Chapter 186: My Prison Chronicles (1)
The prison wasn’t too bad. Saying that made me feel like a criminal who had given up on everything, but honestly, it was surprisingly bearable.
When you hear the term ‘underground prison,’ cold and damp images naturally come to mind. But the place I had to stay in for five days looked like an ordinary room, aside from the iron bars instead of a door. The furniture even felt newly replaced, so it was decent.
If you could manage to ignore the fact that it was a prison, it was quite livable. Yeah, as long as you didn’t think about it.
“Number 2781. Your meal has arrived.”
Unfortunately, someone right in front of me made that impossible. No matter how hard I tried, I simply couldn’t look away.
“Back again, huh?”
“My precious subordinate is stuck in this cold prison, so eating alone just feels wrong.”
That’s ridiculous. I could vividly picture him gulping down entire bottles of booze while relishing my pitiful state.
The Minister presented me with a box, his face shining like a kid’s on Christmas morning. Damn it, how long have I been locked up for him to be sending in food already?
I wanted to shout at him to take that horrid offering away, but causing a ruckus in prison could add time to my sentence. The thought of extending my already tear-jerking five-day confinement was intolerable.
‘He knows it all too well.’
And I knew he knew. That was likely why he was so enthusiastically offering me food.
“Touched, are we?”
I bit my lip at his remark.
“Isn’t it heartwarming?”
Clearly, my past self had been thoroughly insane. Here I was, dealing with the consequences of those crazy antics.
Looking back, having the meal brought in on the first day was definitely overstepping. I should’ve waited until the last day.
“Damn civil service…”
Maybe it’s because this was a world with actual gods; it sure feels like karma is an unforgiving spirit.
*
I’ve never felt this level of satisfaction since becoming the Minister. I now had confidence that I could show up to work without any complaints for the next five years.
‘So this is what it felt like.’
Watching the prisoner grind his teeth in front of me filled me with a bubbling sense of satisfaction.
The prison bars as a barrier, the convict’s lower status, and the delightful opportunity to tease—it was all new territory for me.
Now I understood why that idiot rushed to me with a written report when I was imprisoned.
‘I thought he’d lost it.’
I genuinely thought he had lost his mind writing that report just to mock me. It made me wonder if the heavy responsibilities had scrambled his brains at such a young age.
But he was right. If one could relish this situation, writing a report was a small price to pay. After all, I dared to tease even under probation.
“Just take it. It’s food you can’t eat for a while.”
I slipped the box through the bars. If it had been any larger, I wouldn’t have been able to do it, but having been a prisoner myself, I wouldn’t make that mistake.
“No, but I’m locked up for just five days!”
“It’s still a significant amount of time.”
Carl, receiving the box through the gap, shouted in frustration, but I lightly countered him.
What did it matter if he got out in five days? The real issue was being trapped here and now.
“It’s getting chilly, so be careful. It’d be sad if you caught a cold in prison.”
This was sincere advice, but the ungrateful punk was merely shivering.
But it didn’t matter. My mockery matched my sincerity perfectly, and that was just the reaction I desired.
“Alright, I’m heading out. Stay well, number 2781.”
I intentionally referred to his prisoner number as I turned away. Even if this was just a show for five days, he was still technically a prisoner.
That number, 2781, would cling to him even after his release, just like I still couldn’t forget being called 1276 for a week.
‘Was the sky really always this clear?’
As I looked up after stepping out of the prison, the sky was exceptionally clear.
Well, it couldn’t be helped. It would be disrespectful to Enen not to commemorate this day.
Today called for a celebration.
*
Since the Minister visited twice, nothing else happened. Nothing else happened since the Minister’s two visits.
I emphasized it twice because it was essential. I expected him to come on the first day, so it wasn’t a shock, but him bringing food twice was excruciatingly painful.
I figured I’d take a hit, but I never imagined it’d happen in back-to-back sessions. Please, let’s have a cooldown period!
‘Today passed peacefully.’
I lay on the bed, calming my heart that should’ve been crying if it had tears.
Yes, today had just breezed by. The Minister’s mental assaults were massive, but thankfully no one else showed up. It made me question whether I really needed to refuse visits.
However, the real trouble began tomorrow. It’d been a day since I was locked up, and rumors were likely swirling. Plus, since it would be the weekend, people would have time on their hands.
‘…Should I extend it just one more day?’
A sudden thought struck me, and I seriously considered prolonging the no-visitors rule.
Of course, it was impossible; rumors would spread, like “What did he do that he can’t even have visitors?” Damn! It wouldn’t be frustrating if I was locked away for some serious crime instead.
“Executive Manager.”
While gazing blankly at the ceiling, a voice called my name. What, was there another visitor?
I bolted up and spotted a guard standing awkwardly outside the bars.
“I came to check if you needed anything.”
Ah, so it was nothing major.
I half-expected it to be another visitor or the Minister’s third attempt, but thankfully it was neither. I didn’t want to meet anyone else today…
“I’m fine. No need to worry.”
I waved at the guard dismissively. The room wasn’t uncomfortable, and though it did irritate me, the Minister had brought me food, so I lacked for nothing.
After all, it was just five days. Complaining about this or that would be pathetic. Besides, being in prison isn’t something to flaunt.
After my reaction, the guard bowed multiple times and left, telling me to reach out if I needed anything.
‘Luxuries in prison.’
A ridiculous thought, but there it was. The guard’s friendly manner had me wondering whether I was in a prison or a bougie hotel.
But what could I do? From the guard’s perspective, treating me like a real prisoner must have been hard.
‘I would’ve felt the same.’
If I were stripped of my Executive Manager title or had to face years behind bars, the guard would probably treat me like a genuine inmate.
But a five-day sentence? Someone could clearly tell it was merely for show; I would return to work as soon as it was over. How could anyone treat a person like that as a regular prisoner?
In some respects, that guard was as much a victim as I was. He was just doing his job when, out of nowhere, he was assigned to juggle a bigwig like me.
‘Was he the same guard who handled the Minister?’
Being the guard managing both a Minister and an Executive Manager—what an achievement!
But whether grand or petty, it hardly mattered. There was nothing I could do for the guard while I was cooped up in here. Playing silent was the best assistance I could offer.
As night descended, the guard returned with a pile of blankets.
“The underground is quite cold. Heating is a challenge, but this should help…”
“Thanks.”
I nodded at the guard, who spoke with an edge of nervous perspiration. Refusing now would only burden him further.
Even my mere presence was a nuisance for him.
‘Sorry…’
Once I’m released, I’ll send him a gift.
*
On the second day of my prison life, the first thing I saw upon waking was the guard coming to greet me.
Anyone would think I was in a mansion, not behind bars.
“The punishment is excessive compared to the Executive Manager’s error, but what can we do? The law allows for no exceptions. But I’ll see to it that your stay remains comfortable.”
Seeing the bowing guard sparked memories of what the Crown Prince had said in his office. What on earth did that jerk say to cause the guard to act like some butler?
What a pitiful victim of the Crown Prince’s whims. The mere thought made my heart ache for him. I definitely need to send him a gift.
‘Maybe transferring him to another department would be a nice touch.’
Aside from the frequent visits from the guard, nothing else occurred.
I’d heard that exuberant inmates sometimes geared up for extended sentences and engaged in epic brawls, but since I was in a single cell, I had no chance to witness any grand duels.
I wasn’t even sure if such happenings occurred. Who in their right mind would gamble their future just to revel in the moment?
‘Me.’
Surprisingly, that insane person turned out to be me. I wouldn’t have ended up imprisoned if I hadn’t dared to ridicule the Minister, leading to a written report.
I was no different than the prisoners in jail. How uncomfortably enlightening!
“Executive Manager?”
“I’m fine.”
As I grappled with my identity, the guard approached once more.
I had stated I’d call if I needed anything, yet here he was again. Surely, it wasn’t intentional negligence on his part. Was it because of what the Crown Prince said?
What could he have said that made the guard this enthusiastic? It’s almost terrifying.
“It’s not that. A visitor request has come in.”
“Oh.”
Internally, I braced myself for what was surely inevitable.
It wouldn’t be the Minister; he had barged in the previous day without warning, shouting, “It’s about the Ministry of Finance!” so there was no law against him doing it again today.
But if it wasn’t the Minister…
‘Who could it possibly be?’
The pool of possibilities was surprisingly vast. Counting the Senior Manager and Managers alone, there were about five; throw in the 4th Manager, and we hit six.
Oh, they might have come as a group. That would certainly ease the process for them.
“It’s still morning; that was quick. Who is it?”
“That is—”
The guard simply shifted his gaze, unable to give a direct answer to my casual query.
…At that moment, instincts kicked in. It definitely wasn’t anyone from the Prosecutor’s Office.
“Her Grace, the Mage Duchess.”
Ah.
I nearly choked on my words, feeling a desperate urge to say, “Can you tell her I’m not here?”
Where else would a prisoner be if not in prison? Facepalm.
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