Chapter 5: The Royal Capital Court’s Temporary Protection Order
The next morning, a carriage bearing the crest of the Royal Capital Court arrived at the old greenhouse estate.
After breakfast, Lucy sat by the window while Martha showed her a small wooden box.
Inside were Winter Bellflower seeds.
Poking the round seeds with her fingertips, my daughter seriously declared, “Flower eggs.”
While listening to her voice, I sat across from a court clerk in the reception room.
The clerk was a middle-aged woman with neatly pinned gray hair.
Her name was Mireille.
She examined my dowry inventory, Lucy’s medical certificates, fever records, and the receipts for the south wing recuperation room renovations one by one, carefully making copies of each.
“Your records are very well organized.”
“I thought they might become necessary someday.”
“Most people only begin searching after they become necessary.”
Clerk Mireille softened her expression slightly.
“We have also received a written opinion from the attending physician regarding the child’s recuperation environment.
It states that relocation to the guest room in the north wing is inadvisable.
It also says that a temperature-controlled environment equivalent to the south wing recuperation room is necessary.
Overall, it supports your claims, milady.”
“Then may Lucy remain here?”
“A temporary protection order will be issued effective today.
Until mediation begins, the marquis house may not forcibly take Lady Lucy back.
Any visitation will require approval from both the physician and the inspector.”
I placed a hand against the back of my chair.
When too much tension leaves the body at once, it becomes difficult to remain standing.
I knew that from my work in my previous life.
There had been mornings when a feverish child finally recovered and was handed back to their guardian, and only then did I notice my own hands trembling.
“That’s good.”
The words slipped quietly from my lips.
Beside me, Hannah lowered her eyes.
She had probably been holding her breath as well.
Clerk Mireille unfolded the next document.
“However, the marquis house has already submitted a formal protest.
The contents accuse you of unauthorized separation and abducting a minor child.”
“I expected as much.”
“The opposing side claims that you attempted to drive out a recuperating guest due to jealousy.”
Hannah’s brow twitched slightly.
I lifted the cup before me.
The tea inside was still warm.
If I drank too quickly, it would catch in my throat, so I only took a small sip.
“I did not attempt to drive out their guest.
I merely informed them that if they intended to use the south wing room, then Lucy and I would leave.”
“Are there witnesses who heard this statement?”
“There were two attendants serving in the dining hall and one maid.
Lady Lilia herself was also present.”
“There is no guarantee that Lady Lilia will testify.”
“I am not expecting her to.”
Even to myself, my voice sounded somewhat cold.
But choosing not to expect anything was also a way of choosing not to resent anyone.
I had no time to wonder whether Lilia possessed a conscience or not.
I simply needed to gather whatever materials were necessary to protect my daughter.
At that moment, Lucy’s voice echoed from the hallway.
“Mommy, I wanna plant the eggs.”
Martha’s hurried voice followed immediately after.
“Lady Lucy, your mother is busy working right now.”
“Working?”
“She is discussing something very important.”
Without thinking, I smiled.
Even Clerk Mireille’s lips softened faintly.
“My apologies.
That was my daughter.”
“It is quite alright.
Handling documents meant to protect a child in a place filled with a child’s voice is not unpleasant.”
After saying that, she pressed the court seal onto the final document.
“Lady Noelia.
Your actions will continue to face criticism.
In noble society, people will say a mother abandoned her husband, disrupted her household, and grew jealous of a guest.
However, the court does not examine rumors.
It examines records, testimony, and the condition of the child.”
“Yes.”
“If you write with emotion, the reliability of your documents decreases.
Write your anger on a different sheet of paper.
On the papers you submit, write only the facts.”
At those words, I nodded deeply.
I did feel anger.
Toward my husband.
Toward that mansion.
Even toward the story that had once made me cry in my previous life.
But anger would not warm Lucy’s blankets.
I accepted the documents and bowed to Clerk Mireille.
“I will write the facts.”
That afternoon, the Royal Capital Court delivered the temporary protection order to the Leivelt marquis estate.
It was said that Gilbert’s face turned pale when he read it.
But by the time I received that report, Lucy and I had already planted the Winter Bellflower seeds into small pots together.
“When will the flowers grow?”
“In spring.”
“Will spring come?”
“It will.”
I wiped the dirt from my daughter’s fingers.
“Even after the coldest winter, spring always comes properly in the end.”