The Ugly Duckling Of The Tiger Tribe-Chapter 135: He just made my job a lot easier

"This is what happens when you shelter monsters. She’s finally shown her true colors."

Veyra definitely included me in that phrase and no one said a thing about it.

The crowd shifted.

Some faces hardened. Others flickered with doubt. A few looked at me as if seeing me for the first time — and not kindly.

My head burned, rage built up in my heart at the nonsense she kept spewing out. I wanted to go up to her and hit her, give her a good smack across her face, but I couldn’t just blindly dismiss her words when there was evidence.

Then, my gaze drifted back to the bodies. To their lifeless bodies and then to Damar’s hand.

Reality crashed down on me like cold water.

No matter how much I trusted him, no matter how fiercely my heart rejected the idea — the evidence was there.

Clear and undeniable.

My breath shook.

I closed my eyes and forced myself to inhale slowly.

When I opened them again, the haze had cleared.

I stepped forward.

Yeah, the evidence was clear. Damar had killed someone but... So what?

I made a promise to Damar that I would pick his side, I would protect and defend him no matter what.

So, even if he did kill someone...

I walked past the bodies without looking at them again. Past Veyra, who watched me with a thin, triumphant smile.

... Even if he was a murderer...

I got to Damar, stood in front of him with my back facing him, spreading my arms wide like wings, and protecting him from everyone who sneered and gnawed at his action.

...I’ll still take his side. Because... He’s my husband and everyone else could go fuck themselves.

The murmurs rose, surprised, uneasy, wondering what I was up to.

"What is she doing?"

"Does she have no shame?"

"She thinks she can still protect him even after what had happened."

On and on they went.

But I didn’t care.

What I cared about was Damar who was behind me, seeing me take his side unconditionally.

I glanced over my shoulder, smiled at him, and this gave him a sense of gladness in his heart.

He must’ve thought I was disappointed but I was proud. Proud that he stood his ground and kept his mouth shut this whole time.

If he had spoken a word in his defense, they would’ve used that against him.

If he had tried to leave, they would’ve claimed he was fleeing from his crime.

No matter what he had done, they would always find a way to twist it.

So, for him to stand his ground and keep his mouth shut, I was so proud.

He just made my job a lot easier.

"Arinya," Chief Kasa called.

My father could not call out to me, not after how we had parted the last night.

How disappointed I was with him.

He could not even look me in the eye without showing guilt.

"Is this a sign that you’re going to defend your mate despite the proof lying on the floor?" Chief Kasa asked and I nodded.

"That’s right."

"And how do you plan to do it?" He asked. "How do you plan to overturn what’s already been seen?"

Chief Kasa... He was looking at me with that amused smile again, like he knew what I was going to do. Rather, he knew I was going to do something interesting.

"That’s simple. I’m going to ask Damar," I said.

"But he refused to speak even when we’ve been asking him what happened!" He said and I scoffed.

"What makes you think he’ll treat me the same way he treats you?"

It sounded disrespectful but it was the truth. To Damar, everyone else was just a waste of space. I was the only one he cared about.

"Then, go ahead."

I heard Veyra click her tongue from the side, and heard multiple murmurs, but I blocked their opinions out and focused on my husband.

I turned around and finally met Damar’s gaze.

"Sorry," I mumbled. "I should’ve come sooner."

But Damar shook his head and finally spoke for the first time since he found himself in the situation.

"No, it’s my fault for not being careful even after you warned me so many times."

That’s right. He knows that he’s supposed to be careful, so why does he put himself in this situation?

I looked at his hand, and the blood smelled stronger up close. But it wasn’t something I wasn’t used to.

After going hunting with them a couple of times, I’ve grown used to the smell of blood... Somewhat. But it was better than when I first held a chunk of undercooked meat my father handed me.

"Damar," I called, softly.

There was no madness in his eyes. No bloodlust, or anger. There was just the guilt of having to put me through this again.

"Damar, did you kill them?" I asked and everyone inevitably fell silent.

It was almost as if the crowd held its breath to hear his response.

Damar’s jaw tightened.

Then, at last, he freed them and spoke.

"No," he said, the single word low, almost defiant.

The crowd shifted uneasily.

Then, almost immediately, he added, "...Yes."

A ripple went through the onlookers. Murmurs turned into scoffs.

"By the beast god, he’s denying it, even when we all know the truth!" someone shouted.

"He won’t admit it because he’s guilty!" another added.

I froze, my heart stuttering in my chest. My mind spun. No... and... yes? What did that mean?

Did he kill them or not?

"You’ll have to give us a proper response." Someone yelled.

"Yeah! You can’t deny it and own up to it at the same time. Just admit you killed them and face your punishment."

I looked at Damar. He didn’t want to explain, and I wondered if I could figure it out on my own.

At this point, I was going to be a detective. I had to become a detective.

If not, I might not see the pieces Damar was trying to show me.

Word of mouth wasn’t enough to vindicate him, so someone had to pick up the details and figure it out.

Someone... Who was not at the scene.

"Solin, are you there?" I called out and she came out from the crowd.

"Yes, I’m here." She said and I felt relieved.

"Can you help me here?" I asked. "I could really use your knowledge."

Solin had no problem walking over to us, and she seemed unfazed by the dead bodies too.

Veyra gnashed her teeth, frowning as she wondered what sort of stunt we were planning to pull.

She must be confident that we can never uncover the truth because of the final result.

But it’s clear that she’s not smart enough to think that far.

In a crime scene, there is always evidence to vindicate the most suspicious individual. As long as the crime scene is not tampered with, and right now, we have an untampered crime scene.

Thank you, Damar.

Thanks to Damar staying still and not moving a muscle, no one came near, and no one touched the bodies.

"What do you need my help for?" Solin asked, genuinely ready to help.

"Help me find clues," I said. "Anything that seems unusual."

"Alright. I’m very observant so don’t worry."