By Zephyria 
“Right. It really is a waste that you’re a Beta.”
I sneered, struggling to hide my excitement toward him.
“Are you planning to tell me to get another injection today too?”
“There were too many other scents clinging to you that day.”
Nathaniel answered readily, then suddenly leaned toward me. Before I had a chance to pull back, he buried his nose in the crook of my neck, took a deep breath, and smiled faintly.
“This is fine.”
Nathaniel whispered, looking directly into my eyes from inches away.
“Next time, stab me in the neck.”
I glared at him and shot back.
“If I’d had the strength, I obviously would have.”
Nathaniel simply laughed.
“I’ll see you again, Prosecutor Chrissy Jin.”
With a polite farewell in his smooth voice, he turned around. He reached the door in just a few steps across the narrow office, and the door opened quietly.
Click.
Despite the sound of the door, I didn’t realize I had been left alone for a while. Slowly, my head cleared, and my reason returned piece by piece.
My cigarettes.
That was the first thing that came to mind. I had taken cigarettes before, but this was the first time mine had been taken. I let out a hollow laugh, dumbfounded. But what was even more absurd was the fact that the only thing still surrounding me was his sweet scent. Just how many pheromones had he released for such a thick fragrance to remain? I staggered and barely managed to open the window. Cool air soon brushed past my cheeks. However, it took some time before I could smell the city’s smog. Once my sense of smell had somewhat returned, I lifted my arms and sniffed various parts of my body. No matter what I did, his scent, which covered my entire body, would not disappear. Belatedly, I exploded in frustration.
“What do you mean it’s ‘fine’? You crazy bastard.”
Left alone, I spat out a curse, but soon lost steam and just uselessly brushed back my hair.
Judge Regan’s office was at the end of the hallway. I finished lunch early to match the appointment I had made to set the trial schedule. While doing so, I mentally went over what the defense might propose.
What would be the main point of their argument?
As far as I could tell, there wasn’t much they could do other than claim insanity. In that case, a psychiatric evaluation would be necessary, and they’d have to find a doctor willing to issue a diagnosis of abnormality. Some shameless hack who would sign anything for the right price.
Then I would have to find a doctor to provide opposing testimony, and we would need a psychiatric evaluation on our end as well.
After knocking and opening the door, I found Judge Regan reading something with a frown, his reading glasses perched on the bridge of his nose.
“Hello.”
At the sound of my voice, Judge Regan looked up and nodded.
“Oh, come in. Is it that time already?”
As he looked toward the wall, I replied with a smile.
“I’m a bit early. It seems the opposing counsel hasn’t arrived yet.”
“Hmm, I see.”
There were five minutes left. I pulled out a chair, sat down, and spoke.
“What are you looking at?”
“Hmm? Ah…”
Instead of answering, he set the documents down. They were trial-related papers regarding the Davis case.
“Are you hurt?”
Noticing the bandage on my hand, Judge Regan looked back at my face and asked in surprise. I smiled awkwardly and hid my hand.
“Yes… there was a bit of an accident.”
“Dear me.”
At his clicking tongue, I subtly changed the subject.
“Have you heard anything from the defense?”
Judge Regan rubbed his eyes with a finger inside the lens of his reading glasses, looking exhausted.
“You can hear the details of the case directly. They’ll be here soon.”
As if in response to his words, the sound of footsteps echoed from the hallway. I instinctively checked my watch. Two minutes left.
…Huh?
I suddenly paused. The footsteps reaching my ears were somehow strange.
…Tap.
An alien noise was mixed in with the sound of the shoes. It was the sound of something hitting the floor. A rhythmic tapping against the ground.
Step… tap.
Unconsciously, I turned my head toward the door. As the sound drew closer, my pulse quickened in proportion. Finally, the footsteps stopped in front of the door, and the wall clock pointed exactly to 2 o’clock.
Knock, knock.
The light knocking followed without a single error. After a brief pause, the door opened. I held my breath without realizing it. I exhaled slowly, anticipating the sweet scent that would soon waft in, but unexpectedly, I felt no scent at all. After first planting a cane with a tap, he entered the room.
“Judge Regan.”
After first acknowledging the judge lightly, Nathaniel’s gaze shifted to me.
“Prosecutor Chrissy Jin.”
At this unexpected reunion, I couldn’t say a word and simply stared at him. Judge Regan asked in surprise.
“Your leg, what happened? What’s wrong?”
As Judge Regan’s gaze alternated between his labored gait and the cane, Nathaniel glanced at me and spoke.
“A cat scratched me.”
Judge Regan tilted his head with a bewildered expression, and my face contorted. Nathaniel walked over nonchalantly with his cane and sat in the empty chair next to me. After letting out a short sigh, Judge Regan spoke, sounding perplexed.
“I didn’t know you kept a cat.”
“It was a wild cat.”
Nathaniel wore a faint smile.
“I’m thinking of catching it and taming it.”
Suddenly, the words he had spoken just a few hours ago came to mind.
—Next time, stab me in the neck.
That ‘next time’ was clearly referring to right now. Unfortunately, there was a witness. I grit my teeth as I looked at Judge Regan, who was still blinking in confusion.
Why on earth is this man here?
Internally, I wondered what had happened to the previous, insignificant lawyer. As if reading my mind, Judge Regan asked.
“Will you be representing him personally?”
“Yes. All the procedures have been completed.”
Nathaniel answered simply and then glanced at the calendar.
“Let’s begin now.”
He seemed to have no intention of explaining further. Judge Regan flipped through the calendar with a reluctant expression.
“Right, when would be a good date for the trial?”
I prepared to object immediately. He would surely try to push the date back as much as possible. I intended to raise an objection regardless of what reason Nathaniel gave. However, my expectation was completely wrong.
“I would like the first trial to be held within this month.”
I instinctively looked back at Nathaniel. But he was still only looking at Judge Regan. Judge Regan blinked, looking just as surprised as I was.
“Today is the 24th; if it’s within this month, there’s less than a week left. That quickly?”
“Yes.”
He continued in his characteristic slow manner. As if he were absolutely bored to death by this situation.
“According to the Sixth Amendment, my client has the right to a speedy trial. Therefore, I believe this is a reasonable request.”