Blood streamed down the sword, coating Clorinde's hand. The unexpected sight left her frozen in shock.
It wasn't just Clorinde. Nearly everyone in the hall stared dumbfounded at the bleeding Lofan, the Opera Epiclese falling silent as a Library.
Charlotte gaped at the scene, disbelief written across her face.
"Medic!"
Clorinde finally reacted, her voice urgent as she shouted.
"Miss Clorinde, what are you doing?"
Lofan's face was pale, yet he maintained a faint smile as he spoke. With both hands, he pushed against the sword in Clorinde's grip, accelerating the blood's flow.
"The challenge isn't over yet."
"Or are you, Miss Clorinde, ready to admit defeat in this trial?"
Hearing Lofan's words, Clorinde's expression visibly hardened.
"No, I'll never let you escape justice!"
Clorinde tightened her grip on the sword, her gaze turning utterly cold as she stared at Lofan.
"It seems Miss Clorinde is the champion of justice here."
Lofan chuckled softly, then slowly leaned toward Clorinde's ear.
As Lofan moved closer, Clorinde's body tensed visibly, her eyes locked on his movements. Maintaining perfect distance, Lofan whispered to her:
"Miss Clorinde, did you know? Even those of us living at society's lowest rungs - the most worthless, the most despised - still possess power. We can stain your noble bloodlines with our filthy, lower-class blood."
With these words, Lofan suddenly spat a mouthful of dark red blood directly at Clorinde.
Clorinde reacted swiftly, withdrawing her sword from Lofan's body and ducking sideways to evade.
Despite her quick reflexes, the sudden incident had stained her pristine uniform with a crimson blotch.
Noting this, Clorinde couldn't suppress a frown. Both Lofan himself and the unfolding events filled her with profound unease.
"You're truly insane," she muttered.
Lofan regarded Clorinde as if admiring his masterpiece. After a moment, he burst into raucous laughter once more.
"I wonder if our esteemed audience enjoyed my performance."
Silence reigned - only silence.
In days past, all cases had been publicly "tried" at the Opera Epiclese. Most spectators treated these proceedings as peculiar operas, sometimes even lamenting that the final outcome didn't unfold as dramatically as they'd imagined.
However, Lofan's performance at the Opera House today had sent a chill through the hearts of the audience. They suddenly realized that today's [ Judgment ] wasn't a mere opera, and Lofan wasn't its protagonist, but rather a complete madman who had driven several people to commit suicide by jumping from buildings.
As Lofan's icy gaze swept over the audience, they instinctively averted their eyes, their hearts pounding with fear.
Though Lofan had lost a significant amount of blood, his face deathly pale, as if he might collapse at any moment, the pure malice radiating from him still made many spectators tremble in terror.
"Enough! How long will you keep disrupting [ Judgment ]?" Charlotte's voice cracked as she spoke from the podium, her words tinged with desperation. After uttering these words, she clutched her head tightly with both hands.
If Lofan had merely deceived her, she wouldn't feel such profound anguish.
In truth, Lofan's attitude toward her had been distinctly different from his treatment of others. This meant that Lofan had shown her absolute sincerity.
But why did it have to be the mastermind behind the serial suicide case? Even if she wished to guide him toward a proper worldview, it was too late for such redemption.
All she could do was personally deliver Lofan to the [ Judgment ].
Charlotte had believed herself capable of maintaining composure, but Lofan's stark contrast in behavior today tore at her heart. Finally, the thread of reason in her mind snapped.
Lofan's face showed clear astonishment at Charlotte's cruel words, as if he hadn't expected such harshness from her.
Yet moments later, his expression transformed into a radiant smile.
"Alright, Charlotte," he murmured, looking directly at her as if bidding farewell. "The Fonta you bought for me was truly delicious."
As Lofan's words faded, Charlotte's body shuddered once more.
He then coughed up a mouthful of blood, took a deep breath, and turned his gaze to Clorinde. His eyes held madness tinged with a trace of sorrow.
"For the Exalted Empress of Snezhnaya!"
Lofan shouted as he staggered toward Clorinde, each step leaving a bloody footprint on the stage. Clorinde remained silent, waiting until Lofan reached her before delivering a heavy slash with her sword.
Lofan fell straight to the ground, a clean wound now visible at his neck.
His body twitched slightly, but soon stilled.
Was he dead?
He seemed truly dead.
When the audience realized this, they snapped out of their trance, gasping for breath.
This was the first time they felt that [ Judgment ] was not a pleasant experience.
Only after the Maison Gardiennage members confirmed Lofan's death did the audience gradually relax their tense emotions.
Clorinde stared at Lofan's body lying near her feet, gazing at the final expression frozen on his face - one of self-mockery - for a long time before slowly sheathing her sword and turning away.
When Lofan shouted his final words, Charlotte had already lifted her head. She watched helplessly as Lofan willingly delivered his life into Clorinde's hands.
Charlotte stared blankly at the small body lying on the stage, the blood flowing from it like a vividly blooming flower, piercing her eyes with its intensity.
"What a disappointing performance."
Furina jumped down from the throne and left without looking back. Today's Trial had left her feeling as if there was a lump in her throat, making her feel incredibly uncomfortable and sour.
Meanwhile, Neuvillette stood up, cleared his throat, and announced:
"Since Monsieur Lofan chose to prove his innocence through a duel, but ultimately perished, the Trial is hereby concluded early."
"Please depart in an orderly manner."
Charlotte couldn't remember how she left the Opera Epiclese. It wasn't until she felt the coolness on her cheek that she finally came back to her senses.
Charlotte looked up. She didn't know when the sky had darkened, and now it was drizzling with a soft rain...
-
Made a discord if anyone is interested
https://discord.gg/BFW77h7XyS