<Chapter 39>

"That’s probably true. You’re a diligent worker but not exactly a great mercenary or a good knight, are you?"

"Hey, why are you suddenly insulting me?"

Lanken snapped out of the slightly strange atmosphere.

"Because it’s the truth. Even during our fight, you didn’t step forward. You’re supposed to be a bodyguard, yet Viretta always ends up taking care of you."

"It’s not that I’m slacking off; it’s just that Viretta doesn’t know her place and keeps overstepping!"

"That’s exactly it. That’s why she keeps you around. And regardless of what you say, you respect her choices."

"……."

Not quite a bullseye, but hitting a soft spot nonetheless, Lanken grimaced with discomfort.

Time and again, he had argued with Viretta, scolded her, and even sulked, but in the end, he always lost.

No, it wasn’t just losing—Viretta completely overpowered him.

From the very first moment he met her, Lanken knew she was no ordinary person. Despite being a proper young lady from a wealthy family, she was a whirlwind of chaos, mystery, and unexplainable antics.

If asked whether he had ever truly accepted her, Lanken wouldn’t know how to answer. Even now, he simply wanted to go back home.

But since that wasn’t an option, he stuck by her side to clean up her messes.

Calling it "respecting Viretta" might sound noble, but in reality, it was more about his inability to stand up to her. Still, it wasn’t entirely false.

"Well, there’s no one better suited to handle Viretta than me."

Lanken tilted his head slightly, deciding to think of himself not as a helpless lackey but as a considerate companion to Viretta.

"She’s the type who prefers protecting over being protected, supporting others over being supported. She’d rather create a comfortable life for her partner than settle into one herself. Like Elena—if she gets married, it’ll fall apart, and she’ll move on to something else."

"But I’m not worse than Viretta, you know? Objectively speaking."

"To put it nicely, she’s assertive. To put it bluntly, she can’t stand being with someone better than her. That’s why Elena rejected the Earl’s money."

Moslin combined the rumors she’d heard from the servants with her recollections of Elena, and her hypothesis fit perfectly.

Even when Elena received the Earl’s proposal, she hesitated. The reason was exactly as Moslin described.

She loved Karl Bechdelrace and admired his character, but her pride held her back.

She took immense pride in being a farmer’s daughter who had clawed her way to becoming a magician.

She believed that building her own life made her superior to those born into privilege. And she knew that becoming the Earl’s wife would overshadow her own achievements with his reputation.

Elena, who would rather be the head of a snake than the tail of a dragon, eventually accepted his heartfelt confession.

But she couldn’t change her nature, and so the custody battle ensued.

"Most people would be content to live under someone else’s protection if it guaranteed them some level of freedom. They’d hope to catch the eye of someone wealthy or powerful. But there are always exceptions."

Moslin’s gaze flicked between Viretta and Elena.

"They need to be the best themselves, don’t they?"

"Maybe. But I’d put it differently—they need to be in control of their own lives. Adventurous, unique."

Ordinary people wouldn’t fight a lawsuit like this. Disagreeing over educational methods alone isn’t usually enough reason to divorce.

If money’s involved, people typically try even harder to stay together for the children’s sake.

But Elena’s case was highly unusual. That made it difficult.

"Since they’re similar, Viretta should know exactly where to strike."

Could it be?

Was that the key to this trial?

‘Can Viretta really pull this off…?’

Iola and Viretta seemed composed, but they were the kind of people who would jump off a cliff while pretending everything was fine. Their expressions offered no clues.

Lanken, lost in thought as he observed Viretta, suddenly came to a realization.

"Ah?"

Could this be the breaking point?

If they lost this trial, it would mean: failure = the Earl gives up = no path to borrow = difficult to transport the dragon = possibly caught by the Medleridges = return home.

Even Viretta would change her plans if faced with insurmountable obstacles or failure.

In Lanken’s mind, this trial was critical.

If they lost, the dragon hunt would become a distant dream.

If they lost and the Earl got involved, the Medleridge family might close in.

"Things’ll get messy if they lose this trial~."

With that thought, Lanken felt strangely relieved. He relaxed in his chair, leaning back comfortably.

Meanwhile, Moslin, who clearly didn’t share Lanken’s optimistic ignorance, caressed her staff with a grave expression.

"Yes. I might have to use some magic."

"Viretta, you have to win!"

Hearing the battle-mage who specialized in lightning magic talk about “using magic” sent a chill down Lanken’s spine.

Fearing the worst, he shouted at the top of his lungs.

"This trial marks the third and final round. The stance of Mrs. Elena Bechdelrace remains unchanged. Now, let us hear the arguments from Count Karl Bechdelrace’s new representative."

The final judgment day that would determine the fate of a family.

Karl Bechdelrace sat pale and stricken with nerves.

In contrast, Viretta waved enthusiastically at Lanken, who cheered her on from the audience.

Blowing kisses to the audience, she twirled dramatically toward the judge’s podium.

"Honorable Judge, I will now present the reasons why Count Bechdelrace should be awarded custody of Lucy Bechdelrace."

The judge glanced at Viretta, her unique role as the Count’s representative earning both skepticism and interest.

Iola, who should have been the main player in this fight, instead stood to the side, observing like a mere spectator.

"I have reviewed the rulings from the first two trials. Both judges sided with Mrs. Elena over the Count," Viretta began, holding up copies of the earlier judgments.

She read aloud the crux of the rulings:

"If the plaintiff has pledged to forfeit the child’s inheritance and rights to the Count’s estate, then there is no basis to view this case as an attempt to exploit the defendant’s wealth or status. The plaintiff’s actions clearly prioritize the child’s welfare, and the mother’s decision deserves respect."

Letting the paper fall dramatically to the ground, Viretta paused for effect.

Her face hinted at an impending uproar, but instead, she made an unexpected remark:

"A reasonable and lawful judgment."

The room buzzed with murmurs. Despite the Count’s power and wealth, Elena’s victory made perfect sense for one simple reason:

The current state of science couldn’t definitively prove a child’s paternity.

While it was undeniable that Lucy was Elena’s child, there was no absolute way to confirm that she was Karl Bechdelrace’s.

Of course, Elena showed no signs of infidelity, but academically and practically speaking, it couldn’t be proven beyond a doubt.

In this era, inheritance and lineage were determined solely by the recognition of the benefactor.

While Karl Bechdelrace never doubted for a second that Lucy was his, prior legal precedents tied his hands.

Most custody battles involving fathers devolved into ugly disputes over claims like, "How can you prove that child is mine?"

The outcome of those cases established the grim truth that "a father, no matter how devoted, is only 98% a parent."

One noble even won a trial by arguing, "Yes, I was involved with that woman, and yes, the child resembles me, but can you guarantee with 100% certainty it’s mine?"

As petty as it sounds, the argument was technically correct. There was still a 2% chance he wasn’t the father.

This is why courts often favored mothers in custody cases.

Unless issues of inheritance or other complications arose, biological mothers were overwhelmingly seen as the rightful guardians.

Exceptions were made for grown children or cases involving precious male heirs, where succession crises might push rulings in the father’s favor.

But in this case, the mother was a commoner raising a three-year-old daughter, while Karl Bechdelrace was young and healthy.

The court reasoned that he could father more children with other women in the future, which led to a judgment that heavily supported the mother’s rights.

It was a logical and uncontroversial ruling.

"Until now, that is—until I, Viretta Medleridge, arrived on the scene."

Placing a hand dramatically over her chest, Viretta smirked confidently. The audience stirred with curiosity.

Under the scrutiny of every eye in the room, Viretta boldly addressed them.

"You’ve all missed the most critical detail of this case. But that’s only natural—it takes a spark of brilliance and a shift in perspective to see it."

"Who is this woman…?" someone muttered from the gallery.

"But I see it. As the daughter of Cadlen Medleridge, head of the renowned Medleridge Trading House, and granddaughter of its founder, Carlin Medleridge, I see it clearly."

This trial wasn’t just about securing a path for dragon transportation or gaining financial support from the Count.

For Viretta, it was also personal. This courtroom resonated deeply with her sense of justice and pride.

"Lucy must grow up in her father’s care. Mrs. Elena Bechdelrace is leading her child down a path of misery."

Elena’s face twisted in disbelief, her glare sharp enough to pierce through Viretta’s audacity.