Moreover, they didn’t know why Maery was making a fuss over a toad.

They had just received an invitation from Green Count, saying, ‘I’ll show you something interesting, so please visit the mansion.’ Maybe they were curious about some incident related to the attempted poisoning during the party.

They never expected to witness Maery going crazy like a lunatic.

“Oh my… How rude.”

Maery lowered her hand that was about to strike Erwell and spoke elegantly, but it was already too late.

Everyone had seen it.
“Everyone, what’s going on in my room without any prior notice at this hour? Is this how guests are treated in the Gavizar Empire?”

“Yesterday at the party, I heard a story that my wife handed a glass of alcohol to Lady Whittle, and Lady Whittle passed that glass to Princess Ketven, and it turned out that the drink was poisoned.”

Kei spoke to the people behind, not Maery.

“Birchen Earl tried to take my wife away before investigating the truth, journalists wrote about the incident as they pleased, and some people murmured about my wife as if she were a criminal.”

The people mentioned by Kei turned their embarrassed gaze.

Kei slowly turned around and addressed the crowd.

“Now that the stage is set, let’s find out the real truth behind this incident. And you.”

Kei discreetly pointed his index finger at Brittany, who was trying to sneak out of the room.

Everyone in the room turned to look at Brittany. Startled by the attention, Brittany blushed and stood still.

“Lady Whittle, you are also a key witness in this incident, so don’t think about running away.”

+++

Rishi sat quietly in front of the dressing table, looking at her reflection in the mirror.

If Brittany stayed quiet, she wouldn’t have paid any more attention to her.

The countless torments she suffered in the Whittle Duchy.

Now, thinking back, Brittany might not have known that she was jealous of Rishi.

A daughter born from her father’s affair.

Despite that, she received more attention than the daughter who was born more beautifully than herself.

In her past life, Brittany’s misconduct intensified after Rishi became the empress.

Unforgivable deeds were committed, but there were things that hadn’t happened in this life.

So, she tried to let the harassment at the duchy end, considering it enough that she had been lenient so far.

But Brittany crossed the line.

“Now it’s over, Brittany. At least you’ll never be able to become the empress in the Whittleo family.”

“Iris, it’s ready.”

Erwell, who had entered Maery’s room with Kei, came back.

Rishi slowly stood up and, along with Erwell, headed towards Maery’s room where people were gathered.

As Rishi entered, everyone held their breath and focused on her.

Rishi took a deep breath and then spoke.

“I wanted to leave it buried since it wasn’t a pleasant matter, and I just wanted to quietly let it pass since there was nothing good about it. But since everyone seems eager to know the truth and shouting lies as if they were the truth… sigh. Now I have no choice but to reveal it.”

Even in the current situation, Maery’s expression was dignified.

But Brittany, sitting near Maery, didn’t look well. Her pale face seemed as if she could faint at any moment.

“I cut ties with the Whittle Duchy because the Whittle family didn’t like me much. Especially Brittany.”
Dozens of eyes simultaneously turned towards Brittany.

“When did I… Why are you making up such nonsense?”

There was no strength in Brittany’s voice.

Being in such a situation for the first time, she was so frightened that she seemed to have no strength to come out as boldly as usual.

Rishi silently stared at Brittany in that state and then turned to the people, speaking again.

“A few days ago. So, the night before the party. A man secretly sneaked into my bedroom.”

“Gasp!”

The hurried sound of inhaling came from Brittany.

The people’s attention turned back to Brittany.

Brittany covered her mouth with both hands and raised her head, but her suspicious appearance made those gathered there think,

‘She must have done something wrong.’

“Eldehurt.”

When Rishi looked at Eldehurt, he nodded, and the door opened. Then, Jamie entered with Alford.

Alford, who had been confined in the underground prison without eating for several days, was in a terrible state.

His disheveled hair and messy clothes matched his haggard face.

Alford’s wrists were tied behind his back, and he had a gag in his mouth.

People were dumbfounded by the unexpected appearance.

“Oh, that man…!”

A lady who recognized Alford started to say something but quickly closed her mouth.

As other nearby ladies looked at her as if asking for an explanation, she whispered,

“That, why… You know, he’s the former Lady Green’s husband… Alford Hooches.”

“Ah…”

The ladies quickly understood upon hearing the name and nodded. When their eyes met with Kei, they closed their mouths and avoided eye contact.

Despite hearing the ladies’ whispers, Rishi’s expression remained unchanged.

“My husband was away, leaving me alone in the bedroom, and this man popped out of the closet.”

“Oh my!”

“Such a…”

The ladies were surprised and whispered quietly.

“Ugh! Ugh!”

Alford seemed to want to protest, but he couldn’t say what he wanted because of the gag.

Alford’s eyes stopped on Brittany, and her face turned even paler.

Brittany tremblingly held her right hand with her left, but her left hand was also shaking.

“This man attacked me on the bed…”

Rishi stopped speaking, finding it difficult to say more.

Naturally, Eldehurt took over.

“Fortunately, Piamon and I, who were passing by the corridor on our way, noticed the incident and intervened before things got worse. We were lucky. If not, my sister-in-law would have been…”

Eldehurt grinned.

Although everyone was captivated by the story of Rishi almost encountering a major incident, they couldn’t shake off the questions that had taken hold of their minds.
What on earth was that crazy behavior of Meiri earlier, and why talk about the strained relationship between Brittany and Rishi, and why bring Alford Hooches here?

For such a filthy guy, it would be enough to just cut him off and get rid of him.

As if aware of such questions, Rishi opened her mouth.

“You might be curious about why I’m discussing these matters here. There is a reason for that. Everything is connected.”