Chapter 20: 20. Flashback (13)
While Sierra was being treated by a congressman in the duke's guest room, Edith, Killian, the Duchess, and Princess Catherine heard an surprising story from Daniel who was sobbing.
"So, you mean you're Johan?"
"Yes. . . ."
"You also recognized marchioness Theroux right away. Isn't it?"
"Yes"
"But why did you pretend you didn't know her at first?"
Johan sniffed and fidgeted his hands and barely opened his mouth.
"I heard that my mother abandoned me. They said she secretly threw me away because I was useless. . . . I was afraid I'll be hated even more if I get caught here. . . ."
Catherine was angry at that words.
"Who! Who said that?"
"My-my auntie."
"Auntie?"
Johan clearly remembered what happened 5 years ago.
* * *
On the day of the banquet outside the imperial palace, John played with his cousin in the garden. It was his happiest day, with good weather, plenty of food, and having fun with his peers that he hadn't seen in a long time. But his aunt, Avery, waved from distance give him a sign to come.
"Auntie!"
"Long time no see, Johan."
She picked him up with a smile, and walked deeper into the garden.
"Auntie, where are you going?"
"Oh, your mother asked me to help her do something, so I'm taking Johan with me."
When Johan heard that his mother told her to do something, he clung to her without suspecting anything because she was his aunt, who always come to visit the Theroux mansion and a person very close to him.
However, as they entered the remote garden while she was carried Johan, there's a man waiting for them with a shabby clothes and wig like a commoner often wearing.
"Let's change the clothes."
"Why?"
"It's a disguise game. We disguised ourselves and played hide and seek."
"Wow. That sounds fun!"
Johan was so excited that he changed his clothes and put on a wig.
"What do you think aunty? No one will know it's me, right?"
"Right. You won't be caught."
Avery's smile a little strange, but Johan didn't think about it. The man who was waiting there took Johan, looked around, and dropped him in the carriage .
"Huh? Why are we riding in a carriage?"
"Listen carefully, Johan. What your mother told me to get rid of you because she said you are useless to her."
"What?"
"Think about it. She already have two other healthy sons above you, so there is no reason for her to raise you anymore ."
"B-but!"
Avery take out the pouch on her pocket and shook it. "Look at this. This is the money I got from your mother in exchange to get rid of you. You remember this silk pouch, right?"
Of course he remembered that. Because it was one of the gift Johan gave to his mother for Mother's Day this year.
"She said she didn't need this anymore and gave it to me. Your mother had a really hard time raising you. Because you don't look like your father, they even suspected her of having an affair."
As Johan speechless, the man get on the carriage beside him and spoke. "If you don't want to put your mother in difficult situations, you'd better follow me quietly, because if you rebel, your mother will be in big trouble."
Then he slammed the carriage door shut. Johan, who suddenly fell from the middle of happiness to the abyss of misfortune, couldn't concentrate. He crying and tried to fight back, but he only ended up being beaten the man. The man who took Johan somewhere outside the country sold him to the owner of an inn.
* * *
"I can't believe the culprit was Sierra's sister. . . . !"
Catherine covered her mouth.
Johan was smart enough to remember all of this, but at that time, he was only an eight-year-old child. And when he didn't hear any rumors about the Theroux family looking for him, he believed Avery's words.
"No, Johan! Your family was afraid that the kidnappers will harm you if they spread the word that they are looking for you. Your parents tried everything they could to find you!"
Catherine cried and hugged Johan. And then, there's sound of something falling behind them. Everyone turned in shock, and they saw Sierra sitting on the floor, trembling, with a devastated look on her face.
"Johan. . . . !"
"Mo-Mother. . . ."
"My dear baby, since the day I lost you, there hasn't been a single moment that I haven't thought about you. That's why I'm still holding on to live because I believe you're still alive."
Johan got up and ran towards Sierra. "Mother!"
The mother and her son finally met for the first time after five years being apart, they hugged each other and burst into tears.
While everyone was filled with emotion at that sight, only Edith was shaking.
'It's a good thing, but why it's was me who find him?'
In the original story, it was Lizzy who found the boy, but this time, she was the one who found him and she's not very comfortable about it. She felt like she had stolen the talent of that person who had lost her power.
Anyway based on her memory of the original story, the Emperor would surely call her and offer her something in return
'Tsk. No matter how much I hate her, I have to save that person life, right?' Of course, she wasn't sure if the emperor would forgive Lizzy's actions.
Duke Ludwig and Cliff, who have nothing to do with this, have a high chance of being released. Lizzy's punishment has been discussed, which is hanging until death, because she boldly brought in the fake child into to the Theroux family and caused a greater pain to them.
* * *
This time when the news that the real Johan had been found shocked the imperial Family once again.
Sierra's sister, Avery, was immediately arrested, and the interrogation team tries to convict her. but she denied it, however, when the innkeeper who bought Johan and the man who sold him were arrested and gave their testimony, she finally surrendered.
She said, "my sister always prentends to be a noble and elegant with everything!! I wish i could see that face twisted just once!"
She always thought she was more beautiful and popular than her sister, but she was surprised when Marquis Theroux chose Sierra as his bride. The more her sister builds her happy family, the more she hates her sister. She tried to ruin her sister happiness by kidnapping her sister youngest son who was dearly loved by her sister and her sister husband.
After the kidnapping incident of their youngest son, Marquis Theroux and his wife suffer for five years, and finally bring them a good news but a bitter ending.
The Emperor summoned Killian and Edith without deciding about the position of Duke Ludwig family.
"It was really a coincidence that could be considered God's will, but it is true that you saved Johan and kept him safe. If it wasn't for you, my brother and his wife would have suffered until the day they died."
"Your Majesty."
"I heard that the Countess was the one who saved Johan, right? So, Edith Ryzen, tell me what you want. I will reward you on behalf of the Marquis Theroux."
Edith, who bowed her head, gathered her strength and took a deep breath before she began to speak.
"I, countess Ryzen, has nothing more to wish for, because we have already enjoyed a life full of blessings in Ryzen under Your Majesty care. Nevertheless, I dare to ask you, please forgive my sister in law, Lizzy Ludwig, just this once."
"What?"
The emperor's forehead twitched.
"The fact that you save Johan was a separate matter from Lizzy Ludwig who bringing in a fake child and deceive the royal family."
"I'm aware of that fact. But if that hadn't happened, Madam Theroux wouldn't have come to the Duke's residence, and she wouldn't have met Johan. Not only that, we must also have taken Johan to Ryzen without knowing anything."
There's sound of sigh could be heard from the emperor.
Edith added "Isn't this all God's will to return their son to Marquis Theroux and his wife? Please consider about it and forgive my sister-in-law for just this once."
After pondering for a while, finally after a long sigh, the emperor came with undesirable conclusion.
"Now that you mention it, i find it difficult to answer that. I see, i will spare Lizzy Ludwig life."
It meant that Lizzy had avoided the worst situation, but it didn't mean that she was completely innocent.
"But because i spared her life which she doesn't deserved it, I will strip Lizzy Ludwig from her noble title, and order her to serve in a monastery for the rest of her life, to repent of her sins. Her marriage to Cliff Ludwig was also annulled at this time."
Everyone in the Ludwig family was speechless for a moment at the emperor's decision. However, it was unreasonable to expect greater forgiveness from the emperor.
Lizzy, who tried to protect her status as a future 'Duchess Ludwig' by signing a contractual agreement with Cliff, was eventually stripped of her seat as Cliff's wife by emperor oder.
* * *
'That right, everything has been twisted since that Edith showed up. Why would something like this happened to me. . . .'
Lizzy who leaned against the cold stone wall prison, remembered her past and regretted it over and over again. At that time, she shouldn't have summoned that person's soul to possess Edith. No, she shouldn't have ignored Killian's change at that time. But all those ideas are useless now.
'What happened to me now?'
At that time, she was so desperate to do the task like in the original that she used 'fake Johan'. However, she didn't realize that the location of the red mole that had been written 'on the collarbone' in the original story was in a different place.
The crime of deceive the royal family is the second most serious crime after treason. She can be executed like this or be imprisoned forever.
Since she had never paid attention the villian fear or pain while illustrating the words of the villain, Lizzy couldn't even think about what she had to do at her situation right now.
At that time, an imperial administrator suddenly appeared.
"The prisoner, Lizzy Ludwig receive orders from His Majesty the Emperor!"
Lizzy became distraught when she thought her execution had finally been decided. However, the emperor's command was a little different from what she had expected.
"Your life has been spared, but your nobility status and the Ludwig family surnames on your name will be removed and command you to serve in a monastery for the rest of your life to repent for your sins!"
Without panicking at the unexpected notice, Lizzy received even more shocking news.
"You should thank your sister-in-law properly. Countess Ryzen found the real young master Johan and asked His majesty the Emperor to spare your life, who promised to reward her whatever she ask for."
""Edith? Edith found Johan?"
"That's right, she found the real young master Johan, not the fake one. As soon as I'm done with your release process, you will be immediately sent away to Rodante Monastery. Just wait here for a while."
The administrator looked at Lizzy with dry eyes and then left.
However, despite the news that her life had been spared, Lizzy felt despair. It was clear that she met a fitting end for a villain.
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