We all fell silent for a while after that. Justine refused to speak, clearly upset. It wasn't because she doubted what I said, but because she knew it was true.
Alicia wore a sad expression, remembering that it was her own uncle who had ordered my death.
I thought the best decision was to let my words sink into Justine's heart without saying anything else. I felt the weight leave my shoulder as the wine-haired girl stood up and said, "Making those sad faces won't get us anywhere."
"But Erina…"
"I don't like thinking badly of that old man Gerard either, but his creature really came to kill us. It could have killed anyone. That's unacceptable."
"You're right. But sending bandits after his own blood and unleashing his beast to kill his niece… Is he still the same man we once knew?" Justine said, still trying to come to terms with the situation.
