7

Mabel

Alec might not have originally been on board to handle my divorce, but once he received the help he needed and whatever deal the grand duke made quietly with him, he swore to me it was of his own will… Especially when he saw the countersuit being filed by my husband's family. He shook with rage as he read it.

And I knew it wasn't simply about me, but he told me that he had two younger sisters and a few female cousins he adored. That if the marquis won this lawsuit, it would set back all women in the kingdom for at least a decade.

They were making it a much bigger deal so we would retreat. That was how the grand duke framed it and I agreed. The miscalculation in them reacting so fast on pride was they didn't check with my father or probably know what he'd said to me.

That was their mistake, so while the marquis had pulled strings and greased palms to get the hearing a week from the filing date, it being that fast meant they couldn't correct that very large error. And it was the main weapon we had, all of the knowledgeable men involved agreeing that to be true.

We prepped and prepped and prepped some more. Two attorneys who would not publicly go on the record as helping and risk the ruin to their reputations did agree to help us privately after speaking with the grand duke. Both were the ones who prepped me for trial, and it was as brutal as they warned me.

But I knew it was nothing compared to what I would face.

I had already faced much worse though.

The one thing that stood out most to me was the pep talk Alec gave me in the waiting room before the trial was to start. I was there with several people, but right then, he made it clear that he and I were the team.

He knelt at my feet where I was sitting and took my hand in his. "We declared war in doing this, My Lady. You knew this and accepted it." He waited until I nodded. "There are always casualties on both sides in a war and you will be at the front of this. There is no way to get you out of this unscathed, but I swore to do my best."

"I know. I am ready."

"You are," he agreed firmly. "All I want to say is that you will take many wounds in court, but we can treat them after. You will have all of the time and support to heal from them and the trauma this will be to you." He searched my eyes as he let out a slow breath. "But no matter what, no matter how injured you are in this battle, you cannot stop fighting with all you have.

"No matter the pain or insult, you have to push it aside and push forward. It's horrible, but this is the reality today. I believe you can do it or I would not fight with you. I will be with you and fight harder than I have ever fought in my life. The two of us will fight and not stop fighting until the judge rules because if we stop fighting, we will lose the war and we cannot."

I swallowed loudly and gripped his hand tightly. "As long as you can promise me that David will not be allowed to touch me or meet with me alone, nothing will stop me. I cannot control my fear and reaction to him. The rest I can shoulder and heal from later. I will not quit on you as you have not quit on me, Alec. By the goddess, I swear it."

"I will not allow it," the grand duke promised. "And I do have the authority to make that happen."

"Then I am ready," I promised, lying through my teeth and they all knew it.

No, but I would do it anyways and I would never give up.

The start of the proceeding was a blur as names and case details this and that were read off. People were introduced, but I couldn't hear any of it over my blood thudding in my ear.

Until the judge banged the gavel and it was time to start.

"First, we are filing a motion to close the courtroom to not embarrass the delicate nature of this proceeding and the effect it could have especially on the countess in the future," David's attorney started.

Oh, now they were going to pretend to treat me like a person.

"We object to that, Your Honor," Alec said as he stood. "The filing made it clear that not only do they not see my client as a citizen of this kingdom but did not care about her reputation with the wording chosen in the public filing. They now do not get to close this off to onlookers and the press."

The judge was a good soul who actually looked directly at me. "You understand what this means and the repercussions, My Lady?"

I gave him a sad smile. "I do, Your Honor. Thank you, but I will not be the one embarrassed or who should feel shame from what comes of both filings. I am fine with it being public."

Immediately, David jumped to his feet and opened his mouth, his attorney stopping him in time and putting his hand on his arm.

I simply glanced their way and snickered, making it clear he was only proving my point before looking back at the judge.

He gave a slight nod. "Motion denied. Let's proceed."

Their next motion was one I'd been prepped for by the other attorneys. David's attorney basically went off on a tirade that it couldn't even be called a marriage to divorce when the product had been defective.

"Enough of speaking of the countess as if she's an object," Alec objected as he stood. "There is a line, Your Honor, and they are crossing it at every turn. She is a recognized citizen of our beloved kingdom and child of the goddess. She is not a thing like we could speak of a defective stove."

"I agree and was disgusted by the wording of the filing, will be making a note of…" He blinked towards the door as people gasped.

"I apologize for interrupting, Your Honor," a female voice said from the back. "Unfortunately, I am not someone who can quietly sneak in somewhere. I do respect this court and schedules, please do not think otherwise. There was a security threat at the palace."

I slowly looked over my shoulder and blinked back tears when I saw the queen. She dipped her head to me and then went to sit off to the side… On my side.

The judge jumped to his feet as did everyone else. "No, of course, Your Majesty. I was not told you would be in attendance. Please, if you would like to take the seat up here next to me instead of the benches. This is not a normal case with witnesses being sworn in so—I beg your forgiveness that the seat is lower than mine."

"As it should be in your court no matter our stations, Your Honor," she replied elegantly. "I appreciate the offer, but if I sat next to you, I might not be able to control my mouth and interject as is my nature. It's best I sit back here and observe."

The judge blinked at her. "Your Majesty, you are the queen of our great kingdom, and what you say is always welcome. If nothing else, I feel at ease that a woman is here that can speak up given it is only the countess in a room with so many males. Justice is all about balance after all."

"I could not have said it better myself, Your Honor. I will accept your suggestion, but I do hope you will tell me if I go too far. Even if I am queen, this is your courtroom and proceedings first and foremost. No matter our rank, we must respect that."

This was definitely more than just about me because the marquis had extra steam coming out of his ears when she said that. He'd been pissed she'd shown up, but something with her saying that upset him most.

She took a seat in the chair normally for witnesses and had two knights right with her just in case. The judge cleared his throat and got back on track, chastising David's attorney for the wording used in the filing about a citizen and would be making a note against his law license and asking for a review to be filed on other cases where he could have acted inappropriately.

And apparently, that was a big deal because the attorney went pale. He rallied when David poked him though.

"I understand and I will work on that, Your Honor, but that does not change the situation. The countess never performed any of her duties as a wife and—"

The judge interjected. "I am sorry, are you saying…" He trailed off and looked at me with a wince.

"Yes, Your Honor, the marriage was never consummated."

He seemed shocked at the fact, but also at how easily I said it.

And women were too delicate? Even when I did everything my father or husband wanted, it was fine to use that word. It wasn't a bad word.

Men.

The judge looked at David to confirm and my husband snorted. "You can understand by looking at her. Do you blame me?"

"That's over the line, Count," the judge blasted. "You will behave as a gentleman should in my court." He waited until David nodded before focusing on me. "I apologize you had to hear that, My Lady."

"Thank you, but I am more than fine, Your Honor," I promised, borrowing some of Kathy's bravado when I gave a shrug and reached deep for what I'd practiced. "My husband did not find me attractive. So what? I never liked the look of him either."

"What?" David exclaimed, shoving his attorney off of him when the man tried to quiet him.

I snickered and glanced that way. "You are not an attractive man. What does it matter? We did not marry for love." I looked back at the judge. "We married for an alliance between families and companies. What do my looks matter? They do not, and I am sorry if he's so sensitive over something so minor that he could not perform his duties, but I never denied him. Not ever."

The queen's legendary unflinching poker face even wavered at that, and she opened her fan to hide her reaction.

David exploded, throwing out more than insults but threats and more until his father grabbed his arm and got him under control.

"The queen is here and this is a public hearing. You will control yourself or so help me I will silence you so you do not embarrass me anymore," the marquis threatened quietly before raising his voice and focusing on Alec. "And I would advise you speak to your client about watching her words and keeping—"

"You are not actually a part of this proceeding, My Lord," I said before he tried to silence me. "I did not use vulgar language and I certainly did not lie."

"That does not—"

I jumped to my feet. "It does matter. This whole filing you have cooked up lays the blame at my feet for not doing as I swore to do before the goddess. When the truth is that I was unaware your son had a mistress that lived in the house and he never intended to keep his vows. He did not show up to our marriage bed.

"Do not paint me as the one to refuse him or my duties. I suffered through his disgusting proclivities and deplorable predilections honoring my vows to obey my husband because I promised it to my father and the goddess. I endured torture from his whore because it excited them sexually and then he would go off with her.

"So the defectiveness in our marriage was not mine. The first day, he told me he would never insult her by being in my bed and then beat me in front of the staff to show that I would have no authority in the house. That is your idea of the duty of a husband? He kept me from performing my duties and never performed his own. That is the truth."

David shoved his attorney aside and lunged for me, screaming he would finally kill me once and for all.

I ducked down and half under the table as the knights who had been sitting behind us protected Alec and me. I noticed the knights also blocked the queen just in case, making the situation seem more dramatic even.

I had done what I needed to and set off the explosives, but seeing him come at me was triggering, and I covered my head and prayed for it to be over. There was a huge commotion and I simply curled up tighter.

I let out a scream when someone touched me.

"It's me, My Lady," Alec said gently. "The count has been removed from the courtroom. You are safe now. It's okay."

I removed my hands and turned towards him. "I apologize, but I am not sure I can stand on my own." I flinched when the table was moved from over me, and I relaxed when I saw it was by the knights. Alec helped me stand and then get in my seat. I happened to lock gazes with the queen and her eyes were full of one thing.

Pity.

I thanked the knights when they moved the table back in place.

"I see nothing constructive coming out of having Count Matthias here for this, and you have seen firsthand how he treats his wife if he's allowed," the queen said quietly. "The only part of this is the proof. I have heard it's undeniable."

"Yes, Your Majesty, but…" He gave me an apologetic look.

I let out a slow breath. "I wore a dress that is sleeveless like at the balls but not appropriate for court, Your Honor. With your permission, I will remove my cover and show you my arms. That should be enough proof to give you a better idea about the findings the exam I went through reported."

"I find that—" he started to say.

"Those were her people," the marquis objected, coming and moving to the seat his son vacated. "I want to—"

This was another time that I had to reach deep and react. The marquis was planning on throwing around his title and reputation to undercut mine. But that only worked if he knew me well.

Except he didn't.

"This is only the third time I am standing in a room with you, My Lord," I said firmly. "I am uncomfortable with you being the one to examine me."

He did a double take and looked like he wished his arms were longer to smack me. "I was not going to suggest me, Mabel. I would never ask to see my son's wife in an indecent state. I was going to say our family doctor."

Alec moved his hand over my arm saying he would take over. He stood and squared off with the marquis. "The same doctor who did not do his duty by reporting the crimes of the abuse the countess suffered? One who is culpable in the damages we will be seeking? I am not sure you understand what logic is, My Lord."

"How dare you speak—" he started to blast.

"As the queen said earlier, everyone is equal in my court, My Lord," the judge interjected. "For now, yes, I wish to see if you would, Countess."

I nodded and stood, turning to Alec and telling him how to unsnap the arms of my dress. He did, and the judge came down from the bench to meet me in front of his desk. Absolute horror filled his eyes as he took in my scars.

"Arms can be shown often, so I warn you it's much worse on the areas of my body that are always hidden, Your Honor," I told him.

The look he gave the marquis would have scared a wise man.

"If I may, Countess?" the queen said, gesturing me to come over.

I did and curtseyed to her before extending my arm when she waved for it.

"Your Honor, if you could come here. I wish to address something I worry about before they can accuse the countess of something else."

"Yes, Your Majesty." He moved next to me, and then the queen actually rubbed her fingers over the scar near my elbow. At first, gently, but then a bit roughly so everyone could see her.

She held up her fingers and showed the judge. "No makeup. There is nothing on her skin or any trickery. I do not even know of any magic that could make her skin seem that way and not falter when touched."

I blinked at my arm and then met her gaze, shocked that none of us had thought of that. Wow, this alone was worth asking for her help.

The judge leaned in a bit more and nodded. "I quite agree, Your Majesty. Very wise of you to think of that, thank you."

"Thank you, Your Majesty," I said quietly before curtseying and heading back to Alec. I stopped in front of the marquis and his attorney and held out my arms for them to see. "This is nothing compared to the rest of my body. Your son and his mistress did this to me. Staff in that house. I might be a woman, but if you tell me you would allow your daughter to suffer this—"

"Enough from you, Mabel," he seethed.

"My Lord, you lectured me on decorum and yet you are not keeping any of it. We are not on a first name basis, and we are here because you no longer want me married into your family. Act appropriately, if you please."

Alec's eyes were full of pride as I went back to him and he helped put my sleeves back on.

"I trust the assessment of the knights, but it is fair to ask for another source to verify," the judge hedged once he was back in his seat and so was I.

"We agree, Your Honor, and the countess suggested an idea that could be impartial in all of this and help in the future," Alec said. "While I feel giving the benefit of the doubt to the Matthias's family doctor too much, the countess brought up the point that maybe he was unfamiliar with domestic abuse and that was why he never reported it."

"Yes, we hear that reasoning often," the queen said, her voice cold and tight. "How, I am not sure, but it is used a lot in situations of abuse."

Alec dipped his head. "Yes, Your Majesty, so the countess suggested maybe someone from the doctor's university in the capital be who examines her. There are ways to save propriety and allow doctors in training to learn from what the countess has been through. Even what you saw on her arms was educational. Our future doctors should learn as well."

"Well said," the queen praised, giving me a look like she was shocked this time. "A bold suggestion that would benefit the kingdom. The diagrams were flat, but if you even had the right female artist draw diagrams like in medical books, the countess's pain could educate—"

"You are suggesting she immortalize herself as a case study in abuse including detailed sketches to humiliate my family forever?" the marquis exploded.

"As I said at the start of this, My Lord, the embarrassment and shame will not be mine at the end of this," I stated firmly. "And given my father made it clear he would rather me kill myself rather than divorce, I no longer have ties to them. Your beef with them is your own, but I will leave this marriage my own."

Understanding filled his eyes that I'd just taken his ace in all of this away from him in front of everyone.

"We withdraw the request for further proof," the attorney quickly said. "The queen proving that none of what we saw was magical was exactly what we were worried about and wisely handled."

I wasn't the only one who wanted to call him a liar. They wanted to humiliate me by making me undress in front of the doctor who had originally checked me out like a mare and anyone else they could so I backed down.

Except I'd suffered much, much worse, and that man had seen every inch of me more times than I could count given how far Angie was willing to take things when she cut me. I was disfigured in my private areas because of her and that man had had to treat it.

What could ever be worse than that?

I shared a look with the queen and gave a slight nod, shock flashing in her eyes again. I would still do as she suggested. I agreed with her that getting around the excuses used against women was at the source. I could handle something embarrassing if it helped one woman in the future not live the hell I did.

"I understand," the judge said as he stared over what was in front of him. "I am dismissing the filing asking for damages for a faulty item basically. It's disgusting and—it's too insulting to be entertained."

The queen flicked open her fan loudly. "But not forgotten."

It was not smart to file documents like that which were public when a woman held a higher position than you. Not with our queen, and I had hoped she wouldn't let it slide.

The judge gave me a sad smile. "However, while I believe you, there is no way to prove one way or the other who did not do their duties, My Lady. Anyone he would have testify is in the family's employment, and they are your witnesses as well, but there is a great risk to them if they speak up."

"I understand, Your Honor. It was why I did not ask for a divorce with fault," I said firmly. "I know my husband did not study well or handle the paperwork of his position or finances but—"

"Enough with your tales, Mabel," the marquis exclaimed.

I frowned and looked at him. "I am sorry if you were unaware of this, My Lord, but it's not a secret. Many of David's friends knew and jeered that I should teach their wives to run their businesses so well. It's also not hard to prove as our handwriting is vastly different and much is in mine." I ignored him and focused back on the judge. "I understand, Your Honor."

"Good, which leaves the division of assets and—"

"Why should she get anything?" the marquis demanded. "She did not contribute anything to our family or—"

"Marquis Matthias, if you disrespect one of our valued judges again, I will call you in front of the noble court on charges myself," the queen threatened. "His honor was speaking. Your attorney is supposed to handle this and you are to only speak when directly spoken to as the countess is. Are you so daft that you cannot handle that simple rule as she does?"

I couldn't hide my shock when he barely glanced at the queen and didn't give a real reply. He did apologize to the judge and sat back down.

And the queen did not like that.

"Your Honor, if I may?" I asked. "There is something the marquis said that I do wish to address."

"Of course, My Lady," he allowed, his lips twitching.

I turned and faced the marquis. "We have met twice. You had no idea what happened in that house if you do not know how often you received reports in my handwriting and I managed so much for David. If anything, I contributed in those six years more than he did and to the growth of earnings of the family.

"There is also the cost of what your son took from me, and some of it cannot be paid back even with all the gold in the kingdom. I cannot have my first marriage again with someone who was actually planning to honor it. Your son took my potential from me by lying to the goddess that day. So before you say again that I am lying, you should gather more information, My Lord."

"Well said, and politely unlike the other party," the queen praised. "There might be complications in the division of assets, Your Honor."

"Yes, Your Majesty," the judge sighed. "I was informed this morning that arrest warrants had been issued for Count Matthias and his mistress—"

"What?" the marquis bellowed, standing and slamming his hands on the desk as he glared at me. "You went to the police and involved them in this nonse—"

"Assault is not nonsense in our kingdom, Marquis," the queen cut in. "And I warned you what would happen if you disrespected the judge again. Take the marquis from the court to cool his heels and inform the king immediately of his behavior in this hallowed place of justice. The nobles will hear of this."

I was fairly sure that one win for her paid her back for the support she'd given me, but I'd promised three times payment on her investment. And I would give it, but I saw in her eyes that she knew how big of a win she'd gotten and wouldn't deny it.

Good. I was more than fair, but I wanted other people to start being with me.

The attorney seemed shaken now that no noble was at his side. "Your Honor, I had no knowledge of this."

"Yes, well, I believe that was the intention after the counterfiling and moves your client made," the judge said, not even looking at us for confirmation. "The divorce is granted. I will schedule a hearing to award my ruling on the division of assets at a later date. I need more information and the family's accountant to determine what the situation is."

The attorney went so pale so fast that he actually leaned on the table.

"Or, you have a few weeks to reach a settlement that I can simply approve," the judge said, kicking it back to us to fight it out and leave him out of it. "I doubt that possible with the volatility of your clients, but if they want to limit the damage, you know full well that's their best option. I am not sure how with the police involved. Either way, I need those reports as well and more."

He went over the list of what he would want including… A lot. Basically, a lot more than the Matthias family would ever want to give. The judge gave me a subtle wink as the attorney scrambled to write it all down.

Well, he was forever in my good graces for the rest of my life.

Good man.

There were several more things to go over and outline, but then it was over… For now. The ruling was done and so was the first big battle of this war.

I kept it together until we returned to Count Follan's townhouse. The moment I saw Kathy standing there ready to comfort or cheer for me, I went right into her hug.

And broke down sobbing. I couldn't control my reaction for the first time in decades. I sobbed in relief, not caring who was around or about propriety or any of it. I was granted my freedom from being a doll that was used and abused.

If there was ever a time to cry in relief, it was right then.