Chapter 59: 55

Contrary to expectations, Count Barten spoke innocently, as if without a second thought.

This reaction was incomprehensible to me.

Is something happening that I’m not aware of?

I felt that something was wrong here.

Such an ominous premonition still didn’t let me go.

Count Barten slowly approached the pulpit.

“Count Barten. What can you say to that?”

Marquis Paren frowned deeply.

Count Barten suddenly shouted:

“All my stupidity is to blame! I knew for sure, it was unnecessary to be aroung Metas.”

All eyes were on him.

“But I never imagined that the Viscount would try to embezzle such a large sum. Please believe me,” the count said loudly.

“Count. Do you admit that you tried to defame Duke Croft by conspiring with Viscount Metas?”

“I… I never wanted anything like this,” he spoke in a trembling voice. “But even if I didn’t follow Metas, he threatened to blame all the sins on me… I had no other fate.”

Count Barten said with tears in his eyes.

“All my previous testimony was Metas’s plan. He forced me into blackmail. Just ask the servant how it was.”

Count Barten turned to Thun.

“I’ll be honest with you. In a conversation between the count and Viscount Metas, it sounded that… this… the whole conspiracy was held solely on Metas.”

Thun bowed his head.

“Your Honor. I really had to help him under threats. Please, please.”

Count Barten fell to the floor in tears.

Sighs were heard from the nobles, as if they felt sorry for him.

But I had no sympathy for Count Barten.

You say the conspiracy was planned by Metas alone? What nonsense.

Viscount Metas was able to get into the service at the Imperial Palace only with the support of Count Barten.

‘Immediately put the sword to the neck of the count and then the truth will pour out,’ I wanted to scream, but there was little evidence for that.

The only witness who was on our side was the servant, who only heard one conversation in fragments.

There was no conclusive evidence to support the long-term relationship between Viscount Metas and Count Barten.

“Blackmail…?”

“I couldn’t help it. My family was at stake.”

“Although Count Barten has a hot temper, he is not the kind of person who would go for a scam with the treasury.”

The nobles spewed out words of sympathy at the sight of Count Barten lying on the floor, crying and begging for mercy.

And I surprisingly agreed with the last words.

Count Barten lacked neither the mind nor the will to draw up such a complex plan.

Obviously someone bought it.

Probably… it’s you.

I glanced at Marquis Sios, who was sitting silently in the midst of the noisy nobility.

His green eyes met mine for a moment. His eyebrows came together in surprise. The deep-seated hostility hidden in those green eyes appeared to me.

What the hell do you want from us?

Marquis Sios was so obstinate about the Croft family.

After looking at him for a moment, I quickly turned away.

When I saw the face of Marquis Sios, who was now pretending to have no connection with Count Barten, I suddenly felt so ridiculous.

At another moment, I fixed my gaze on a new place.

A man in a robe and hat was standing at the pillar behind the podium.

I had not seen the face of this man in a dark purple robe, but for some reason he felt familiar.

Well, of course…

Jeremy.

He never showed up at my shop before he left. It was necessary to understand that he had rejected the offer to return to the Empire together.

A heavy burden fell on him, so returning to this place would not be as easy as it was for me.

But he couldn’t…

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How did you come here?

How did you get into the courtroom, even if you were in the Empire?

Then the man stepped forward. And he headed towards me.

At that moment, the judge spoke.

“Knights, take Count Barten into custody and hand him over to the investigation team.”

“Your Honor, please tell the truth to His Majesty!”

The knights escorted the count out of the hall. Marquis Paren opened his mouth again. He looked over to where the robed man stood, but it was already empty.

“Let’s continue the trial. Duke Croft.”

“Yes.”

“The defendant’s innocence was proved by the testimony and confession of Count Barten.”

The father listened in silence.

“Well, all suspicion has been cleared.”

The stern voice of Marquis Paren came from the judge’s seat.

The nobles, who, even in their dreams, couldn’t see such an outcome, were now stunned.

The servant’s testimony was enough to prove that Duke Croft had only fallen into a trap.

In addition, Count Barten himself admitted his involvement.

The nobles, who had gathered to see the collapse of the family most loyal to the Emperor, like the opposition, were now all embarrassed, but couldn’t say anything.

And then I took a step towards the pulpit.

“I have something to say.”

There is one more thing left.

Marquis Paren nodded slightly and said:

“As the lady wishes.”

“Although Count Barten pleaded guilty, and the Duke’s innocence, fortunately, was proven… Didn’t the damage to the Empire remain?”

“…Are you talking about 4 000 gold?”

Marquis Paren raised an eyebrow. He fixed his gaze at me, as if he was trying to discern my intentions at that moment.

“Yes. Your Honor. I’m the only heir to the family, and for the sake of the Empire, I would like to compensate for these losses.”

The consequences of my words were significant.

The blue eyes of Marquis Paren went up to his forehead, and the nobles in the hall held their breath.

Their faces conveyed their misunderstanding, disbelief in the words they had just heard.

4 000 gold.

An average noble estate will cost 2 000 gold.

Even if the entire estate was sold, that amount couldn’t be collected at once.

There would be no nobleman here who could shell out that amount at a time, with the exception of the Imperial Mint.

They might even think I was crazy.

I looked at the nervous nobles and turned towards the door.

“Come in.”

The door opened and Lumont appeared.

And behind him was a procession of servants carrying large bags.

One, two, three, four… Dozens of heavy bags were now in the center of the hall.

Each time a heavy bag of gold was laid on the marble floor, the mouths of the nobility opened wider and wider.

The moment the last bag was finally on the floor, I said with a bright smile:

“Your Honor, I’m donating 4 000 gold to the Empire on behalf of Ellie Croft.”

The ending of this meeting was sure unusual.

When the shocked nobles left the hall, and the knights took away all the bags, only then could I speak to my father.

“Are you okay?”

My father kept staring at me and at Lumont, who was standing behind.

“I think you have to explain something.”

“Yeah. When we return to the mansion, I’ll tell you everything.”

When I was about to congratulate my emaciated father on the victory, a quiet voice called me.

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