Resetting Lady

As Verdic worried over his thoughts, Dullan helped him out.

“W-Weren’t you going to hand her over to Crown Prince Gueuze a-anyway?”

At this, Verdic nodded.

“Of course, yes.”

“H-H-However, why don’t you t-think about it a little more?”

“Are you saying that I shouldn’t?”

Verdic glowered at Dullan, who was saying such strange nonsense. Now that he thought about it though, since Isella’s awake now, he no longer needed Dullan.

It’s true that he often received sleeping pills or sedatives from him, but the priest also sometimes overstepped and would give excessive advice like this.

“I-I’m not saying that. However… Sir R-Raymond, he… he came to see me.”

Verdic’s frown grew deeper as he listened to Dullan explain what had happened. Apparently, Raymond confided his worries about Carynne to the priest.

“Why did he approach you?”

“…He, he believes… that I’m still… a-attached to Carynne.”

“Ha, haha!”

So it’s come to this.

Dullan even talked more. Both he and Verdic thought of many ways to exact revenge.

“I-It might fail, but you n-n-never know.”

Raymond was in correspondence with Prince Lewis, and he’s likely to act in order to take Carynne back from Crown Prince Gueuze. In other words, more preparations should be made to ensure that their revenge would be perfectly executed.

Besides, Crown Prince Gueuze seemed to have been more amazed than Verdic at the sight of Dullan’s tenacity about taking revenge against Carynne.

“……”

And so, Verdic handed over Carynne to Crown Prince Gueuze.

In the end, Verdic was a businessman. A diversified investment was the heart of trade. Verdic handed Carynne over to Crown Prince Gueuze while considering how to further pressure Raymond.

That’s where Dullan would help.

* * *

“Your Honor, please take a look at this piece of evidence.”

The prosecutor took out more documents. At this, Verdic smirked. He allowed Isella the opportunity to take the stand as a witness so that his daughter could vent her anger in this way.

Even so, Verdic had recruited not just one or two people.

If Marquis Penceir was pressuring the jury, then Verdic was buying out people. Half of the attendees present in this courtroom—regardless of their vested interests—were members of the House of Representatives. Their votes and the public’s sentiment could not be totally ignored.

“Kill the witch!”

“Death sentence! Death sentence! Death sentence!”

“Bring down the iron mace of the law unto the wench!”

All the people shouting outside were people who Verdic bought, and they were holding a protest against Carynne Evans, who they despised. A few members of the jury whispered unpleasantly amongst themselves.

“……”

The judge, too, frowned. This trial was not just any typical trial that could be judged simply by the law.

The royals were involved. Apart from that, the wealth and dignity of the nobles were involved.

The old judge was exhausted from the day-long trial. It’s been turned upside down, over and over again.

Then, just now, the prosecutor came up with conclusive evidence in favor of Verdic.

“This is the document that bolsters Carynne Evans’ insanity defense. It is fabricated.”

“…Hoh, what did you just say?”

The judge adjusted his glasses, disgruntled.

“The document that the defendant’s fiancé, Sir Raymond Saytes, had been written by the defendant’s former fiancé, Dullan Roid.”

Raymond gritted his teeth. Things were going further downhill. He immediately knew what the prosecutor was going to say next.

“Sir Raymond Saytes bribed Dullan Roid with 10,000 gold coins. This is a clear fact that has been found in the bank statement that Verdic Evans has presented.”

In the end, much of Raymond’s money came from Verdic Evans. It wouldn’t be all too difficult for Verdic Evans to manipulate a few little bank documents to prove that Raymond withdrew some money and gave it to Dullan.

“At the Evans Bank, you mean.”

The judge adjusted his glasses once more. Verdic noticed that the judge was trying to probe him. Digging a little deeper into the truth behind this piece of evidence would only put him at a disadvantage.

What Verdic wanted here was a quick ruling.

So, he’s receiving some help.

From that man, who was betrayed by Carynne—and despised her.

“I would like to request Dullan Roid to testify.”

Screech.

It was a chair being pushed back.

Raymond’s teeth were clenched. Well, it’s only natural. He wouldn’t have even expected this. Raymond was completely mistaken about one certain thing.

Raymond thought that he and Dullan were in a cooperative relationship. But in truth, it was Verdic and Dullan.

Perhaps Raymond thought that Dullan had even a single ounce of love for Carynne, that’s why.

Verdic clicked his tongue. A naïve knight like him should really stop regarding other people based on his own standards.

Creeeak.

Dullan’s here.

Verdic was quite partial to the priest’s wily nature.

He walked up to the bible with deliberate and unhesitant steps. If looks could kill, then Raymond’s glare alone would have killed Dullan right there and then—but it was of no effect to Dullan at all.

He came out here donned in his black priest’s robe and bright stole. He forced himself to stand upright with a straightened back, and so he looked taller than usual.

There stood the young priest, who looked skinny and frail, but unlikely to utter a lie.

Dullan placed a hand over the bible and spoke.

“I do solemnly swear that I shall utter the whole truth and nothing but the truth before the presence of God.”

Then, he testified slowly but surely.

“Raymond Saytes coerced me into making a written document to prove Carynne Evans’ insanity. I swear in the name of God.”

The trial ended with that.

Three times, the gavel rang.

Carynne Evans was sentenced to death.

* * *

Verdic Evans left the bench, arranging his clothes. As the crowd started thinning out, the one who’s left was Dullan.

He had returned to his usual self, abysmal posture and all. He looked more comfortable standing with his shoulders hunched like that. As comfortable, perhaps, as lying blatantly in everyone’s faces.

Verdic laughed.

“Thank you, Reverend Dullan.”

Verdic offered a hand to Dullan, and Dullan shook it.

“We would have been in a pickle if not for your cooperation.”

“It’s not… a b-big deal.”

Dullan said this, but really, things wouldn’t have been this smooth had he not intervened.

In the end, Raymond Saytes did not buy out Dullan. He seemed to genuinely think that his fiancée has got a problem with her pretty little head.

Even so, would that clear her of her sins?

Verdic did not think so.

Carynne committed a crime.

And it was the crime of making Verdic lose out on business.

“As promised… your e-end of the deal.”

“Yes, Reverend. Just as you requested, I shall file an appeal to have her be executed at that place.”

Verdic grinned.

“I am Carynne’s legal father, so I have the right to do so.”

“……”

Oh, how fun. This was the first time he felt delight at the fact that he had adopted Carynne. He had the right to do so—to designate her place of death.

Verdic was ecstatic about being served this meal called ‘revenge’.

And it was now time to feast.

Verdic accordingly gave the priest’s share of the meal.

“Of course, I shall also have you be designated as the priest in charge of her final confession.”

Verdic quite liked this wily priest. He neatly put on his gloves and returned to his garish carriage. There’s something he still needs to see, so he had to follow through. And besides, Verdic was being accompanied by soldiers that the king had assigned to him.

If Raymond and the marquis wanted Carynne to live, then on the other side of the fence, Verdic and the reigning king wanted Carynne to die. The tug-of-war ended in the latter’s victory.

“Hmm, hmm.”

Verdic was in a good mood.

Carynne Evans would be Dullan’s plaything until her final moments, and it’s only after she’d been played with so thoroughly that she would die.

It was a miserable death fitting for an enemy who dared face Verdic.

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