EP 17 - House of 20 Bodies(7)
After wiping Sieri's face, I reluctantly let her go. There were many things I wanted to try, but it was only the first night. Just as wine becomes better with age, savoring a person slowly was fun in its own way.
And so, the night passed. I spent some time thinking about what kind of fun things I could do with Sieri in the future.
From the morning, Aira was cleaning the mansion’s corridors. Since the March of Atonement, Aira was so scared that she trembles at the thought of stepping outside the mansion grounds. So, I assigned her to clean the first floor of the mansion. Aira cleaned as if it was her life's work, and at night, she served me as if being a prostitute was her calling.
The other servants in the manor didn't seem to mind that someone else was doing their work for them. Since Aira had originally come in as a 'maid,' they find it natural to see her cleaning. Cleaning was a very suitable job as punishment.
Seeing Aira adapt to life in the mansion so well was giving me a sense of satisfaction as a religious person. Wasn’t it remarkable how this former swindler had transformed into such an honest and respectable person? Today, Aira was planning to ‘serve’ me under the desk in the office after cleaning.
“My Lord.”
While I was standing in the corridor, admiring her from behind as she cleaned, Robin addressed me. I quickly adjusted my expression and turned to face him.
“What is it, Robin?”
“I have a report to make.”
“Go ahead.”
“A murder occurred in the village last night, and a trial for the accused is necessary.”
The lord oversaw all matters within the estate. Although minor issues were handled by the knights or guards through enforcement of laws, more serious matters like murder or banditry required the lord’s direct involvement. Since Peta Territory was small, trials were rare, but the lord needed to be vigilant about each case. If one appeared lenient, people would exploit it.
I tried not to show any reluctance in front of Robin. If it was 'Lucius,' he would be distressed.
“That’s unfortunate. Murder? Who could commit such a horrible crime?”
“Do you remember the March of Atonement? There was a man who interfered with Miss Aira’s penance and assaulted her.”
“Yes, I remember.”
That’s what he was told to do. Of course I knew. Hearing he’d committed murder, I wasn't the least bit surprised. He nearly killed Aira several times when he beat her. And if I hadn’t been a healer, she might have died for sure. While it ultimately served my plans, he was hardly someone fit for my territory.
“They say he beat his wife and ended up killing her.”
“That’s unfortunate. Did he beat her often?”
“Yes. He was a rather unsavory type... It’s said he frequently clashed with others in the neighborhood as well.”
In this world, guards didn’t have the authority to intervene in personal family matters. After all, this was a game with that setting. For example, if I married Sieri, and engaged in anything from anal play to SM, the guards would have no authority to stop me. They can only watch.
Another example. Even if I beat Sieri to near death, as long as she didn’t die, the guards wouldn’t have the authority to arrest me. It wasn’t a case of negligence in letting a wife be beaten to death. According to law, the guards could only give a 'personal warning.'
“So, is everything prepared?”
Even in a rural estate like this, a trial required structure. The “criminal,” the “lord” who would pronounce the sentence, and the witnesses who would testify. Robin reported.
“There are already five people gathered to testify against the criminal.”
Considering his history of causing trouble, they likely saw this as an opportunity to be rid of him for good. I couldn’t say I didn’t understand.
“Alright, let’s go.”
“Speak, Henry. Your lord is asking.”
“I usually... kicked her... and punched...”
“Why did you do that? Were you trying to kill your wife?”
“It... I just got so angry... I’d lost my job, and nothing... nothing was going right...”
The crowd began to murmur. I could hear insults hurling at Henry, calling him worthless and irredeemable. I spoke up.
“If I hear another disturbance in this court, I will identify the speaker and deal with them accordingly.”
Only then did the courtroom quiet down. I turned back to Henry.
“You lost your job, then. What did you used to do?”
“I was a carpenter, but I got injured at work, so I couldn’t continue.”
“What kind of injury?”
“I hurt my arm, so I can’t put any strength in my right arm. I can’t hammer anymore...”
“You’re right-handed?”
“Yes. I still use my right hand mostly, but I can’t lift heavy things or do strenuous tasks with it.”
I looked over to the guard again and asked.
“Which hand was Henry holding the club with?”
“It was in his left hand.”
The guard answered. Since it had happened just the day before, it was easy to remember which hand it was in.
“So, based on the testimonies from the guard, Henry, and John, we have the following facts. Henry historically beat his wife, his whereabouts that day are unclear, he doesn’t remember anything, and when they rushed to the scene where the screams were heard, there was no one else but him and his wife. Under these circumstances, it would seem that Henry beat his wife to death.”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
The guard nodded. Henry hung his head. But I shook my head. This was weird. Unnatural. Something about it felt very unnatural. I asked Henry.
“Henry, when you hit your wife, did you only use your left hand?”
“I think... I used both hands.”
“After you lost your job due to your right arm injury, did you ever try to rehabilitate your left hand to use tools?”
“..... No. My wife earns money, and.... I’m busy drinking.....”
The audience looked at the trial scene, eager to speak up. Their tightly pressed lips and expressions full of discontent made it clear that they were hoping for Henry’s swift execution. But I had no intention of doing that. This case... something was definitely strange.
A right-handed drunk, completely incapacitated from drinking, who hadn’t trained his left hand—would rationally decide that his left hand would hit the hardest and even picked up a weapon? And then managed to beat his wife to death with that hand?
Something was off. Definitely.
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