Celeste's

fists tightened, and there was a sharp glint in her eyes. "That's why I say the heavens are unfair. How could this happen?"

"You said it yourself-it's all about one's birth. Even the woman you call an old hag also comes from a noble family," Carissa replied calmly, her voice carrying a subtle sense of superiority.

Celeste hated that attitude more than anything, for it reminded her of Eleanor-the one who stood in the clouds while Celeste could only crawl in the dust below. Her anger flared, her chest rising and falling sharply.

"So what if she's of noble birth? She was still rejected by her own husband," Celeste taunted.

"Mr. Prince? She never cared for him at all," Carissa said dismissively. "It's only you who treats him like some precious gem."

"He's no gem to me, he's a waste of space," Celeste spat, her expression hardening.

Carissa smiled contemptuously. "What I know isn't quite like that. You even had a child with him. Knowing full well that desertion is a grave crime, you followed him without hesitation. I've seen enough people like you people who say one thing and do another."

"That's nonsense!" Celeste yelled, her face turning scarlet with rage. But then, she composed herself and laughed bitterly. "Ha, so you want to trick me? Fine. Yes, I loved him. I couldn't stop myself from running away with him. So what?"

Carissa shrugged nonchalantly. "Alright, you caught me. But it doesn't really matter. I was just going through the motions. The scribe will write the confession we need, and I'll be able to file my report." Celeste sucked in a sharp breath. "You're trying to frame me?"

Carissa's face darkened, her voice cold as ice as she said, "It's not framing-it's the truth. Mr. Prince embezzled military funds because you incited him to do so. He deserted his post, which was your idea too. After he fled, you ordered his men to steal his wealth and silence him. There's nothing here that isn't true."

Celeste's nostrils flared, her fury bubbling over. "Don't you dare twist the truth! I didn't make him do anything! He's the one who embezzled the military funds because he wanted to indulge in pleasures. He's the one who ran away from the battlefield out of fear for his life. After fleeing the Southern Frontier, he didn't honor his promises.

"He didn't share the money with his men as he said he would. He treated them like slaves, not even giving them decent food. They were angry and all did was help them get a bit of profit. And no, he's not dead We didn't take all the money. Wedeft him one hundred silver coins to raise his child. He's in Stonebridge County! You can send someone to find him there!"

Even if Celeste had seduced Oliver, leading him to do many foolish things in the heat of passion, her

crimes didn't warrant death. But if

everything was pinned on her-if- they said she had incited him, or even plotted to steal from him and murder him-then there was no way she could keep her head.

Her anger flared as she finished speaking. But as she saw the flash of light in Carissa's eyes, she realized she had been baited into confessing. Her face twisted with fury as she glared at Carissa.

"So, it seems that high-born ladies are just as good at manipulating others. In that case, why do you look down on me?" said Čeleste.

Carissa wiped the disdainful expression from her face, returning to her usual calm demeanor. "I don't look down on you. You've broken the law and I'm here to question you. That's all."

Celeste didn't relent. Her voice was ice-cold as she sneered, "Why all the pretense? You people, sitting up there on your high horses, make me sick. Stop pretending to be virtuous. Do you think sending my sisters to a monastery makes you some kind of saint?

"The suffering they've endured can't be erased with a bowl of soup or a cup of coffee. Spare me the act. You're just using them to boost your reputation, but you won't succeed. Sooner or later, someone will see through your hypocrisy."

Carissa rose from her chair, pushing it aside.

She hadn't wanted to speak more, but when she saw Celeste's eyes burning with malice, she paused and said, "I wasn't the one who caused their suffering. Whether a cup of coffee or a bowl of soup brings them peace, that's for them to decide. And as for a good reputation... I don't think I need it.'

Eyes steady, she paused, thennoveldrama

added, "As for the suffering you mentioned,

0 in this world doesn't

face hardships? It's a matter of degree and how one chooses to break free from it. Your body and your beauty are yours to use as you wish. Apart from the mother who gave you life, no one has the right to dictate that. And by the way, your mother defended you until her dying breath."

Having said that, she glanced at Celeste's pale face one last time before leaving with Michael. There was no need for further questioning. They needed to send someone to Stonebridge County to search for Oliver. Celeste would be sentenced according to the law, but one thing was certain-killing one's own mom was a capital offense.

She resented the unfairness of fate, yet she always found comfort in the suffering of others. Did she not realize that what she called the unfairness of the heavens was often the harm people inflicted on one another?