A Change of Husband - Chapter 122

“Everyone must be pointing fingers at me.”

 

The sorrowful voice of a young girl echoed through the quiet hall.
Her voice trembled slightly as if she were scared, but at the same time, there was a strange certainty in it.

 

“They must be saying I killed the uncle who raised me in place of a father who couldn’t even get out of bed because of his illness, and a mother who died under suspicious circumstances. That I was a girl who should have grown up like an orphan but didn’t even know gratitude. That I’m cruel and wicked… They must be cursing and blaming me…”

 

Her voice broke into sobs now and then, as if she was holding back tears.
But the girl continued, swallowing her tears and speaking slowly, steadily to the end.

 

“But it had to be done. He had to die. You may say it was wrong, that I’m inhuman, but the truth is—that was what I had to do. Even if I could go back in time, I would put a bullet in that man’s head again. Because, sniff… because…”

 

This trial was held under the presence of the king and queen to punish a heartless and immoral girl who had shot the uncle who raised her like a daughter.
When the case became public, everyone was horrified by the cruelty of the crime. They believed a crime like this must never happen again in Astel.

 

But as soon as the girl entered the courtroom, many felt there was more to this story.
And now, the girl was about to reveal the reason behind her brutal crime.

 

“Because that terrible devil was the one who made my father that way… and killed my mother!”

 

“That’s not true!”

 

An old woman screamed as if in pain.

 

“Riley! How could you lie so shamelessly in front of everyone, how could you!”

 

Riley shook her head, tears streaming down her face.

 

“You don’t know anything, Grandma. Nothing! That man said it himself, with his own mouth.”

 

“When? Where did he say that?”

 

“Right in front of my father, who couldn’t even get out of bed! He laughed in a creepy way loud enough to shake the whole room, then poured hot soup onto my father’s face!”

 

“You, you’ve really gone mad! Joseph would never do something like that!”

 

“No, he would. He did. Uncle was insane.”

 

Riley closed her eyes tightly.
Joseph had been hysterical, constantly causing trouble, and often hitting the maids and servants.
No one in the mansion wanted to serve him.

 

“After I accidentally saw that, I started hiding in my father’s room every night. And then… I learned something even more horrible.”

 

“Riley, be quiet! Do you want to drag our family’s honor through the mud?!”

 

Countess Bonaparte shouted like she was going mad, but Riley no longer heard her.
She didn’t care about the empty honor of a family name.

 

“Uncle killed my mother. He did! My mother didn’t die because she fell off a horse by accident. Uncle used the same trick on her that he used on Father—he tampered with the saddle!”

 

The courtroom froze at this shocking statement.
Countess Bonaparte screamed in denial, shouting that Joseph wasn’t like that and that her granddaughter had gone insane.
But no one listened anymore.

 

“I, Riley Bellucci Bonaparte… sniff… yes, I killed my uncle, Joseph Bonaparte. But I do not regret it at all. Even if I am sentenced to death here and now, I… sob… I will never regret it.”

 

“Are you saying you feel no remorse, even after committing murder?”

 

One of the nobles overseeing the trial asked. Riley gave a sad smile.

 

“Hah… remorse, huh…”

 

Everyone held their breath, watching her lips.

 

“Let me correct myself. If I could go back in time, I wouldn’t just shoot that drugged man in the head.”

 

Riley clenched her teeth and spoke in a firm tone.

 

“I would’ve smashed his head myself until the white statue on the drawer was soaked in blood.”

 

“Riley!”

 

Countess Bonaparte shrieked, her voice filled with anger and despair.
But Riley didn’t care. She simply looked toward the royal couple of Esperad.

 

“Even after killing him, I felt no guilt. I actually felt relieved. You can strip me of my noble title, throw me in prison, or sentence me to death—I’ll accept it calmly. I’ve avenged my parents. That’s all that matters now.”

 

Only now did tears finally well up in Riley’s eyes.
Now that she had let go of everything and was ready to accept everything, sadness finally hit her.

 

What kind of sin had she committed in her past life to deserve something so terrible?

 

“I’m ready, Your Majesties.”

 

With that tear-filled sentence, Riley closed her eyes tightly, as if she were steeling herself.
After her father became bedridden and her mother died, her life had taken such a tragic turn that she became emotionally destroyed.

 

Riley no longer had the strength to live among others, pretending to be fine.
Though she said she felt no guilt, and didn’t regret killing Joseph, the shock of having killed someone had left a deep, permanent scar on her heart.

 

“Joseph was not the kind of person to do such things. Riley misunderstood something! She lost her mind after Monica—her mother—died. That’s why… that’s why…”

 

Countess Bonaparte stammered as she tried to explain the situation.

 

“Joseph loved Riley like a daughter. He tried so hard to fill the gap left by her parents. And he visited Geoffrey every day and took care of him with devotion. I’m telling you, the girl is insane!”

 

“You’re basically blind, Grandma.”

 

Riley looked straight at the Countess and spoke coldly.

 

“You only see what you want to see. You just don’t want to face the truth.”

 

“Riley, how can you say such a thing! Your uncle was devoted to his family!”

 

“No. Not even once. He was never devoted to this family. I know it’s hard to admit you raised such a monster, but you have to face it. Grandma, your son… was trash.”

 

“How dare you… How dare you…! Ugh!”

 

Countess Bonaparte finally clutched her neck and collapsed, but Riley still looked firmly at the nobles.
Her eyes showed that she wouldn’t take back her words, that she stood by them with pride.

 

 

Because it was a serious case that had deeply affected the public, the trial was attended by the king and queen and all the nobles residing in the capital.

 

After Countess Bonaparte collapsed, two more maids who had been sent from the Bellucci estate to the Bonaparte estate for Riley came forward to testify. Their testimonies were considered credible.

 

In the end, Riley’s claim was accepted, and an unusual verdict was reached.

 

[The Bonaparte family, who caused this incident, is now seen as incapable of preserving its own honor. As such, the noble title will no longer be passed down. The criminal, Riley Bonaparte, is to return to the temple and live a life of service and atonement.]

 

This was the conclusion reached after gathering the various opinions of all the nobles who attended.

 

“I don’t feel good about this.”

 

Asilie finally spoke after sipping her tea, having been silent for a while.

 

“She was a child I saw often when she was younger. I never imagined she’d be in a situation where she had to witness something like that happening to her paralyzed father. I didn’t even know she was capable of such cruelty.”

 

“No one could have known. Even Countess Bonaparte seemed completely unaware.”

 

“If it’s Countess Bonaparte, then even if she did know, she would’ve acted the same. She was the kind of person who would’ve chosen the family’s honor over a granddaughter who couldn’t carry on the bloodline.”

 

Riley, the daughter of Geoffrey and Monica.

 

After returning to the original world, she had been left in the care of the Bellucci estate, and Asilie had never seen her face or even thought of her since. So she never imagined that she would meet her again under such circumstances.

 

Asilie had heard that Geoffrey was injured during the war and became bedridden, and that Monica was found dead—but she hadn’t paid much attention to it at the time…

 

“Still, the young lady will be protected by the temple from now on. And if she wishes, she can be officially adopted into the Bellucci family or even study abroad, so there shouldn’t be any problems.”

 

“It just makes my heart heavy, that’s all.”

 

Perhaps she felt this gloomy because she was a mother raising a daughter.

 

Asilie suddenly thought of Catherine.

 

Their daughter, Catherine, who had just turned seven this year, was living up to the phrase “terrible sevens,” causing trouble everywhere like a little rascal in the royal palace. There wasn’t a single peaceful day.

 

“…Come to think of it, Esperad, did we hear anything from the nanny about Catherine today?”

 

“From what I remember, there’s been no word today.”

 

“I feel uneasy.”

 

“What are you uneasy about?”

 

“Catherine. Around this time, we usually get news that she broke a priceless ornament, or tried to jump from the second floor, or stole the knights’ guns and ran off… We should’ve heard something by now.”

 

Only then did Esperad’s face stiffen as he realized what Asilie meant.

 

This kind of quiet usually meant something unusual was happening.

 

If she were a little older, they might be able to reason with her—but the seven-year-old princess didn’t understand no matter how much she was corrected or scolded.

 

Every day felt like walking on thin ice.

 

“Now that you mention it…”

 

Esperad looked as if he had just remembered something and turned to Asilie in surprise.

 

“Because of the trial, many nobles from the capital are still staying at the palace.”

 

“What? But the trial is over.”

 

“There are still quite a few nobles remaining at the palace.”

 

“Oh no… That curious girl wouldn’t just ignore a bunch of unfamiliar faces.”

 

Asilie quickly set down her teacup. Esperad also threw on the jacket he had left on the chair and stood up.

 

The urgency on their faces was clear.

 

 

Catherine Astel.

 

The beloved only daughter of the king and queen of Astel, the royal family’s one and only princess.

 

Just from the title “the royal family’s only princess,” one could guess how much love and attention she received as she grew up.

 

But that affection also made the curious, mischievous, and clever Catherine realize that she would always be forgiven, no matter what she did.

 

It was no surprise that she left her lessons to run toward the noise of the crowds, knowing everything would end with some scolding and coaxing.

 

“Where’s the princess?”

 

“She’s not over there!”

 

“Then search the right hallway, the backyard, and the garden too!”

 

“Yes, sir!”

 

She heard the voices of attendants and knights looking for her, but Catherine calmly hid behind a pillar and justified herself.

 

‘Mother and Father will understand. This princess is postponing her studies just for a bit to meet people and learn about the real world.’

 

Once she confirmed the people had passed, Catherine quietly stepped out.

 

Her mother, Asilie, was always kind and warm, but when it came to official appearances, she was very strict.

 

Because Catherine was still immature and mischievous, and because she spoke and acted without concern for how others might feel, Asilie never allowed her to attend any social gatherings until she learned proper etiquette.

 

Considering that noble girls Catherine’s age usually began attending social events with their parents or relatives around six or seven, Asilie’s decision was firm.

 

Even some nobles expressed concern that the royal family’s only child didn’t appear in public enough, but Asilie didn’t change her mind.

 

“Are you lost?”

 

A voice from behind startled Catherine, and she quickly turned around.

 

Stepping back in surprise, she calmed her racing heart before checking who had spoken.

 

It was a boy who looked around fourteen or fifteen, with wine-red hair.

 

“Who are you to dare speak to me?” Catherine snapped, flaring up.

 

She had just been thinking she’d fooled everyone and was on her way—only to suddenly be questioned, which made her heart drop in shock. She got angry out of fear.

 

The boy, who had only meant to help someone who looked lost, was dumbfounded by Catherine’s attitude.

 

“I just thought you might be lost, my lady,” he calmly explained, not upset.

 

He understood that young nobles were often used to speaking down to attendants and might make mistakes like this.

 

Only then did Catherine realize she’d acted rudely, just like her mother often pointed out. Her face turned bright red.

 

“Ah, um…”

 

Flustered, she blushed and couldn’t finish her sentence. The boy kindly asked,

 

“You do seem a bit lost. Most people are in the main hall now, enjoying the meal prepared for the nobles attending the trial. You’ll probably find your guardian there.”

 

“I-I’m not really…”

 

“Would you like me to guide you?”

 

The boy still asked gently. Catherine stared at him, her face growing hot for another reason this time.

 

Even if she rarely appeared in public, she was still a princess.

 

She’d met many young nobles before, so she wasn’t Asilie swayed by looks. But something about this boy felt different.

 

“Young lord…”

 

She stammered.

 

“What’s your name?”

 

“Sorry?”

 

“I’m asking what your name is.”

 

“I’m…”

 

He gave a sheepish smile.

 

It wasn’t hard to say his name or reveal his identity, but he wasn’t used to doing it in this kind of situation, so it felt awkward.

 

Besides, this was the first time he’d appeared in society since he was adopted into a duke’s family at the age of six.

 

“Catherine!”

 

Just then, a voice called from behind, saving him from the awkward moment.

 

When the boy turned, he immediately bowed upon seeing who had rushed over.

 

“Your Majesty, Your Highness.”

 

“…Thomas?”

 

Asilie scooped Catherine up in her arms as Esperad called out to the boy.

 

“You attended the trial too, didn’t you?”

 

“Yes, Your Majesty. I still have much to learn, but I thought it was time to start finding ways to serve the family, so I chose to attend.”

 

“I was worried you were overthinking things, but I’m glad you’ve made up your mind. Still… I didn’t expect to introduce you and Catherine like this…”

 

Catherine’s face filled with curiosity.
In the end, the young girl couldn’t hold back and jumped into the conversation with a loud voice.

 

“Father, who is he? Is this young lord’s name Thomas?”

 

“It looks like the two of you have already met.”

 

“I was foolish and didn’t recognize Her Highness right away. I thought she was just a young noble lady and was trying to escort her alone…”

 

“Hm.”

 

Esperad nodded, thinking it was fortunate they had found Catherine before a disaster happened—like her running into the nobles in the hall.

 

“Catherine, say hello. This is Thomas Camédici, head of the Camédici ducal family, and your older brother. So technically, you could say he’s ‘family.’”

 

Even though she was young, Catherine understood what that meant.

 

And in the next moment, her big round eyes grew even wider—and then, all of a sudden, she burst into loud tears.