The Loophole

The girl struggled to twist her head around and look at the man behind her. Blood seeped from the stitching at the corners of her mouth.

She wanted to speak. She wanted to explain.

She wanted to demand why they were slandering her.

But apart from muffled whimpers, she could say nothing.

The Witch who had sewn the thread had stitched her mouth tightly shut.

There were no tears on her face. She had already cried herself dry.

Why?

Everyone behind her was laughing.

Her adoptive parents stood up and let out a fake sigh, the money pouch clenched in the adoptive father's hand limp and deflated.

The adoptive mother explained to the people beside her.

She explained that they had not known the girl was possessed by an evil spirit, which had led her to commit such an ugly act.

Meanwhile, the adoptive father secretly slipped his fingers into the money pouch, calculating how many bottles of liquor he could buy that night.

One silver coin and fifteen copper coins—about a week's wages.

Although it was a shame that the girl would never be able to bring money home again, compared to letting her give birth to that child, trading her for a bottle of liquor was still worth it.

Outside the window, the priest led the believers and watched her coldly.

No one cared whether she would be sent to the stake.

Some of them were even looking forward to it.

They had not seen an evil spirit wail in the flames for a long time. That was a right granted to them by the gods.

The illusion ended.

The scene returned to the preparations for gathering firewood.

After it ended, everyone present fell silent.

The atmosphere was heavy.

Looking at the stake towering before the church, Bear