The Ugly Duckling Of The Tiger Tribe-Chapter 137: Does anyone recognize the males who died?

Veyra stepped back but her step faltered. She didn’t want to go down like this and made sure to defend herself. 𝒇𝓻𝓮𝓮𝙬𝙚𝒃𝒏𝓸𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝓬𝓸𝒎

The dead can’t tell a tale, so there was no way we’d know if Damar was lying or telling the truth.

"You can’t just believe what he says blindly," Veyra said. "He’s probably making up a reason for why he killed that male."

I did not listen to any of her words and charged at her. But Zevak and Ashren stood in front of Veyra, protecting her.

"Step aside," I said, gnashing my teeth.

"No, you’re trying to harm Veyra again."

"Cut the bullshit! And you think what that witch was planning wasn’t enough to harm me?"

"You’re just saying that because you believe your mate. Veyra is innocent." As soon as Ashren said that, I gave him the taste of innocence and kicked his leg as hard as I could.

I felt a little pain in my toes, but that didn’t matter.

"Get out of my way," I pushed Zevak aside and then grabbed Veyra by her hair.

"Let go! Let go!" She wailed. "Father," she called for help but Rakan didn’t do anything about it.

Whether he was sure Veyra had a hand in it, whether he was just being conservative to watch how things go, or if he was using this as a way to atone for his crime against me, it didn’t matter.

What mattered was that he didn’t stand in my way.

A couple of males who liked Veyra wanted to protect her, but Fenric stepped forward and grabbed them by the back of their necks.

"Just stay still and you won’t get hurt."

Fenric’s might caused them to falter and then I successfully dragged the witch to the center.

"Ack, this... You’re going too far," she said, but I stepped on her face. Yes, the one she was oh so proud of.

"No, you’re the one who went too far."

I was waiting for the day when she could cross the line, and everyone would see it. That day had finally come.

"Isn’t this too much?" They began to murmur.

"I mean, the snake might be lying."

"Poor Veyra. This is so cruel."

Yeah, sympathize with her all you want. I’m not going to let her go.

Veyra cried, acting as pitiful as she could, but then she became hateful, since no one was helping her despite how pitiful she was.

"Stop, stop. Let me go. I’m innocent. Gahhhh, father. She’s hurting me. I didn’t do anything. That snake is lying." She yelled as she wailed.

Yes, cry all you want. I already figured out a way to expose you.

"Does anyone recognize the males who died?" I asked the crowd but they only murmured. "Or maybe you can’t see clearly. You!" I pointed at one of the males Fenric was keeping in check.

It was one of Veyra’s many suitors.

"M-me?"

"Yes, you. Come over here and look at their faces." I said and then glanced at Veyra. "Let’s see if my husband was telling the truth about what he heard."

He was skeptical and wondered if he would get beaten if he stepped forward, but Fenric nudged him forward.

He glared at him.

It was either that he came over to look at the bodies or stayed there to get beaten by Fenric.

"I...I’m coming."

He tucked his tails between his legs and walked carefully towards the bodies.

"Arinya," Chief Kasa called and I turned to him. "How does confirming their identity help you tell if your mate’s words were right or wrong?"

"Well, it’s simple," I said. "Let me ask you something. If ten girls followed you about because they liked you and wanted you to pick them as your mate, what would you do?"

"Hm," he rubbed his chin. "I’d look for the one I like the most, of course."

"That’s too obvious," I said, waving my hand aside, feeling calm now that I’ve hit Veyra a few times. "Let’s say you like all of them."

"Hm, then I’d look for one that can be useful." He said and then paused, his lips suddenly tugging up in a grin. "I see."

"Veyra has a lot of suitors. They can line up the entire village. But Veyra can’t have all of them. They know that too, so each of them will do whatever they can to make sure they interest her. And one of the things they do is obey her commands with no questions."

"So, you’re saying, Veyra used the loyalty of her suitors just to get a shot at revenge against you." He said and I snapped my fingers.

"Exactly. Is that hard to believe?"

"No, it’s not. It’s actually very believable, given how much hate she has for you," he said, looking down at Veyra. "But this can only be so if they are indeed her suitors."

"That’s what we’re going to find out now. But I’m a hundred percent sure that they are." I turned to the male who stood there, staring at the dead bodies in horror. "Looks like you recognize them."

"This... Kaleb and Khalid!" He said and the crowd gasped, having recognized those names.

"Wait, aren’t they the ones who are most loyal to Veyra?"

"They serve her like servants and don’t complain."

"So, it’s true. Veyra used their loyalty to make them kill each other, planning to do bad things to Arinya while pinning the blame of one of their deaths on her mates."

Now everyone could see the true nature of this vixen.

She trembled under my feet, her nails digging into the soil as she bit her lip till it bled.

She couldn’t accept this outcome.

She just couldn’t...

"Are you going to blame Damar for killing a male who planned to do such despicable things to his mate?" I asked the public and no one spoke up. "If what Veyra had planned had succeeded, would any of you have defended my mates? Would you have looked up on my innocence if this male had overpowered me and..." My body trembled, the thought of something so disgusting hunting my core. "... anyway, if the deed had been done, my mates and I would’ve been the only ones ruined. But luckily, Damar came across them and that’s the only reason why I’m able to turn the tables now. So, will you blame him for taking a life?"

"No," Rakan finally spoke. "The snake beastman Damar, is not at fault. And as for Veyra..." He looked down at Veyra who looked so unrecognizable.

The traces of his gentle and meek wife were gone. What was left was this vile being.

He closed his eyes and said,

"We shall make sure to punish her according to her crime."