I Ran Away And The Reverse Harem Started Chapter 135

I spent two busy days. It was a short time, but not too little to prepare.

The day of the trial came, and the maids of Roan’s mansion neatly braided my messy hair from early in the morning. That was because I also had to attend the trial.

I kept skimming through the trial schedule documents Yvette had given me the day before. I had to sit in the witness stand and give a short testimony.

This trial was to be held publicly. Not only journalists, but also officials from the temple, and even some citizens filled with betrayal toward the temple were specially allowed to attend.

“So today is also the day the second daughter of the Büllosen family shows herself to the world.”

As expected, Roan said this behind me, folding his arms and lifting his chin proudly.

Standing behind me as my hair was being done, he pulled out a white dress he had prepared for today.

“If someone saw this, they’d think you were going out to play. Why wear such a pretty dress just to attend a trial?”

“What do you mean? This isn’t just a pretty dress. It’s one of the items that will make you look pitiful. White is the color of purity. You have to sit in the witness stand and act as the most pure and pitiable woman. Of course, you’ll already look pitiful since you’ve been separated from your parents for twenty years, but you also need to visually stir the journalists and the people. And what color is more fitting for that than white? This dress is an excellent choice!”

“You really do talk well……. Quite the speaker.”

I glared at Roan with a tired face. Do all businessmen look unlikable while saying things that sound perfectly reasonable like that?

That dress was definitely something Roan had made during those two days. He looked excited at the thought of putting me in a new dress.

Honestly, maybe all that stuff about disliking my presence was a lie. Otherwise, why would he be so eager to dress me in new clothes?

I looked at the mirror in front of me with a weary face.

As Roan had said, since this was the first time I would show my face in an official setting, the maids dressed me up with great care.

Not too excessive, but just enough to look pitiful.

Compared to when I attended the palace party under the name “Rose,” this time the effort was toned down, but the modestly well-dressed appearance still made me look like a young lady from any noble family.

“For the last touch, let me pin on this brooch.”

A maid approached me and spoke.

She carefully opened an old green jewel box that looked like an antique, and inside was a small brooch made of gold and amber. Looking closely, the amber was crafted into the shape of a tiny bee.

The day before, Yvette had handed this to me along with the trial information.

“It’s a Büllosen heirloom. It was made of gold and jewels that our ancestor brought back while wandering the continent. Wear this when you attend the trial.”

“This looks quite valuable……. Is it really okay for me to wear it?”

Looking at the gold-and-amber brooch with some worry, I asked, and Yvette just gave a small laugh.

“It was yours anyway. You’re a Büllosen too.”

“Ah……”

“Make sure you wear it. I’ll be counting on you.”

Yvette gently patted the back of my head before returning to the mansion to continue preparing for the trial.

Yvette no longer showed disappointment in front of me, nor did she forcefully swallow her anger. Even though hearing about Rumiz’s condition would be enough to make anyone sink into helplessness, she treated me as if nothing had happened.

‘That’s probably because she’s worried I’d be too distressed.’

Surely, no one would be in more pain over Rumiz’s terminal illness than Yvette and my parents.

I pressed down the sigh that was about to escape.

After changing into the white dress Roan had made for me, the maid came and pinned the brooch to the top of my chest. The golden brooch shimmered at different angles over the elegant dress cinched at the waist.

“Thank you.”

When I finished changing and stood on the stairs, I saw three people waiting for me in the large hall.

Daniel, Colin, Lucas.

As I slowly walked down the stairs, Colin gave me a warm smile.

“That’s a pretty dress.”

“Roan made it for me. Looks good, right?”

“Yeah. By the way, with the trial so soon, aren’t you nervous?”

Colin gently brushed back the strands of hair that had fallen across my forehead. I looked at him for a moment before nodding.

“Yeah. I’m fine.”

“……”

“You know, I’m not alone anymore.”

If I had to handle such a huge event all by myself, I probably would have thought of running away somewhere again.
But now, I truly was fine.

Not just empty words. In fact, it might sound strange, but I even felt an unfounded confidence that everything would work out somehow.

Living apart from my parents, drifting through orphanages, and suffering—that was Act One of my life.

Spending time with the three who felt like family, then running away to live in a remote village for ten years—that was Act Two.

And…… now a new Act Three was about to begin.

Just on the verge of stepping into a world completely different from the life I had lived so far.

And in this new act, I wasn’t alone. That alone was a huge comfort.

As I looked at the three of them with a faint smile, I saw Lucas letting out a small sigh.

The boy who usually liked to whine now only moved his lips, looking close to tears, as if he didn’t know what to say. Seeing that made me chuckle.

“Come here, Lucas.”

When I opened my arms, Lucas hesitated for a moment, then came and hugged me. Of course, since he was now much bigger than me, it was more like I was being hugged.

“Everything will be fine. All of it.”

After the short embrace, Lucas stepped back. I rubbed his cheek, and then Daniel reached out his hand.

“Let’s go.”

Holding Daniel’s hand, I walked outside and saw the carriage waiting. The four of us got in and headed for the courthouse at the center of the capital.

 

 

 

****

 

 

The front of the courthouse was pure chaos.

Citizens, trembling with rage at the betrayal of the temple and Deborah, had gathered to see how this trial would unfold. Among them were many journalists.

The reporters, who had already been waiting in the sweltering heat for hours, grumbled.

“When are they coming, anyway?”

“The trial’s about to start. They’ll show up soon. We need to capture the scene of them entering the courthouse.”

“Let’s run it right on the front page.”

“The king isn’t attending, right?”

“Who knows. He might come, he might not.”

As the reporters fanned themselves with bundles of paper to cool their sweat, someone suddenly shouted, “Ah!”

“They’re here, they’re here!”

In the distance, a carriage bearing the Holden crest approached.

The luxurious white carriage slid smoothly up to the massive courthouse building.

With its golden wheels and the Holden trading company’s emblem gleaming on its side, the carriage made both the journalists and the citizens of the capital gape in unison.

Once the carriage stopped gracefully, the coachman dismounted with restrained movements and opened the door.

The first to step out was Holden’s master, Daniel Leandro.

The blazing sun cast its light over his glossy jet-black hair. With dry eyes, he swept his gaze across the crowd in front of the courthouse, then turned around without hesitation.

Daniel Leandro reached his hand toward the carriage door. Soon, a frail young woman with a small frame appeared.

Her wavy red hair was tied halfway and braided. She wore a pure white linen dress.

The golden brooch on her chest was small, yet it carried an overwhelming presence.

“That woman…”

One of the reporters muttered, mouth hanging open.

Irene Büllosen.

The long-lost daughter whom the Büllosen family had regained after twenty years.

The woman descended the stairs, holding Daniel Leandro’s hand. With an expressionless face, she cast her gaze over the people gathered in front of the courthouse.

Behind her, Holden executives Colin and Lucas exited the carriage. The four of them cut through the crowd and entered the courthouse.

Among those staring blankly after them, the first journalist to snap out of it quickly scribbled a draft headline for the front page:

[After 20 years, the second daughter of the Büllosen family stands at the courthouse to judge Baron and Rumiz.]

This newspaper issue was bound to sell like wildfire.

 

 

 

****

 

 

Before the trial began in earnest, we gathered in the hallway. Just then, Deborah, my parents, and Yvette approached from the opposite side.

Mother came straight to me and gently stroked my arm.

“You made it. Wasn’t the journey here too hard?”

The familiar, fragrant scent that clung to Mother set my heart at ease. The tension that had stiffened my shoulders while walking toward the courthouse melted away.

Smiling brightly, I nodded.

“Of course not. Nothing’s too hard for me. Besides, I came with my friends.”

Behind Mother, Father approached with Jenny pushing his wheelchair. I immediately bent down on one knee to meet his eyes.

“Have you been well? Does your chest still hurt a lot? The doctor came with you, right?”

While holding Father’s hand, I glanced around. Thankfully, the family physician was indeed accompanying him.

Perhaps finding my worry amusing, Father chuckled softly and patted my hand.

“Hurt? Not at all. Now that I’ve found you, why would I still be in pain?”

“Hmph, you say that, but your complexion is already pale. With Sister and Mother also testifying, I can’t help but worry you’re overexerting yourself.”

As I said, the witnesses included me, Yvette, and Mother. I had wanted Father to rest at the mansion, but since this was the trial he had waited twenty years for, there was no stopping him. Instead, he would sit in the gallery with Jenny.

“I’ll stay quiet and not trouble you. But still……”

As Father looked at me with affection, concern clouded his eyes. Lowering his brows, he said,

“I heard about it. Rumiz, that maid—she’s terminally ill, isn’t she? No matter what sentence she receives, her life won’t last much longer.”

“Yes… that’s true.”

Father gave a bitter smile. He surely wanted the criminal who had kidnapped me to be punished, but knowing it would not bring satisfying revenge seemed to weigh heavily on him.

Still, perhaps not wanting me to notice his frustration, he quickly lifted the corners of his mouth into a smile.

“Well… finding you is enough for me. I only need my daughter. That’s all I need.”

Father carefully pulled my hand toward him and embraced me tightly. His strong arms held me close, and I rested my cheek against his shoulder for a moment. After a short while, I slipped out of his arms.

Father, Jenny, and the physician went ahead to the gallery. Mother, too, decided to stay there until the trial began, perhaps because she was worried about Father.

As the four of them left, Yvette suddenly asked,

“You met Matilda, didn’t you? And even spoke privately with our prosecutor.”

“Yes. She spared a little time yesterday, so I met her briefly at a café.”

“Why? What’s your scheme?”

At her question, I just gave a sly smile and shrugged. Seeing that I wasn’t going to answer, Yvette let out a sharp sigh.

“I really don’t know what you’re thinking. Suddenly asking for Rumiz’s children’s personal information, then poking around about a lawyer you just happen to know…”

“All of it will help the trial.”

“Help in what way?”

At her question, the smile fell from my lips.

“Help to make sure Rumiz pays for her crimes.”