"However, on the night of the wedding, I killed that old man!" Lydia’s eyes narrowed as the scene from that night replayed in her mind. She had been dressed in a wedding gown. The old man, who was over 80 years old, had drunkenly insisted on consummating the marriage.
Just as the old man lifted her veil… Lydia took out the scissors she had prepared in advance and stabbed him in the heart. She stabbed him over 20 times, and blood stained the entire floor.
Lydia was terrified. She sat on the ground in a daze, motionless. The servants smelled the blood and rushed in to find the old man dead. They immediately tied Lydia up and reported the incident to the authorities overnight.
The county magistrate, who had once benefited from the old man’s kindness, was heartbroken upon learning of his benefactor's murder. He interrogated Lydia overnight.
Lydia confessed to the murder without hesitation. The laws at the time demanded a life for a life, and Lydia was sentenced to be executed after autumn passed.
During her time in prison, she thought about Johnathan day and night. He had also visited her a few times, and with each visit, Lydia noticed he looked more and more haggard. One day, Lydia smiled and asked him, "Mr. Calcraft, you look so worn out. Do you feel sorry for me?"
Johnathan was speechless. "You were my apprentice for five years. Even if my heart were made of iron, it would've softened by now!"
Lydia smiled again. It was a smile of joy and contentment.
After that visit, she never saw Johnathan again. On the day of her execution, the executioner asked if she had any last wishes.
Lydia said she wanted to see her benefactor one last time and was driven to the town's pharmacy in the prison cart.
At the entrance stood a man dressed in white, sharpening a sword. During the Light Dynasty, martial arts were highly valued. Swordsmanship was among them, so the government did not strictly control blades.
Lydia looked at the man sharpening the sword and found him somewhat familiar. He resembled Johnathan but looked at least 20 years younger.
"Young sir, do you know Johnathan?" she asked, but the man remained silent as he continued to sharpen his sword.
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