My Ex-Boyfriend Gave Birth to My Child? What Does That Mean? - Chapter 63

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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My Ex-Boyfriend Had My Child—What’s That Supposed to Mean? Episode 63
After the date with Leon, the craze for Milky Way Silk Ribbons and Flower Hair Ornaments that had swept through the Capital was lasting far longer than I’d anticipated.
“Honestly, ma’am! These days if you go out without one, people say you don’t know what’s fashionable at all! And since the Duke gave you this as a gift, you absolutely must wear it today!”
Rita, oblivious to where the trend had even begun, chattered away as she fixed a blue Flower Hair Ornament into my hair.
I was wearing a Milky Way Silk Dress in deep blue-gray with hints of soft green woven subtly through it. My hair was pinned up, and with the ornament woven in, I looked appropriately youthful and elegant for my age.
In a sudden good mood, I twirled once before the mirror. The beads dangling from the ornament clinked softly against each other, making an adorable, delicate sound.
Rita clapped her hands together.
“Oh, you’re absolutely radiant today! Everyone will be unable to tear their eyes away from you!”
“They shouldn’t be looking at me at all. I’m not going to a ball today. I’m going to observe the Court proceedings!”
“Oh, you know what I mean! That’s why we chose such understated dress and ornaments. But it’s such a shame—you’re so beautiful, and yet you have to go to such an unsavory place. You really ought to have a proper date with the Duke on the way!”
“Today is a Court date.”
“The Duke really has no idea what romance is, does he?”
“It’s fine.”
“Well, neither do you, ma’am.”
Why was it that whenever I was about to say something myself, hearing someone else say it first felt inexplicably irritating?
I pinched Rita’s cheek lightly.
Rita giggled and carefully arranged my skirt, then quickly moved to open the door.
“Perfect, ma’am! You’re ready for your date now.”
* * *
Word of Giz’s arrest had come a few days earlier.
It was thanks to Leon having brought me the petition, which I’d passed along through Vivian Rochelle to the Temple.
Once the petition had been formally received by the High Priest, there was no way it could be delayed.
The Temple immediately dispatched the Holy Knights, and here I was, attending the trial of Giz, who had been captured so swiftly.
Giz had the haggard face of someone who’d been imprisoned in solitary confinement at the Capital Temple for several days. The thin, sharp-featured man appeared to be roughly the same age as Schule.
That this man had dared seek to betroth himself to Evening!
I restrained the urge to rush at him and slap his face, squeezing Leon’s hand tightly instead as I sat beside him.
“In the name of God, I now commence the trial regarding Giz’s Sacred Ground Violation.”
The High Priest, his expression solemn, declared the trial open. After confirming jurisdiction and receiving the records previously submitted by the Territory’s priest, testimony began.
“……He was a very devout man. He had an excellent reputation in the village as well.”
“But he dared insult a nobleman.”
Giz interjected between the priest’s words. The priest paused briefly, then spoke again as though he hadn’t heard Giz’s remark.
“He confessed his sin and said he wished to atone for it before God. I permitted him to do so. Confessing sin and seeking forgiveness before God is a right granted to any penitent.”
Giz scoffed again.
“He certainly drew that out—fleeing to the Temple, as they say!”
The High Priest spoke sternly to his conduct.
“Show respect to the priest, Giz!”
Only when the High Priest expressed his displeasure did Giz bow his head politely.
“I was overcome with grievance and made a mistake. I will be careful.”
Even as he said this, he glared at the Village Priest from his Territory with a look that said “just you wait.”
“The next morning, five armed guards of Giz invaded the Temple courtyard with muddy feet. All were equipped with spears and swords.”
The gallery stirred at this point.
Armed men daring to breach the Sacred Ground? Giz’s audacity was staggering. It was a complete disregard for the Temple’s authority.
“They dragged the penitent out from the cell where he had been praying. His screams as he was beaten were so loud they echoed through the entire Temple.”
Vivian Rochelle, seated beside the High Priest, opened her mouth quietly.
“A clear violation of the Sacred Ground.”
The High Priest asked as though he hadn’t heard her.
“Was blood spilled?”
“It was not.”
“They came with spears and swords but didn’t use them, then.”
“That is correct.”
“And?”
“And the one who was taken was executed in the Square on God’s holy day.”
Even the High Priest’s expression darkened at that point. Apparently the execution had been quite brutal indeed.
After a brief but intense discussion among the Divine Law scholars in the gallery, the High Priest raised his hand and called for a recess.
After a recess that was anything but short, the High Priest extended his hand toward Giz with a saintly, benevolent expression and rendered his judgment.
“The crimes of Giz are grave, yet considering that he has sworn to maintain the Sacred Ground of his barony thoroughly, that he has paid the compensation required of him, and that he has no prior history of violating the Sacred Ground……”
I clicked my tongue as I looked at the Village Priest’s expression of despair.
‘The High Priest has abandoned the Village Priest.’
Once Giz returned to his Territory, would he truly leave alone the Village Priest who had accused him? Even if he didn’t touch the man directly, what would become of the Temple workers and his collaborators?
With this judgment, the High Priest had effectively abandoned them all.
“…I hereby sentence Giz to a fine, to be executed immediately. See that such matters do not recur in future.”
“Thank you for your wise judgment.”
Giz bowed deeply to the High Priest.
The High Priest’s expression—Vivian Rochelle’s expression—was decidedly grim. Her furrowed brow turned toward me, seated in the gallery.
Our eyes met, and a glance laden with meaning passed between us.
I offered her a small smile in return.
In truth, I’d already known that Giz wouldn’t face any serious punishment in today’s Temple court.
I’d heard he’d made a substantial donation to the High Priest.
But the reason I’d insisted on attending with Leon wasn’t because the Temple’s trial was my goal.
The High Priest’s grave voice rang through the Temple court.
“This verdict is final and non-negotiable. No appeals shall be heard. Court dismissed.”
With the High Priest’s closing pronouncement, those gathered began to rise one by one.
I followed after Giz, now a free man, as he prepared to leave the Temple with the retainers he’d brought to the Capital.
Leon and I stepped outside first, and I called out to him.
“Lord Giz.”
Giz looked me over with a studied gaze, but his eyes settled into propriety once he noticed Leon standing beside me.
“And who might you be?”
“I am Irina Otreha. I believe you know my family.”
“Ah,”
the man replied with a knowing smile.
“Then you must be Duke Voltain. Your Grace.”
Giz bowed respectfully to Leon with practiced grace, his expression turning serpentine.
“For you both to attend my trial—your consideration runs deep. Surely the Temple has no choice but to heed Duke Voltain’s attention.”
He clearly believed we’d come to pressure the Temple on his behalf.
Of course—Schule, I should say.
He apparently hadn’t mentioned our true relationship to the noble houses he was courting for investment, unwilling to make them uncomfortable about binding ties with my family.
“Indeed. It was essential I attend this trial personally.”
“Ha, thanks to you both, everything went smoothly.”
“You’re too kind.”
Shortly after, he stepped beyond the Temple doors.
I smiled and spoke.
“I couldn’t let such an opportunity slip away.”
The moment Leon drew the Royal Seal Arrest Warrant from his coat, soldiers hidden nearby surged forward and seized Giz by both arms.
“What—what in blazes are you doing! Unhand me at once!”
“By order of the Royal Court. Lord Giz, you are under arrest for Tax Evasion.”
The Royal insignia on the knight’s breastplate gleamed in the sunlight. The square filled with whispers in an instant.
At the mention of the Royal Court, Giz’s face drained of color as his arms were bound fast.
I stepped closer to Giz and whispered low.
“You should have asked yourself if you were fit to lay hands on another man’s daughter.”
* * *
The Royal Court hearing, it’s said, had no moment to grow tedious.
“A discrepancy of up to three times was discovered between the payment confirmations submitted by the Merchant Guild and the tax reports filed from Giz’s Territory.”
The moment the Royal tax collector gave his testimony, the most devastating charge—tax evasion—ignited outrage throughout the courtroom.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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