Chapter 247
‧₊˚ ☁️⋅♡𓂃 ࣪ ִֶָ☾.
“So, according to you, as long as you don’t kill me, it’s fine.”
Mikhail raised his sword and drove it sharply into Adrian’s ankle.
“Aaah!”
Adrian screamed in pain, gasping for breath. Cursing, he tried to drag his leg and retreat.
“Don’t expect me to kill you. I’ll keep you alive just enough that you might as well beg me to end it.”
Again, he grabbed Adrian’s ankle and stabbed him.
“Aaah! Ugh!”
“Stop, stop it!”
Emilia shouted desperately. At this rate, he might actually kill him.
“Ugh.”
Her stomach clenched again. The sudden pain made her clutch her abdomen.
“Emilia!”
Focus sharpened in Mikhail’s eyes as he supported her.
“Take him away.”
Two knights grabbed the bleeding Adrian and dragged him out of the prison.
“Hurry, to a doctor…”
Emilia grabbed his arm, shaking her head.
“It was just a light graze. Why are you like this? Recklessly coming here again…”
The wounds from the sword were clearly visible all over. Emilia held back her tears and hugged him.
“It’s okay. It’s all over now.”
How could this be okay? Emilia clutched his uniform tightly.
“You’re covered in blood… this doesn’t look okay at all. You look like you’re about to die!”
“I’m not dying. I won’t die for anyone but you, so don’t worry.”
“Mikhail!”
“Don’t shout. It hurts.”
He smiled faintly, and perhaps the tension finally eased as he slumped slightly.
Emilia urgently called the knights.
“It’s just a little pain, don’t worry. Any other injuries?”
“Looks like those beasts showed up just in time.”
Mikhail stroked the heads of the dogs. Then noticing the blood on her waist, he frowned.
“Emilia, you’re bleeding from your side. You should get treated first.”
Even amid all this, he worried about her.
“Ugh…”
Emilia slowly nodded.
“It’s not your fault. I started all this. So we have to finish it.”
Mikhail took her hand and kissed it.
“Now, let’s cut off this twisted fate between us.”
❖ ❖ ❖
The assembly convened. Adrian, Lady Luther, and the nobles who supported them were all put on trial.
“We only did what we had to, to survive!”
“How could I refuse the king’s orders? Lady Luther wielded power over many. Everyone knows it!”
“Exactly. Count Ablio and Marquis Kerren benefited by siding with them and withdrawing at the right time!”
“I believe Marquis Kerren and Count Ablio should be investigated as well!”
Indeed, both families could not fully avoid investigation since their names appeared in the ledgers.
Lady Luther had brazenly used royal funds as she pleased, benefiting several noble families—most of whom supported the crown.
She had apparently expected this day and meticulously recorded everything in the ledgers, providing abundant evidence. Some families confessed when promised leniency.
Even the false claim that Adrian abdicated to his mother, Lady Luther, surfaced, causing public outrage.
“I intended to step down. It’s unfair to deny that after giving it to my mother.”
Adrian wore a mask of shamelessness until the end.
Despite an Achilles injury that left him barely standing, he struggled desperately to survive.
“If Bayern lives, it will repeat the same mistakes. Those people deserve to die! Those with royal blood will always seek to rule over all.”
“Adrian! How can you abandon your mother? I tried to persuade you! You must follow the will of all!”
“It was Mother who abandoned me. When Leah came seeking help, you turned her away.”
Lady Luther’s eyes widened angrily at Adrian’s sarcasm.
“How dare you say that! You’d even kill your only mother!”
Lady Luther wept as she scolded Adrian.
Though called family, they seemed more like people eager to kill one another.
“Sister, you’re not wrong. This is all karma! Accept it.”
Count Chevron shouted, leading the rebellion.
“When did I ever abandon you? I truly regret this. But the crown cannot be dragged into nonsense.”
Lady Luther showed resentment. None admitted guilt to the end.
“Are you sure others aren’t the same? Parents can be selfish for their children. You are a parent too!”
She wiped tears, placing a hand over her heart.
“To behave shamelessly to the end… no wonder the king is like this too.”
“What did you grow up seeing?”
The crowd murmured, tongues clicking.
The assembly leader stepped up.
“Silence! All the crimes the Jalliar family committed are here. They cannot escape guilt.”
The corruption of the Jalliar dynasty was revealed—Lady Luther’s secret embezzlement and the kingdom’s financial decline.
Lady Luther glared fiercely at the assembly leader.
“How dare you!”
“There is a witness. Someone who watched closely for a long time, whose testimony is credible.”
The leader nodded, and Etrez stood.
He bowed deeply and spoke.
“They deceived people with lies. I accept my guilt. But I could no longer stand by and watch wrongdoings.”
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