Chapter 20
Chapter 20
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 20
Chapter Title: Unveiling the Culprit
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"She must have tried to run and got hit on the way, right?"
"Where's Henry's house?"
I decided to head straight to Henry's place with the guard. His house was surprisingly tidy. When I asked the guard if he'd cleaned up, he said he hadn't touched anything. It had been in this state even when he arrived at the scene yesterday, he added.
"Where was Henry's wife collapsed?"
"Over here."
The guard pointed to the kitchen. There was a small window, and no other way out. I asked again.
"Where was Henry?"
"Over here."
He pointed to the opposite side of the kitchen, near the bedroom door. Henry had been slumped against the doorframe, he said. It was far too unnatural for an escape attempt. He'd been struck on the back of the head and died on the spot. As I scanned the surroundings, wondering where the wife had been headed, I spotted something odd. A teacup sat on the table. And one of the chairs was slightly pulled out.
Curiously, the table was positioned right between where Henry and his wife had fallen. A kettle lay rolled on the floor. If Henry beat his wife every time he got drunk, she wouldn't have been brewing tea for him. Yet the teacup and kettle clearly showed she'd been serving tea right before she died.
It meant a third party had been present at the scene.
Back at the courtroom, I called for John.
"You're the one who made the first report, right? Where are you?"
John raised his hand from the witness stand. He looked exhausted, probably from being hounded by the guards since yesterday.
"You said you called the guards because you thought someone was dead."
"Yes. That's right."
"Did you often hear screams from Henry's house?"
"Yes... After he drank, there were always screams or crying from the house."
"So screams like usual rang out, but why did you think someone had died in Henry's house?"
"The scream that night was different from usual. That... ominous feeling, you know it too, my lord."
"So you called the guards."
"Yes. That's right."
"Why didn't you go check the house right when you heard the scream? If Henry usually beat his wife, couldn't you have confirmed the scene?"
"I was too flustered to think of it."
"No one else heard the scream?"
I summoned the witnesses. Henry's house was in the corner of the village. They all just glanced at each other, but no one raised a hand. I turned back to John.
"So only you heard the scream and reported it. Henry's house is out in the boonies—what were you doing around there?"
"A-Are you suspecting me?"
"I'm questioning you under the lord's authority—why are you talking back?"
This fucking bastard. I'll find a pretext later and make sure he dies.
"N-No, my lord. I'm sorry."
"Answer me. What were you doing?"
"I was just... just taking a walk."
"What time was it?"
"Around midnight," the guard answered. Even by local time, that was late. I looked at John.
"A midnight stroll?"
"I couldn't sleep."
There wasn't much to say about insomnia making him wander. There was no curfew in the territory. But John struck me as way too suspicious. Every move he made felt off.
If it were me, even if I went for a midnight walk, I wouldn't go near the house of some drunk wife-beater. There were circumstantial clues pointing to a third party, and John's behavior was fishy, but no hard evidence.
I stared at John, searching for any flaw to latch onto. Something felt off about him. As I glared, trying to pinpoint it, I realized what it was.
This guy had been out walking last night, then dragged to the guards, and held all day—yet his clothes were spotless. Not even a blind date guy would dress that sharp. No one goes out for a quick night stroll in an outfit like that.
"Guard."
"Yes, my lord."
"To John's house. Now."
John's face visibly paled in panic. I ordered the guards to hold him and raced to his place. If my hunch was right, there'd be damning evidence at home.
And there was. As the guard and I opened the door, we were greeted by a pile of clothes balled up in the corner basin. Bloodstains sprayed across them like someone had hosed them down. These had no business being in John's house.
I grabbed the clothes and stormed back to the courtroom. John's face was already ashen white.
"I'll give you a chance to explain."
I paraded the blood-soaked garments in front of the witnesses and guards. John dropped to his knees, trembling, then spoke.
"I was... just so angry."
I stared at him.
"How could she go to a guy like that...? I liked her first... I liked her first!"
"Why did you kill her?"
"I knew Henry was blackout drunk yesterday. So I waited till he passed out and went to Julia. She was happy to see her childhood friend me, and brewed some tea. That's when I told her: 'Ditch Henry. Live with me. He's a good-for-nothing who can't earn a dime and beats you every day—leave that scum.'"
This bastard. Listening to him, he was a filthy NTR chud.
"But Julia rejected me! She chose that vermin over me! Her turning her back like that pissed me off so much, I just... lost it...!"
"Take him away."
I was already planning to off him anyway. I don't forgive NTR attempts. The unexpected twist had the crowd buzzing.
John probably killed her, changed clothes at home, then bolted to the guards. With all the evidence pointing to Henry, he figured they'd arrest him on the spot. He hadn't counted on being held till the trial the next day.
I looked at Henry. His face was a mix of grief over his wife's death and betrayal by John.
"Lift your head, Henry."
"M-My lord."
"Your trial isn't over yet."
The guards and crowd started murmuring again. I'd warned against noise, but this was the atmosphere I wanted, so I let it slide.
"Wasting your life and failing to cherish your precious wife—those sins are heavy."
"My lord..."
Henry choked up.
"I sentence you thus: From this moment, swear to me you'll quit drinking and find a new job to work. John bears the guilt of the crime, but yours is no light matter either. Repent the abuses you inflicted on your wife, and reflect deeply."
"My lord...!"
I shook my head.
"That is all."
Once back, what should I have Sieri do?
"Sieri. Shall we get started today too?"
"Y-Yes..."
Sieri's cheeks flushed as she slowly slid her pants down in front of me. I was a bit miffed she hadn't chosen a skirt for pajamas, but the way the fabric clung and stretched over her hips each time she tugged them down gave a tantalizing stimulation. She kicked off the pants and stared at me intently.
Her eyes seemed to ask why I wasn't undressing. I shook my head. Today, rather than receiving from her, I planned to make Sieri feel good myself. With a gentle smile, I beckoned her to the side of the bed where I sat.
"Let's try something different today. Sieri, want to sit here?"
I patted the mattress to signal her. Obediently, she climbed onto the bed. I supported her back with my hand and pulled her fully onto the mattress. Her light body sank into the soft bedding, making the bed sway faintly. Sieri gazed at me with wide eyes. Her expression said she had no idea what was coming, and blood already rushed below.
"Bring your legs together."
"Like this?"
Sieri pressed her legs together on the bed. From there, I spread her knees apart into an M-shape. Suddenly splayed wide, she reflexively tensed up. I soothed her.