Chapter 131: Mass. (2)

The clear sky was dyed red as the sun fell over the horizon, and the leaves were swaying as Josephine came out into the alley. For some reason, her steps were as light as a waltz. No, she clearly knew why.

“…36… Deculein.”

Reaching the place, her expression turned hard. Deculein, who was standing faced away from her, glanced back. The two regarded each other without a word.

“…”

“…”

It was the only way to save Julie, who was suffering from a terminal disease. Even if she wasn’t sure, Josephine believed in Deculein, who would act for Julie’s sake.

“I’m going to ask you straight up. The guy named Veron, did you kill him?”

Saying so, she pointed to the necklace artifact around her neck. It was recording the scene. Deculein just stared at Josephine.

“You don’t have to make an excuse. The last eyewitness said you and Veron were together, and Veron’s chest had unnatural scars that couldn’t be from a simple fall.”

Deculein remained silent, staring as if he hated her.

“If you want to say you didn’t, please lend me that, your weapon.”

“…My wood steel.”

“We have already recovered Veron’s remains. It’s necessary for comparison and contrast of those scars-“

“Do you need to?”

Deculein grinned.

“He was a cheeky bastard who deserved death in the first place. He dared to covet something that wasn’t his without knowing his place. It wasn’t worth letting him live.”

He recited the lines according to the script prepared beforehand. If it were the original Deculein, he would have said this.

“And so what if the truth were revealed now? Do you think you can punish me? Her Majesty’s favorite?”

“…”

Josephine clenched her teeth. Then, a sad smile appeared on Deculein’s lips.

“Anyway. Even that is now useless.”

“…What does that mean?”

“Isn’t she going to be broken soon anyway?”

In an instant, veins bulged on the side of Josephine’s face. When he said that, she grew genuinely upset.

“A knight who stumbles out of a curse or something.”

Deculein spoke those endlessly cruel words with a frozen face.

“I am not benevolent enough to love a dying woman, and two bereavements are not worthy of Yukline’s name.”

Was it acting, or was he serious? His harsh tone continued like a sharp wind.

“Is that all, Josephine? Did you call me just to ask that?”