Chapter 187: My Prison Chronicles (2)
Good news always tends to arrive unexpectedly.
“Mage Duchess.”
While I was handling my usual duties in my office, my secretary approached me. Normally, I demanded reports to be written unless it was urgent.
I’ve known her for decades. This child wouldn’t dare to ignore or forget my words, so it seems something important enough has come up for a face-to-face report.
“What is it?”
“The teleportation mage summoned by His Highness the Crown Prince has returned. The Executive Manager also seems to have arrived at the capital.”
Indeed, that was news substantial enough to warrant a personal report.
Truthfully, I had been secretly anticipating this. The last time the Crown Prince called for the teleportation mage, my baby came to visit, so I couldn’t help but harbor a vague hope for the same outcome this time around.
“Alright. You may leave.”
“Yes, Mage Duchess.”
The secretary, having delivered the good news, turned around and left without any unnecessary chatter.
She’s usually diligent, but today, she looks particularly lovely. I should reward her with a bonus soon.
After confirming the secretary had left, I turned my gaze toward the window and was greeted by a clear, cloudless sky.
“It’s a beautiful day.”
I unconsciously murmured to myself, feeling quite satisfied.
Yes, today really is a beautiful day.
If only it had been like this sooner.
After my baby was placed on probation at the academy, I issued a directive to all mages that they must report immediately when my baby arrives at the capital.
Up until now, I had been oblivious to every arrival. Luckily, my baby hadn’t returned without my knowledge, but I was always worried such a heartbreaking event might occur.
For my baby to come to the capital, they would need to contact the teleportation mages. If they arrived by carriage, it would mean they were going to stay longer, so no need to rush.
I’m so overjoyed.
I gently placed my hand over my heart, feeling it race more than usual.
I’ve insisted my baby stop by the Magic Tower whenever they visit the capital. I have mentioned it several times, so they should naturally come without me needing to remind them.
Of course, given that it was a summons from the Crown Prince, they wouldn’t arrive right away. If it involves traveling from the academy to the capital, it’s likely nothing light.
Still, the very thought of my baby coming to see me made me happy.
Even if they arrive in the evening, I’m happy just knowing that anticipation begins from the morning.
Though it’s a bit unfair that I’m the only one feeling like this.
Eventually, my baby would also yearn to see me, I just know it. All we need is time.
*
However, my baby didn’t come until evening.
…They’re late.
Frustration made my grip tighten on the pen I was holding. I half expected a delay, but I certainly didn’t foresee the silence lasting until nightfall.
The moon had risen high in the sky, mocking me, yet I couldn’t leave the Magic Tower. I worried that if my baby arrived late and saw the empty room, they would just turn back.
Even if they came late, I wouldn’t let them go easily. If they left without my knowledge, I would definitely go to the academy myself.
After all, they must take responsibility for making my heart race all day. I also believe my baby isn’t the type to be so heartlessly indifferent.
“Mage Duchess!”
“Creating such a ruckus. What do you think the other mages would think?”
The secretary had seemed charming earlier, but perhaps due to my mood, I snapped at her.
However, despite my reaction, the secretary still radiated a distracted air. How peculiar; that child isn’t normally so untamed.
“Th-the Executive Manager…”
The news I had been waiting for instantly perked up my ears.
And then with one sentence, my hopes dropped thud.
“He’s been imprisoned!”
“…What?”
What did she just say?
*
As soon as I heard the news, I tried to rush over to where my baby was imprisoned.
Despite my secretary’s attempts to dissuade me, I was determined.
“The Executive Manager has prohibited visitors today. He hasn’t seen anyone except the Minister of Finance.”
No visitors?
I sunk back into my chair, feeling utterly drained by that news. No visitors meant my baby didn’t want to see anyone.
What kind of mental suffering had my baby undergone to make such a decision? Just how much pain were they feeling…?
Thankfully, the no-visitor ruling was just for one day. Yes, I could manage one day. I would give my baby space to gather their emotions.
*
“I-I greet the Mage Duchess—”
“There’s no need for long speeches. I’m here to see the Executive Manager.”
Of course, the very next day, I headed straight to the underground prison. After all, visits were now permitted.
This place.
As I walked in behind the guard, I glanced around.
The underground prison was a place I believed I would have no connection with; thus, I had never even glanced at it.
…Goodness, in this place…
My hands trembled. The cold, harsh atmosphere flowed all around. A place strictly designed for confinement, it harbored no warmth whatsoever.
Baby… my baby… you’re telling me this is where my baby is? My poor, young, precious baby?
No.
I shook my head frantically. Just imagining my baby locked up alone in this frigid, dark place shattered my heart.
I desperately wanted to free them and shout in protest against the unjust imprisonment of someone meant to be the duchess’s companion.
But I held myself back. Causing a scene would only complicate matters for my baby.
“The prisoner… has agreed to the visit.”
A different individual dashed towards us. The uniform indicated they were a jailer.
Prisoner.
That title grated on me, but seeing the jailer’s anxious demeanor made me let it slide.
Somehow, it offered a bit of comfort to know that even in this underground prison, there were those questioning his status as a prisoner.
“I will guide you. It goes a bit deeper inside, so the way is complicated.”
Following the jailer down the stairs, the further we descended, the more my tears felt ready to spill.
Was my baby really here? I almost wished it were just an elaborate prank. Perhaps my baby was plotting some mischievous scheme with the secretary or the jailer.
If only that were true. I’d laugh it off right now if it were merely a joke.
“Your Grace, thank you for coming.”
However, everything fell away the moment I laid eyes on my baby behind those bars.
*
I accepted the visit with a heavy heart, and soon after, the jailer and the Mage Duchess arrived.
Immediately upon arrival, the jailer hurriedly left, but the Mage Duchess approached the bars at lightning speed.
“Baby, are you alright?”
I’m not okay.
I swallowed back words that I couldn’t allow to escape. Frankly, I was okay up until that point. But seeing my mother Mage Duchess in this dreadful place filled me with embarrassment and despair.
When I fell silent, the Mage Duchess interpreted my quietness in her own sad way, letting her ears droop as she gripped the bars.
“Say, how difficult must it have been for you that you can’t even speak…”
Her hands trembled slightly on the bars.
Yet contrary to her belief, I was just too embarrassed to say anything.
“Have you experienced any discomfort here? Do you miss being outside?”
I had just been imprisoned yesterday; there hadn’t even been enough time to feel homesick or uncomfortable.
“You must be having a hard time with meals, too…”
I’ve been eating just fine. The Minister brought so much food that I even shared some with the guard and the jailer.
“It’s getting colder. I hope you haven’t caught a cold.”
Thanks to the blankets my guard provided, I had yet to feel cold; I even broke into a slight sweat while sleeping.
How strange, I thought. These sounded like words of concern from the Mage Duchess.
Then why do I feel guilty?
Each worry pierced through my heart like a dagger, making it seem as though she was taking pleasure in my discomfort.
However, the Mage Duchess could not lie. Her ears drooped helplessly, while her eyes and hands trembled pitiably. If this were all a performance, it definitely deserved a standing ovation.
“I’m fine, Your Grace. Please don’t worry.”
“Where do you see fine…?”
The words were meant to reassure the distressed Mage Duchess, but they only worsened her state.
Damn it.
What was I thinking? Claiming happiness from behind bars was just asking for pity.
As I fell silent once more, the Mage Duchess frantically searched her pockets.
“Baby, take this.”
Before long, a familiar bottle emerged from her pocket.
It was the ginseng extract made from our blood. In the rush to my imprisonment, I’d missed the chance to bring it along.
That explains the heaviness in my body.
Not taking my usual dose must have been the cause.
“Thank you, Your Grace.”
As I stretched my hand through the bars, the Mage Duchess gently touched my outstretched hand, cradling it carefully as though afraid it would shatter or that she might lose it. It was almost making me feel embarrassed.
“Baby, my baby…”
Even her quivering voice calling out to me sounded like that of a mother who had lost her child.
But, Your Grace, it’s only a five-day sentence.
Did she mistakenly hear that it was five years or even fifty?
Is it really five years?
I was suddenly filled with anxiety. Did the Mage Duchess rush here after hearing that my sentence was extended?
My rational mind screamed that it couldn’t be true, but the sight of the Mage Duchess looking so sorrowful was enough to silence that reasoning.
Thus, the Mage Duchess held onto my hand for what felt like an eternity, unwilling to let go.
My site has received a lot of DMCA notices, lol. From now on, I will update the MTL on https://darkmtl.com/.
The site is fast and lightweight because there are no ads yet. However, the theme is different from Cybor-TL, so take some time to familiarize yourself.
Support me by donating at least $10, and you'll have the right to request any novel from Novelpia (excluding 19+ content) using a newly developed tool.