7928-chapter-50
Katarina was now technically a grand duchess.
Ivan’s crime had gone beyond defaming a woman. He had insulted the Grand Duchess, and he would be punished severely.
Today was the trial for the marriage fraud, and he was expected to be judged as the defendant this time.
The exact outcome would only be known after the trial, but in general, after being stripped of their noble status, they were usually divided into two groups.
Either they were shipped off to the developing New World and forced to work until they died building public infrastructure, or they were publicly burned at the stake and sent to work on the New World’s building sites.
Nine times out of ten, the condemned would die of the after-effects on board the ship to the New World before it even touched down.
The rest would survive by sheer force of will, but eventually die of overexertion from hard labor on the building sites.
The choice was simple: live a lifetime of suffering, or die in such pain that you might as well have died.
Either way, the end result was doom.
“Order. Plaintiff’s claim is dismissed. Costs of suit to be borne by the plaintiff.”
BAM BAM BAM.
The judge tapped the gavel three times in sentencing, and a thunderous roar and applause erupted from the audience.
Ivan, who had been sentenced to confinement pending trial for contempt, struggled to his feet and was eventually escorted out by court security.
It was a complete victory for Katya.
“I don’t even know how many times it’s been now.”
Amidst the commotion, Nikolai whispered so softly that only his wife could hear.
“What is it?”
“I’ve fallen for you.”
It was a beautiful confession.
A lullaby he wanted to hear every night before falling asleep.
He didn’t realize it until he met her.
The adorable charm that made him want to embrace her and the strong personality that could assert herself when everyone said otherwise.
The fact that both of these charms coexisted in one person was possible.
Truly, she was a woman he couldn’t help but love.
***
“That was a confession.”
Nikolai said out loud in the carriage ride back to the duchy.
“A confession?”
“Yes, you spoke about me as if I were a very special man.”
Embarrassed by his words, Katya coughed nervously with her face turning red.
What did I say?
A man who loves me just the way I am, without trying to change me to suit his taste.
And she even said thatshe would have chosen him, even if he was a person with nothing and of low status.
“I didn’t know you felt that way about me until now. I was so thrilled that I almost got dizzy, but I managed to hold on thanks to my strong willpower.”
“I might have exaggerated a bit when I said those things…”
“If that’s exaggeration, I welcome it wholeheartedly.”
Most of the people gathered for today’s trial were lords and ladies of Padovangrad, so they had promised to keep the fact that the Grand Duke had come to the southern region a secret.
Other nobles, including Gregory and Olen, were no different.
If they leaked this information and got caught, they would lose their heads, so everyone agreed not to speak of today’s events lightly.
“The Grand Duke of Blood nickname surprisingly has its advantages.”
“True. Having a notorious reputation does have its benefits. People tend to think twice before messing with you.”
“I’m sure they see me as a bloodthirsty madman who must see blood, so I have no complaints. But the nickname ‘Wicked Woman of the South’ doesn’t suit you.”
“Well, you’re acting tough because you’re the Grand Duke, but am I that wicked to you?”
In response to her words, Nikolai lightly tapped her upturned nose with his index finger.
“Where do you see wickedness in this adorable and cute face?”
“Huh? Nobody’s watching, so why do you keep touching me without permission? Isn’t that a violation of our contract?”
Katya angrily slapped her husband’s hand.
“Why is nobody watching? The sun and clouds up there, the passing birds, the blowing wind, and even those trees over there. There’s plenty of audience.”
“But we agreed to perform our married couple act only when necessary.”
“If you’re going to deceive, you have to deceive everything. Is it a perfect lie if you don’t deceive the sky and the earth too?”
“Wow, there’s no winning this argument with words alone! Have you been arguing since we had dinner?”
“In most fights in the world, I’m not confident in winning.”
The expression ‘not confident in winning’ was something she had never heard before.
But why does he subtly show a virtue of humility in strange places while talking about most fights?
As a sudden question emerged in her mind, Katya tilted her head.
“If it’s most fights, does that mean there are some fights where you’re not confident?”
“A fight with you?”
“A fight with me?”
“In a fight between us, the winner and loser are always predetermined. I will lose to you every day. I will only listen to my wife’s words now. You’re the one in charge.”
“Huh?”
“I may be the ruler outside, but in this house, you are always my ruler. I promise to faithfully show you unwavering affection and obedience as your subject and work hard to make you happy with this beautiful face.”
Nikolai quoted the phrases from her speech.
He was applying the very words she had cried out about having to get rid of such a scourge to himself in reverse.
“Where did you hear that? I said that a husband and wife are equal!”
“Originally, the one who loves more becomes the submissive1“?” (eul) refers to the person in a subordinate or inferior position in a relationship one in the relationship.”
“Why should there be a superior2“?” (gap) denotes the person in a dominant or superior position in a relationship one between husband and wife?”
“After ruling for so long, I strangely developed a desire to be dominated by someone else in return. So, let yourself rule over me.”
“I’ll tell Father about this! The Grand Duke dares to make me a criminal accused of disrespecting the ruler.”
The Grand Duchess shouted at the whimsical and perverted ruler.
“To complain about my loyalty to you like this.”
“I-I told you not to be loyal to me!”
“Isn’t it more likely for a sparrow to just pass by a barn3implies that in certain situations, it’s better to find a way around a problem rather than attempting to confront it directly, especially when you lack the power or influence to change the circumstances.? From the moment I first saw you, I thought, ‘Finally, the one who will conquer me, the dominator, has appeared.'”
“Ha… Please just tell me when this will end.”
Katya said, seeming resigned.
Finally, Nikolai stopped teasing with a chuckle.
The amusement of teasing seemed to have no end.
The two of them continued to talk after the trial.
“I didn’t want to involve Bianca, so I kept it hidden, but it ended up like this.”
“I’m sure my sister-in-law is glad she knows now.”
“It’s a relief that I can finally talk about it and start the treatment. I wish there was a tea ceremony. I was actually thinking of sneaking it into her tea.”
“You’re very cunning.”
“My father is worried. He was quick to get angry, as you saw earlier.”
After the verdict was announced, Pavtisky immediately leaped over the fence and tried to grab Ivan by the neck, causing quite a scene as the court guards rushed to stop him. It took even the Grand Duke’s knights to finally subdue him.
Pavtisky Smirnov was a man who used to have a fiery temperament and fought bears with his bare hands before he met his wife, putting on a gentle facade to impress her during their courtship.
The judge, who knew about Pavtisky’s hidden strength and his true nature as his old friend, had people from the Smirnov estate watch him closely for a while, fearing that he might kill Ivan himself or hire an assassin.
“I feel sorry for my father-in-law. I should have strangled that scoundrel and presented his head on a platter before.”
“No this isn’t a battlefield here? Not even the head of an enemy general! Be kind and think good thoughts.”
“Has my charm worn off?”
“A little bit.”
Katya replied with her index finger and thumb slightly spread apart.
Nikolai chuckled at her response, recalling a conversation they had in the past.
“Removing the export restrictions is not a difficult task for me. Even if you don’t marry me, I’ll grant your request, so there’s no need to accept the proposal just because of that burden. I don’t want you to marry me just out of obligation.”
“It’s not because of that. I am marrying you because I really like you.”
“Because you like me?”
“No! The decision to marry the Grand Duke is because I want to.”
“Can’t you tell me you’re doing it because you want me?”
“No way.”
At that time, Katya flatly refused.
“I’ll save that for when I’m really in love with you. I don’t think you should talk about love, even in jest.”
“Will the day ever come when you will love me?”
Nikolai thought as he looked at his pretty wife leaning against the carriage window.
Now he wanted to be loved by her, but on the other hand, he hoped that day would never come.
Contradictory feelings plagued him.
***
The marriage fraud lawsuit had come to an end. Today was the day when the two of them would be fitted for their wedding attire.
Members of the Smirnov family gathered in the reception room, engaging in pleasant conversations while waiting for the tailor.
However, Nikolai’s expression suddenly darkened, and Pavtisky, worried for his liege, asked,
“Grand Duke, is something bothering you?”
“When will you finally acknowledge me as your true son?”
Nikolai finally voiced his frustration.
“Yes?”
“You’ve always addressed me as ‘Grand Duke.’ Despite my efforts to become closer to you and calling you ‘father-in-law’ respectfully, all I get in return is a cold and distant ‘Grand Duke.'”
“C-cold and distant…”
Startled by Pavtisky’s words, Nikolai was at a loss and instinctively rubbed his head.
“I have been lacking in manners, causing discomfort to Your Highness. I, I have committed a grave mistake. Please, I deserve death for what I’ve done, Your Highness.”
“No, that’s not what I meant. Why does everyone see me as a murderer? Do you all really think I’m a mad villain who will kill even my father-in-law?”
“Grand Duke, please calm down.”
Katya held back her laughter and gently grabbed Nikolai’s sleeve.
To think he wanted to become closer and complained to his father-in-law like a whining child, only to feel as a sinful servant who angered the monarch.
The tale of their twisted love.
The parties involved were serious, but for Katya, who acted as the intermediary connecting the two as family, the situation was laughable.
“So frustrating, I’m really upset.”
The son-in-law, hungry for his father-in-law’s love, lamented.
Feeling a sense of responsibility, Katya came up with a brilliant idea.
The so-called ‘Between-In-Laws – Wishing to Get Closer’ project.
