“This trial will discuss the lawsuit filed by the plaintiff, Lady Fisher, against Lady Crateon regarding the inheritance rights of Lord Crateon. First, please present the plaintiff’s testimony.”

As the judge’s words announcing the start were spoken, all eyes were fixed on Margaret.

Next to her was a lawyer, quite renowned in the capital.

“Before presenting the testimony, I will refer to the late Lord Crateon as the former Lord Crateon. The former Lord Crateon[—].”

“Objection. Your Honor, we have not yet found the body, and the funeral has not taken place. The expression ‘former’ is inappropriate.”

“Objection accepted. Please change your statement, plaintiff.”

Until now, the judge seemed undecided on whose side to favor.

Acknowledging this, Margaret’s lawyer, instead of expressing discomfort, simply nodded and began speaking.

“Due to the absence of Lord Crateon, the current situation is quite unstable. Especially with no proper successor, many are concerned. Isn’t that correct?”

“Yes, that is correct.”

“In times of uncertainty, have you not considered efforts to alleviate the anxiety?”

“I only believed in my husband’s return.”

“Wasn’t it an attempt to avoid the crisis under the pretext of belief?”

The gaze carried a deliberate intent. Despite that, I remained expressionless, casually looking at the lawyer.

Margaret might try to stamp me as an incapable leader, but I had already set the direction for today’s trial.

“I am Crateon.”

“No one is unaware that the lady is Lady Crateon.”

“From before my husband became Crateon.”

“…….”

“As Crateon’s daughter and wife, I have lived my entire life. Is there anyone who knows more about Crateon than I do?”

I deliberately scanned the surroundings slowly.

The gazes, treating my tragedy as a very entertaining spectacle, were no different now than before.

“This trial is not about the lady’s lineage. From the beginning, the lady[—].”

“Of course, I have no inheritance rights. However, that doesn’t mean I’m not Crateon.”

It seemed that the lawyer didn’t expect me to declare that I had no inheritance rights myself, as he hesitated, muttering only a few words.

Not missing this opportunity, I immediately continued.

“Everyone remembers that I am Crateon. From my birth until now, everyone. People who are not anyone else remember.”

“The lady is now clouding the issue.”

“No, that’s not the case. I am not clouding the issue.”

I smiled at Margaret, sensing her anxiety, and smoothly continued, observing her restless eyes.

“I do not believe in my husband’s denial.”

“Although it is understandable to have faith in one’s spouse, it does not change the fact that certain events have occurred.”
“Of course, if that child is truly my husband’s child, I would accept it willingly.”

“Do you deny the existence of the child, by any chance?”

“If, by any chance, such a thing happens, I would gladly embrace it.”

“You would embrace it?”

“Even if that child is my husband’s, it is only right for me to accept it.”

Margaret intended to solidify my uneasy position and occupy her place by introducing the illegitimate child, but the number was not perfect.

In situations where an illegitimate child is born and needs to be legitimized, it was customary for the child to enter the care of the formally married couple, regardless of the child’s background.

Margaret’s child could easily become my child.

Knowing this, she lacked confidence and continued to try to undermine me.

“I have not seen the child yet. Moreover, I have not confirmed whether the child is indeed my husband’s.”

“The evidence and witnesses proving that the two have met are here[—].”

“Mrs. Fisher is the woman who killed her husband.”

The bomb thrown unexpectedly from an entirely unforeseen direction had much greater power.

I paid no attention to the commotion around me and continued to gaze at Margaret.

Margaret bit her lips with a pale face.

Bang! Bang!

“Silence! Be silent!”

The judge, unable to withstand the disturbance, raised his gavel.

Thanks to that, the disturbance subsided, but the excited atmosphere did not change.

Sensing the atmosphere turning, the lawyer hastily spoke up.

“Your Honor, Lady Crateon is talking about unrelated matters to this case.”

“Mrs. Fisher admitted in the first trial that she was the murderer who killed her husband.”

There is a saying that a bomb thrown in an unexpected place is much more powerful.

The lawyer who realized this fact turned red.

“That is because there are clearly questionable pieces of evidence[—].”

“Bendum Fisher. He is the brother of Mrs. Fisher and has a history of suing her as a stepbrother.”

There is an image that people show, and judgment can change depending on the image they usually have. It was because the judgment changed depending on what kind of image one had, even if the same incident occurred.

And, there is nothing as helpful in creating an image as one’s past actions.

The past is an indelible trace.

Even if it’s just a single line, the past traces that are clearly recorded act like a lifelong label.