I Don’t Need a Dad Like This! - Chapter 23
—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————
【Chapter 23】
In the midst of this, the knights reported to the Emperor sitting at the head table.
“Your Majesty! We have arrested Miss Ella Melmont, who orchestrated the carriage attack on Marquis Philip and his party!”
‘What?’
Serena unconsciously stepped back and covered her mouth with trembling hands.
‘…Why is Marquis Philip here?’
Naturally, she had expected Rie and Emilia to come alone in the carriage.
‘But they came with Marquis Philip?’
They’re just a four-year-old brat and a divorced woman. What could he possibly gain from being so close to those two?
In Serena’s mind, when forming relationships with someone, there always had to be some benefit to gain.
Acts of kindness without calculation were impossible in her world.
While Serena was confused, the Emperor, who had heard the situation from the knight, stood up.
“I apologize, Duke Casselik, Lady Serena. I didn’t want to interrupt, but this seems like an important matter. May I borrow a moment?”
On the surface it was close to a gentle request, but in reality it was a command.
As Serena turned her head to respond to the Emperor, she hesitated upon seeing something she shouldn’t have seen.
In the first row seats where only high-ranking nobles could sit, there was an unusually small child.
It was Rie.
That child sitting next to Marquis Philip was playing hand games with her mother.
‘…Rie arrived on time? And she’s sitting in the front row?’
Does this mean all three of them weren’t attacked?
“Serena?”
“Your Majesty. Of, of course.”
Serena, who had been in shock, was awakened from her thoughts by Casselik’s call.
She quickly bowed her head toward the Emperor. However, it felt infuriating as it seemed like she was bowing to Rie, who was sitting in the same front row.
“Your Majesty, please speak.”
When Casselik, who was about to enter the Virgin Road behind her, also nodded, the Emperor cleared his throat and spoke to everyone.
“Since I’ve asked for your understanding, I’ll speak now. Marquis Philip, Lady Emilia, and Miss Rie were attacked in their carriage while traveling to attend the wedding.”
At those words, the audience stirred greatly.
“A carriage attack? How bold must they be to target Marquis Philip?”
“It’s not even some rural countryside, but a carriage attack in a city like this. Did that woman do it alone?”
Thump thump thump.
Among the murmuring people, Serena’s heart beat painfully fast.
“As a result of interrogating the mercenary who participated in the carriage attack, it was revealed that it was Miss Ella from Count Melmont House…”
“I’m not the real culprit!”
At that moment, Ella’s desperate cry cut off the Emperor’s words.
“I have no grudge against Marquis Philip and Lady Emilia. So why would I orchestrate a carriage attack? Everything… Serena ordered me to do it!”
Ella, who was kneeling with tears streaming down her face, glared at one spot as if she wanted to kill.
Then all eyes followed her gaze toward Serena.
“What? Lady Serena? That’s ridiculous.”
“She’s not that kind of person!”
“No, if it’s really true, then why on earth…?”
Bewilderment, shock, and even a hint of wariness.
Her whole body stung from the first negative gazes she had ever received.
But Serena felt wronged.
‘…I did it?’
Of course, it was true that she had brought it up first.
But she had only spoken out of concern for ‘Rie’s education.’
‘Ella was the one who first suggested causing the carriage incident!’
Her white hands gripping the bouquet turned pale blue.
They say when people are cornered, their true nature is revealed.
‘Miss Ella, I didn’t think you were like that…’
She even resented Cedric for choosing the wrong person.
From Serena’s deeply contorted eyes, tears suddenly burst forth.
“Hic, hic… sob… I, I was just…”
Dropping the bouquet and burying her face in both hands as she collapsed, she looked exactly like a tragic heroine.
“I was… just so excited about today’s wedding. I thought only happy things would happen from now on… What on earth is this? Why, why do I have to hear such baseless slander on my wedding day…?”
“Good heavens.”
The onlookers sighed at her clear face and genuinely sorrowful voice.
“Shouldn’t Duke Casselik go comfort her?”
Some people even questioned why Casselik wasn’t rushing to Serena’s side.
Casselik merely stared at her blankly.
Naturally, there was no need to worry about a woman he had married in a contract marriage. Casselik was that kind of man.
Rather, if Serena had been the culprit behind the carriage incident, he might have rushed over to express his anger.
Meanwhile, Ella, flustered by the sudden tears, shouted out.
“It’s, it’s true! Serena asked me to do it! Serena, say something…!”
“Enough!”
Finally, the Emperor, unable to watch any longer, stepped in.
“I heard that you directly commissioned the mercenary group to attack the carriage! To add credibility to that claim, you shouldn’t have done that! The truth will be determined later in the courtroom. Take the suspect away!”
“Yes!”
With her head deeply bowed and crying, Serena glanced at Ella being dragged away.
She had barely managed to avoid the immediate situation, but this certainly wasn’t the end.
She would need to meet with Cedric first.
* * *
Serena, absorbed in her own plans, didn’t know that Cedric, who was also suspected as an accomplice and detained by the Imperial Security Force, had been unable to attend the wedding.
He had been interrogated because he was her lover, but he was able to barely escape from the security force because only ‘Ella’ had appeared from the past to commission the mercenaries.
“Brother-!”
“Serena, you’re safe! Where is Ella?”
The siblings embraced dramatically as if reuniting after 10 years.
“…Brother, that’s not the problem right now. Sister Ella accused me.”
“What do you mean?”
“Sister Ella appeared at the wedding venue… saying I was the culprit, that she was innocent…”
At Serena’s sobbing words as she was held in his arms, Cedric flinched.
Even he thought that Serena was indeed the real culprit behind this carriage incident.
Ella had only hired the mercenary in Serena’s place after hearing Cedric’s story. So her grievance was justified, and Cedric himself had harbored some resentment toward his sister.
But-.
“…I’m really sad.”
Serena had it all planned out.
She knew exactly where her own brother’s heart would weaken.
“If I become the Duke’s wife like this, it would be really easy to free Sister Ella from prison…”
“Is, is that so?”
Actually, it wasn’t true.
But Serena looked up at him with moist eyes wet with tears.
“Yes. But… I’ll have to go to prison, let alone get married, won’t I?”
“…”
“Then Sister Ella’s grievance will be resolved! Since Brother Cedric and Sister Ella don’t have the power to save me… I’ll go to prison…”
When Cedric’s eyes wavered, she suddenly pushed against his chest.
“But that would be right! I’ll go and tell them.”
It was when she wiped her eyes with the back of her hand and was about to take a step.
“W-wait a moment. Serena.”
Cedric grabbed her wrist.
“Yes?”
“If you become the Duke’s wife… is it true that you can save Ella?”
As expected, he fell for it.
She suppressed the corners of her mouth that were about to rise and gazed at Cedric with a forlorn expression.
“Brother knows best about the Theodore Ducal House’s prestige, don’t you?”
“That’s right. Then… alright. For the bigger picture, let’s sacrifice Ella for now.”
“Yes? What do you mean…”
“Ella will understand everything later too. And I absolutely can’t bear to see you go to prison!”
“Brother…!”
The siblings embraced again as if having another dramatic reunion. With this, Ella was confirmed as the culprit of the carriage incident.
—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE
