"Lady Emond, you said that this was gathered by Sir John, the vice-captain of the imperial knights, correct?"
"That is correct Sir Charles. Is anything wrong with it?"
"No. Not at all"
Sir Charles began to waver.
Both John and Sir Aiden are known to be loyal as a dog to the empress. And the fact that Sir Aiden is here with me, narrating what actually happened that day and Sir John who gathered the evidence in the past few days made Sir Charles' heart waver for a bit.
"Does the empress know about this?"
"She does. She was the one behind the investigation. Don't worry, I made sure to make a deal with her that this will not affect the church or the Millers at all"
Knock. Knock.
A maid opened the door. An old man appeared.
The old man walk to the center and sat down on the chair provided for him.
"I greet you all. My name is Well. Allow me to enlighten you what really happened that day. The day when the angelic young girl over there..."
The old man pointed towards Margaret.
"Brutally murdered her own family"
The old man proceeded to narrate what happened before it happened, while it happened, and after it happened.
He who used to be a street vendor on the street right beside her house heard and saw what happened through the small crack on the wall.
"The reports says that it was an accident but it was not. That is all"
The old man walk towards me and held out his hand and bowed.
"My lady, thank you for giving me a chance to correct my misdeed in the past. I am now free from the guilt that was weighing on my chest for a long time"
"No need to thank me, I am just happy that you agreed to come here and tell us what really happened that day"
The old man was then escorted by a maid to a different room so that he can rest before going back to where he came from.
Margaret who was quiet all this time began to cry and knelt down on all fours at Charles' foot.
She begged and begged to sympathize with her and to forget about the past.
"Charles! Please...!"
Charles who greatly treasure his family wasn't able to stomach shamelessness and the gall of the woman in front of him.
He abruptly kicked Margaret's face and was disgusted at the thought of referring to her as her own family after learning the truth.
"Sir Charles, what are you doing?!"
The paladin exclaimed.
The paladin tried to help Margaret while the two knights that Charles brought with him tried their best to stop Charles from hitting Margaret.
It made a lot of sense to him. There was no need for the empress to framed someone to destroy their family when the Millers are of great help to the empress.
Thus there was no way the empress would try to do something to break apart the family who greatly supports the imperial family.
But the paladin and the two knights who are closed to Margaret didn't realize this fact yet.
"Sir Paladin, you can go now with priestess Margaret"
"...."
"If you don't go now, Sir Charles will really kill her, you know"
The paladin forcefully carried the priestess who was still begging for forgiveness while crying and made a run for it.
A few minutes later Sir Charles calmed down and sat down on the couch with a depressed look, eyes that almost seemed dead.
"Sir Aiden, please go out first along with the other two knights"
"Understood"
The two knights behind Charles were afraid of Sir Aiden so they went out of the room obediently.
I stood up and walk in front of Charles who was crying mindlessly.
He was so lost in thought that he didn't even realize that I was in front of him or the fact that it was only the two of us in the room.
Without asking for permission, I put his head on top of my stomach. I started to gently brush his hair and caress his forehead to comfort him.
"Milady... why are you... doing this?"
He looked up to me with great anticipation.
"I was betrayed by someone I trust the most so I know what you are feeling right now. Not to mention, my parents who I loved so much just died recently. I only knew about it just a few days ago"
He remove my hands and sat properly as he wipe the tears on his face.
"I am sorry. This look does not really suit a man, does it"
"If you want to cry then cry, I do not mind. Besides, I cried countless nights. I think that it would be okay to cry at least a day"
I sat down beside him.
His head was resting on top of my lap as if a child that was being comforted by his mother.
He cried and cried, saying "I was foolish to let someone like her to be a part of my family"
An hour later, he stopped crying.
His eyes and nose were swollen and red from all of the crying.
"Once you are done you can go back to your house Sir Charles"
"I thought that you said that it is fine if I were to cry a whole day at least"
"I am sorry to say but I am busy. I am planning on going back to Loate. My parents died after all"
Sir Charles broke into laughter. His mood brightened up in one instant.
"Hahaha! Is that so? I am sorry for taking your time then. I hope I can talk with you again when you come back. You will come back, right?"
"I will. I have to be here until next year after all"
When his eyes weren't red any longer, he left with a smile and promised that I will be welcome to the Miller's estate anytime.