The Villain’S Daughter-In-Law Is Inherently Powerful [EN]: Chapter 71

In conclusion, after the Head Maid conducted a body search, Vivian Sandrea’s personal maid thoroughly searched the room.

She spent a long time going through Linda’s belongings, even squatting to look under the bed, but, of course, no firearm was found.

The crestfallen maid finally composed herself and knelt before Ian, bowing her head.

“I’m so… I’m sorry. I was wrong.”

“You should apologize to Linda. And clean up the mess you made.”

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry. I suspected you without reason…”

So easily provoked, then easily calmed. A personality like that is easily exploited. So that’s why Vivian chose her over June.

‘A personality that rushes in recklessly without considering the difference in status.’

I looked down at the dejected maid and suspected that the doctor was in league with the true mastermind.

He must have deliberately shown her the bullet and fanned the flames. He knew this maid would be driven mad and rush out like a maniac.

“Are we done here?”

“Lady Inanna!”

Just then, Lady Inanna appeared, pushing through the crowd.

With a beautiful fan unfolded, Lady Inanna entered with an elegant gait and stroked both my and Ian’s heads.

“Well done. I heard the news early but deliberately didn’t intervene to see how you would handle it. I commend both of you.”

I was praised!

I smiled bashfully and nodded.

Now that Lady Inanna has arrived, the maid’s fate will be decided.

“Let’s see. What’s your name?”

“To ask the name of someone as lowly as me…”

“Lowly? Didn’t you work hard for the person you serve? Such loyalty is precious. Tell me your name. If you sincerely apologize to our housemaid, I won’t impose a severe punishment.”

Ah, she’s trying to appease her.

In a way, that maid is the most important witness, as she was with Vivian. She might not have seen the culprit’s face, but she might be killed as soon as she leaves this room to silence her…

I only cared about Linda, so I didn’t think about the maid’s safety at all, but as expected, Lady Inanna has more life experience.

“I, I’m Jessica.”

“Yes, Jessica. You should get up and apologize, shouldn’t you? You should apologize for what you’ve done right away.”

“Yes…”

As Lady Inanna reached out her hand, Jessica stood up as if compelled.

Linda was very angry, glaring at Jessica with fire in her eyes.

“I’m sorry… I was wrong. I’ll clean this all up. I’m really sorry.”

“Hmph. It’s only because the Great Madam is so merciful! The most merciful in the world, that you’re getting away with this. You better live right, knowing you’ve been spared! From now on!”

Sob.

Jessica bowed her head, forcibly holding back her tears. She seemed to know that this wasn’t her place to cry.

“Oh, dear, dear. Come here, Jessica. So, you were with Vivian Sandrea when she was shot?”

“Yes, yes. I… I caught the young lady as she fell. I didn’t hear any sound, just a ‘pfft’ sound… something like that. And then suddenly, the young lady was bleeding and collapsed…”

“I see. You must have been very surprised. I’ve already sent someone to heal Vivian with magic.”

“M, magic…? Magic healing costs a lot of money… That’s why the Marquis couldn’t afford it either…”

“Driblja should morally support that much. Your young lady will recover in good health, so don’t worry. But, you said you didn’t see what the heinous criminal looked like, right?”

Instantly, Jessica, who had been frozen, shed tears, drop by drop. This time, it seemed to be tears of emotion and sincere repentance.

“I… I… Thank you. Thank you. I should have seen the criminal, but I couldn’t because I was catching the young lady. Thank you so much… Hic… Forgive me for not recognizing such a wonderful person…”

Jessica wiped away her tears and bowed before Lady Inanna several times.

At that, the onlookers who were watching the situation began to murmur.

“She’s so merciful. My goodness, I wouldn’t have let it go so easily.”

“That’s right. I would have whipped her.”

“What’s the point? Driblja is the one who developed and sold the guns and bullets. This is like giving medicine after causing the disease!”

“Why are you saying that? Did the gun grow legs and shoot Lady Sandrea? The person who used it is the problem!”

“Whatever the case, she’s forgiving that maid right now. How amazing is that? Have you ever seen a noble like that?”

“Calling a magician to heal costs so much money. The Sandrea Marquis family is going bankrupt these days and doesn’t have any money.”

“W, well, that’s true…”

I see.

I opened both my eyes and ears to not miss a single moment of this.

‘Public opinion is formed here. If Lady Inanna had severely punished Jessica, it would have been natural, but it would have become a weapon to attack Driblja through people’s mouths.’

But Lady Inanna dealt with it very gently, elegantly, and with dignity.

In conclusion, Jessica was greatly moved and knelt before Lady Inanna herself, Linda received a proper apology, and the onlookers came to view Driblja in a better light.

‘Resolving things warmly is actually helpful.’

I want to be like Lady Inanna.

I need to become that kind of Duchess too. Starting with helping Lady Inanna now.

“But Jessica. Do you remember the doctor who showed you that bullet?”

“Yes? Yes, yes. He was a goat beastman [a humanoid with goat-like features]. With a beard like this, a man in his late 50s. I don’t know his name. I’m sorry…”

“That’s enough.”

I looked at Lady Inanna.

Lady Inanna smiled and tapped my shoulder, which probably meant she would proceed with the investigation.

“Excuse me for a moment.”

Just when it seemed like things were roughly wrapping up, and I was starting to feel tired and my eyelids were getting heavy, another stranger appeared.

Really, an unwelcome guest.

“I am Walter Dean, the Vice Commander of the Eastern Wave Knights. I have come to arrest a suspect under the orders of Her Majesty the Empress. Please understand, Duchess.”

Suspect? What does that mean?

I rubbed my eyes and forced myself to stand up, and Ian came over and sat on the windowsill. Matching my height, Ian gently offered me his shoulder.

“Did you have to come at this late hour?”

“I apologize. But such a terrible incident occurring at a banquet hosted by Her Majesty the Empress is unforgivable.”

“Yes, so who is the suspect?”

Sir Walter Dean was a person who seemed impenetrable.

Maintaining a stiff and blunt attitude even towards Lady Inanna, he then turned to Linda.

“There is a witness who saw this maid.”

Linda? Linda is a suspect?

I rubbed my eyes roughly and straightened my body, which had been leaning on Ian.

My eyes felt very sore as if they were bloodshot, but I still had to say what I had to say.

But before anyone could open their mouth, a servant came out from behind the Vice Commander, bowing obsequiously.

“At the time Vivian Sandrea collapsed, this servant was in the central courtyard.”

“Is the place where Vivian Sandrea was attacked the hallway?”

“Yes. The incident occurred on the way out of the banquet hall, passing through the hallway connected to the central courtyard. This servant saw the face of the fleeing culprit.”

A false witness.

I gritted my teeth.

They prepared this much?

‘This is… yes. It’s not just about revenge against me.’

Selina may have started it, but the adults must have allowed an incident of this scale. They wouldn’t have missed the opportunity to undermine the Driblja family.

“No! I never left the room!”

Linda immediately protested, her face full of injustice.

However, Sir Dean coldly retorted.

“Never left? Is there anyone who can prove that?”

“No, I didn’t leave, so how can I prove that?”

“Then the alibi is not established.”

“!!!”

It was a breathtaking situation. With that kind of logic, anyone, any family’s maid, could be a suspect.

My stomach turned cold, and my body trembled. No longer able to endure it, I stepped forward, grinding my teeth.

“Wait a minute. There isn’t a person, but there is a tool to prove it.”

“A tool, you say?”

“It’s a magical tool that the Master of the Magic Tower made directly, so its performance is guaranteed.”

As I flicked my fingers, Pompom flew over, fluttering its wings.

But Linda’s face turned pale as she looked at Pompom.

Why is she like that?

“Duchess, what is this magical tool?”

“It has the function of recording the surroundings. If we turn this on, we can see whether our housemaid was in the bedroom before and after the time of the attack, right?”

Lady Inanna took Pompom from my hand. And in front of everyone who was watching with bated breath, she floated Pompom and lightly injected Iculus [magical energy].

Then, as expected, Linda’s appearance was visible from right after we left.

“We don’t need to see everything, so I’ll fast forward it. If evidence is needed in the future, I’ll submit this.”

“…I understand.”

Swoosh.

As Lady Inanna controlled Pompom with Iculus, the screen turned quickly. And I… I realized why Linda had turned pale.

‘Animalization…?’

Linda… when no one was around, she would return to her animal form, a leopard cat, and sleep very lazily.

She slept so still that you might think she was dead, then she would flip her belly once, yawn… wag the tip of her tail and sleep again…

“…”

Linda, who had all those videos exposed, buried her face in her hands and sat crouching in that corner.

Without a doubt… really… she hardly moved, Linda…

“…Well, that proves it, right?”

“Ahem. Yes, I saw it very well. She was very… sound asleep, ahem, she was.”

Sir Dean coughed several times even to connect one word. I could see Linda shrinking her shoulders even more, unable to overcome her shame.

I approached Linda and quietly hugged her as a way to celebrate her being cleared of suspicion. It was a silent consolation for having her embarrassing 모습 [Korean: appearance] exposed to the world.

She’ll probably kick the blanket with her feet… Cheer up, Linda.

Your leopard cat form was cute too.