I new life for a new problem

Chapter 40

"What do we do now?" Eric and Gilbert continued to follow Amiru down the hallways, even though they had no idea where she was going.

"I'm going to check for myself if what Cale said is true." She didn't even stop to answer him.

"And in case..." He left his question hanging, but she understood.

"Cale will be free to go. If not, I'll inform Count Deruth and His Majesty, and I imagine Cale will be handed over to the king."

"You... you're really going to turn him in?"

This time she stopped and looked at Eric with a frown. "Eric, we're talking about a murder and the possibility of a conflict with the Sea Peoples. Do you realize what kind of situation we're in?"

"Yes, of course, but it's Cale..."

Amiru turned abruptly, but Eric could have sworn her expression had wavered. Still, a cold voice replied, "It doesn't matter."

---

A short while later, the three arrived at the famous beach, guided by the two guards who had found Cale.

A quick search of the area turned up nothing else. However, as they walked around the beach, they found the entrance to a cave, just as Cale had described.

As soon as they entered, a horrible, rancid smell stung their noses, but, determined, they kept moving forward.

Eric nearly threw up at the sight of the corpses. He watched in horror as Amiru knelt down beside the bodies to examine them.

"Look." She pointed toward the mangled torso of one of the mermaids. There were clear marks from teeth and claws, whatever was responsible for this was certainly not human. "Cale didn't lie."

"But look at her arm." They turned their heads toward the mermaid's arm at Gilbert's words. Indeed, the cut was clean, as if a knife blade had been used. "And that bloodstain..." A little further away from the bodies, there was another bloodstain, but this time there was no body.

"We need to talk to Cale. He didn't tell us everything."

The two nodded at Amiru's words. They hurried back to the estate and into Cale's room.

---

Cale was still lying quietly in bed, staring at the wall, his back turned to the door. The two kittens and the invisible dragon had joined him.

His bedroom door opened before he even had a chance to say a word to any potential visitors.

He didn't bother to move, it was far too much wasted effort.

"Cale, we have some questions for you."

It was Amiru's voice, and Cale was certain he'd heard the footsteps of two other people. The nobles from the northeast were here again to question him, it seemed...

Getting no response, she continued. "We found the place-"

"So I'm no longer suspected of murder or anything else, then?" This time he turned around, eagerly awaiting the answer.

He saw the look on the nobles' faces, it didn't bode well.

"No, but-"

"Great." He stood up and headed for the door.

"Cale, what are you doing?"

"I'm leaving."

"Cale-"

He didn't let her finish and walked out. He wanted to go see Ron, to ask the butler to pack their things, they wanted to go home. The few days they'd spent here had worn him out, he couldn't wait to leave.