It Turned Out She Wasn't a Favored Concubine - Episode 72

“The pursuit of perfection ended up becoming a trap.”

Under invisible pressure, Count Leten took a few steps back. Then, as if displeased with his own reaction, his face twisted in frustration.

Clenching his fists, Count Leten raised his head.

“Ha! Even the imperial Motus artisans said it was impossible. I wonder who dared to spout such nonsense—nonsense that even the esteemed Marquis of Edelheit fell for.”

“I said it. I did.”

A familiar voice rang out first. I looked around to find him. Giscal was supposed to introduce him, but he came out on his own.

Sure enough, Giscal turned around with a displeased expression. Behind him, Perlo Shanaire walked out with a defiant attitude.

Someone recognized Perlo and shouted his name, causing a stir. Count Melton enjoyed the commotion for a moment before formally introducing him.

“Yes, the witness requested by the Marquis of Edelheit is Perlo Shanaire.”

Once Count Melton confirmed his identity, the nobles’ expressions shifted. Especially those aligned with the high noble faction—they fell into awkward silence.

Even Count Leten, who had maintained a calm demeanor until now, became noticeably terse.

“Why are you here, in a place like this?”

“Does it matter? I don’t need an introduction. I didn’t even want to come, but I have some ties with the Edelheit family. But listening to this nonsense? I couldn’t just sit back.”

Perlo shrugged with both arms raised. His blatant mockery made Count Leten’s face flush red. Giscal approached Perlo and spoke quietly.

“Skip the nonsense and testify.”

“You’re not even angry?”

Perlo stared at Giscal silently, then clicked his tongue.

“Tch. Fine, whatever.”

Their relationship seemed unusually strained for a plaintiff and his witness. I recalled the night before—Giscal had been wary of Perlo’s help, and Perlo had been particularly snarky toward Giscal.

“Back to the point. I can detect traces of use even in a Motus that’s turned to stone. Others can’t, but I can. Why? Because I’m Perlo Shanaire. What other reason do you need?”

Perlo’s arrogant tone stirred the nobles again. Count Melton asked politely.

“Hmm, of course we don’t doubt your skills, but you’ll need to prove it.”

“Obviously. I can prove it in front of the imperial Motus artisans.”

Perlo declared confidently and stepped toward Count Leten.

“How about it? Want me to expose every detail of your teleportation? I’ll even investigate the Motus your family secretly holds—for free.”

Perlo maintained his insolent attitude, clearly provoking Count Leten. Though Perlo was usually arrogant and rude, this was unusually excessive… as if he were venting his anger directly at Count Leten.

Count Leten, forced to face that fury, focused more on Perlo’s words than his attitude.

“A new technique? At this point in time? Ha! Isn’t this all a setup? There’s no way the Marquis of Edelheit could’ve rescued the Third Concubine so precisely. This whole thing was staged to bring down our family!”

Count Leten spread his arms dramatically. I scoffed in disbelief, then heard Erich mutter quietly.

“I never intended to let her die easily…”

Startled, I turned to see Erich’s blue eyes blazing. His fierce anger was aimed squarely at Count Leten.

—Thud.

Someone stomped loudly, drawing everyone’s attention. Perlo Shanaire pointed at Count Leten and shouted furiously.

“A setup? Did you just say this was a setup? Wow, unbelievable.”

Perlo ran his hand through his messy red hair.

“Do you know where the matching Dimotus to the shard in that cup was? Tossing it deep into the Gilberan Forest would’ve been merciful. Instead, it was embedded in the forepaw of a Grev wolf—one of the most vicious beasts. You tried to have an unarmed woman torn apart by a wolf. And you call this a setup?”

While Perlo shouted in rage, Giscal gestured to someone. Several knights wheeled in a large cart covered with a white cloth.

I immediately recognized one of the knights—Martenal. Following Giscal’s signal, Martenal yanked off the cloth and threw it at Count Leten. As Leten fumbled, the corpse of a massive wolf came into view.

Its enormous body bore dozens of scars, causing the nobles to murmur.

Perlo approached the wolf and lifted its left forepaw. In the sunlight streaming through the window, a black Motus shard gleamed.

“Look. Arne—no, Her Highness the Third Concubine—was teleported right to this Motus. She landed on the wolf’s head, knocking it out. That’s the only reason she survived. Otherwise… ha. No human deserves that.”

I had survived their meticulous and cruel plan purely by luck.

On the night of the plot at the Edelheit estate, Perlo had twitched his nose and laughed when he heard I’d landed on the wolf. Giscal’s fierce glare had quickly silenced him.

But now, facing Count Leten, Perlo showed no trace of humor—only raw fury.

“Imagine that massive paw hitting a person. What do you think would happen? It’s clear they didn’t want her to die peacefully. And you call this a setup? Are you kidding me?”

Just as Perlo lunged at Count Leten in anger, Giscal stopped him.

“Let’s address Count Leten’s questions first. We can’t let baseless doubts interfere with punishing the guilty.”

Giscal’s cold gaze made Count Leten grit his teeth again.

“You’re just going to spew more nonsense! The fact that you rescued the Third Concubine proves this was staged. She just happened to land on a wolf? How did you get to her so quickly from the altar? How did she end up at the Edelheit estate? It was all planned—”

—Crash!

Giscal kicked the cart holding the wolf, sending it rolling toward Count Leten.

Trying to avoid the wolf’s claws, Count Leten stumbled and fell backward.

“If you say ‘setup’ one more time, I’ll rip your mouth open. Shut up.”

The hall fell silent. Giscal repeated the explanation he’d given me.

After I disappeared from the library, he’d asked Perlo to embed a fourth-tier Motus shard in my clothing out of concern. The return to the Edelheit estate was also explained—he’d kept a matching shard there in case of emergencies.

Count Leten questioned the origin of the fourth-tier Motus, but with Perlo present, it wasn’t an issue. Besides, Leten had tried to kill me using a fourth-tier Motus himself. It was an open secret that high noble families secretly possessed a few of them. Our argument had no logical flaws.

Then, Marquis Parmati struck the floor with his staff.

“What matters most is whether Perlo Shanaire can prove his claim. If he can detect teleportation traces in a spent Motus, he must demonstrate it before the imperial artisans.”

“Fine! I’ll do it!”

Perlo shouted, clearly provoked. Marquis Parmati’s point was valid—it was the key reason Giscal had accused Count Leten.

Thus, the trial was temporarily adjourned. Just a brief pause. If Perlo proved his claim, the verdict would be clear.

Fuming, Perlo left with dozens of Motus artisans. The nobles also dispersed in small groups. Count Leten followed Marquis Parminé somewhere.

I looked down at Giscal. He remained still, alone in the hall. I stood to approach him.

“Arne.”

A hand grabbed mine.

“Where are you going?”

Erich’s cold eyes locked onto me.

“I was just going to speak with my brother…”

“There’s no need for you to meet him, is there? The trial’s outcome is already clear. But I do have one question.”

“Yes? What is it?”

Erich smiled gently, as if to reassure me. But his grip on my hand remained firm.

“When did you start having a relationship with Perlo Shanaire?”

His gaze scanned my face, searching for answers.

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