I'm In Love With The Villainess Volume 4

Volume 4 Chapter 14 My Dear Student: Part 2

Furthermore, I couldn't rule out the possibility Joel had committed the
crime. He was my student, and I believed in his integrity as a person, but I couldn't let preconceptions sway me. If, by some chance, he had indeed
committed the crime, I wanted him to atone for it.

That being said, nothing was set in stone at this point. Seeing how the soldiers appeared convinced that Joel was the culprit, I wanted to make sure
he got a fair shot at proving his innocence.

In any case-

"I need to meet up with Miss Claire first."

"First off, the woman's name is Berta."

Claire summarized the information she had received from Joel. He had first met Berta while drinking alone at a pub in the shopping district.

Berta, who worked there, had incessantly tried to talk to him, but Joel, completely disinterested, had ignored her. That apparently hurt her pride, as she was well known as a beauty, causing her to pester him even more, which in turn caused him to pay and leave the establishment.

Their second meeting was the day of the incident. Joel went out to the shopping district on some business and met Berta in a certain store.

As for the rest, Joel refused to say. He wouldn't say what store he'd gone to or even what business took him there. It was no wonder the soldiers had thought him guilty.

"It's hard to deny the possibility that he might well have done it," Claire said.

"Indeed. Still, I can't imagine him ever doing such a thing."

"Neither can I. But I don't intend to let my opinion of him obscure the truth."

In other words, we couldn't let our biases cloud our judgment. Now, what to do?

"Miss Claire, let's trust in Joel while fully doubting him."

"You...realize that's contradictory, Rae?"

"I believe in Joel's innocence. But that doesn't change the fact that someone was assaulted here."

"I suppose... Wait, are you sticking your nose where it doesn't belong again?"

"You bet I am."

"By the look on your face, it doesn't seem I can stop you." Claire sighed. She'd really come to understand me as of late. Oh, how happy that made me!

"Stop me? If anything, you're going to help!" I said.

"Goodness. All right. What are you planning then?"

"We'll begin by asking around for information, starting with where Joel was and what he was doing at the time of the crime."

"Haven't the imperial soldiers done that already?"

"They likely have, so we might as well ask them too, but I really want to get first-hand information."

"So you really believe Joel's innocent then? I'm surprised."

"Hm? Did you think I hated Joel or something?" If anything, that was what was surprising here.

"Not at all. I just had you pegged as the type to unconditionally take
the woman's side."