation. But now, it only brought a bitter smile to her face.
──────────✿◦•
That afternoon, the memorial prayer for the deceased was scheduled as the final part of the funeral quickly concluded.
While Edith listened to the prayers as the Viscount’s wife throughout the session, she poured out her resentment towards him for having kidnapped her.
As the prayer session ended, and people began to gather at the exit, Isabelle cast cold glances towards Sophia and her lawyers standing by her side.
“Don’t think about executing the Viscount’s will just because the funeral is over.”
“…”
“Why don’t we go to the Viscount’s office right now and go over the prerequisites for inheritance one by one? If you’re confident, there’s no reason to refuse.”
Sophia glared at Isabelle with a look filled with hatred and resentment, but that was all she could do.
⋙“The public opinion is extremely unfavorable, M’lady. How did such rumors spread in just one day…?”⋘
⋙“We will do our best, but it seems that public opinion regarding whether M’lady has fulfilled your duties as the Viscountess is more important.”⋘
The lawyers she had been financially supporting and aligning with for a long time all expressed that the situation was not favorable.
Sophia also knew the reason for this.
This was because she had Jane keep track of rumors inside and outside the manor.
『 My relationship with Whitman spread all over me in one day.』
It seemed that someone had deliberately leaked the letters she had sent to Whitman.
Could it be just that?
『 It has even come to embezzlement and adultery, so they should be held accountable.』
『 And they embezzled the money that was meant to maintain the river embankment.』
『 In this situation, it would be more important to make a good impression on the Fourth Lady, who’s pregnant with the heir.』
As if someone were deliberately inciting people and tarnishing Sophia’s reputation, public opinion worsened by the day.
Given the circumstances, the only person Sophia could trust was Edith.
People still knew that it was thanks to her that House Fortrion had an heir, as she had brought Edith into the Fortrion Family.
“Edith, is it okay if you don’t rest?”
Sophia took care of the pregnant Edith with a kind voice.
Little did she know that Edith was the one who brought her reputation down thanks to the Karkus Trading Company.
“Yes, I think I’ll be fine.”
“…”
Sophia made an excuse to take care of Edith and postpone estate affairs, but Edith was not a fool.
In addition, Elizabeth urged that the inheritance issue be resolved immediately, so the four Viscount’s wives, lawyers, and major servants of the manor gathered in the viscount’s office.
Among them, the lawyer with the neatest appearance placed a tightly sealed document envelope in the center of the table.
“This is the last will the Viscount wrote.”
It was customary for the heads of most families to periodically write a new will or revise an existing will to prevent the family line from being disrupted even if they died suddenly.
Therefore, even Nicholas, who was attacked out of nowhere, was able to leave his will intact.
The lawyer began to read the will carefully.
“To the faithful wives who have worked hard for House Fortrion, I will distribute the properties corresponding to items 1 to 4 on the asset list equally. Additionally, if any of them are pregnant with the heir of the family, they shall receive an additional 10 percent each.”
After that, it was mentioned what would be passed on if someone suitable to carry on the family line appeared.
“Finally, if a successor to the Viscountcy of Fortrion is not found, one of the wives will take charge of the management of the Family and the business. That’s all.”
Unknown to most, Wills tend to have a certain format and content, so Nicholas’ will wasn’t lacking in eloquence just because he had written it himself.
Only some of the expressions of Sophia caught the attention of the other wives.
“It looks like only ‘faithful’ wives who worked hard for Fortrion are eligible for inheritance.”
Elizabeth glared at Sophia as if scolding her.
It’s as if she was questioning whether the embezzlement, which went unnoticed, and even an affair with the embezzler, were the actions of a faithful, virtuous wife.
Isabelle took out Sophia’s love letters from the paper flower basket and unfolded them.
“Sophia, this is your handwriting, isn’t it?”
When Sophia couldn’t bear their strong pressure any longer, she decided to change the course.
“So now, are you saying that I, who spent the most time with the Viscount, don’t qualify for the inheritance?”
“Why are you so confident after bringing such disgrace to the Fortrion name?”
“The disgrace was caused by the Viscount, who associated with gamblers every day. I only made a mistake while trying to rectify what he had neglected.”
Sophia made a quick decision.
Since her letters to Whitman had been exposed, it wouldn’t take long for the conclusion that she was involved in embezzlement as well.
Instead, she thought it would be more effective to argue that she had contributed a lot to the family, considering her mistakes.
“What happened with the butler… I made a mistake because I was so lonely spending time alone in the manor when you guys weren’t there either. Who would have known that Whitman, who seemed so diligent, would commit such audacious embezzlement?”
The lawyer who had received a bribe from Sophia found an opportunity and subtly sided with her.
“The execution of the will must be carried out fairly, ladies.”
“Even if she committed adultery and embezzlement, it wouldn’t be fair if she weren’t sent to the convent.”
Elizabeth responded coldly, but the lawyer remained resolute.
“Even though Lady Sophia made a mistake, it’s true that for five years she took full charge of the family affairs before Lady Elizabeth came in as the Second Lady.”
“…”
“At this point, there is no evidence that she intentionally failed to notice the embezzlement. Furthermore… I don’t know if you know, but it’s quite common for noble ladies to have lovers.”
“That’s right. If the Viscount had been faithful to his marriage or had spent more time in the manor, Lady Sophia’s mistake shouldn’t pose a significant problem for executing the will.”
Neither Elizabeth nor Isabelle could refute the lawyers’ words.
It was a well-known fact that even during the early days of Nicholas becoming Viscount, he paid little attention to estate management and instead frequented the drinking and gambling establishments.
Moreover, since Sophia had been the only Viscountess for five years, she had worked hard. If she were to claim compensation for her efforts, there would be nothing to argue against.
『 I should have made these arguments sooner.』
Seeing Elizabeth and Isbelle unable to counterargue, Sophia felt like she had finally found an escape route in the dark tunnel.
If all the embezzlement charges are held against Whitman, these two won’t be able to harm her.
[If any of them are pregnant with the heir of the family, they shall receive an additional 10 percent each.]
The moment Sophia thought she had avoided a crisis, she looked at part of the will related to pregnancy.
Because of all the effort she had put into making Edith pregnant, she now had to take home an extra 10% share.
In any case, the inheritance that will go to Edith is the money that was meant to be returned to her by causing an unfortunate accident.
Sophia affectionately stroked Edith’s hand and simultaneously appealed to Elizabeth and Isabelle.
“You two need to understand. How did I feel about giving up my bed to Edith, who was brought in by the Viscount who never even laid a hand on me?”
“…”
“Do you know how miserable it is to wish that my husband would make love to another woman because it would be better, even if it’s not me?”
Sophia continued her plea, explaining that she had learned from her noble mother how important it was to carry on the family line.
“I, as a diligent Viscountess, brought Edith into the manor. If the child she’s carrying now eventually becomes the family head, I believe I deserve some recognition for that.”
“…”
After the carriage accident, Sophia was the first to find and take care of Edith.
At that moment when Elizabeth and Isabelle couldn’t continue the argument…
“…I can’t do it anymore, Sophia.”
Edith, with tears in her eyes, pulled Sophia’s hand away, as if burdened by a guilty conscience.
She continued, looking at Sophia as perplexed as Edith had been when she first heard of the pregnancy scheme.
“After all, in ten months, won’t everyone find out the truth… right?”
Sophia’s eyes trembled greatly at Edith’s statement.
❀.°• ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ •°.❀
