By Zephyria 
Prologue
Judge Regan’s room was at the end of the hallway. I knocked and opened the door, finding Judge Regan with his reading glasses perched on his nose, squinting as he read something.
“Good morning.”
Judge Regan looked up at my voice and nodded.
“Oh, come in. Is it that time already?”
I smiled at him as he looked at the wall. “I’m a little early. It seems the other side’s lawyer isn’t here yet. Have you heard from their side?”
Judge Regan looked tired, pushing his finger inside the lens of his glasses to rub his eyes.
“You’ll hear about the case directly. He’ll be here soon.”
As if in response to his words, the sound of shoes echoed from the hallway. I unconsciously checked my watch. It was two minutes early.
……Huh?
I suddenly paused. The sound of footsteps was somehow strange.
……Tap.
An odd noise was mixed in with the sound of the shoes. It was the sound of something hitting the floor. A sound that tapped the floor rhythmically.
Step. ……Tap.
Without realizing it, I turned my head towards the door. As the sound grew closer, my pulse quickened proportionally. Finally, the footsteps stopped in front of the door, and the wall clock pointed exactly at 2 o’clock.
Knock knock.
The light knocking continued without an inch of error. After a moment, the door opened. I unconsciously held my breath. I slowly exhaled, anticipating the sweet scent that would soon waft in, but unexpectedly, I didn’t smell anything. Tap, he first leaned on his cane before entering the room.
“Judge.”
Nathaniel first gave a light bow to Judge Regan, then his gaze turned to me.
“Prosecutor Chrissy Jin.”
At the unexpected reunion, I couldn’t say anything and just stared at him. Judge Regan asked in surprise.
“Are you hurt? What happened?”
Nathaniel glanced at me at Judge Regan’s gaze alternating between his uncomfortable gait and the cane.
“A cat scratched me.”
Judge Regan tilted his head with a bewildered expression, and I unconsciously distorted my face.
I suddenly remembered what he had said the last time I saw him.
― Next time, stab the neck.
That ‘next time’ was clearly referring to right now. If there weren’t any witnesses, that is.
I gritted my teeth, looking at Judge Regan, who was still blinking.