Chapter 42

Chapter 42

Translator: Eonnicorn / Editor: Scarlet

John sat up with a frown. No one would walk into the cathedral at this time of the hour and throw a stone. Perhaps it was the sound of rain? Or maybe the sound of dry branches hitting the window because of the wind?

Knock. Knock. Knock.

‘No, it’s not it.’ Someone was hitting his window by throwing stones one after another. By then, John got up on his feet and approached the window. Nothing could be seen outside in the dark. He hesitated for a moment before he opened his window.

“Father.” He could hear a small, secretive voice of a man somewhere. The voice of someone who knew him and came with a purpose.

“Who is there?” A thought that it was Elman crossed his mind but he dismissed it. He lowered his voice, asking again so that there would be no unnecessary disturbance.

At that moment, a head emerged from behind the bushes and a familiar face was revealed.

“Are you… Paul?” John reaffirmed, bewilderment written all over his face. Paul put his hand on his lips, signaling John to be quiet. “What happened, Paul?” His voice became serious. Paul had never done anything like this before and never would in the future. Then, an image of Eva and Cecil, who was close to Paul, flashed in his mind like a thunderbolt. He hoped it wasn’t related to them, but anxiety always became reality.

“Father, I have something to tell you. It’s about Lady Eva and Cecil.”

After Paul stopped at the bottom of his window, he quietly informed John.

* * *

In a remote place behind the cathedral, Baronet Biti’s carriage was parked. After following Paul, John heard an unbelievable story.

“W-What did you say just now, Eva? Y-You killed Todd?”

He couldn’t believe how outrageous it was. How could such a weak and delicate woman kill the bulky Todd? Besides, Eva wasn’t the kind to kill anyone. Having watched her since she was young, he could guarantee how kind, lovely, and upright she was.

“I was the one who killed him, Father. Todd was trying to attack our lady, so I-”

“It’s not true, Father. I killed him. Todd tried to hit Cecil, so I hit him with something.”

“No, Father. It was really me.”

Both Eva and Cecil put their confessions over the other’s confession. Although their bodies were trembling, their faces showed resolution that neither of them wanted to back down, and they seemed to hold on with determination. Eva wanted to protect Cecil, while Cecil also wanted to protect Eva by making their own self the perpetrator. They understood each other’s heart but that didn’t help their situation now.

“There’s no point in covering each other’s crime now. You have to tell me exactly who did it to find a solution.”

John made eye contact with Cecil and spat out the words. Due to the tangible words coming from the two, he was able to guess who killed Todd. However, it was necessary to make sure that Eva was the one who did it.

Cecil’s eyes shook frantically at John’s persuasion. Biting her lips with a pale face, she eventually avoided eye contact, indirectly admitting that Eva had killed Todd.

“Ha…” A long sigh broke out of John’s mouth. Thinking about the future of Eva and Cecil, it baffled him, while at the same time, saddened him.

Eva grew up well without ever losing her smile, despite having been through so much suffering. In a few months, Eva was supposed to be an adult and running an orphanage sponsored by the cathedral. However, now Eva fell into a much deeper abyss after wanting to break free from her tough life. Distressed and stunned, John closed his eyes tightly.

“Father, please help us. Let us escape, please.” Cecil’s desperate voice entered his ears. At that moment, he sprung up his eyes wide open.

“I can’t do that, Cecil.” John replied firmly. It was regretful and it always stayed like that, the same as when a bad thing was still a bad thing.

He cared and loved two women personally. It was also true that Count Massies sponsorship had a significant impact on his ability to quickly become archbishop. For this reason, he was forever grateful to the Count, having grieved over the misfortunes that fell on the Massies family, and prayed for the rest of the Massies family.

Still, he was a priest who served God. It was impossible to help a sinner who killed a man escape.

“Surrender yourself to the Investigation Bureau. I’ll do my best to defend you two.”

Trying to persuade them to turn themselves in.

That was the duty of the priest.