In the Doghouse - Chapter 141
Richard gently held her hands, his tone reassuring.
“You’ve done well, Courtney. There’s no need for you to blame yourself.”
“I’m… not so sure…”
Their conversation circled back to the same point. Each time she berated herself, Richard would insist that none of this was her fault, offering genuine comfort.
Yet, Courtney couldn’t shake the unease in her heart. What troubled her most was the future. Would she spend the rest of her life constantly cleaning up after her family’s messes, perpetually anxious that someone would get into trouble again?
The mere thought made her feel suffocated. Her gaze became distant, her expression clouded. Seeing this, Richard tightened his grip on her hands and spoke with resolve.
“Courtney.”
“Yes…?”
“Why don’t we handle things my way this time?”
“What do you mean?”
“To begin with…”
Richard calmly laid out his plan. It was something he’d considered for a long time, so expressing it now came naturally.
His proposal shocked Courtney, but it was undeniably persuasive. He told her that a rotten part couldn’t be hidden—it had to be removed.
“Trust me.”
“I do trust you, but…”
Courtney looked at him with a hint of anxiety, yet she ultimately agreed. She had no doubt that his intentions were solely for her sake, and she couldn’t keep living like this indefinitely.
The day of reckoning for the Devon family was fast approaching.
* * *
On the fourth day of Frederick’s confinement, Richard sent word to the Devons, informing them of his arrest and summoning the entire family to the palace, including young Edvard.
The gathering was arranged in the main palace with Richard, Courtney, and even the Emperor in attendance. The only one absent was Frederick Devon himself.
Richard recounted the events in painstaking detail in front of the assembled family. As he spoke, the Devons’ faces grew pale, while Courtney sat in silence, her expression inscrutable.
“Let me be clear—Frederick’s actions are a grave offense.”
With the Crown Prince revealing his son’s transgressions, Hendrick couldn’t bring himself to lift his head. Even the usually unashamed Patricia had gone red with embarrassment, while Elise, timid as ever, seemed on the verge of tears, her body trembling.
Only young Edvard appeared calm, his expression unaffected.
Watching her family, Courtney felt an indescribable bitterness. Was it truly so difficult to just be… normal?
Hendrick, his face ashen, finally forced himself to speak, his voice a strained mix of anger and concern.
“Where… where is Frederick now?”
He sounded like a concerned father, but Courtney knew better.
While he often seemed to side with Frederick, it was merely because he was the family’s heir. Both of her parents had been equally indifferent to their children’s lives. If they genuinely cared for him, they would never have allowed his behavior to go unchecked.
Richard gave a small nod and called toward the door.
“Bring him in.”
Frederick stumbled into the room, disheveled and unkempt. Though he’d been provided with meals, there was no one to tend to his needs, leaving his clothes rumpled and his hair unkempt. His face was marked with bruises—mostly thanks to Courtney’s earlier ‘lesson’—and his gait was unsteady. He looked every bit like a man who had spent days in a cell.
Elise shot to her feet and rushed to her husband’s side.
“Freddy!”
Courtney’s only reaction to Elise’s tearful outcry was mild irritation. Count and Countess Devon seemed unsurprised, almost as if they’d expected to find Frederick in such a state. Considering his frequent visits to gambling dens, his appearance like this was hardly a first.
Even for Courtney, it was still baffling to watch Elise dote on such a feckless husband, clinging to him despite everything.
“Oh, what are we going to do? Are you alright?” Elise whimpered.
“I’m… fine.”
Frederick’s bones weren’t broken—just a few bruises—but Elise sobbed as though he were at death’s door. Her wailing finally ceased when the Emperor, who had remained silent until now, spoke with an authoritative tone.
“Silence. Do you understand where you are? Show some restraint.”
The Emperor’s commanding voice stopped Elise’s tears instantly. Courtney was a bit taken aback, as she’d never known the Emperor to be the type to exert his authority this way.
Nevertheless, it was effective. Elise sniffled and helped Frederick back to his seat.
Frederick squirmed on the plush sofa as if it were a bed of nails, his eyes darting toward Richard nervously. The earlier threats still loomed large in his mind, and Richard couldn’t help but smirk at his unease.
Courtney’s gaze shifted to Edvard, who sat beside his parents. She had agreed to Richard’s proposal, but she couldn’t help worrying about whether it was right to expose the child to such a scene. Yet her beloved nephew simply gave her a reassuring smile, as if to tell her not to worry.
Once the room had calmed down, Richard cleared his throat to speak.
“Now that we’re all here, I’ll continue.”
He cast a glance toward the Emperor, who gave a nod of approval, effectively lending his own weight to Richard’s words. The Devon family sat as if on trial, visibly anxious.
“No matter the familial ties to the imperial family, such a serious crime cannot go unpunished.”
