Her Graceful War Song by Summer's Blaze

Chapter 1607

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.

quiet long enough,

and saw me standing

torture and confessed at once. It turned out the bloodied clothes and cleaver were not thrown into the river

and that spot had been piled high with sandbags. He had simply moved one, tucked the weapon and clothing

search the place. This

to the authorities. Instead, I made him drink alcohol-cup after cup, until he vomited more than once. Then, I had someone help

boat, he was pushed into the river. I had already placed someone nearby, ready to act. Once the person was

from the water

the riverbank lay a bloodstained garment, and

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,

with directly once I had proof. Others, I still handed over to the authorities, but only after ensuring the evidence was solid and beyond

wrong. I chose not to dwell on it too deeply. Thinking too much only led to

Wish

wish for Isaac to be drawn into it. He truly was stubborn beyond reason.

there would el.

it felt like to be beheaded, and that following me might just give him the chance