No one even bothered asking why he called himself a prince.
Yeri wanted to say something, but decided against it. The last thing she needed was to make Shin suspicious.
In the end, Xati was to continue living at Shin's villa for the time being, as Master Keir was very firm about it.
He had had enough of his mother trying to control everyone in the family, and he absolutely could not allow it to continue with the current generation.
"Allister, are you going to defy your own mother? Do you think I'm going to harm my own great-grandson?" the old matriarch demanded angrily. "I think he's safest with me."
"Mother, I understand that you want what's best for the child, but Tristan is his father and legal guardian. This isn't something you should decide by yourself simply because you're the matriarch."
Elder Madam Keir wasn't about to give up when a servant suddenly rushed over, looking panicked.
"It's bad! Madam Ricci is outside causing trouble and accusing the clan of harming her daughter, Calin."
"What nonsense are you talking about? Can't you tell this is a family conversation? Who allowed you to interrupt?" Elder Madam Keir spat.
However, Master Keir raised a hand, telling him to continue.
According to the servant, Madam Ricci had taken advantage of the moment, considering that almost all the clan elders were gathered inside along with Shin and the others.
She was currently outside giving an interview to the waiting reporters, and was claiming that Calin had never gone to the Arctic with the intention of killing Yeri.
Instead, she insisted that the entire story was a fabrication orchestrated by Shin and the Keir clan after Calin exposed their many dirty secrets.
Like how Calin exposed the contract between Shin and Yeri, Elder Madam Keir's alleged manipulation and lies toward her, Hadi supposedly being the one behind the stairwell accident involving a doctor that was now being blamed on Calin, and even Allen's accident, which she claimed had been deliberately exaggerated to pin the blame on her daughter.
Only then did they learn that Madam Ricci was stirring up trouble because today happened to be the first hearing for the cases against Calin.
"I manipulated and lied to Calin?" Elder Madam Keir repeated in shock.
She vaguely remembered Ellis mentioning something about it at the hospital, but she had forgotten about it afterward.
"Just ignore this matter for the time being," Master Keir said before hurrying toward the entrance.
-
Outside the funeral hall, where reporters were still camping, Madam Ricci was surrounded by them.
She looked like a far cry from her former self as one of the notable high-society madams.
Her clothes were still expensive, but they were no longer the latest fashion. She wore only a single necklace as an accessory. She had clearly lost a considerable amount of weight, and her exhausted face was completely free of makeup.
"You all know what the Keirs are capable of. Even we, the Riccis, a first-tier family, were bullied, discarded, and now accused of so many things we never committed simply because my daughter offended Shin Keir."
Madam Ricci's eyes reddened as she spoke.
"Yes, she may have made mistakes, but she isn't a murderer! She grew up in a privileged family, pampered and protected by us, so who wouldn't become a little spoiled and willful?"
"Madam Ricci, there's solid evidence that Calin viciously sent the daughter of your family's maid to bodyguards to be assaulted. Later, both the mother and daughter were heartlessly killed by your daughter. What about the bullying allegations? Those have nothing to do with the Keirs."
"Lies! It's all fabricated to make the public condemn her!" Madam Ricci said indignantly. "Isn't that normal nowadays? People using public opinion to persecute someone? And when the Keir family does it, it's even easier."
She wiped away her tears.
"You all say my daughter tried to kill Yeri Zhi out of jealousy? People are blind! Where is Yeri Zhi now? Isn't she perfectly fine, without even a scratch on her, while my daughter had her arm ripped off? Where is the surveillance footage from the Arctic? Where is the proof that Calin was the one who acted first? All the evidence came from Shin's side. The witnesses and statements came from those students who were obviously Yeri Zhi's classmates and friends!"
As more and more questions were raised, one had to admit that Madam Ricci appeared convincing.
"My daughter is still in the hospital, but even after she's cured, the doctors confirmed that she's suffering from PTSD and will need psychological treatment. I can't even talk to her properly because she often needs to be sedated."
Madam Ricci sobbed, covering her face.
"Clearly, something happened in the Arctic. There's something else you need to know. The doctors couldn't even determine what ripped off her arm, let alone who or how it happened!"
"So why do you think Calin went to the Arctic?" one reporter raised the question.
Madam Ricci stopped crying, this was the opportunity she had been waiting for.
"Calin first went to KGG because she wanted to negotiate with Shin Keir regarding a settlement after exposing that private contract. I know she deeply regretted doing that, but what did Shin Keir do? He had my daughter thrown out like she was nothing more than garbage! I know many of you saw the photos shared by netizens. So she must have rushed to discuss the matter with Yeri Zhi instead, who was on a vacation trip with her classmates."
Madam Ricci quickly added, "I won't make further assumptions or accuse Yeri Zhi of anything. But I demand transparency in this case! It's an unwritten reality that the Keirs have influence and connections, even within the government system. Who's to say they aren't manipulating the entire narrative?"
She then turned directly toward the cameras.
Her expression was determined and courageous, the image of a desperate mother fighting for her daughter.
"Please don't be in a hurry to condemn my daughter. Let justice and the truth prevail. I believe she's innocent, and I ask each and every one of you to help shed light on this matter. Don't let yourselves be blinded and led by evil forces."
Just then, Hadi's mother rushed out from inside, looking livid as she stared at Madam Ricci with contempt.
"How dare you cause trouble here! Now that the Ricci family has fallen, did your manners fall along with it? Why can't you people just leave my son alone? He's already gone! You can talk about fairness and justice all you want, but you don't even have the decency to respect the dead!"
Madam Ricci just snorted. "Decency? You make it sound as though your son deserves respect. Why? Just because he's a Keir? Don't pretend you're unaware that he used to lurk around my daughter, thinking he could make her his mistress too. But Calin isn't some cheap woman who would fall for a married man."
The crowd stirred.
Clearly, this was new information to them, while Hadi's mother was left completely taken aback.
"Now that we're on this topic, if I didn't know any better, he must have orchestrated that stairway accident to blackmail my daughter. See how quickly karma caught up with him." Madam Ricci continued, "It's truly a pity he died before he could speak the truth, while that mistress of his is still lying in a coma."
Hadi's mother was so furious that her hands trembled.
It hadn't been long since her husband, Ellis, had accused her of losing her mind. Now she was being publicly scolded by a woman whose family had already fallen from its position in high society.
At this point, the Keir legal team arrived and took over the situation, while Hadi's mother was once again dragged away by the bodyguards.
"Shin Keir! Get out here and explain yourself!" Madam Ricci shouted angrily. "If you're really innocent, then why are you afraid to speak up?!"
She had expected Shin or one of the elders to come out. Instead, the only people who appeared were the Keir family's legal representatives.
However, at that moment, Shin and Yeri had already left the funeral through another exit and were sitting inside a car.
"Do you want to go shopping?" Shin suddenly asked.
Yeri shook her head. "You're not going to respond to Madam Ricci?"
"She's the one who wanted to use public sentiment. Why bother? Besides, this is being handled by the police, not the mafia, so her claims of manipulation and unfairness are unfounded."
Yeri pondered this for a moment before speaking.
"I think Calin may have remembered being attacked by Xati's snake. Could you make her forget that?"
Shin raised an eyebrow. "You don't want her to go insane?"
Yeri nodded.
If Calin's side used insanity as a defense to avoid prison, then what would be the point?
Wouldn't that simply give her a way out?
Moreover, Yeri wanted Calin to understand why she was in her current situation and why those cases had been filed against her.
She wanted Calin to remain sane enough to understand the consequences of her actions, for the sake of the people who deserved justice.
"All right. I'll take care of it." Shin reached over and pulled her closer. "If you're not feeling unwell, tonight—"
"No." Yeri immediately cut him off as she looked out the window. "I don't have the stamina to keep doing it every night."
"My ability could restore your stamina, hmm?" Shin whispered near her ear.
Yeri glared at him fiercely.
"You said so yourself. Your ability isn't exactly omnipotent. Remember? My black veins took some time to disappear even after you used your abilities."
Ever since that ridiculous character marriage in the game, he hadn't left her alone.
She had a feeling this hooligan was simply using his abilities as an excuse to climb into her bed.
"I'm often busy with work, and fortunately, I have time tonight. Why can't we do it?" Shin muttered. "Are you not satisfied with me?"
Yeri opened her mouth to scold him, then it suddenly dawned on her this man was the Demon Emperor.
How had she immediately forgotten that?
He's not going to stab her again just because she couldn't meet his demands, right?
Yeri went rigid.
Perhaps this marriage needed to be reconsidered. There was still a chance for her to back out, but how?
In her memories, the mad Emperor had an unpredictable temperament. He was often angry, resentful, vindictive, and constantly looked at her with judgment, as though she were always out causing trouble.