Her Graceful War Song

I had read the coroner's report in full. What Stephen described matched it almost exactly.

When I questioned him further about other details of the case, every point lined up. Only after confirming this did I hand him over to the authorities at the Royal Citadel and ask Lord Klein to send men to retrieve the murder weapon.

I believed the case was solved at last, that all my efforts and days of watching and waiting had not been in vain.

But what I didn't see coming was that once we reached the Royal Citadel, Stephen suddenly changed his confession. He claimed he had only confessed under torture, that every word he had said was fed to him by me. He cried out that he had been wronged, insisting he was innocent. Worse still, he demanded they arrest me, calling me a thief and a liar.

Then came more bad news.

The Royal Citadel sent dozens of men to the place he had described, but no matter how they searched, they found neither the bloodstained clothes nor the

murder weapon.

Several days passed. As Stephen bore injuries, they didn't apply torture, and he continued to wail that he had been falsely accused. With no evidence, and with my conduct brought into question, they were left with no choice but to release him.

It was then I understood-some men were simply beyond the reach of the law. The case itself was not a complicated one, but Stephen had hidden the truth far too well.

After he was set free, he stayed at home and refused to show his face. He thought that if he remained quiet long enough, things would be forgotten in time. So, I sent Claire to take him and lock him in the cellar beneath Glimmering Tower.

When he opened his eyes and saw me standing there, all hope vanished from his gaze.

This time, he didn't even wait for torture and confessed at once. It turned out the bloodied clothes and cleaver were not thrown into the river after all. Instead, he had hidden them along the riverbank.

Days earlier, the water had risen, and that spot had been piled high with sandbags. He had simply moved one, tucked the weapon and clothing inside, then placed the sandbag neatly back on top.

I sent Claire with some men to search the place. This time, they found them. He had told the truth.

However, I didn't hand Stephen back to the authorities. Instead, I made him drink alcohol-cup after cup, until he vomited more than once. Then, I had someone help him aboard a pleasure boat, as if he had been out on a night of fun.

Before they reached the boat, he was pushed into the river. I had already placed someone nearby, ready to act. Once the person was certain Stephen had drowned, they at last cried out that someone had fallen into the river.

Naturally, what was pulled from the water was a lifeless body.

On the riverbank lay a bloodstained garment, and wrapped within it was a cleaver.

When Stephen's parents saw their son's corpse, as well as bloodied clothes and the weapon, their faces turned deathly pale. It was at that moment they understood-the son who had cried so loudly of his innocence was, in truth, the murderer.

After that case, there were some matters I dealt with directly once I had proof. Others, I still handed over to the authorities, but only after ensuring the evidence was solid and beyond dispute.

I couldn't say whether my way was right or wrong. I chose not to dwell on it too deeply. Thinking too much only led to hesitation, which served no good.

Wishnoveldrama

But I didn't wish for Isaac to be drawn into it. He truly was stubborn beyond reason. I told him that should ever be caught and

punished, at least there would el. net ́

someone to see to my buriabHis reply was that he had always wondered what it felt like to be beheaded, and that following me might just give him the chance to find out.

What could I do with a man like that? I suppose we made quite the pair-husband and wife in crime.

I had been reckless all my life, doing whatever I pleased. Yet somehow, there was always someone beside me, supporting me through it all. Even if one day I was struck down for what I had done, I think I would have no real regrets.

My life was peaceful now, yet I still felt that the time I spent in Meadow Ridge was the happiest and freest of my days. Back then, we had not yet seen the true cruelty of the world. We were ignorant, yes, but our hearts were pure.

This year, Sage Conrad wrote to me. He said the orchids in Meadow Ridge had bloomed better than in any year past. So, I made plans to return, and brought along Cari, Rod, and the others.

My mentor had aged-his hair

streaked with white-but his manner remained much the same, only more serene and lofty than before. With Rod's mentor having taken in many more abandoned children, most of what Rod carried back with him were clothes and treats for his new martial siblings. His mentor had grown old too, her back now stooped. She was no longer the fierce old woman she once was and

had softened a great deal.

I prayed that all good people in this world would live long and peaceful lives.