Chapter: 191
The long-awaited release had finally come. And from a distance, it seemed that the guard, who had probably been waiting even more anxiously than I had, came sprinting toward me.
In an instant, he was glued to the bars, urgently fumbling with the lock. The eagerness in his actions was almost heartbreaking to watch. It struck me that he had been glancing at the lock for the past five days, not to check if it was securely fastened, but from an overwhelming desire to open it immediately.
I’m sorry.
I feel sorry for everyone else as well, but my regret is particularly strong for this guard. I couldn’t help but wonder if I had treated him too much like a butler instead of maintaining the stern, serious demeanor required of a prison guard.
To be honest, he did treat me well, and I mistook him for a butler. It wasn’t intentional, but I genuinely feel bad…
“You’ve worked hard, Executive Manager.”
As soon as the door opened, the guard bowed so deeply that his head almost kissed the floor. Despite that, he stretched out both hands to return the belongings he had been holding for me.
It felt awkward to thank someone who had kept me imprisoned, but I didn’t want to disturb the clear relief on the guard’s face.
Yes, I had a tough time. If the guard says so, then let’s go with that! “Thanks to you, I managed to live comfortably. I won’t forget this.”
Still, it would be rude not to express any gratitude, so I gently patted the guard on the shoulder several times, feeling both apologetic and thankful.
“Excuse me, Executive Manager.”
While I was gathering my things, the guard, who had remained bent over, cautiously started to rise.
I looked at him absent-mindedly but suddenly jolted back to reality. His complexion didn’t look good at all.
What’s going on?
How odd. Had something else happened? But now that I was being released, was there really an issue? If it was about a visit, I could just go out and see them, couldn’t I?
Don’t tell me they extended my sentence?
For a moment, such a terrifying thought crossed my mind. I felt my heart race, worried he might say, “His Highness the Crown Prince has ordered you to stay imprisoned for a few more days.”
But why would they unlock the door if my sentence was extended? Maybe they were planning to transfer me to another prison? The Crown Prince’s whims could never be predicted!
“The Executive Manager has received a letter.”
Fortunately, it wasn’t like a karaoke session extension!
The guard took out the letter he had kept tucked away, his hands trembling.
“It’s from His Grace the Invincible Duke.”
Oh dear.
No wonder he looked so nervous.
The guard presented the letter as if a slight wrinkle would cost him his head. Glancing at it, I could see the prestigious seal of the Invincible Duke firmly affixed. It was indeed from him.
Was he a traitor in his past life?
Observing the guard’s distress, rational doubt began to creep in. Could this all be the result of some monumental karma from his previous life?
Within just five days, he’d become entangled with three of the five ducal houses. What a monumental trial for an ordinary guard!
…But if that was the case, then I was in an even worse position. If he was a traitor, then I’d be a treacherous fool who had sold out my own country!
“Yes, I’ve received it.”
Afraid that the letter might get sweaty if I didn’t take it quickly, I hurriedly accepted it.
From butler to postman—how far had the guard’s authority fallen?
*
The moment the letter from the Invincible Duke left my hands, an overwhelming sense of relief washed over me. Holding something that felt unmanageably heavy always made me shiver.
I’m resigning immediately!
I felt the reassuring texture of the resignation letter that I had treasured close to my chest. With just this one situation, I was thoroughly convinced. There was no need to wait until the end of my shift; forget the handover, it was all unnecessary.
I’m going to submit my resignation the moment the Executive Manager leaves. No one can stop me from quitting this miserable guard life!
“You there.”
While I contemplated settling down in a quiet little estate using my savings and severance pay, the Executive Manager’s voice interrupted my daydream.
He must have finished reading the letter and was now looking at me.
When did he call me?
Had he tried calling me multiple times before I noticed? Thankfully, that didn’t seem to be the case.
If it had been, his expression wouldn’t be so calm. After all, a mere guard ignoring the head of the department wouldn’t exactly inspire confidence!
“Yes, Executive Manager?”
“What is your name?”
Wait, was I ignoring him?
His tone was calm, yet that one question sent a chill down my spine and made my hands tremble anew.
This is insane.
The head of the Prosecutor’s Office—the very person I’d prefer to avoid—was asking for my name. A surge of desperate impulses nearly made me want to drop to my knees and beg for mercy, citing my nonexistent wife and children as leverage.
But when I faced the Executive Manager’s gaze, my body refused to budge.
“U-uh…”
I almost blurted out a different name but managed to hold it back just in time. After all, lying wouldn’t end well; it would just lead to faster discovery and more severe punishment.
“Lu-Luciano.”
“I see.”
I bit my lip as the Executive Manager nodded indifferently.
I had worked hard to steer clear of such an interaction, ensuring not to disturb the Executive Manager’s mood or incite discontent.
Yet, from a noble’s perspective, my efforts must have seemed paltry. It’s as if no matter how hard a commoner works, they can never attain the perspective of a noble.
If there’s a next life, I wish to be born as a noble—
“Here, take this.”
The Executive Manager suddenly thrust a business card toward me.
What a display of power! Was he silently instructing me to memorize the name of the person who’d seal my fate?
If that was the case, it was a cruel and terrible jest. I now understood why the Prosecutor’s Office had such a dreadful reputation.
Of course, I couldn’t voice such dissatisfaction openly. That would risk a more agonizing demise.
…What is this?
I half-heartedly received the business card but found something peculiar about it.
“Excuse me, Executive Manager. What exactly is this?”
I cautiously turned the card around to show the Executive Manager. What should have been a blank space was filled instead with my name and his signature.
The Executive Manager chuckled softly at my confusion and replied.
“Those five days must have been challenging. Sadly, this is the only gift I can offer right now.”
I blinked, utterly perplexed by his statement. Being spared from ‘inspection’ was great, but why was this regarded as a gift?
Was collecting business cards trendy among the nobles? If so, it made some sense; a card from the Executive Manager would probably fetch a good price in noble circles, despite the tarnish of my name on it.
“If you wish to go somewhere, just show them this.”
With that comment, everything clicked into place.
Standing alone before the empty cell, I stared blankly at the business card.
“If you have a place you want to go to, just show them this.”
I nodded repeatedly as I absorbed the Executive Manager’s considerate explanation.
“Even if it suits you, doing the same job gets boring.”
I nodded even more vigorously in agreement. One of the reasons I hastily wrote my resignation was that I had grown tired of my long stint as a guard.
A different position.
This time, my hands began to tremble again—but for an entirely different reason.
Who on earth would enjoy being a guard for years? I had only stuck it out due to an unfortunate lack of better options.
But now, I held a master key in my grasp that could unlock not merely another position but even higher roles.
Thank you…!
I repeated that phrase in my mind repeatedly, even though no one was there to hear it.
Five days of anguish? Such troubles felt insignificant compared to the grace from the Executive Manager.
With a pious heart, I tucked the business card into my pocket. If I lost it, it would feel like losing a treasure beyond measure—
What’s this?
As I slipped my hand in, it collided with something profoundly unpleasant. How dare something unknown invade the sacred space reserved for the business card?!
I pulled it out and glared at the resignation letter, the letters glaring back at me.
Disgusting.
This wretched document was something only a loser would write. At my current juncture, it was completely unnecessary.
In an act of righteous defiance, I tore the resignation letter apart, obliterating my shameful past. In doing so, I triumphed over my former self.
*
Thanks to a mage sent ahead by the Crown Prince, I was able to arrive at the academy without delay.
Though it felt strange to receive such consideration from the very individual who had imprisoned me, I decided to let it slide since I was largely responsible for my own predicament.
I’m going to keep my promise.
With a relieved sigh, I folded the Invincible Duke’s letter and tucked it into my pocket.
Initially, when I first received the letter, I thought it might be an invitation to meet, something I would have to refuse politely since I planned to see Marghetta first after my release.
But it turned out to be something different.
[I heard the news. While it is unfortunate, I believe this incident will serve as a stepping stone for Carl to strive even harder, so I am not worried.]
It contained a simple greeting, quickly followed by words of comfort.
[If it were up to me, I would have liked to visit, but I didn’t want to burden you, Sir Carl, by dropping in on you unexpectedly. I wanted you to have at least these five days to rest without any worries. There’ll be plenty of time for us to meet.]
Unlike some minister who couldn’t be bothered, this message dripped with consideration.
Is this what a real adult is like? What about the adults I knew before?
[This weekend is my daughter’s birthday, and we have decided to hold a small celebration at our estate. My daughter hopes you can come and grace the occasion. Will you join us?]
The encounter was set for quite soon, indeed.
Now that I thought about it, it was around the same time the Crown Princess had her birthday last year.
It should be fine.
The thought of the Crown Prince attending alongside the Crown Princess was troublesome, but I could manage it as long as she was present. At the very least, that lunatic wouldn’t have the audacity to act out in front of her.
Right after my release, my threshold for the Crown Prince’s provocations would soar; however, the Crown Princess, a crucial stabilizing force, would be there.
Alright, I could attend without concern.
This sounds fun!
I couldn’t resist the visual of the Crown Prince, who usually exasperated me, trying to hold back under the meticulous gaze of the Crown Princess.
This was a soirée I would attend even if someone told me not to.
…Of course, I had to take care of everything before the weekend; Marghetta might try to convince me not to go if things were left unresolved by then.
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