A Third-Rate Villain Tries Her Best Today 90

Chapter 90: The End of the Beginning

“Sue Byron Chiqmefriar, take a seat in the witness stand.”

The judge’s solemn voice echoed from the top of the courtroom. Sue obediently followed his instructions. Noel called out to her, his voice filled with confusion,

“B-Byron, why are you here…?”

“Silence!”

The courtroom fell silent as the judge slammed his gavel. Noel could only watch in silence, his mouth agape.

Sue clasped her hands together and prayed to God, as was customary.

This was her second time in court. And both times, it was because of the same person.

She lifted her head after praying and saw Yuna and Acrea in the gallery. Acrea, meeting her gaze, smiled his usual emotionless smile, as if to reassure her.

It was a strange comfort, that smile, devoid of any emotion. Because it was truly devoid of any emotion.

Sue cleared her mind and spoke to the judge, her hands still clasped together, her voice strong and clear.

“I, Sue Byron Chiqmefriar, as the most direct victim of this incident, strongly appeal to the court.”

As she recited the words she had prepared, she thought,

Had she felt a sense of betrayal towards Raines Noel when Damon was beating her in the basement of the glass garden?

The answer was ‘no’.

She had just felt sad. And she had moved on, thinking, ‘Figures’, just like she always did. She had just hated ‘Sue Byron’.

She had become accustomed to the life of ‘Sue Byron’, as if Fritz’s advice had been for naught.

“I request leniency for Raines Noel and the Noel count family.”

“Byron…!”

Noel’s cry was silenced by the guards. So were her parents, who were sitting in the gallery. And Vercia, who had come after hearing the rumors. No one in the courtroom understood her actions.

Sue felt her eyes drying and slowly closed her eyelids.

“…Please, Your Honor. I, Sue Byron, do not wish to punish Raines Noel.”

“Is that true, Lady Sue Byron Chiqmefriar?”

“Yes, Your Honor.”

Her clasped hands trembled. It was a short statement, but she was crying.

Yes, all she had felt towards Raines Noel when his sword struck her was guilt.

“Your Honor.”

So she would do what little she could to atone. To atone to the boy whose life had been ruined because of Sue Byron.

The judge, sitting high above her, looked down at her like a god. She suddenly understood how Damon Keron must have felt. She lowered her head and started her confession.

The only confession the hateful, wicked Sue Byron could make.

“Please.”

Anyone but Noel.

“Please show him leniency.”

Please, someone condemn her.

“Please minimize his punishment.”

Please, someone punish her.

“Please…”

And please…

Please…

“Forgive me.”

***

A few days after Fritz and Acrea’s visit, another guest arrived.

Melaine, her arms laden with gift bags, sipped the herbal tea Sue had served her, her face tired.

“What happened at the trial… My sister told me, and I was shocked. I couldn’t understand you.”

Her blunt tone softened as she paused, then continued,

“Probably every adult is condemning you. Except for my sister.”

Sue’s plea, disguised as testimony, had caused a minor stir in noble society. Eren and Sheryl, upon hearing the news, had been furious and had petitioned the court to overturn her statement, but their request had been denied. Because she had a more powerful backer.

“The only one receiving a light sentence is Raines Noel… Or rather, the only one receiving a heavy sentence is Count Delthel. Countess Haina hasn’t even regained consciousness yet.”

Thanks to the support of Marquess Yuna Vava and Grand Duke Antique, and Sue Byron’s plea for leniency, Raines Noel Delpheman had miraculously been allowed to remain in the capital. Only Raines Noel.

Count Delthel would be imprisoned for a long time and then expelled from the capital. The Noel count family had been stripped of their Skia status and had lost 70% of their territory. The Noel count residence, burned to the ground, now belonged to the Imperial Family.

Countess Haina was still unconscious at the clinic provided by Marquess Yuna Vava.

Noel, having lost his Skia status, should have been expelled from the capital, but he had been allowed to return to Full Bloom and the Knights Division after a short period of probation. Grand Duke Antique, the head of Full Bloom, had provided him with a dormitory, solving the housing problem.

It was a light sentence for Raines, no matter how anyone saw it. He hadn’t been stripped of his noble title, he hadn’t been permanently banished from the capital, he hadn’t been expelled from the academy or the Knights Division, he hadn’t even been imprisoned.

“Well… with those people backing him, it’s natural that he would receive such a lenient sentence… He must be quite charming as a knight. My sister wouldn’t have bothered if he wasn’t skilled.”

Melaine muttered, her face displeased.

It might seem like Sue Byron’s tearful plea had changed everything, but as Melaine had said, Marquess Yuna Vava had already influenced the verdict. And Woo Acrea would have also intervened to repay his debt to Sue. Sue had simply sealed the deal.

So the objections of those who were dissatisfied with the verdict were quickly dismissed.

“But Lady Enzhe isn’t happy about it. She’s staying quiet because of the political implications… Anyway, I was worried, but it doesn’t seem like she’s planning to do anything to you, considering you’ve already been through so much. That’s a relief, isn’t it, Sue?”

Her smile was sharp. Sue touched her neck awkwardly at her sarcastic tone.

As she had said, the two snakes were quiet. Sue had been prepared for the curse mark to activate when she had asked Acrea for help, but surprisingly, there had been no reaction from Enzhe.

“Well, it’s fine if my sister is fine with it. It doesn’t really have anything to do with me anyway. Should I be grateful that she didn’t target me, who’s so insignificant… Hmph.”

She didn’t know if Enzhe considered it none of her business or if she was staying quiet because Yuna and Antique were protecting him.

“Ah, right, take this.”

Melaine, about to get up from the sofa, suddenly rummaged through her handbag.

“What’s this?”

“A surprise gift.”

She handed her a white envelope with a gold vine pattern.

It’s been a while since I’ve seen such a formal envelope.

Sue smiled faintly, looking at the envelope, its flap sealed with a red rose. She turned it over, but there was no sender’s name. She asked, puzzled,

“Who’s it from?”

“Hehe, it’s a secret. Read it in your room later.”

Melaine grinned, then her smile faded. She frowned, as if something had occurred to her.

‘What is it?’

Sue waited silently, fidgeting with the envelope. Melaine hesitated, then sighed.

‘What is it?’

Sue waited silently, fidgeting with the envelope. Melaine hesitated, then sighed.

“Alright, I’ll play messenger one last time.”

She muttered, as if talking to herself, her gaze averted.

“Sue, Raines Noel wants to see you.”

“…!”

Sue’s eyes widened. Melaine looked away, as if recalling something.

“That man… He stayed at our mansion for a while. He begged me before he left. Hmph, if he wanted to see you so badly, he should have come here himself.”

Melaine’s brilliant golden eyes were filled with displeasure, as if she disliked everything about Noel. But she continued, fulfilling her promise to him.

“I’ve lifted the restraining order, the surveillance… all that, at your request, as the victim. Viscount Eren said it was fine. So you can see him.”

“…Thank you, Lady Melaine. But I’m not going to see Noel.”

Melaine raised an eyebrow at her firm reply.

“Why? …You even pleaded for him in court.”

“It wouldn’t be good for either of us.”

“……”

Melaine stared at her, her lips pressed together. She hadn’t been able to understand Sue ever since she had heard that she had pleaded for Noel’s leniency in court.

She had concluded that Sue Byron was simply infatuated with Raines Noel.

‘But if that’s not it… Hah, don’t tell me…’

Melaine scoffed at the thought that had crossed her mind.

Sue Byron wouldn’t possibly think that way.

But the absurd hypothesis had already solidified into a fact in her mind, and her clear voice called out Sue’s name.

“Sue, you’re a proud Skia, no matter what people say.”

“Lady Melaine…?”

“It’s unsightly to be arrogant and overstep your bounds, but it’s also not right to burrow into the ground and hide. Don’t you think?”

Melaine smiled brilliantly, imitating the tone of Yuna Vava, whom she admired most in the world.

“You can go see him. You’re good at it, aren’t you? Smiling shamelessly.”