Chapter 29 -

Krrk—

I shuddered at the vibration I felt through the wall. I couldn’t tell how many hours had passed since I was left alone. There were no windows or clocks in this place.

I couldn’t bring myself to lie down on the messy bed, so I sat on the wooden floor. Perhaps because it was so quiet, I could hear the creaking of the wooden planks. It might also be because my nerves were on edge.

It felt different from being alone in the inn room. Back then, at least I had chosen the room, and I could look out the window, but here...

I hadn’t heard anything from Amon, whom I had been told would stop by sometime today.

‘Can I really trust Amon?’

That thought crossed my mind. In truth, Amon and I had only faced each other a few times. We didn’t know much about each other.

What if he betrayed me? What if he intended to lock me here?

My mind spiraled in all directions. Just hours ago, I had been desperate to tell Amon the clues about the real culprit. I had thought I needed him.

My stomach, empty except for a cup of tea, churned. But I didn’t reach for the paper bag Carlyle had left behind. I was hungry but didn’t feel like putting anything in my mouth.

‘What am I doing here?’

In a body that wasn’t even mine, in a world where I didn’t know a single soul. Why was I struggling so much?

I hugged my knees tightly, feeling a wave of melancholy. I missed the bustling atmosphere of the Knights’ building. This was exactly why I hated being alone.

‘Once I return to my original world…’

I rested my cheek on my knees and closed my eyes, trying to think of only pleasant things. For example, for example...

‘Huh?’

I suddenly raised my head. My original world, the world I had so desperately yearned for, seemed blurred from my memory. It felt like I was grasping at the remnants of a dream from last night.

I retraced my memories. Before I entered Julia’s body, I was definitely on my way home after finishing work in my original world.

‘What was I doing? I’m sure...’

I blinked, unsure of the sudden question, but before I could think further, I heard a loud clunk from outside. I sprang to my feet in alarm.

It was a completely different sound from anything I had heard before. Someone was definitely outside the door. I quickly ran behind the bed’s headboard, crouched, and pulled out the dagger I had tucked into my calf.

‘Could it be Amon? Did he arrive? Or Carlyle? Or...’

My heart pounded. It felt just like the day I first fell into this world. I gripped the dagger tightly in both hands and prayed.

The door creaked open, and the floor groaned. I held my breath and slowly turned my head toward the edge of the bed.

"Lady?"

A low voice called. It was Amon’s voice—the first voice I remembered from this world.

"Ha..."

Suddenly, the tension left my body, and the dagger fell to the floor with a soft thud. Without thinking, I buried my face in my hands.

The moment I heard Amon’s voice, all my suspicions melted away. It was as though everything I had doubted just moments ago had been a lie.

"Public warrant?"

I froze, halfway through putting a piece of fruit in my mouth.

"So, you’re saying they issued a public warrant for me? As the person who killed Russell Bolev?"

"Yes, that’s correct."

Amon pushed the fruit and bread a little closer to me across the table. He knew I hadn’t eaten anything all day and had prepared this meal for me.

"If you don’t confess, they’ll issue the public warrant soon. I tried to stop it, but it seems that the more I defend you, the more suspicion it raises."

"This is absurd…"

I wanted to scream at Amon, asking why the Council would do such a thing and why the Knight Commander didn’t stop it. But looking at Amon’s face, filled with guilt, I couldn’t bring myself to say it.

"But… no matter how I think about it, I don’t understand. Hayden suddenly regained consciousness and testified?"

"I don’t understand it either."

Amon shook his head.

"Even in terms of timing, it doesn’t add up. Even if Hayden woke up the moment we left the Knights’ building to stake out, it’s strange that his testimony reached the Council immediately."

"The Council is five hours away by carriage, right?"

"That’s correct."

"And the fact that only the two of us knew Hayden was being detained was a secret, wasn’t it? We said the door couldn’t be opened from the inside."

"That’s right. I did inform Carlyle just in case Hayden regained consciousness while we were away... but Carlyle was too busy looking for that soldier to pay attention."

"Then who could have opened the door?"

I picked up another piece of bread, my face serious.

"Perhaps... maybe Lord Hayden didn’t actually testify?"

"Pardon?"

I swallowed the bread, muttering to myself.

"But the Council knew about it, didn’t they? They knew about the secret passage. If Hayden didn’t speak, how did they know?"

"Perhaps the real culprit already knew about it. Even before we detained Lord Hayden."

"That would make sense if the Council received the information... But how would the real culprit know? Hayden didn’t seem like the type to talk carelessly."

"Indeed."

Amon sighed and picked up a grape, offering it to me. I could see the weariness on his face.

"We’ve only been investigating for two days. Yesterday, the arsonist—who could have been a clue—was killed, and today, there’s a testimony pointing to you as the culprit."

"It’s like the investigation was just waiting to start... The real culprit must be in a hurry to close the case."

Amon said that what the Council wanted was simply the resolution of the case. They wouldn’t care who the real culprit was or who was wrongly accused. The situation was turning against me.

"...But maybe this is good news after all."

I looked up, and Amon gazed at me with a puzzled expression.

"Good news?"

"Seeing how quickly evidence is coming to light, doesn’t it mean the real culprit is nervous? That we’re on the right track? The problem is the public warrant."

A sigh escaped me as I imagined my name in the newspapers and people recognizing me on the streets.

It would take many times the effort to erase the stigma once it was attached. Furthermore, I had a plausible motive, and it was true that I had stabbed Russell.

"If more comes up from the investigation, what will we do?"

"Don’t worry. I’ll make sure that doesn’t happen."

"How will you do that?"

Amon spoke calmly, his expression matching the one he had when he said he would investigate in his own way.

"You mentioned that there might be a spy within the Knights."

Eloise, Boyd, Marvin. Amon thought that one of the three Knights in that alley could be the real culprit’s spy.

"I’ll prove that one of them killed the arsonist. The Council used to be knights too. No matter how badly they want to close the case, they won’t believe a murderer’s words outright."

For now, this was the only way. I couldn’t confess, and the only question was whether we could solve it before the Council ran out of patience.

I nodded quietly, and Amon, as if to lift the mood, spoke in a brighter tone.

"Is there anything you need? You’ll have to stay here for a while."

"Um..."

I looked around the room and then spoke.

"Could you bring me a book? I’m getting a bit bored."

"Of course."

Amon nodded happily and stood up.

"Then I’ll be on my way."

"Already?"

"Yes?"

Amon looked at me in surprise. I quickly closed my mouth, realizing what I had blurted out. It seemed I had been lonely in my half-day of solitude. I must have sounded desperate.

"Well, it’s just... it’s so dark here... Ah, I forgot! I need a clock."

I hastily tried to cover up and change the subject.

"A clock?"

"Yes, a clock."

"Understood. I’ll make sure to get one..."

There was an awkward pause.

"...You can go now."

"Yes, understood."

Amon seemed hesitant as if he couldn’t bring himself to leave. He fidgeted with his clothes and then spoke, unsure.

"I just don’t want to leave the Knights’ building unattended for too long. The Council is on their way here..."

"Yes, I know."

"And I need to check on Lord Hayden’s condition..."

"I know. You can really go now?"

It was embarrassing how I kept reassuring him. I gently pushed him toward the door. Amon paused at the door, hesitated before reaching for the lever, then suddenly stopped and turned back.

"Lady..."

"I said, it’s okay."

"No, it’s just... I don’t think I properly thanked you."

"Eh?"

Only then did I release my hands from Amon’s back. He was looking down at me.

"Yesterday... you threw yourself to save me. Thank you."

He smiled the same smile he had last time—warm eyes, lips curving into a soft smile. I couldn’t help but sigh inwardly.

‘Isn’t this cheating? How am I supposed to willingly endure this room alone after this?’

"...I should be the one thanking you. For working so hard to save me."

"It’s nothing, just as I said."

"Yes, yes. I understand. You should really leave now."

I reached behind Amon and moved the lever instead. Then, to prevent him from opening his mouth again, I pushed him through the squeaking door.

“Be careful!”

Without hesitation, I moved the lever again and turned my back. I felt like I wouldn't be able to let him go if he continued speaking.

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