Her Graceful War Song by Summer's Blaze

Chapter 1604

In the end, I had no choice but to keep watch in secret and follow Rhea closely.

The person who murdered her entire family must have had a reason. Such cruelty -could it have been for love, hatred, or money? In any case, it must have been for something.

Rhea was still alive. Would the killer truly walk away so easily? Was it possible that once things quieted down, he might return to finish the deed? It was a fair guess, though truth be told, I had no other lead to pursue.

Mr. Salter had first arranged for an older woman to care for Rhea, but she feared all strangers. In the end, he had no choice but to ask the neighbors to

occasionally look in on her and bring her food. Stephen's mother would come every other day to help bathe her and keep her clean.

I noticed the Lane family still treated Rhea well, though Stephen himself had not visited. For one, he had returned to his studies at the academy. For another, he may still hold some resentment. After all, it was Rhea's accusation that landed him in jail, even if only for a short while.

Young scholars often carried some pride. I was sure he couldn't swallow such an insult.

And besides, if he were to return, Rhea might accuse him as the murderer again. That would only stir up more gossip among the neighbors, which would be bad.

I took turns keeping watch-she

anyone else stay there, it was quite

next to Rhea's, which had once been her younger sister's chambers. The night the murders occurred, that poor girl had been killed in her sleep. Having seen the court files, I knew how her bed had been soaked in blood. Now, laying in that room, I fancied I could still smell the scent of

thin quilt from the estate and made myself a place on the cushioned chair. From there, I could hear the

light a lamp, there was a small hole in the wall. If I pressed my eye to it, I could just manage to see into Rhea's room. So, whenever there was any disturbance,

let out muffled sobs. Listening to her cry

that her whole family had died. Even a

kept watch like that for half a month, but didn't discover

up drifting off to sleep as I listened to Rhea's quiet weeping. In the haze

were light-it

rose quickly and crept to the door, peeking through the narrow gap. The courtyard was pitch dark, but

figure walking straight

bolt. Mr. Salter had had

on purpose, in case something happened and someone needed to enter quickly. As for the front gate, Mr. Salter and the three neighboring households each had a key. As long as the bolt had not been drawn from the inside, one

wall. She was already asleep, but a small lamp was still lit inside,