Reborn, Its Time To Save My Family And.. My Enemy!
Chapter 240: A Martyr?

Chapter 240: A Martyr?

Oriana stood by the window, her hand pressed against the cold glass, watching as Rhistel walked away from her and down the stairs. Her heart clenched, perhaps that was the first time when she was afraid of losing someone.

"Don’t go out there... please" she begged silently, as her breath fogged the glass. But he didn’t look back.

Downstairs, the innkeeper met Rhistel near the door, eyes darting nervously toward the muffled uproar outside.

"My lord, I strongly advise you to wait," the man whispered, wringing his hands. "They’re scared and unstable. Let the crowd calm a bit, or let me send someone instead."

"No," Rhistel said firmly, his voice low but resolute. "These are my people. If they’ve lost their trust in me, then I must face them myself."

He opened the door before the innkeeper could say more, stepping out to face the agitated crowd.

A few gasped at the sight of him, and voices dropped to uneasy murmurs. Evelyn stood at the front, her face looked pale and gaunt as if she was shaken by the death of her brother.

Rhistel walked slowly but deliberately, eyes sweeping over the familiar faces that now looked at him with uncertainty and suspicion.

"What is the issue about?" his cold eyes paused on their face. "I have never thought that you would come to rebel against me one day!"

No one answered. People looked at one another and fidgeted. A few lowered their heads, more embarrassed than they were scared. They did not have the courage to meet his eyes.

"Have I taken from your children’s mouths? Or have I forced your sons to fight in wars for my glory? Did I ever raise your taxes to fill my own coffers?"

The more he spoke, the more they felt embarrassed and guilty. They did not dare to raise their heads.

"I have walked these streets barefoot with you," he said, his voice louder and firm. "I have shared your hardships, stood with you in storms and drought. When the beasts attacked and your lives were at risk, I was the one who faced them with my knights. I have fought keeping my life at stake so that you could sleep comfortably in your house. So tell me now what have I done to earn your hatred?"

A murmur broke through the crowd. Someone whispered, "It’s not you, your grace! it’s the witches..."

Evelyn stepped forward, her face blotchy and trembling. "You used to be kind, your grace but now you are in control of those witches. It all started when the lady from the capital had come to seduce you." she cried. "And now you protect them. You harbor a witch! Olivia! She is not a normal human. She is dangerous."

Rhistel’s jaw clenched. "And how do you know that?" he asked calmly. "Have you seen her perform dark magic? Have you seen her curse your land or hurt your children?"

"Since the sisters had come to our lands, the kids had started to disappear. And last night, many claimed that Olivia was in the woods with the girls. She had performed a ritual on them so that she could increase her strength. Can you claim that it was a lie?" her voice was full of pain and grievance. "I have lost my brother there!" tears filled her eyes and many looked at her with worry.

Their young daughters had returned home but they looked no better than ghosts.

"It had never happened before, my lord. How could you justify it?" The crowd shouted again supporting her and demanding justice but Rhistel’s eyes did not waver.

"She was not there alone! She was with me and Oriana. Oriana was kidnapped with the girls too. She was there to save her sister. Your brother was there too. We all have gone to save the children and fight the enemies. She had found and injured herself. Your brother has died while saving them. He is a martyr but it does not mean others are criminals. You call someone a witch because they are different. Because they don’t fit your mold. Because they threaten the simple comfort of ignorance."

"That is not true! My brother was never at their side?" her eyes widened with shock as she shrieked only then did she realize what he did. She was sure that rhistel would blame them and then she would use the commoners’;s emotions to agitate the crowd against him.

But he had made his brother a martyr! And now everyone was looking at her in confusion.

"What do you mean lady Evelyn? Your brother was a hero. He had fought beside me. I want to give him an honor." she paled, her lips parted but she did not know how to retort to that.

"But someone had kidnapped the girls. They have been hurt. And it only started after Olivia came to our estate." She did not dare to speak anything else as she was sure Rhistel would trap her in her own words.

"Did you see her kill?" Rhistel cut her off, his voice like thunder. "Did you see her harm anyone? If not, your words did not have any proof! It could be thugs or thiefs or anyone who wants to destroy our peace."

He turned to the rest of the crowd. "If Olivia is a witch, then she is one who saved your children, not one who hurt them."

The crowd wavered, shifting on their feet, uncomfortable with the truth. Doubt began to spread like ink in water.

He looked directly at Evelyn. "I will not let fear dictate justice in my land. And I will not abandon someone simply because it is convenient."

Evelyn’s lips trembled, and she looked down, unable to meet his gaze.

"Now," Rhistel said, softer this time, "if any of you have true proof then come forward. But if all you bring me are shadows and suspicion, then I ask you to go back to your homes, think, and pray that if ever you are misunderstood or accused, someone will defend you with the same conviction I defend her."