I Slept with the Villain Holding My Hand Chapter 147 - The Villain’s Ending

“What kind of trick is this?”

 

Amid the lingering silence, Arienne was the first to break it.

Reukis’s expression darkened at Arienne’s disrespectful words toward Merria.

Shannon tried to stop her, as if telling her not to go that far, but Ariene paid no heed.

 

“You know it too, don’t you? That she didn’t do any of this.”

Merria stared at Arienne, who strode ahead alone, before answering calmly.

“Loosen up that expression.”

Since the other side was picking a fight, there was no need for her to be polite either.

Merria folded her arms and stayed silent for a moment. She wasn’t the only one here with Ariene.

Shannon and Reukis, who had no memories of their past lives, were also present.

Bringing up topics that could confuse them wasn’t a wise choice.

After filtering out unnecessary information, Merria finally spoke.

 

“It is a trick, and I know you used Shannon’s face to get close to us.”

“Then explain—”

“That’s not happening.”

Merria shook her head firmly.

 

‘Good thing I made Shannon keep her mouth shut.’

 

They had prepared for this situation—Ariene coming for Shannon.

And in that plan, Shannon’s silence was crucial.

If Shannon got too excited or overly defensive of Ariene, the conversation would fall apart.

For now, until everything was resolved, she had no real say in anything beyond what Merria and Reukis asked.

 

Back in Demeter, Shannon had always been chatty.

Seeing her stay completely silent now made it clear just how deep her feelings for Ariene ran.

 

Merria tilted her head slightly and continued, “Attacking Reukis, going berserk, kidnapping me…”

 

Looking back, I realized just how much I had messed up.

It was understandable that the old woman treated Arienne like a lost foal. She wouldn’t listen to words, and at this point, tightening the leash would take more strength than I had left.

Now, Merria was exposing Ariene’s true nature within the boundaries she had drawn.

And she was doing it to none other than Shannon.

 

Arienne had always wanted to be a good person in Shannon’s eyes.

That much was clear from how she had dragged her ruined body all the way to the grand duke’s residence.

Of course, Merria had no intention of going back on her word now by threatening Arienne’s life.

It was just a small, selfish desire to let Shannon know everything that had happened.

 

As Merria listed each of her sins one by one, Arienne’s expression hardened. Her face seemed to ask, What are you doing, after I begged you to let Shannon go?

 

“Even so, we have to keep you alive.”

“What?”

“What a pity.”

 

Merria rested her chin on her palm and muttered, “The only reason you’re still breathing isn’t because we’re feeling particularly merciful. It’s because someone asked us to spare you.”

 

Her gaze shifted past Arienne and landed on Shannon.

‘There was one other person besides Shannon who begged for your life, you blind time bomb.’

 

Before coming here, Merria had been visited by someone else.

Just like their encounter in the garden years ago, the old woman had appeared before her out of nowhere.

Then, under the guise of a trade, she had made a request in exchange for the information she held.

— ‘I’ll tell you where the imperial consort’s secret ledger is hidden and give you the information to bring down Baron Verusella—just don’t kill Arienne.’

 

Shouldn’t it have been the opposite?

Merria gave her a puzzled look and asked, “If she’s the fake, like you said, shouldn’t you be asking me to get rid of her?”

 

The old woman smirked and replied, “Have you met that fake yourself, young lady?”

 

She looked far too calm for someone who had helped her escape in the first place.

Instead of answering, Merria slowly shook her head.

 

The old woman narrowed her eyes slightly and murmured softly.

“Her eyes were alive.”

“What?”

“The emotions I thought were real had aged and worn away as much as my face, but hers hadn’t.”

Merria didn’t immediately understand her words and tilted her head in confusion.

“So I just got curious.”

“…?”

“I was so willing to die for Helena that I gladly faced death, but I suddenly wondered… if that fake could endure the same situation.”

 

In a way, it was a very her reason.

 

The old woman, who had arrived abruptly, first handed over the information Merria needed.

Reminding her of her final condition, Merria began to explain.

“The two must wait until the day of their trial under the surveillance of the Grand Duke’s family.”

“And then, they will be moved to the imperial palace as scheduled.”

Reukis, sitting beside her, nodded and continued.

Merria smiled faintly and added, “On the day of the trial, Shannon will be acquitted, and once everything is over, the two will be released—though with all their memories erased.”

 

“What do you mean by that?!”

Ariene slammed her fist on the table and demanded.

“So you’d rather they die as they are?”

Merria asked back, her smiling face unchanged. She had nothing to hold back.

After all, she had already obtained the information she wanted. She also had the means to ensure Shannon’s safety.

To Merria, this fake Ariene was worth next to nothing.

Yet, she had chosen this convoluted method solely for Shannon’s sake.

It was a small token of gratitude toward Shannon, who had forgiven her.

 

Shannon’s pupils trembled faintly as she read the sincerity in Merria’s smiling expression. 

 

Before Arienne could even respond, Shannon covered her mouth. Then, she shook her head vigorously.

Seeing this, Arienne also backed down and sat back in her seat.

Merria continued as if nothing had happened.

 

“If you wish, I can provide a small settlement on my end. With no conditions attached.”

“What in the world is this…?”

“Thank Shannon. And also your own simple curiosity.”

“…”

 

With only the bare minimum of information exchanged, Merria and Reukis rose from their seats.

They had something else to discuss.

 

Soon after, a knight of the Grand Duke’s household entered the room, escorting Ariene and Shannon, each with a shackle on one hand.

Their destination was not the Grand Duke’s underground prison but the guest room where Shannon had been staying.

The knight ensured the windows could not be opened before taking his post to guard the door.

The two were left alone in the room.

 

They had no intention of escaping in the first place—but even if they had, it would have been impossible.

The shackles were imbued with Reukis’ power.

If forced open or if they left the confined space without his permission, they would be consumed by dark magic.

 

Shannon exhaled sharply, as if releasing a breath she had been holding, and pulled Ariene into a fierce embrace.

“Arienne! You’re safe.”

“Were you planning to face execution in my place?”

Arienne’s voice was cold as she spoke.

Shannon looked at her with startled rabbit-like eyes—then slowly smiled. Though Arienne’s tone was sharp, her eyes were filled with concern.

 

“I knew you’d come to save me.”

“And if I hadn’t? Then you’d have been helplessly killed or executed by the Grand Duke!”

Shannon nodded, gripping Arienne’s hands tightly.

“You say that now, but it’s because you were worried about me, isn’t it?”

“…You really are too foolish.”

“That’s harsh, Ariene.”

Shannon laughed brightly, as if she had just heard something amusing.

 

💫

 

The Morning of the Trial.

Two carriages departed from the Grand Duke’s residence.

In the front carriage were Merria and Reukis, while the rear one carried Shannon, Arienne, and the knights overseeing them.

 

Within the Tristan Imperial Palace, there was a courtroom reserved for accusations or disputes among nobles.

Unless the case was overly trivial or a more significant trial was underway, nobles would openly determine right and wrong in this very hall.

They could request the attendance of other nobles if they wished, and even incorporate the judgment of the audience into the final verdict.

 

Since the Grand Duke had not restricted entry for this trial, the courtroom was packed.

Merria, arriving on time, separated from Reukis and took her seat in the witness stand.

Nobles who had heard of Merria’s kidnapping began whispering among themselves. She’s lost her mind, some murmured, or been crippled.

But now, seeing her with their own eyes, they realized those rumors were false.

 

Meanwhile, Merria herself sat quietly, gazing across the room.

Though the spectator seats were completely full, the defendant’s stand remained empty.

It seemed those who had come out of curiosity did not want to be misunderstood as taking sides.

 

Merria’s eyes darted across the audience seats.

The person she was searching for had yet to arrive.

 

Just before the appointed hour, today’s presiding judge, Noah Zertolt, entered with two lower judges in tow.

As soon as he took his seat, Noah spoke into a sound-amplifying magic orb, “Case number 6-0823. The trial will now commence.”

 

Bang. Bang—

The judge struck his gavel twice, signaling the start of the proceedings.

From this moment onward, every word spoken and every event within the courtroom would be recorded and preserved as fact.

 

“The defendant, Shannon Magner, please step forward.”

At Noah’s announcement, the door at the base of the stairs leading to the defendant’s stand opened.

Every eye in the courtroom fixed on a single point.

 

There, Shannon, dressed in pure white, walked forward with her hands bound.

Most of those present were seeing Shannon for the first time and observed her with curiosity, but among them was one who glared at her as if wishing to kill her—Count Magner, who had attended to prove his lack of connection to Shannon.

 

A few days prior, the count had read reports of Shannon’s erratic behavior and, after brief deliberation, sought out Helena. 

 

He remembered that she had kept Shannon unusually close—even inviting her privately for tea on multiple occasions—and hoped she might help secure a favorable position in the trial.

 

But to his surprise, he was turned away at the gates of the imperial consort’s palace. 

 

Though offended, the immense reward the Grand Duke had promised kept him from leaving easily. He waited endlessly, only to barely manage a meeting with Helena, yet even then, no proper conversation took place.

 

Even those who had once shared drinks with him shook their heads apologetically. 

 

Their shallow friendships provided neither the money to lend nor the courage to defy the Grand Duke. 

 

In the end, he had no choice but to attend Shannon’s trial himself.

 

Count Magner stared at Shannon—the one who had caused this mess—with a face that seemed ready to tear her apart.