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"And there's also evidence that Lady Fran recently purchased a newborn from human traffickers."
"Hu, human trafficking?"
Payton was on the verge of fainting.
But the news Lockhart brought didn't end there.
"And also..."
"There's more?!"
"The news agencies, having heard the story, are rushing to write articles reporting on the affair between Your Excellency and Lady Fran..."
"Shit...!"
It was Elise who messed things up, but he was being dragged down with her, his image plummeting.
Unable to vent his anger, Payton pounded his fist on the desk, only to stop when his hand started to hurt.
At that moment, Leticia's voice suddenly flashed in his mind.
"Payton, you'll regret it if you leave like this."
"..."
"I clearly gave you a chance to protect your honor."
Could it be...?
'Did Leticia leak this? Is this what she meant by saying I'd regret it?'
She must have been determined to send his image plummeting to the very bottom.
Payton couldn't bring himself to hit his aching fist any harder, grinding his teeth instead. Lockhart, sensing his mood, cautiously asked.
"Your Excellency, what should we do about this?"
"What are you asking? Go stop the articles right now!"
"That's... but what about Lady Fran?"
"Do you think I'm going to worry about someone who just threw dirt on me?"
Payton shouted, but then seemed to remember something, abruptly calming down.
"No, wait a moment. Hold on."
"Yes...?"
"Still, we have history together. It would be a shame to end it like this."
Then he quickly began preparing something.
In the annex of the Imperial Knights' building, there were solitary cells where those not yet convicted of crimes were temporarily held.
It was the time when the knights who worked the day shift were leaving and those assigned to the evening shift were taking over.
Elise was sitting blankly alone in one of those cells.
A decent meal that the knights usually ate was set before her, but she hadn't touched it.
For the time being, she would stay here, considering that her charges hadn't been confirmed and because she was, after all, a noble lady.
But once the trial was over, she would be taken to the underground prison of the Imperial Palace without fail.
To a place where there was no light and the meals were meager.
But Elise couldn't accept reality.
'Why do I have to be treated like this?'
She had no intention of killing Ruen, nor did she intend to harm the baby she had purchased.
Rather, since she bought the baby from someone who couldn't afford to raise it, wasn't it a good thing for the baby, who would grow up without anything lacking, and for the parents as well?
Of course, buying and selling people was illegal, but that was the fault of the human traffickers who were selling them, wasn't it?
She had only bought the baby because it was for sale.
The more she thought about it, the more unfair it all seemed.
'By the way, is Payton planning to abandon me like this?'
Recalling the motive that led her to do all this, her sense of injustice grew even stronger.
'If that bastard hadn't been distracted by another woman and had just waited for me in the first place.'
No, even if he had just gotten rid of Leticia and married her.
If he had behaved himself, none of this would have happened.
It was all his fault.
'If he abandons me like this, I won't die alone.'
If Payton ignored her like this, she was going to tell the knights that she had planned everything with Payton.
Of course, even if she did, Payton hadn't been involved in this, so there would naturally be no evidence and he wouldn't be punished.
'At least he'll be talked about.'
But beneath it all, there was a glimmer of hope.
The expectation that Payton might still love her.
The hope that he might come to pick her up, considering their past relationship.
However, even though the news would have reached the Duke's family by now, there was no word from Payton.
As time passed, Elise grew more and more anxious, gnawing at her fingernails. That's when—
Knock, knock—
"Payton?"
Contrary to Elise's expectations, the voice she heard was that of a knight.
"A letter has arrived from the Farnese Dukedom."
"...Come in."
The knight gave Elise a letter bearing the seal of the Farnese Dukedom and left immediately.
Elise opened the letter with a mix of faint hope and anxiety.
[Elise,
There are many things I want to ask and say, but for the sake of our past relationship, I won't mention fraud.
However, I think I should make this clear.
If you have any conscience, I hope you won't involve me in this. Well, that's the truth anyway.
And even if this is resolved, let's never meet again. The fact that I was briefly deceived by a criminal and brought her into my house is already horrifying.
P.S. Your belongings will be sent to your family's barony, so please take care of them.]
"You son of a bitch...!"
After reading the letter, Elise trembled with anger and tore it to shreds.
"Why did I do all this! Because of whom! Aaaagh!"
She still wasn't relieved, so she clawed at the bed and screamed, but it didn't make her feel any better.
Rather, it only made her realize that this place where she was thrashing about was the reality.
'I don't want to end everything like this. Why am I the only one who has to be so miserable?'
That woman who took my place and drove me into this, and Payton, who rejected me as if he had been waiting for it, are both fine.
Why only me...?
Then suddenly, Leticia, who had been in a similar situation to her until recently, came to mind.
But Leticia, who had stormed out of the mansion after receiving a divorce request from Payton, had appeared with Idris by her side.
Recalling that image, she felt a surge of resentment.
'How did Leticia meet Duke Dellua?'
Why does that woman always have what I can't have?
Men, people's attention, wealth...
We're both daughters of the same barony, and my appearance isn't inferior to hers, but Leticia always seems to be the main character in this world.
Just because she met a good man.
That fact was terribly unfair.
'If a prince on a white horse appeared for me too...'
I could get revenge on Payton, who abandoned me, and that woman who threw me into the mud so miserably.
It was then, as she swallowed her resentment towards the fate that wasn't on her side.
The closed door opened without warning, and an unfamiliar figure entered.
"Wh, who...?"
The unknown fear instantly calmed the anger that had been burning until just now.
Elise stared at the figure with terrified eyes.
"It seems we meet again, Lady."
With the unfamiliar voice, the figure slowly came into the moonlight and stopped in front of Elise.
Elise's eyes widened in surprise as she saw the face.
"...Your Highness Duke Jahir?"
"You have a face that looks like you have many grievances. I can't ignore the lady's plight."
Deon reached out his hand to Elise.
"Shall we move to another place? I would like to hear the Lady's story."
Deon's figure, half-revealed in the moonlight, looked more like a devil than a prince on a white horse.
However, being on the edge of a cliff, she couldn't help but grab even at a straw.
Elise hesitated for a moment, then took his hand.
As if it were her last lifeline.
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