No one answers.
He lets out a short laugh. Dry. Completely humorless.
"This place looks like it hasn't been lived in for centuries," he says coldly. "And you expect me to believe Valerie came here often?"
He turns slowly.
His gaze lashes at the three of them like a whip.
"You told me," he continues, "this was the last place she visited."
Sera swallows. "Y–yes, Your Grace."
"Then what," Demian's voice rises slightly, "did you find here?"
Silence.
Demian steps forward.
"Did any of you ever meet the woman Valerie visited in this place?" he asks sharply.
Sera and Lira exchange glances.
"We… only once," Lira finally says, her voice shaking. "And she was… very old."
Demian turns to Noel. "You?"
Noel lifts his head. "No," he answers firmly. "That woman was beautiful. Very beautiful."
Silence falls.
Even the dust seems to stop drifting.
Demian looks at all three of them one by one then laughs again, louder this time, sharper.
