“If you testify for Seraphine,” he said, voice low, “I’ll find a way to get you out.”
I smiled faintly. “Alaric, take care.”
His breath hitched.
For a second, he looked like a broken man.
“You knew everything…” His voice cracked. “You were there that night. It was just you and that monster. You saw it all, didn’t you?”
I said nothing.
“I stayed quiet—I let it go, because I believed you.”
His fists clenched. “Back in school… Seraphine used to spend her lunch money just to make sure you had something to eat. Have you forgotten that?”
Tears welled in my eyes. I shook my head. “No. Never.”
“Then why?” he choked out. “Why didn’t you say anything? Why not then?”
“Not yet.”
“Do I have to die before you’ll finally tell me?”
I shook my head again, more firmly this time.
“It’s not him who dies,” I whispered. “It’s me.”
“The murderer will be convicted—without my testimony. But if I spoke now… I was afraid you’d lose your mind.”
I bowed my head.
If everything went as expected, the truth would come to light during my imprisonment.
But then, less than a month into my sentence, something changed.
The court abruptly overturned the verdict. I was acquitted.