Droit du Seigneur: His Lordship's Right of the First Night - Chapter 72
Even still, there were still things that needed to be done.
In the lord’s hall where the interrogation was taking place, Helio and the others were bound by knights and forced to kneel on the floor.
The charges against them included illegal drug use, gambling, kidnapping, confinement, and human trafficking. In Cherinia’s case, an additional theft charge was added for selling jewels she had secretly removed from Louise’s dress.
Richard looked down at the criminals with a cold gaze, completely different from how he looked at Louise.
“…These are your crimes. There will be no objections regardless of the severity of your punishment.”
“I-I’m innocent, my lord! I didn’t know those were illegal drugs! I was told they were just a sedative to prevent motion sickness while traveling by carriage….”
Helio, who had been kneeling on the cold floor, suddenly raised his head and protested. His face, which was usually sleek, now looked haggard from spending several days in the underground prison of the lord’s castle.
“And as for the kidnapping and confinement, I was only arranging a marriage for my sister’s happiness as her guardian! The truth is, my sister has been so promiscuous that she lost her purity. Since no man would take responsibility for her, I had to find a suitable match….”
“Shut up. Say one more word, and I will rip your tongue out right here and now.”
“No, I’m not lying! That woman is really… Ack— AAGH!”
Richard kicked Helio, who was insulting Louise. Helio rolled on the floor, groaning in pain, while the other accomplices turned pale and trembled with fear. Richard was about to pronounce the appropriate punishment for them when a woman’s flirtatious voice was heard from somewhere.
“…My lord!”
Cherinia pushed aside the soldiers blocking her way and threw herself at Richard’s feet, sobbing pitifully.
“Oh, noble lord! Please listen to Cherinia!”
“Who are you?”
“Cherinia is Cherinia, my lord.”
She tried to appear as innocent as possible, dropping her eyebrows and blinking her large black eyes slowly.
“So, it was you.”
“You know Cherinia, my lord?”
“In a way.”
Perhaps rumors of her beauty had reached the lord’s ears. Cherinia brightened immediately at his response. She confessed her side of the story between sobs and even admitted that Louise had gone to the castle in her place to offer her virginity to the lord.
“…Cherinia is innocent. Sniff, it should have been me spending the first night with you, my lord. But Louise found out and went to the castle secretly to seduce you first.”
“So, she came in your place.”
“Yes, hiic! Cherinia had no idea. That cunning woman deceived Cherinia so thoroughly…. Please don’t be fooled any longer. Punish the one who deceived you, my lord!”
“The crime of deceiving me, yes. I do intend to punish those people severely.”
“Oh, you’re so wise….”
With her hair neatly braided to the side, Cherinia tried to appear pitiful and lovable, letting large teardrops fall without wiping them away.
“Sniff, Cherinia knows she’s made mistakes by believing Louise, but Cherinia is trying to make things right. Please, allow Cherinia to offer you her first night tonight….”
As she spoke, she subtly checked Richard’s reaction. Cherinia was confident. If the lord spent the night with her, he would surely fall for her completely.
Just a bit more, and he’ll be Cherinia’s.
Sitting delicately like a flower, she let her tears fall without wiping them, lifting her skirt slightly to reveal her thigh in a seductive manner.
Men usually fall for women who appear innocent and pure but are alluring in bed. If the lord were to spend the night with her, he wouldn’t even think of Louise. She could fake her virginity just as she had fooled Helio.
“My lord, though Cherinia is married, Cherinia is still a v****n. This man is impotent and has never been able to perform…. Cherinia promises to serve you wholeheartedly, so please give Cherinia a chance!”
“What?! Who’s impotent?! This woman is crazy! She was the one crying and screaming under me!”
“Ah! Let go of Cherinia! Stop it!”
“You scratched me?!”
Infuriated, Helio grabbed Cherinia’s hair, and she retaliated with her nails. Watching the pathetic scene of the two fighting, Richard calmly ordered.
“Add the charges of coercion and deceiving a member of the imperial family to the list of charges and imprison them. Once the investigation is complete, exile them to the border to serve a labor sentence.”
“Yes, my lord!”
At the border, there was an ongoing project to build fortresses to defend against external invasions. The harsh climate and laborious work were infamous. Hearing this, Cherinia looked up and screamed.
“No! Cherinia can’t do forced labor! My lord, Cherinia’s the one being coerced! Louise planned everything to keep you from falling for Cherinia!”
“Take her away.”
“Hiic, this isn’t fair! Louise is the bad one— why is Cherinia being punished? My lord! My lord!”
“Bring my sister Louise! I was just deceived by this woman’s scheme. I didn’t plan to sell her to an old man! There’s been a misunderstanding. Let me explain!”
Helio shouted desperately, but Richard saw no need to listen further and rose from his seat. Soldiers, who had been waiting sternly, mercilessly dragged the criminals away.
