"You'd even kill a child this young? That's going too far!"
The system shouted in Benjamin's mind, its voice somewhat awkward.
"It wasn't that I wanted to kill her. In the state she was in before, what difference was there from being dead?" Benjamin set down the report in his hand, sighed, and said, "I had the siblings examine her specifically. The mark The Church planted was bizarre. It seemed to have been there since she was one or two years old, growing with her and sinking deeper and deeper. It couldn't be removed at all. So from the very beginning, the real her had died at The Church's hands. I merely gave this ruined body a swift end."
The system fell silent for a moment upon hearing that, then returned to its usual lazy tone. "Oh, whatever. I was just looking for a chance to take a jab at you."
Benjamin shook his head helplessly.
He rose from his chair and walked out.
The princess—or rather, the queen's—suicide was undoubtedly another devastating blow to The Church. The Church had only just abducted her from Koester and brought her back to the Royal Capital, yet early the next morning, everyone saw that she had hanged herself at the gates of the Royal Palace. The implication was far too obvious. Without question, everyone would believe that The Church had driven the princess to death, just as they had driven the queen to death before.
The Church had been wronged beyond all measure. There was simply no way to defend themselves against something like this...
Clearly, they understood that as well. From dawn that day onward, they began a complete information lockdown. Havenlight was sealed off once more, no one allowed to leave. Everyone who had witnessed the scene at the Royal