Chapter 65
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Violet's First Words - Episode 65
"That's the thing, Uncle."
"Beginner's luck? You just happened to touch some barrier and got it right, is that it?"
"...Well.... It might...have been...."
Violet couldn't lie, so she let the matter slide with vague words.
"Truly impossible luck. You're my niece, but you're a curious one."
Cyril seemed satisfied with that explanation.
If someone accomplished moderately difficult work, one might suspect they'd used tricks. But when someone achieved something far greater by pure chance, people naturally thought, "What an absurdly improbable coincidence." Cyril appeared to think the same way.
Violet felt relief wash over her.
"Yes, Uncle."
"In any case, we've got his weakness now. If we need it, we can use it whenever we want."
Cyril spoke with satisfaction.
Patter, patter.
Rain drummed against the window.
Outside, it had begun to rain. Then came the sound of knocking at the door.
Olive went to the entrance.
"I apologize for the late hour. I simply couldn't find the time until now."
The visitor who had come through the rain was a familiar face. It was the lawyer Brown.
"Brown, I was wondering when you'd visit. I didn't press you since I knew you were always busy."
I welcomed him. Olive hurried to prepare tea.
"By the way, would it be alright if Olive remains here? It seems my uncle is concerned about the case.... It appears he'd like Olive to sit in on our discussion."
"Of course. As it happens, Ash gave special instructions regarding who should be present."
"...Instructions?"
"It's nothing important. In any case, please call me Brown. That's more comfortable."
"Is that acceptable?"
"Of course. First, I should inform you that quite a number of lawsuits have been dismissed."
I had filed dozens of lawsuits against my family members to exact revenge on my father.
Most of them were merely meant to anger my father.
"Yes, I expected as much."
I had even resigned myself to the abuse lawsuit failing.
Under Imperial law, the patriarch's authority within a family was absolute. Regrettably, unless injuries were reported immediately at the scene, abuse cases had little chance of success.
However, the property law suits were quite meticulously constructed.
"The good news is that two lawsuits appear to have strong prospects. The first is the property division suit against your Biological Mother. Ah, we found property records under your mother's name in a regional vault near Bonheart Village. And we've also confirmed that the ownership of that property was subsequently transferred to Geoffrey Everdin."
"But that's simply recovering money that was taken from me, isn't it?"
"The issue is how to convert the value of the money at that time to its present value. The second is the suit for recognition of marriage between Geoffrey Everdin and your Biological Mother. That's the most crucial suit."
I was not obsessed with the marriage itself between my Father and my Biological Mother.
What mattered was that Violet be recorded as the legitimate child.
It was about proving she was never a bastard.
I believed that would restore the honor of my mother, Deborah.
At the very least, I wanted my Father to carry Deborah's name in his household registry for life, burdened by guilt.
"If we win this marriage recognition lawsuit, it will be the first case of its kind in Imperial history. I'm honored to take on this case."
"Brown, I'm grateful too. Truly."
Brown regarded Violet. His expression shifted as he spoke candidly.
"You may harbor resentment toward Ash or us for past circumstances. Are you at peace with that?"
"Honestly, not entirely. But they're all Ash's friends, so there's nothing to be done. Besides, Brown is a lawyer."
Violet continued gently.
"Someone so dedicated to their profession wouldn't harbor hidden malice toward my case. I've decided to separate business from personal matters."
Brown's eyes narrowed slightly, as if weary, before he spoke.
"In that regard, I'll be frank about the true significance of this marriage recognition lawsuit. Ash desperately wants you to win this case."
"Significance? What do you mean...?"
"This lawsuit will likely become a proxy war between the Grand Temple and the Imperial Court over the authority to recognize marriages."
Brown continued his explanation calmly.
Until nineteen years ago, the authority to recognize marriages rested with the Grand Temple.
The Grand Temple would receive marriage vows, authenticate them, and then transfer the documents to the government office.
In essence, the Grand Temple's authentication was what completed a marriage.
But my Father, Geoffrey, held a wedding ceremony with Deborah and ensured the authenticated documents from the Temple never reached the government office.
"Now, the authority to recognize marriages belongs to the state itself. The Grand Temple merely oversees the ceremony while the nation handles all legal procedures. However, when your Biological Mother and Father were married, the Grand Temple still held that authority."
"But what does that have to do with Ash... Oh."
Violet turned her head. Olive gazed at her with an expressionless face.
In that moment, everything aligned.
"Wait—is Ash in the same situation I was in before?"
"You grasp quickly. Yes. The Imperial Court is currently attempting to brand Ash as illegitimate."
"Illegitimate? Ash?"
Now that I thought about it, Rivan Fatherfall had been unmarried when he disappeared.
I wondered how Ash had even been born.
"They're claiming that since Ash is illegitimate, he cannot inherit all of Rivan Fatherfall's estate. That immense fortune."
Rivan Fatherfall's mother was said to have been extraordinarily wealthy.
Moreover, the assets he inherited as Crown Prince at the time were substantial.
"What Ash needs is... his late father's inheritance?"
"Kaizeria is prosperous. Money already overflows, but they want him to inherit something greater—rights, lands, and such."
"How did the former Crown Prince Rivan Fatherfall meet Ash's mother?"
The most compelling theory regarding Rivan Fatherfall's disappearance was romantic elopement.
He had fallen in love with some unnamed woman and fled to live an ordinary life—
It was the most romantic speculation people had entertained.
Brown's businesslike expression darkened slightly.
"That's something I find difficult to disclose. However, as you know, Your Majesty, Ash's mother was a priestess. She conducted her own wedding ceremony and married Rivan Fatherfall."
"...."
"The Empire refuses to acknowledge it. And what happened to Rivan is far too complicated and difficult to explain right now."
Violet nodded.
'So Ash is the protagonist of a story similar to mine.'
Just how far ahead had Ash seen to seek me out like this?
'It's as though we're bound by fate itself.'
The thought left me feeling strangely unsettled.
Despite our stations, we were both born under suspicion of illegitimacy—or at least misunderstood as such.
According to the world, we both possessed talent.
But in the future visions I had seen, Ash would walk a path of light while I would become a villainess of legendary infamy.
Our fates were similar, yet our futures were entirely different.
"So if I win the lawsuit, it helps Ash? By establishing a precedent—the legal recognition of marriages sanctioned by the Temple?"
"Precisely. If your lawsuit succeeds, we will use it as a 'precedent' to make our case. So you must win."
"What do I need to do?"
"Simply remain as you are."
Brown spoke, regarding Violet over the rim of his spectacles.
"If I remain as I am...."
"Your trial will be decided by jury. Random citizens will render judgment by majority vote."
"Yes, I've heard as much."
"But Ash is of the Royal Family. The Royal Family does not stand trial by jury. That is why precedent matters."
"...."
"The public adores you. That is enough. As long as you commit no grave missteps, victory should be yours."
It was encouraging news.
Whatever complexity my feelings toward Ash held, there was no malice in my heart.
'If we both benefit, that's all that matters, isn't it?'
And besides, I had no intention of committing anything wicked now.
"Please be cautious. The public's affection is like flower petals—beautiful, but fleeting."
Brought to you by Valir Scans! To support our team and enjoy the latest releases, please read directly on our official site: valirscans.org