Chapter 159

"What about Rumdrax?"

Something deepened in Cassion's eyes. He didn't answer right away. Instead, he grew busy with his hands. Cassion checked the color of my face, propped a cushion behind my back, and straightened the water glass on the side table. I didn't need to hear what had happened to Rumdrax to know.

"They took him in."

"...I'm sorry. I couldn't weigh his guilt or innocence myself. So I left it to the guard captain."

After a long pause, Cassion apologized to me. Even though he hadn't done a single thing wrong.

"If it comes out that he's a con man, a cell in Bulta Prison won't be enough. It'll be a death sentence outright."

I said it lightly, so Cassion wouldn't worry over it any more than he already was. Cassion laughed bitterly. Five years in Nobel, absorbing Zigolate's mana the whole time, and Cassion had never once…