Chapter 189: My Prison Chronicles (4)
The moment I dreaded the most had finally arrived.
“Huff—hiccup—”
Seeing Marghetta cry silently with her hand over her mouth was enough to make me feel like I was losing my mind.
“Executive Manager, there is a visitor request for you.”
As the guard spoke with a look that suggested he had just dropped some heavy news, I couldn’t help but wonder what was going on. But when I heard that Marghetta had come to visit, I felt something drop inside me, too. What I dropped was my pride and dignity, of course.
Being seen behind bars was undeniably humiliating. I didn’t want Erich, Louise, or Irina to see me like this.
‘Of all people, she’s the last one I wanted to see me in this state.’
Above all, I never wanted Marghetta to see me like this, even if the sky fell. I knew how much she worried about me, that she was strong but had a soft heart underneath it all.
So, I prayed repeatedly, wishing the Minister would knock some sense into me or whatever, as long as it meant Marghetta wouldn’t come. ‘Can’t I just get this one favor?’
Of course, Enen wasn’t going to have the time to listen to the prayers of an outlander like me, busy as he was with the prayers of the locals. Damn.
“Carl… Carl…”
With tears streaming down her face, Marghetta held onto the bars with one hand, looking ready to collapse at any moment.
Her pitiful state tugged at my heartstrings. I wished I could rush out and tell her everything would be okay, but unfortunately, that was simply impossible.
“It’s alright. I’m really okay, Mar.”
In this prison, the things I could do were incredibly limited. The most I could manage was hold Marghetta’s hand and keep repeating that I was fine. Other than that, I was utterly helpless.
But it seemed that my mere attempts at comfort only stirred her even more.
“Waaah—!”
Finally, Marghetta could no longer hold back her tears. The noble lady, who usually cared so much about her appearance and dignity, burst into tears like a frightened child.
“Why, why?! Why is Carl, Carl here…?!”
Her outburst sounded like a child’s tantrum or someone confronted with an utterly baffling dilemma.
Either way, I couldn’t help but feel even more guilt seeing a Marghetta so lost and confused, unlike the composed girl I knew.
“Why… whyyyyy…??”
As she mumbled to herself, her legs gave way, and she sank to the ground.
“Senior, are you okay?”
Louise, who had been watching with worried eyes, rushed over to support Marghetta.
Seeing that made my feelings of guilt spike. It felt so wrong that others had to do what I should’ve been doing. Or rather… If I had been outside, then Marghetta wouldn’t have had to go through all this!
“Louise, at least give her this.”
Irina passed a water bottle to Louise.
Yes, just give her some water. She must be running low on fluids from all that crying.
“Senior, let’s step outside for a bit. You need some fresh air.”
“No, I don’t want to… C-Carl is here, Carl is…”
Despite Louise’s concerned tone, Marghetta shook her head, refusing to budge.
But after seeing Marghetta like that, Louise’s determination only grew. Since Marghetta usually spoke formally, her using informal language to protest must have indicated that she was truly not in her right mind.
Finally, with Irina’s help, they dragged the protesting Marghetta outside.
‘It’s gotta be better out there than down here.’
I sighed deeply as I watched Marghetta’s figure fade away into the distance.
No matter how well-kept it might be, a prison is still a prison. It’s hardly a suitable place for a delicate young lady who has been worn down by worry.
“Hyung, are you okay?”
“I was until just now.”
Once the others had left, Erich quietly approached me. This was our first conversation since the visit started.
I totally understood where he was coming from. In that kind of situation, who would be able to speak up and bypass Marghetta? Erich looked genuinely taken aback, likely not expecting Marghetta to cry like that.
“What the heck happened? How did someone from the academy end up imprisoned?”
I averted my gaze to Erich’s question.
You know what? You’re the first one to ask why I got caught.
The Minister was already aware of the circumstances. The kind-hearted Mage Duchess didn’t wish to pry, and the moment Marghetta saw me, she crumpled into tears. Despite having a few visitors already, I hadn’t told anyone the reason behind my imprisonment.
‘How am I even supposed to explain that?’
Honestly, I would’ve preferred no one asked. Just how do I explain such a bizarre reason?
But from Erich’s innocent perspective, he probably thought I was just snatched from the academy out of nowhere. I needed to clear up that misunderstanding…
‘Will that be okay?’
To explain, I’d need to mention the Red Wave, that rebellious group that had gone too close to the academy. That was a touchy subject for Erich, being a student there.
But aside from my mental strain, it went by without a hitch, and Erich wasn’t one to spill secrets. I figured if I said to him, ‘Keep this to yourself,’ he’d probably zip his lips like it were a family secret.
…Alright, I’ll spill the beans.
“It’s a bit of a long story.”
As I started speaking, Erich’s expression morphed into something oddly perplexed.
“Crap.”
*
Just hang in there. I must endure.
‘Why do I have to go through this trial?’
For a moment, I found myself resenting Enen. What sin had I committed that warranted this brutal trial?
Could it be because I refused Tannian’s invitation to go to church together? But I wasn’t the only one who said no! Even Tannian shrugged it off and left with a “Whatever!” when I declined.
‘What if he went to pray for my downfall?’
I imagined Tannian yelling, ‘Lord, punish this faithless unbeliever!’ Yeah, that would definitely be him. Tannian, that wicked guy, probably smiled while he plotted such a malicious scheme.
Honestly, can’t a guy skip church now and then? My church is built on the faith hiding in my heart—
“Are you listening?”
“Oh, yeah.”
Hyung’s voice brought me back from my thoughts. I was in serious trouble. Even my desperate last-ditch escape plan had flopped.
‘This is driving me insane.’
Carefully, I lifted my head to glare at the ceiling as if I were overwhelmed by a sad yet ridiculous tale.
To be completely honest, I turned away because I felt like I might burst into laughter at any moment.
“Don’t talk about this outside.”
I vigorously nodded at Hyung’s words.
The story of the rebel crybaby challenging the establishment and Hyung bravely quelling them was simply outrageous.
It made my head swim to think that the academy was nearly in danger while I had no clue, but at least it ended well.
Except for one thing.
‘Who am I supposed to tell this to?’
If I spoke about this anywhere else, people would think I’d lost my marbles. Even hearing it straight from the horse’s mouth was mind-boggling. What would others feel hearing it secondhand?
Hyung got locked up for doing away with a prisoner. I mean, while killing a prisoner isn’t exactly virtuous, it shouldn’t be a crime hefty enough for imprisonment.
“I wrote too many reports, and guess what? This time it landed me in jail.”
The catch was that Hyung’s karma turned a tiny sin into a colossal one. That was when the first wave of laughter almost erupted from me.
“But then that bastard had to bring up Rutis, didn’t he? How do you not crack a smile after hearing that?”
The second wave of laughter nearly spilled over when Hyung explained why he got rid of the prisoner.
‘That’s how it all happened?’
I felt like I was losing my sanity. It wouldn’t have seemed so ridiculous if the prisoner had just outright provoked him, giving Hyung some reason to snap.
But for whatever reason, his big mouth went and mentioned Rutis. He dragged up that legendary incident where royalty was humiliated right in front of everyone.
And because of that incident, Hyung received the unprecedented punishment of probation within the academy. Honestly, at the sound of that whispered tale, I’d bet a hundred bucks he’d jump out of bed if someone mentioned the event in his sleep! And he had to hear about it from a rebellious scumbag?
‘I couldn’t have stood for that.’
I’d have probably killed them too. Even a Supreme Court judge would nod along with a “That’s justified.”
Anyway, I completely understood why Hyung landed in prison. But as one puzzle piece fell into place, another troublesome riddle emerged.
“…Hyung, what are we supposed to tell everyone else?”
“Well…”
There was no way I had the guts to spill the truth to Lady Marghetta, who I was sure was still sobbing outside, along with Louise and Irina who were trying their best to comfort her.
“Let’s just say it was an administrative issue. Don’t bring it up unless someone asks first.”
Hyung’s answer, after much careful thinking, had me silently nodding my approval.
Please, I hope no one asks anything.
*
Not long after I spilled my mortifying truth to Erich, Marghetta returned. Thankfully, she seemed a bit calmer this time.
But, alas, visiting hours had come to an end, and they had to head out. Talk about lousy timing.
“Carl, I’ll see you tomorrow. I promise, I absolutely will come again tomorrow.”
Convincing her not to start crying again was a chore. I mean, wouldn’t visiting someone locked up for five days back-to-back be a tad much?
In any case, I managed to persuade Marghetta, who insisted on coming back time and again, to leave after she promised that she’d visit me first upon my release.
“Ah, Hyung. The family knows about your imprisonment.”
Erich left me with a rather troubling bit of news as he walked out.
“I managed to convince Mother not to come for now. Should I keep her away?”
Thanks to my considerate brother, the number of visitation requests didn’t increase. Sure, I thought I could handle Marghetta, but the idea of ‘a mother coming to see her imprisoned son’ was utterly unbearable.
…Even if I can’t visit right away, I need to contact them before anyone else. That’s only right.
‘Damn it.’
Struggling to contain a burst of frustration, I wondered how things had escalated to this point. That jerk wouldn’t have croaked if I’d just held back a little and stomped on his foot instead of cracking his skull.
With a heavy sigh, I gazed up at the ceiling, only to notice a lingering sense of unease creeping in.
‘Why haven’t they come yet?’
Surprisingly, the managers were awfully quiet.
That was unusual. No news from the Prosecutors’ Office nearby while visitors from the academy came all the way over?
Honestly, not having them show up would be preferable. Still, when have they ever made things easy for me? I had fully expected them to waltz in.
‘If they don’t come, it’s honestly better for me.’
Let’s just not worry about it too much.
*
Clutching my throbbing head, I tossed and turned, struggling to get up, but my body simply wouldn’t cooperate.
‘I have to go visit…’
Originally, we were set to go this morning. The other managers and the Senior Manager had agreed to go together.
But last night, we unexpectedly found ourselves at a dinner.
“It’s a commemorative dinner for your boss’s imprisonment. You better attend before you go visit him.”
How could I skip it with the Minister pushing for it? It was the first proper dinner we had in ages, so I was all in for a good time.
And look where that led me. The Minister only brought over hard-hitting drinks, and wow did I feel the aftermath!
“Ugh…”
As I rolled, disheveled hair fell into view.
My precious white hair. It was usually gorgeous enough to brag about, but today it just looked horrendous.
Ironically, the drink I had last night was also white… Today was the first time I was scared of the color white…
“Executive Manager…”
Thinking about how my Executive Manager was alone and crying in that cold prison made me feel pangs of guilt.
I’m sorry, Executive Manager. I swear I’ll come see you, but today might just be too tough.
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