Divorce Manual

Chapter 94

For a moment, Evangeline's shaky eyes stare at me, speechless.

"Yes, it's Catherine who comes to mind."

We've a wedge.

"You don't know how surprised I was when I first heard about it."

Honestly, this is a lie.

Of course, I was surprised when I first heard that Libby had bribed Catherine, but it wasn't to the point of being completely surprised.

It's more along the lines of, 'I knew you would do something like that.'

But—

"Nonsense."

Again, Evangeline can't believe the current situation.

That's right.

Catherine, a close aide who raised her from a young age and is loyal to the former duchess, takes bribery.

"Why...?"

"I do not know."

It's almost impossible to believe that Evangeline is truly this taken aback.

However, it doesn't matter whether or not Evangeline believes it.

"So, each—"

"You don't believe what they say, do you?"

I am going to move on, but my head turns back to Evangeline who dares to ask me a question.

"I believe it."

I look at her without an ounce of doubt.

"Now..."

She closes her eyes tightly as if to pool some moisture in her dry eyes, and then opens them.

"You think Catherine would do something like that? Given how much of a noble person Catherine is."

Well. I don't know about 'noble'...

"I think Catherine is the kind of person who can do that."

"What?"

"I know very well who she is after spending the past year with her."

"......"

"Strong in front of the weak, and infinitely weak in front of the strong."

Her sense of inferiority, I know it very well.

There's nothing much to it.

"Evidence-"

"Of course, there is."

Since this is a matter of condemning a person belonging to the entourage of the former duchess, it can't be sloppy.

I'm sure there will be a lot of counterattacks coming, but to start without proof?

That's absurd.

As a result, I have a confident expression in front of Evangeline.

"After listening to Libby, the maid who made the accusation, I did some research and found that there were several other people who had bribed Catherine besides her."

"Lies."

Evangeline, who spits out just one word like a man being strangled by my explanation.

"No way..."

She looks at me with her eyes wide open.

"Are you doing this for revenge?"

I stare at her, thinking that the word 'revenge' could make me laugh for a moment.

"Revenge?"

"Yes, revenge. You're trying to kick Catherine out of this house because she has insulted you! Something like that has never happened."

From her own mouth, Evangeline confesses that Catherine is behind today's events and that she knows all about it.

"Princess."

I look up at her coldly.

"I've never thought of it before, but it seems that Princess is trying to kick someone like that out, right?"

"I beg your pardon?"

"You know, it's only something that you see. People who usually dream of revenge will think that others want revenge on them."

"..."

"Has the princess ever tormented someone like that?"

"I beg your pardon?"

Evangeline squeals as if she's shocked by my calmness.

"Noisy...Uncultured."

Staring her down, I tell her the same thing that she often says while looking at me.

"What?"

At that moment, I see Evangeline raising her hand, moving it threateningly toward me as if a bomb has exploded above her head. Probably because I am taunting her with the word "Princess."

"You better not move too hastily."

"......"

"Because princesses aren't the only ones with hands."

Without blinking an eye, I give her a brief warning in a cutting voice.

I want her to know that the movement doesn't only mean physically.

Maybe she doesn't know.

Once I give the warning, I look back at Charles, hoping that he wouldn't go against me.

"I'm sorry."

(T/N: Abella says this to Charles)

"You don't look sorry at all."

"Actually I am."

It's a light tone that sounds like he's arguing, but his usual voice has softened as he stretches out his shoulders.

"So what do you think?"

"If you have committed a crime, you should be punished."

"No, because Catherine is not guilty!"

"......"

Evangeline screams in a deafening voice.

"Haiz—"

Sighing, I look back.

"Princess, has there ever been a person taking a bribe admitting to taking it?"

"Then we have to assume that she has not."

"...What?"

I frown, wondering what kind of novel nonsense she's saying.

"That's right! To throw away a maid who has been loyal to the family for a long time because of the lies that some of the other maids are claiming in order to gain power—"

"So what do you want to do?"

At Evangeline's nonsensical point of view, Charles cuts her off and pulls the conversation back to the two of us.

"You must have thought of something."

Even though she's not next to me, I can feel Evangeline's quivering from Charles's attitude of ignoring her, as if she's not even here.

"The maid said that they will file a complaint with the imperial court, so before that, we must first file a complaint."

I also ignore her as well.

"Please send the criminal to the imperial palace or better yet, you can get help from Hortman."

It's nice to have a House Mage. In this case, I can use him appropriately.

I'll continue to use him.

"I think it is a matter of protecting our family's honor."

"..."

"Though it's a bit noisy right now, I think this is the right choice for later."

At my sharp words, Charles nods his head slightly, telling me to continue.

"If there is a rumor that the imperial palace is involved, there will be no talk of the duke sacrificing a child who was a maid to protect Catherine. This situation will effectively—"

"Are you really crazy?"

Evangeline squeals, trying to insert herself into the calm conversation.

"Let's do that."

Even though he sees Evangeline like that, Charles doesn't bat an eye, only giving me his full support and standing up from his seat.

"Brother!"

"I will write the complaint form."

"Brother!"

"If we get to the capital on time, we'll be ready to deal with it right away."

As if she can't believe his words, Evangeline looks up at Charles with a bewildered expression.

"But Brother, Catherine!"

"And Ledin—"

"Yes, Your Excellency."

"After the trial, banish Catherine from Lapel Castle for good and deport her."

"Brother!"

It's an unprecedentedly decisive decision.

Even though Charles' nanny was Ergel, Catherine has also worked for Lapel for a long time.

To be honest, he, too, should have some affection for Catherine.

Since Catherine will be thrown out like this, everyone in the room can't help but be stunned.

Even I am shocked.

More so for Evangeline.

"You haven't even investigated Catherine's guilt yet."

Acting as if she's been kicked out, Evangeline shakes her head and steps forward as her emotions come pouring out.

"No! There is no clear evidence that—"

"I'm sure you don't think that there will be any, Evangline."

When I see Charles looking at her while blocking off her words, my eyes naturally turn to Curtis, who's attached to the wall like wallpaper.

"......"

Don't tell me.

To be honest, I thought Curtis would tell Charles.

Curtis is loyal to Charles, not me.

It isn't something to be sad about.

But—

Knowing all this, I wonder what Charles's intention is. Especially since he knows everything yet he says nothing until I told him.

There's no way Curtis told him to look the other way until I speak up first.

Even if he did, it's unlikely Charles would listen to him about this.

That's a big leap.

"..."

Since there are many people here, let's look at Charles.

"And Ledin..."

"Yes, Your Excellency."

"Freeze all of Evangeline's property in the duchy as of now."

He cuts off her wealth and burns her up.

"Tell them to get them out of the capital mansion, too."

Then...

"All the financial powers of the duke will transfer to Abella Diago."

Evangeline's life and death passport has been transferred neatly.