The Search for the Duchess’s Husband Chapter 103

“Two people say different things, and we need witnesses or evidence to prove what they say in order to make a clear judgment. Is that possible?”

 

Count Elysium nodded as if he had been waiting.

 

“Yes. I have someone who can prove my innocence and my wife’s falsehood.”

 

A moment later, a white-haired man stood on the witness stand.

 

“I am Brahman, physician to the Count of Elysium.”

 

Calvin asked, “You must have been examining the Countess of Elysium for some time.”

 

“Yes, I have seen her regularly. There have been times when the Countess has been weak and ill for a few days, but I have never seen any signs that she has been attacked.”

 

Freesia’s beautiful face contorted.

 

She had never sought proper medical attention after her beating by Count Elysium. She didn’t want anyone to see her.

 

However, her pale, delicate skin was often riddled with bruises, and the doctor who attended her had seen them. Of course, he pretended not to see them.

 

“How could you tell such a brazen lie!”

 

Freesia shouted, her voice breaking. Brahman looked horrified, but did not correct his statement.

 

Count Elysium lifted the corner of his mouth.

 

Count Elysium always ended the visit and never slapped Freesia. Even when he was drunk, he never touched her face.

 

So no one had ever seen him hit her, or seen the marks he left behind.

 

Still, some people noticed.

 

The doctor who attends Freesia… and the maids who serve her.

 

 

Count Elysium, aware of the situation, quickly gathered his maids and spoke to them.

 

“I’ve heard that Freesia is looking for a maid to take her side, and she’s offering a lot of money for it.”

 

Several of the maids turned pale and their shoulders slumped. Count Elysium continued, his serpentine eyes capturing their gaze.

 

“Do not forget. I am your master, and I am not foolish enough to let go a servant who dares to defy his master.”

 

It was a chilling threat.

 

 

Count Elysium looked at Freesia and spoke slowly.

 

“Freesia, this is a court of law. If you have something to say, don’t shout it, and bring witnesses to back up your words.”

 

Now there must be desperation in that beautiful face, right?

 

He’d be a fool to think so.

 

Artia, sitting in the observation seat, looked at Freesia. After making eye contact with Artia, Freesia regained her composure and spoke.

 

“Your Honor, I also wish to call a witness.”

 

A shabbily dressed woman stepped forward.

 

‘Who is this woman?’

 

The woman’s voice rang in Count Elysium’s ears.

 

“My-my name is Anna. I used to be Count Elysium’s maid, but I retired a year ago.”

 

‘A retired maid?’

 

Count Elysium’s handsome face twisted at this unexpected turn of events.

 

The sight of him reminded Artia of an incident not long ago.

 

 

Mistress Susan had met with Count Elysium’s maids and tried to convince them to testify, but they were frightened and refused.

 

Susan apologized to Artia for not doing the job she had been assigned.

 

“Why don’t you try contacting the retired maids, they have less influence with Count Elysium.”

 

Nodding, Susan researched the maids who had left Count Elysium over the years and finally found one. Anna, the one who would be testifying today.

 

 

 

Anna opened her mouth, her face filled with fear.

 

“My lord,” she said, “on the days that Count Elysium came home from his drinking, her door was shut tight, and I could hear Lady Elysium’s screams through the cracks, and on the days after that, she was always sick. She tried so hard to hide her wounds, but I saw them, the red scars on her body.”

 

Freesia spoke in front of Count Elysium.

 

“Your Honor, I have more than witnesses; I have evidence to prove what I say is true.”

 

Calvin’s gray eyes lit up with a glimmer of life.

 

“Show it to me.”

 

Count Elysium gritted his teeth at this unexpected turn of events.

 

“It’s all lies and bluster.”

 

There could be no evidence of an attack so long ago.

 

At that moment, Artia, who was in the audience, stood up.

 

The Count of Elysium’s mask was torn from his face, revealing a grim expression.

 

“You lied to Freesia!”

 

Artia stalked over to Freesia’s side and met the Count’s stern gaze.

 

Artia hadn’t seen her attacked, so she couldn’t be a witness. But there was one thing she could do.

 

To fight at her side.

 

Artia looked at Freesia with warmth in her eyes. Freesia nodded, determined.

 

After a moment, Artia began to undo the buttons on Freesia’s back, one by one.

 

A noblewoman undressing in front of so many people!

 

The people were stunned by the unconventional behavior. So was Calvin, but he decided to be patient and watch a little longer.

 

After a few moments, a collective gasp of shock went through the courtroom.

 

Dozens of wounds were visible on her bare back.

 

Artia, who was closest to the scars, blanched.

 

She’s been telling Freesia not to put any medicine on her wounds ever since they stayed at Edenberg Manor.

 

It was all for this day.

 

The scars on her white back, though much faded over time, were still clearly visible. Worse, the scars from years past layered beneath the new ones.

 

Freesia opened her mouth, her eyes threatening to burst into tears at any moment.

 

No one could open their mouths to the woman’s confession, which was so devastating and heartbreaking.

 

It was Count Elysium who broke the silence.

 

“It’s all a lie. I never hit my wife!”

 

Calvin raised his eyebrows at the words that brought the trial back to square one.

 

“Do you mean to say that Countess Elysium inflicted a wound on herself, and on a part of her body that she could not have hit herself?”

 

“As your honor knows, my wife did not do this alone; she has helpers, nay, she is being manipulated.”

 

Count Elysium’s gaze shifted to Artia, who stood beside Freesia.

 

“Frau Edenberg must have set my wife up, grinning like a witch, telling her that she needed wounds to back up her lies in order to win her case. That divorcee is so desperate to tear our marriage apart because she feels inferior for failing me.”

 

“Stop talking nonsense!”

 

Freesia, who hadn’t been able to look the Count of Elysium in the eye until now, glared at him.

 

“Artia was helping me out of the purest goodness of her heart, and she had nothing to do with this case. I did everything, from reporting you to standing before the tribunal.”

 

“…….”

 

Tearing her gaze away from Count Elysium, who looked as dumbfounded as if he’d been bitten by a passing dog, Freesia turned to Calvin.

 

“Your honor, I have lost so much through this trial. I have been exposed for an affair I would have preferred to keep hidden from the world, my lady’s honor has been tarnished, and my relationship with my husband has been damaged beyond repair. And yet, I stand before this tribunal because…”

 

Freesia sucked in a breath and continued.

 

“Because of my little daughter, Elizabeth, who is more precious to me than life itself, and I want her to know that a man beating a woman, let alone a husband beating a wife, for any reason, is something that should never happen. That a woman deserves to be treated with respect, even if she is powerless.”

 

Freesia clapped her hands together.

 

“What I’m asking the court to do is not to punish my husband. I’m not even asking for an apology. I’m just asking that he be restrained from hitting me anymore. Please.”