Trinity the last White Witch - Chapter 89

[Trinity’s POV]

“Wait.”

Both Dorothy and I skidded to a stop at Cruz’s voice.

Great. Now what.

“Is there something you want?” I asked with a smile.

Cruz looked at me for a second.

I could understand why Dorothy risked everything talking to a hunter. His eyes were hypnotizing, and its certainty drew you in.

“Your hair,” he said and added, “It’s white.”

“And?” I chuckled, but my back was starting to sweat.

He then locked his gaze with Dorothy. “And her hair is red.”

I stifled a laugh. He sure knew how to talk to women. Mind the sarcasm. “Are you interested in hair color now, Mr. Cruz? If you want, I can recommend you to one of the best dyes I used for my hair.”

“. . .” Instead of feeling embarrassed at the mockery of my tone, his lips stretched in a concerning grin. “You know about the incident of Earl Roselake?”

“I heard of it, yes. It’s one of the most talks nowadays.”

“Funny how a white hair was found in the crime scene,” he said and shifted his eyes between Dorothy and me. “A white and a red hair.”

“. . .” I wanted to elbow Dorothy when she visibly trembled.

Not so love-struck now, are we?

I made a hurtful expression and dramatically placed my hand on my chest. “Are you accusing us?”

“I don’t believe in coincidences, and everyone is a suspect. Your hair matches the crime scene, and I believe it is my duty to inspect if you’re involved with it or not.”

“. . .” This didn’t look good, and Dorothy’s face turned paler than her powder.

“Without evidence, I believe you don’t have the authority to inspect us,” I said with a still calm voice.

“True, but with my rank within the hunters association, I can freely conduct my investigation in who I deemed a suspect of being a non-human and a witch,” he said, pointing at the badge on his chest.

Damn it. So persistent. Why were handsome men like this?

“Don’t worry,” he said and pulled a vial in his pocket. “This will only take a second, and you wouldn’t even feel a thing.”

I looked at the contents of the vial, and my heart sank. Based on the color of the powder and the little herbs that had the properties of repelling witchcraft, he had with him an Aconite.

Fresh aconite petals could repel vampires and werewolves, and if you used it right, it could also impede a werewolf shapeshifting abilities.

Not only that, when ground into fine dust and added with a pinch of finely powdered Angelica, it could break cruses and unwanted spells, especially when mixed with Nettle.

However, it wouldn’t work against me, but with Dorothy, he’d sure figure out that there was magic used on her appearance, although it couldn’t break it.

Rather, who is this man, and where did he acquire it? Maybe they had witches in the hunters association as well?

In exchange for safer lives, some chose to work with the hunters, Church, or even with the non-humans.

Dorothy looked at me, panic in her eyes.

“I believe that would be an insult MR. Cruz. We’re a guest attending the ball in the Duke’s mansion.” I racked my brains on what spell to counter it, but only a Holly came to mind.

A powerful herb of protection. It kept the wearer safe from witchcraft and evil spirits, and it was only available during winter.

“If you’re innocent as you claimed you are, there’s nothing to worry about,” he said and pulled the cork off the vial.

My eyes rounded, and I decided to use a spell on him. We couldn’t afford to get caught at this moment. Not that we were one step closer to our goal. I’ll just change my appearance later and send Dorothy into hiding until Prince Zen decides.

I decided to hypnotize him for seconds enough to give us time to escape.

“What are you doing, Cruz?”

All our eyes flickered to the newly arrived Prince Zen, and I have to say that I have never been happy to see him again, even after meeting a few seconds ago.

“My Prince.” Cruz bowed.

I curtsied before elbowing Dorothy to follow my lead. She was dumbstruck yet again by another handsome appearance.

“You’re not harassing the guests again, are you?” asked the Prince seriously.

For once, I love how Cruz’s stoic face twitched an awkward grimace.

“No, your highness. I was just investigating the death of Duke Roselake.”

I didn’t know if I should praise him for being honest or stupid for telling the truth.

Prince Zen’s face turned grim. “How often must I tell you that there is an appropriate time and place for that. You can’t just approach every woman and sprinkle them with whatever potion you concoct.”

“. . .” Well, it looked like Cruz had the talent to brew potions. I wonder where he learned it from.

Cruz opened his mouth but was cut by Prince Zen.

“I don’t wasn’t to hear any more excuses. Apologize to these women.”

Cruz’s lips smacked in a thin line, and I sighed in relief behind my mask.

“I’m sorry,” he said through clenched teeth.

“Don’t worry about it. Everybody made a mistake. Let’s go, Dorothy.” I beamed and threw a meaningful glance at the Prince, letting him know that I appreciated his help.

I didn’t know if it was intentional or he was just really not pleased with his hunters wantonly conducting an investigation at the Duke’s Estate. But whatever it was, he just saved us.

I owed him one.

—-

[Zen’s POV]

I thought that meeting with Duke Hamill, I would have another Duke as my ally. But I never expected that he would introduce me to my long-last half-brother, who turned out to be the Saintess.

I was skeptical about the whole thing, but I couldn’t deny the attraction, the awe, and reverie at the sight of the mark on his back.

If what they told me was true, then I had a huge advantage over Anatola and the Church in my hands. But instead of feeling ecstatic, I still couldn’t wrap my head around the idea that a Saintess was a man.

The alliance was too good to pass. Not to mention that Duke Hamill sided with me. But something was holding me back about those two. Maybe I needed more time to wrap my head on this matter.

It was too sudden and out of the blue to know that Anatola wasn’t the true Saintess. I needed time to process that information.

Was that why she never came out to heal the sick and perform miracles even during the pilgrimage that happened only once a year?

Come to think of it. I never once saw her use her powers on anything.

The Church said that her body was weak, but I doubt it since I saw her once surrounded by handsome men who catered to her every need while she sat on a golden throne. She was surely living her days in carefree abandon while the Church continued its corrupt ways and luxurious lifestyle –– using the poor’s money no less.

I sighed and massaged my temple.

I needed to think this over. Carefully.

But I didn’t have the time to dawdle here. I had to go back to the palace because of the many matters I had to attend to, especially the death of Earl Roselake.

My thoughts were occupied even after I was in the ball, mingling and greeting my way towards Emerald and the Duke of Venezia, when something caught my sight.

On the balcony, that eye-catching white hair stole my attention yet again. Trinity was her name, and I didn’t even know if that was her real name. There was something about her that drew me. Was it her brain or her confidence?

Rather, what was Cruz doing?

“. . .” Don’t tell me . . .

Was he harassing the guests again?

I breathed a heavy sigh. He just arrived here in Venezia, not even a day, and he was already causing multiple troubles?

“What are you doing, Cruz?” I asked and grimaced when I noticed the vial on his hand. I forgot how many times he got himself in trouble because of those.

“My Prince.” Cruz bowed.

Trinity and another lady curtsied at my presence. Was she one of her companions? How many were they? And how many knew about Michael?

Cruz explained to me what was going on, and my scowl deepened.

“I don’t wasn’t to hear any more excuses. Apologize to these women,” I said, impatient in my tone.

Cruz grumbled under his breath, but he did what I said.

After which, Trinity and her companion left, but not without throwing me a meaningful glance.

Was she grateful that I intervened? Cruz was indeed disrespectful, and I was only doing what was appropriate.

“Cruz,” I said when the ladies were gone, “I thought I told you not to do these kinds of stuff in public? There’s an appropriate time and place for everything.”

“But what if they’ll escape?”

“Who?”

“Those two have the exact matching hair color as the crime scenes in Roselake.”

“And so as the other twenty or so plus women you’ve sprinkled those powder on. Do you know how many eyes and skin irritation complaints were filed against you?”

“. . .”

Cruz smacked his lips tight. “But I think this time–”

“This time?” I sighed a big breath. “You’re not even sure yourself. You can’t just go about and throw those powder at every woman you suspect. There are rules and protocols for a reason. Though your rank is high and you could conduct an investigation on your own, do keep in mind that you still need evidence and not just a hunch. Am I clear?”

“. . .” Cruz looked to the other side, and I felt guilty all of a sudden. He looked like a lost puppy when he did that.

“Well. Well.. Hello there Prince Zen.”