The Ugly Duckling Of The Tiger Tribe-Chapter 86: He was guilty of his own crime...

Solin’s words made my heart warm up.

To think she’d believe in me. Yeah, she must be smarter than the three Dumbo’s over there, at least.

And she certainly knows not to jump into conclusion until she’s observed and understood both ways.

Also, I feel like she’s extra kind to me. Is it because she wants to make a good impression?

I’m sure she still wishes to be friends. 𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺

If she can be of help now, there’s no way I wouldn’t look at her favorably.

"You’re only saying that because you don’t know what sister is like," Veyra said. "I assure you," she moved closer to Solin, holding her arm. "...if you knew the kind of person she is, then you would never pick her side and know right away the kind of things she’s capable of."

"And what kind of things is she capable of?" Fenric asked, stepping forward.

They turned to him and Solin used this chance to shrug Veyra’s hand off her arm.

"I’ve heard the stories you all tell and I’ve been with Arinya. And even if I wasn’t her spouse, I’d know that the female in your stories and the female behind me are entirely different people."

Technically, we are different people but that’s not it. Arinya never did the things they accused her of doing, and I wouldn’t have done it either if I were the past Arinya.

"And it looks to me like you’re the one who is always trying to bring her down and make her a criminal." He glared at Veyra.

She shrank back, pursing her lips and trembling.

"B-brother Kaelor!" She suddenly yelled. "You have to speak up. Surely, you can back us up. It’s true that Arinya brought that snake in to hurt you, right?"

My eyes rolled towards Kaelor.

He hadn’t spoken anything since and had been clenching his fist while gnashing his teeth in contempt.

He was guilty of his own crime but how could he admit it?

It would be easier for him to side with them and say he was trying to defend the tribe.

After all, no one would believe me, and they certainly wouldn’t believe Damar who was the only witness.

The thought made my heart ache.

I thought I was strong and would be able to fend off whatever they threw at me but right now, I feel so weak.

I feel like I can’t do anything to help.

No one is on my side.

But then Fenric stood before me, as if blocking the numerous daggers of doubt I was throwing at myself and becoming my ray of sunshine.

I looked up at him and felt the courage to speak up finally fill me.

Yes, I can do this.

I’m not alone.

"Kaelor," Fenric called. "I left Arinya in your care before going out to find water." He said, and then his eyes darkened. "What happened?"

But Kaelor could not hold his head up high.

In front of the beast warrior he had been emulating and trying so hard to become, he could not say a lie, and neither could he say the truth.

If they fought, Fenric would definitely win.

And Fenric, being a beast warrior and having authority that was said to be higher than the chiefs since the title was bestowed by the beast king himself, had more weight to his words.

If he claimed I was not guilty, then no one could fight me.

Although, there was just so much he could do as an outsider of the tribe.

"You’re not going to answer?" Fenric asked, his knuckles crackling as he spread his fingers, as if ready to charge at him. "I’m certain it won’t be difficult to admit the fact that Arinya brought in the snake to kill you if it was true, right? But that is ’if’ it was true? So then, what is the truth that you do not want to reveal? What did you do? And why did a snake come into the village?"

Still, Kaelor did not answer.

But he slowly lifted his head, his eyes falling on me first, and I saw the confusion and fear in them.

He didn’t know what to do.

He didn’t know how he was going to face me from now on, but he didn’t want to ruin his reputation.

I closed my eyes, thinking he was going to be selfish and make me out to be a criminal after all, but—

"I made Arinya cry." His sudden words made me lift my head and open my eyes in shock.

What did he say?

"I did something I shouldn’t have, let my emotions rile me up without hearing her side of the story, and made her cry."

He didn’t say what the something was, but he didn’t lie.

He just left out the most important detail.

"It was at that moment that the snake beastman rushed in and attacked me, blaming him for making her cry." He said and my heart began to race.

Ah, for the love of... Why was he trying to act like a good brother now too?

He had been good to me, but I couldn’t help but believe all of it was in his own interest.

He cared for me, showed me affection, and stirred my feelings into something else towards me.

I thought he did it intentionally, I still believe he did.

But maybe his care and affection hadn’t been fake after all.

He genuinely... Wanted to see his sister happy.

"Brother Kaelor, are you trying to cover for Arinya right now?" Veyra asked, looking desperately unhappy about this. "I know you care for her but she almost killed you."

"Yeah. A snake came and charged at you because you made her cry? How is that something to believe?"

"Why would a snake beastman even be around her? Why would he attack you because of Arinya if she wasn’t already plotting with him?"

"That’s because he is my spouse!" I finally let the bomb fall, making an introduction I hadn’t planned for, but here we are.

The aftermath left them gaping wide in disbelief.

"Yes, this snake beastman’s name is Damar and... He is my spouse. That’s the reason why he attacked Brother Kaelor," I gulped. "For my sake."