Evie spent the rest of the day in quiet worry. Morning light faded into a soft, gray afternoon as she walked slowly through the village, lost in her own thoughts. Every face she passed reminded her of the heavy burden on her heart. Lucas had taken a life a human lifea nd even though he did it with a cold calm, it felt like a heavy stone on her conscience.
At the market square, while the vendors and villagers talked and laughed, Evie's mind was far away. She remembered every detail she had heard about the magistrate's brutal death. She knew deep within her that Lucas act was a crime, she wasn't sure after all, she wanted to ask him if he felt any guilt, but when she thought of it , she didn't even know where to find him, she had remembered he said he worked at the council, but she wasn't sure about it , wouldn't it be weird if she went to the council asking of some, Mr Lucas Thorne.
Evie gathered her courage and went to the council the next morning. She asked about Mr. Lucas Thorne, at first she was told he was busy, but soon enough , she saw Lucas walking over to her with a smile. "Evie," he greeted warmly, "I wasn't expecting you to come all the way here just to make me agree to Tea."
Her cheeks warmed slightly at his teasing tone. "I suppose I had to come and see if you'd really say yes," she replied softly.
Lucas chuckled, shaking his head. "Well, I couldn't say no to you," he said, and together they walked to the small coffee shop near the council building.
Inside the cozy shop, they found a quiet corner table. The gentle hum of conversation and the aroma of fresh Tea filled the room. Lucas poured Tea into two cups and slid one across the table toward Evie.
"Now, Evie, what brings you here?" he asked with a playful glint in his eyes, but his tone quickly turned serious.
Evie took a slow sip, gathering her thoughts. "I need to understand why the magistrate died," she began carefully. "I know you were there when it happened, and I can't help but wonder did you ever feel any guilt about it?"
"Why did you murder the magistrate?" Evie asked, her voice low but sharp, eyes fixed on him like daggers. She never imagined the man who once smiled so gently could have such cruelty in him.
Lucas didn't flinch. He leaned back slightly, a small smile tugging at his lips. "You must be mistaken, Vie. I'm afraid I don't understand what you mean."
"Don't call me that," she snapped, the anger flaring in her chest again. "You don't get to call me that—not after what you did. You took someone's life, Lucas. A man's life. You could've brought him to justice, but you chose to kill him. That wasn't your right."
Lucas's smile thinned. He gave a soft sigh, tilting his head slightly. "Miss Evelyn, if we're going to speak of justice, maybe you should ask yourself—what do you actually know about the law of Havethrone?"
"I know enough," she said tightly. "Enough to know that murder is illegal. That no one—no matter who they think they are—has the right to take another person's life."
There was a long pause. Lucas looked at her carefully, the easy air between them fading. He set his teacup down and leaned forward, elbows resting on the table.
"If you came here to hear why I did it," he said, voice low and firm, "then let's not pretend anymore. Yes—I killed him."
Evie blinked, stunned by the bluntness of his confession.
"But it's not as simple as you think," Lucas went on. "It sounds cruel when you call it murder. I saw it as justice."
"Justice?" she echoed, stunned. "For what?"
Lucas reached into the pocket of his coat and pulled out a folded envelope. "You came looking for the truth," he said, offering it to her. "Read this."
Evie took it cautiously. She unfolded the paper and began reading. The letter was short, but the words felt heavy in her hands.
Her eyes flicked up to meet his. "She had an affair?"
"After her husband died, she went to the magistrate for help," Lucas explained. "He offered it. Or at least pretended to. He introduced her to a wealthy merchant, someone he claimed could provide her with work. Instead, the man forced her into bed."
Evie's face twisted in disgust.
"When she threatened to speak out, she wrote the magistrate a letter—the one you're holding. She trusted him. But he betrayed her. Instead of helping, he sent her letter to the merchant. A warning."
Evie looked down at the paper again, feeling its weight in a new way.
"The merchant burned part of it and sent it back as a threat. And the magistrate? He decided to clean up the mess himself. That night, he went to silence Lilian. But the children were awake. They saw everything. So he killed them too."
Evie sat back, shocked into silence.
"What proof do you have?" she finally whispered.
"He wasn't careful," Lucas said simply. "A torn piece of cloth from his sleeve found in her hand. Traces of ash and ink from the letter in his office. He thought no one would look deeper. He thought no one would care."
He leaned closer, his voice quiet and cold.
"And tell me, Evie... do you know how many women like Lilian came to him over the years? How many he offered 'help' to, only to ruin them?"
Evie stared at him, her heart heavy. The warm, peaceful tea shop felt miles away now. The light clink of cups and the murmur of other conversations faded around them.
"I sent him to his grave with far less pain than he deserved," Lucas said, his tone calm but deadly serious. "I did what your laws wouldn't. If that makes me a monster in your eyes... then so be it."
He sat back, watching her carefully. For once, Evie had no words.
And in that silence, she realized she didn't know whether to feel angry… or grateful.