Chapter 59: Confronting the Enigmatic Voice
As the heated exchange with the captive assassin in the dungeon continued, frustration welled up within me. His accusations and refusal to provide answers grated on my nerves.
"Do you have no sense? If you do, then tell me, how could I be supposed to bring your dead brother? And why would I, Duchess Bernice, be blamed for your brother’s death when he was sent to assassinate me but died while trying to kill me!" I exclaimed, my patience wearing thin as I sought clarity.
But the assassin remained resolute in his conviction. "No! He didn’t kill himself. He would never kill himself, I know that. You are the one who killed him. You are the reason behind his death, and now you’re trying to lie to me," he retorted, his anger blazing.
"Why would I lie? What benefit would there be for me in lying to you?" I questioned, my voice tinged with exasperation as I crossed my arms, my frustration evident.
"He told me you killed him," he declared, leaving me wide-eyed with shock at the revelation.
"Who? Who told you? Who told you that I killed your brother? Tell me! I want the name of the person who told you this!" I demanded, my voice resolute as I lifted his chin to force him to meet my gaze.
"He...he was a person in a black hoodie. He handed me his bloody clothes and gave me a bloody note in my brother’s handwriting, saying you tortured him for an entire day, and in the end, he died," he explained, his eyes darting around as he struggled to provide the information I sought.
"Who was the person in the black hoodie? Could you recognize their face? Did they reveal their name or title?" I pressed, my anxiety growing as I realized the gravity of the situation.
"No!" his response was curt and unhelpful, leaving me frustrated with the lack of details.
"If not, then how can you come here and accuse me of killing your brother? How do you even know that it was your brother’s letter? It could have been written by someone else. Anyone could impersonate him and lie to you," I argued, my desperation for answers growing.