I’ll Be the Heroine’s Competent Divorce Partner - Chapter 147
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 147
“Got it.”
I waved my hand to dismiss the butler.
“Go back to the townhouse first. I’ll prepare myself and follow right behind you.”
“Understood, Marquis.”
The butler bowed politely and left.
At the same time, I let out a long sigh and covered my face with both hands.
“…Haah.”
What exactly is this feeling?
To be honest, I had never once liked David in my entire life.
He was truly an annoying and detestable person.
Every time I faced that insufferable face of his, my stomach would turn.
Moreover, hadn’t he fed poisoned stew to young children just to sabotage me?
But when I actually heard the news that David had died…
‘This is the worst.’
It wasn’t that I felt sympathy.
I was just frustrated.
I had wanted David to properly face the judgment of the law.
I hadn’t wanted him to die like this forever, making the situation chaotic.
‘This is really annoying.’
I bit my lip until it bled.
I felt lost, as if trapped in a maze.
* * *
Separately, I didn’t even have the luxury to be greatly shaken by David’s death.
After all, such a big shot as Duke Laventess had died.
I was so busy dealing with the aftermath that I couldn’t spare a moment to breathe.
In the midst of all this, I also carefully looked into David’s death.
‘Was there anything suspicious about Elder Brother’s death? Like meeting someone?’
In truth, David hadn’t been someone who lived his life well.
There were various grudge-bearing relationships, starting with Marisa.
But there wasn’t anything particularly noteworthy.
‘There wasn’t anything in particular. He did meet Marquis Bartsen on the day he passed away, but the two of them had such a deep friendship…’
‘Marquis Bartsen?’
I stiffened my shoulders for a moment.
But regardless of my personal aversion to Marquis Bartsen.
I know that David and the marquis had quite a solid friendship.
It wouldn’t be particularly strange for them to have met.
‘Or perhaps there was something suspicious in the doctor’s opinion. The food was fine, right?’
‘Yes, there was nothing at all.’
I even conducted an interview with the doctor, but only received answers that there were no suspicious circumstances at all.
Only Joshua and Isabel were able to give me strength.
Time passed frantically like that.
Before I knew it, the day of David’s funeral had arrived.
“Today we gather to bid farewell to David von Laventess, who was our dear friend, neighbor, and respected noble. We pray that David may rest peacefully in the goddess’s embrace and enjoy eternal peace…”
As the priest’s eulogy quietly echoed.
The coffin containing David slowly descended into the large pit.
Through the black veil draped over my face, I quietly watched David being buried in the ground.
‘He’s really dead.’
It seems his final journey was quite painful.
David lying in the coffin had a completely contorted face.
The funeral director had rubbed and smoothed his furrowed brow, but even so, David’s hardened expression didn’t look peaceful at all.
‘…This feels strange.’
David, stiff and rigid.
David, who would never again get angry at me or cause trouble.
The fact that I would never see someone again hit me deeply to the bone.
Rather than feeling regretful or sad… well.
It was just complicated in many ways.
“Marquis Lucerno.”
Just then, the priest who had finished the eulogy called out to me.
“Please pay your final respects to the duke.”
“Yes.”
I nodded and stepped forward.
I placed a single lily on the closed coffin and quietly offered a silent prayer.
Afterward, the mourners began placing lilies in order of their rank.
The Crown Prince, Joshua.
Marquis Bartsen, who claimed to be a close friend.
And even the group of nobles who used to follow David and the marquis around.
Just as pure white lilies were piling up abundantly on the coffin.
“I’m sorry to say this, but honestly, I wonder if it’s appropriate for Marquis Lucerno to be conducting this funeral.”
Marquis Bartsen spoke with a determined tone.
“Isn’t it true that he died because of the policy you implemented this time?”
What kind of ridiculous nonsense is that?
I looked at the marquis with an astounded expression.
“If Marquis hadn’t proposed that policy, Duke Laventess wouldn’t have been unnecessarily entangled in pointless gossip either.”
Pointless gossip?
Could that tremendous incident David committed really be reduced to mere ‘pointless gossip’?
I was so bewildered that I was left speechless.
Meanwhile, interpreting my silence in some way, Marquis Bartsen became even more emboldened and continued speaking.
“The Duke’s heart attack. Could it really be unrelated to the extreme pressure he experienced during that time?”
“You speak the truth!”
“I also agree with those words.”
Other nobles, caught up in the atmosphere, came forward one after another to express their agreement.
Unable to bear it any longer, I opened my mouth.
“It truly pains my heart to say this about my deceased Elder Brother, but the extreme pressure Elder Brother experienced was brought upon himself. Elder Brother had suspicions regarding this food poisoning incident…”
“My goodness, isn’t that too heartless?”
Marquis Bartsen shook his head disapprovingly for all to see.
Then he clicked his tongue briefly and stared directly at me.
“Still, he’s your own Elder Brother. Must you speak so coldly even at his funeral?”
“Marquis Bartsen was the one who brought up the topic first, wasn’t he?”
Unable to overcome my frustration, I protested once again.
However, the gazes of people looking at me weren’t particularly kind.
After all, this was a funeral.
My attitude of pointing out the deceased’s wrongs was distasteful to them.
Especially since this gathering was mainly attended by people who had been close to David.
“What exactly are you all doing right now?”
Unable to watch any longer, Joshua interjected into the conversation.
“Instead of mourning the deceased and praying for his peace, you’re raising your voices.”
Then Marquis Bartsen glared at Joshua with fierce eyes.
“Well, I wonder if Your Highness truly has the right to say such things?”
“What did you say?”
“I’m saying that Crown Prince Your Highness also bears some responsibility for Duke Laventess’s death.”
After snapping like that, the marquis looked around at the surrounding people in a full circle.
It was an exaggerated attitude as if he had become the lead actor in a play.
“The Imperial Family’s coercive investigation, and even the declaration to put him on trial for punishment. Duke Laventess must have felt tremendous psychological burden.”
“But all those processes were lawful. Whether noble or commoner, if one commits a crime, they must rightfully be punished.”
However, Joshua didn’t even bat an eyelash.
“Then is Marquis Bartsen arguing that the Duke should have received special treatment? Simply because of his high status?”
“That’s not exactly what I mean. But a person died, didn’t he?”
The marquis quickly stepped back.
However, the marquis’s words weren’t finished yet.
“Until the Duke passed away like that, whether everyone here truly bears no responsibility… that’s something we should think about.”
The marquis, who had been looking back and forth between Joshua and me, concluded with a grave voice.
“Furthermore, I believe that neither of you two are free from that responsibility.”
“….”
“….”
A cold silence flowed.
I clenched my molars tightly.
‘To think he’d come out like this.’
Even so, hadn’t he been exchanging very intimate interactions with David recently?
I never knew he would exploit his death like this.
Just then, the priest who had been reading the atmosphere quickly spoke up.
“How can the deceased depart in peace like this? Let us all see him off on his final journey with smiling faces.”
Only then did the sharp atmosphere subside somewhat.
But people continued to look at Joshua and me with piercing gazes.
Until the funeral was completely finished. Continuously.
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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