Once the two of them had left Seren's temporary quarters, they hurried to a secluded spot to discuss things.
'Do you take her at her words?' Arin asked, raising a brow.
'I do,' said the boy. 'Even if we are to believe her words of remorse are dishonest for some reason, I fail to see what she'd have to gain from breaking faith with us in such a manner.'
'Besides, I do think she means it, when she says that she is thankful for all the lives saved. Despite everything that's occurred, I still cannot see her as one who takes delight in cruelty.'
'Hmm...' Arin didn't comment on that. 'But, did you notice what she did lie to us about?' he asked instead.
Siel nodded. 'What she said, about having been responsible for everything that's occurred, to the point of even steering the headman's actions...'
'Exactly.'
The old maid was clearly covering for sir Grif.
He'd wondered about that even yesterday, during their 'meeting' with her at her residence in Willowshade.
Almost everything she'd said had painted the picture of a foolish and selfish woman; someone who'd made a terrible choice by putting emotions over logic, covering up an increasingly dangerous situation and justifying it as 'saving' the only child of her former charge.
The awful woman, upon realizing she'd be implicated for her actions, had then single-handedly forced and manipulated the matter further, until it had reached a point where everyone who knew of her involvement would also be dead.
She'd made it seem as though she'd been making an effort to deflect any blame, and scrambling to justify herself, while actually only making herself seem more and more despicable.
Of course, madam Seren been much more subtle at the time. She had only hinted at what she'd wanted to convey, through carefully controlled expressions and actions.
Now, however, things had changed. After everything that had happened, she seemed to be too tired to keep being careful and cunning.
Now, she'd simply stated what she'd wanted them to believe all along.
'All of this was entirely my fault.'
'I forced Grif's hand in the matter, all to save myself from retribution.'
'I will accept what I deserve for both allowing, and covering up, such a terrible thing.'
...
Arin had only vaguely guessed what she'd been trying to do at the time. He'd fully understood the extent of her deception upon directly confronting the crazed sir Grif while within the distortion.
'After everything that had happened - after everything and everyone she's lost - I simply cannot understand why the old maid would keep up pretenses like this,' Siel sighed.
'If she keeps lying about these matters, she will most certainly face a terrible execution, to be made an example of before the public.'
Arin nodded in agreement. This was that kind of world, after all.
He let out a slow exhale of breath.
Actually, he could somehow understand her actions, even though he agreed with none of them.
She had probably been doing all of this for the child she had raised herself.
Just like the headman had done crazy and stupid things, all to barely cling onto the false hope of saving his child.
He had done those things, despite knowing that people - far too many people - would be ruined by his actions. Despite knowing there was no way to truly save Elara anymore. Despite knowing that the distortion would inevitably be discovered and destroyed someday.
He had done those things in spite of the futility of it all.
Just like madam Seren.
Siel, seemingly agreeing with his unspoken thoughts, continued, 'The truth will come out regardless. As you've told me, brother, sir Grif had already revealed his intentions to others while within the dream. And given his current state, I doubt he even has any intentions of lying to save himself.'
'All that will happen is that the both of them will bear equal blame, and be made to suffer in equal measure...'
Arin felt a sudden, painful twinge in his chest.
Not for the two of them, who - whatever their intentions might have been - had ultimately had a hand in the deaths of multiple others.
No.
He felt sorry for Elara.
He'd never told her what her father had done. She'd died without even knowing about Lana - her closest friend - having died in the real world.
A part of him was glad she wouldn't be around to ever learn of the whole truth.
The kid would never have to see whatever became of the people she'd loved.
And wasn't that a good thing?