He Opened A Matchmaking Agency In 18Th Century London [EN]: Chapter 143

143. Eviction Lawsuit (1)

◈ Kensington, Theo’s Atelier.

*Ting-a-ling* ♪

As Theo entered the atelier [a workshop or studio, often for artists or designers], a clerk who was organizing clothes rushed out to greet him.

“Mr. Theo! You’re here?”

“Yes, I am. Where is the manager?”

“In the manager’s office.”

Theo went up to the third floor and entered the manager’s office, where Manager Gilbert greeted him with a bright smile.

“Welcome, Mr. Theo!”

“Manager, how is Rio’s outfit coming along?”

“You’ve come at just the right time. Would you like to take a look?”

A few weeks ago, Theo had made a somewhat demanding request to create a suit that exuded nobility.

Gilbert, who was planning a luxurious suit, readily agreed, suggesting that they create a new ready-to-wear line with Rio as the model.

Theo was very excited about what kind of clothes would come out, perhaps because of Gilbert’s words that he was feeling motivated after a long time.

Rio, who was trying on clothes, turned around at the sound of footsteps.

“Ah, Lord Sanderson, you’re here?”

“……!”

Theo was speechless at Rio’s splendid appearance.

The suit, tailored to fit his figure perfectly, subtly showed off the elegance and sophistication of a young aristocrat. The white shirt with intricate embroidery contrasted with the navy tie, further highlighting his neat impression.

With the magical skill of Gilbert, the best tailor, Rio had transformed into a young man from a distinguished family that everyone would agree with.

Now, he looked like an heir who had inherited the blood of a noble ducal family [a family holding the highest hereditary title in the peerage], no matter who saw him.

‘As expected, clothes make the man. This is enough.’

It may sound absurd, but Rio’s appearance will be the primary factor in determining whether he is a true descendant of the ducal family.

This is similar to the prejudiced image of princes and princesses that is ingrained in our consciousness.

If the direct descendant of the ducal family, who is said to have the noblest lineage among the nobility, had a poor appearance, there was a risk of being perceived as a fake who had not inherited the family’s blood.

On the other hand, if Rio showed an appearance worthy of a ducal family in court, where he would be making his debut to the public, it was clear that he would be in a more advantageous position in the upcoming legal battle.

◈ Late December 1779, London Court of Common Pleas.

In front of the London Court of Common Pleas, which handles various civil cases such as real estate, contracts, and wills.

Despite the cold weather, the place was crowded with people from early in the morning.

This was because it was the first day of the lawsuit between Duke Garrett and Rio Edwards, which had been receiving great attention for several months.

Rio had filed an eviction lawsuit against some of Duke Garrett’s farms, and the outcome of this lawsuit would have a significant impact on various subsequent lawsuits.

Rio’s lawsuit, which was expected to end in Duke Garrett’s unilateral victory just two months ago, was facing a new phase as Logan’s novel gained great popularity.

Here, as Logan revealed that the protagonist in the novel was Rio Edwards, the atmosphere became even more heated.

Of course, there were still many who supported Duke Garrett and claimed that all of this was a cunning trick by the fake Rio and Jeffrey.

* * *

“Lord Rio, are you ready? Are you nervous?”

Theo quietly asked Rio Edwards, who was sitting in the front seat.

He thought he would be nervous since it was his first time in court.

But his expressed emotions seemed quite stable.

“I’m fine. I feel more comfortable now that I’m in court. I’m also looking forward to the possibility that this lawsuit may help me avenge my parents’ unjust deaths.”

Theo smiled and nodded.

“Yes, now that we’ve come this far, let’s avenge your parents’ grievances.”

At that moment, Rio’s witnesses entered the witness stand one after another.

They were people whom Theo had mobilized all the information investigators from the matchmaking company to bring from Liverpool with great difficulty.

They were mainly nobles, gentry [people of good social position, specifically, those ranking just below the nobility], captains, servants, and local residents who had interacted with Rio’s father, Dylan Edwards, in the Liverpool area during his lifetime, numbering over 30 people.

Soon, people who appeared to be witnesses for Duke Garrett’s side also entered the courtroom and filled the witness stand.

However, there were only about ten of them.

Step. Step.

A man with a white wig and a black robe approached Theo and Rio and greeted them.

It was Rupert Wilson, a barrister [a type of lawyer in the UK].

Lord Wilson was the barrister who had helped a lot with the Gavin Murray case, and he readily agreed to take on the defense this time as well.

He unfolded the bundle of parchment he was holding and conveyed to Rio the things to be aware of during the trial.

The two, who had met through Theo’s introduction some time ago, had shared quite a few stories while preparing for the lawsuit, and Wilson, who had fallen for his story, helped his lawsuit with great enthusiasm.

Clunk-

A moment later, the door on the right side of the courtroom opened, and 12 jurors entered in turn and sat in the jury box decorated with dark wood panels.

The jurors, who had various ages and occupations, seemed quite burdened by being assigned to a case that was receiving public attention.

After a while, a man dressed in the court’s unique uniform announced the judge’s entrance in a loud voice, and the noisy courtroom became quiet as everyone stood up.

An elderly man with a prominent hooked nose and deeply sunken eyes entered the courtroom slowly, wearing a white wig and robe.

It was Judge Lawrence Brown.

As he took his seat, the trial began in earnest.

* * *

“Your Honor, and members of the jury.”

Barrister Wilson’s calm and weighty voice echoed through the courtroom.

“I stand here today to defend a pitiful young man who has been completely deprived of his rightful rights in life.”

At that moment, Duke Garrett’s face contorted as he glared at Barrister Wilson.

The words ‘deprived of rights’ seemed to have touched a nerve with the Duke.

“The legitimacy of a family renowned in England has been thoroughly violated by someone greedy, and even its assets have all passed into the hands of the wrong person.”

Barrister Wilson, who was holding something in his hand, slowly approached the jury and held up the object.

In his hand was a pair of old, worn-out leather shoes.

“The shoes you see before you are shoes mainly worn by farmers working on farms in North America.

As you can see, the leather shoes are so worn and torn that they have holes all over, showing how much labor they have endured.

But, everyone! Do you know who the owner of these old farm worker shoes, who looks like he worked really hard and sweated a lot, is?”

The jury, as well as the people who came to observe, waited for Wilson’s answer with curious eyes.

Holding the shoes even higher, Wilson shouted.

“It is the shoes worn by Lord Dylan Edwards, the rightful heir to the noble Edwards ducal family, during his lifetime!”

People murmured.

The shoes of the famous ducal family heir who disappeared more than a decade ago.

-What? What is he talking about?

-The missing Lord Dylan worked on a farm in the colonies… Oh my.

-Surely, the Edwards family knew about it, didn’t they?

-Oh my, haven’t you all read the novel? Those facts are described in detail there. According to the novel, Duke Garrett already knew those facts, didn’t he?

-He knew but did nothing? Why?

-Why? Isn’t it obvious?

-Hey, that’s all made up in the novel. It’s all a trick to slander Duke Garrett!

The fact that the heir to a noble status who would inherit the title of Duke lived a hard life doing rough farm work in the barren lands of the North American colonies was a shocking event that was hard to imagine for the citizens of London at the time.

“And right here in this place!”

Barrister Wilson raised his index finger and shook it in the air, drawing people’s attention.

“Dylan Edwards’ own son, the rightful heir to the Edwards family, and the first in line to inherit the Edwards family, Lord Rio Edwards is here… to reclaim his father’s rightful inheritance!”

After finishing his speech, Barrister Wilson raised his right hand and pointed to Rio Edwards, who was sitting in the plaintiff’s seat.

Then, the eyes of the judge, the jury, and the audience all turned to Rio at once.

“Lord Rio Edwards! Would you please stand up for a moment?”

Rio Edwards slowly rose from his seat, receiving everyone’s attention.

The first introduction to the public was a very important moment that would determine the direction of the trial.

He had to make a strong impression that exceeded the public’s expectations, like the protagonist in a movie.

That was the reason why he had been preparing for two months for this day.

Wow-

Small exclamations burst from the mouths of the people sitting in the upper and lower levels of the audience.

Rio Edwards, standing confidently in the courtroom, was no longer the shabby manager from Jamaica.

With his tall height, sculpted face, and luxurious suit that clung to his body, he was so handsome that one would think he was a descendant of a noble ducal family without having to say it.

‘That… that guy… is that the… con artist…?’

Duke Garrett clearly remembered seeing Rio for the first time a few months ago when Jeffrey brought him to London.

He was clearly shabby and unsophisticated.

However, he seemed quite surprised by the appearance of Rio Edwards, who had become a completely different person.

Theo quickly examined the expressions of the jury as well.

He could feel from their eyes and gestures that they saw Rio as a true descendant of the Edwards ducal family.

‘It seems to be going according to plan.’

Rio Edwards, who had made his name known throughout England for about two months thanks to Logan’s novel.

He, who had been branded as a con artist until he arrived in London, captured people’s hearts at once as he appeared in the novel as the ducal family’s grandson.

People were angry and saddened by Rio’s sad and tragic life in the novel.

Based on this active interest from people, it was now time to focus on revealing the truth.

Barrister Wilson asked Rio Edwards.

“Lord Rio Edwards. Is the shoe I am holding… definitely the shoe of your father, Lord Dylan Edwards?”

Everyone’s eyes were on Rio’s mouth.

A moment of silence passed,

“Yes, it is. I have cherished one of my deceased father’s shoes until now, and I brought that shoe all the way to London. It was the only memento of my parents that I could take care of when I was young. My father always wore those shoes, saying they were comfortable on his feet whenever he farmed corn.”
A dignified and elegant pronunciation that one would only hear from high-ranking nobles or royalty flowed naturally from his mouth.

-Oh! Did you hear his pronunciation just now?

-His tone and pronunciation… he could really pass for the grandson of a Duke.

-It seems that Rio is really the character in that novel. It said there that he received a lot of teachings from his father since he was young.

-That’s right. How could an ignorant con artist have such excellent speaking skills? It’s absolutely impossible.

Following the nobility exuded by his appearance, admiration burst out from here and there once again at the dignified pronunciation and attitude coming from his mouth.

The good image of Rio, which had been greatly enhanced thanks to Logan’s novel, was bringing an even better response due to his noble appearance, dignified tone, and excellent manners.

Barrister Wilson, with a satisfied expression, said to the judge and jury.

“The key to this lawsuit is whether Rio Edwards is truly the son of Dylan Edwards.

In conclusion, our firm position is that he is definitely his son.

But unfortunately, all the official documents that prove he is his son have been burned down. So we…….”

It was then.

Humphrey Allen, the barrister for Duke Garrett’s side, quickly intervened in the argument.

“Barrister Wilson has properly pointed out the essence of this case. That’s right! The key to this lawsuit is whether the plaintiff, Rio Edwards, is really the grandson of the Edwards family.

But, everyone? A guy who is not even a grandson is filing an eviction lawsuit against the current Duke? If you were to experience such an absurd thing, how would you feel? If it were me, I would feel so wronged and angry that my blood would boil.”

Barrister Allen looked at Rio and shrugged his shoulders.

“Oh dear! But what to do? It seems that Duke Garrett is experiencing such an unfair thing right now.

Everyone! Look at the plaintiff who claims to be the son of Lord Dylan. First of all, doesn’t it seem that this person is not from the Edwards family from his appearance?

Many members of the Edwards family are attending behind the defendant’s seat here. Please compare them directly with your own eyes!”

The people who had been excited that Rio was the grandson of the ducal family until just now closed their mouths at Barrister Allen’s words.

Then, they carefully examined Duke Garrett and the people of the ducal family.

Come to think of it, most of the men in the Edwards family were short and had dark brown hair.

-Huh? Now that I think about it, Lord Rio and the Edwards family look too different?

-That’s right. Lord Rio is relatively too tall and has light blonde hair?

-They really are too different.

Theo couldn’t help but sigh.

He could not help but laugh at the foolish reactions of people who were trapped in false knowledge and prejudices about bloodlines and genetics.

Barrister Allen, rejoicing that his intention had worked, continued to speak.

“Everyone! Do you know that the person sitting in the plaintiff’s seat over there has been spreading rumors that he is the grandson of the ducal family for several years, and as soon as he came to London with Lord Jeffrey, he immediately ran to Duke Garrett’s house and threatened to hand over the money?

I have a question. If he were a true grandson of the Edwards family, could he have dared to do such a vulgar and frivolous act?”

Rio couldn’t stand it and immediately protested.

“That was the only way I could find my roots in Jamaica! And I never demanded that you hand over money! I just wanted to find my roots and be recognized!”

Barrister Wilson, flustered, stopped Rio.

“Lord Rio. You can’t refute like that right now. You just have to stay still. Calm down and sit down! Hurry!”

As Rio showed a violent reaction, Barrister Allen spoke in front of the jury as if he had been waiting for it.

“Tsk tsk- Look at that! He’s dressed up all fancy as if he’s from a prestigious family, but look at that vulgar appearance where he can’t control his emotions well!

Isn’t it too much of a comparison with Duke Garrett, who is sitting nobly at all times despite any criticism and insults?

Even just looking at that reckless attitude, it doesn’t seem like the blood of the Edwards ducal family is flowing.”

The jurors whispered something to each other, and some wrote it down diligently.

At that time, Barrister Wilson requested Judge Brown.

“Your Honor! I would like to refute Barrister Allen’s absurd argument. And I request a witness for this!”

As Judge Brown allowed it, a person sitting in the witness stand stood up from his seat.

He was tall and had blonde hair, and although his eyes were a little different, his overall appearance at first glance was quite similar to Rio Edwards.

The man, standing in the witness stand under the hot gaze, swore to tell only the truth before the judge and received questions from Barrister Wilson.

“Witness, please state your name and relationship with the plaintiff.”

The man parted his lips with a slightly nervous face.

“The mother of Lord Rio Edwards, who is sitting in the plaintiff’s seat right now… was my mother’s younger sister. So I am Michael Kelly, a maternal cousin of the plaintiff.”