Chapter 65
What would happen if Kaiden made up his mind and rebelled against the Emperor?
If something went wrong, it could even escalate into a war between the Emperor’s faction and the nobles faction.
I sweated coldly down my back and forced a smile.
“Haha, you’re joking, right?”
“……”
“…Grand Duke, you won’t do that, right?”
“……”
“Kaiden!”
When I yelled out, he finally opened his mouth.
“Don’t worry too much.”
“I’m begging you. Seriously, you can’t. One Grand Duke is as good as 100 knights, so intending to use force is tantamount to a declaration of war.”
Kaiden chuckled.
“I never thought the day would come when you would say something like this to me.”
Since Kaiden was usually the one to stop things or clean up the aftermath between us, this situation seemed funny to him. It was not funny to me at all, though.
“Grand Duke. If worst comes to worst, I can just run away. I don’t want to tarnish your honor anymore because of me.”
It meant that he shouldn’t even think scary thoughts like using force just because of me.
Of course, even if I ran away, since I was already deeply entangled with Kaiden, the arrow of suspicion would surely point to him. It was obvious they would try to tear him down, claiming Kaiden hid me or gave me the escape funds.
However, between Kaiden initiating the use of force and a prisoner escaping, the latter clearly seemed like a much smaller matter.
But Kaiden said something even more terrifying.
“In any case, there will be a clash of force. So, when you run away, go to the Fernand territory, which is not related to the Waldstein. I will tell the Marquis in advance. I will also bury money under the tree where you used to play in the dirt often in the past.”
Ah, seriously, why is this person acting like this? His reaction made me even more anxious. Kaiden was already considering war.
“Grand Duke.”
He cut me off.
“Marion. While you were here, I thought about it deeply. And I came to a conclusion.”
“What is it?”
“The Emperor has already finished preparing to treat the Waldstein as an enemy.”
“Excuse me? But…”
“The Emperor clearly crossed the line. I cannot simply stand by as the head of the North.”
…That was true.
The current situation would clearly be seen as an insult to everyone in the North who served an enemy.
In the North, the king is the Waldstein. Even if the bride chosen by the king was not to their liking, they willingly followed because it was decided by the King of the North.
But the Emperor completely ruined that. He humiliated us by finding all sorts of absurd faults. To stand still in the face of this clear provocation would be tantamount to disgracing the Northmen.
“Marion, you should also think of the worst-case scenario.”
This was not a story that existed in the original novel.
I just bit my lip, unsure of what to do, when a large hand approached through the bars. He grabbed my left wrist.
“It was on the floor in the audience chamber.”
When I looked down, it was the germanium bracelet I had been wearing for the past two days. It was the silver bracelet with the black gem that I bought when we stopped by the Asili jewelry store to get our wedding rings.
It must have fallen off while struggling with the one-armed knight. Kaiden tied the bracelet onto my wrist and joked.
“It seems it really has a soothing effect. Seeing as you didn’t faint at the sight of blood and controlled your murderous intent when you saw the Crown Prince.”
“Ah…”
I remembered the Asili store manager rambling on with all sorts of sweet talk, saying this bracelet had the effects of calming the mind, increasing immunity, and promoting blood circulation.
“I didn’t know I dropped it.”
“Next time, I’ll get you an even prettier one.”
“…Please be careful, Grand Duke.”
“Kaiden.”
“Kaiden.”
“Good. You take care of yourself, too. Eat well, sleep well. Cover yourself well with a blanket so you don’t catch a cold. Always be careful. If you sense anything suspicious, run away immediately.”
I pouted and nodded my head. He squeezed my hand once before letting go and turning around.
“I’ll come again, Marion.”
I nodded again and only looked at his receding figure.
Time flew quickly, and a week passed.
Although it was prison life, perhaps because it was a space for nobles, I lived a much more luxurious life than when I was living independently in the North.
Every morning, lunch, and dinner, a generous meal was served, and warm bathwater was brought every night.
Just the other day, a string quartet orchestra even performed in front of my bars. I just watched the sight with my mouth wide open in astonishment.
[Is the noble prison always like this?]
‘I don’t think it was this much when I was young…’
I tilted my head as I answered Bled’s question. The treatment was definitely good, to the point of being excessive.
Did they not want to offend my mood since I am a Sword Master? Then they shouldn’t have imprisoned me in the first place. I snorted.
In any case, it was certain that I was receiving extremely courteous treatment that did not fit the name ‘prison’.
The only drawback was not knowing what was happening outside. This was the most important thing, though. Kaiden had been completely incommunicado for a week.
What on earth was going on? My spine chilled thinking that only one week remained until Kaiden would use force.
“Saint Stella has requested a visit.”
I raised my head at the jailer’s voice. Small footsteps were heard, and Stella, the original female lead, approached the bars. I got up from the chair and approached her.
“I greet the Saint.”
“I greet Sir Marion.”
We exchanged greetings.
I hadn’t expected Stella to visit. I had wanted to talk to her, but I never expected it to be in an underground prison.
Anyway, with half joy and half curiosity, I asked her.
“What brings you to see me?”
Stella looked at me once, then glanced at the jailer. It seemed she wanted to say something but was choosing her words because of the jailer standing guard.
I also had many things I wanted to ask her. What did she mean by ‘The world will be ruined anyway,’ which she mumbled last time?
If you really are a regressor, what happened in the future that I haven’t seen for you to say such a thing?
Stella asked about my well-being first.
“Are you feeling alright?”
“Yes. As you can see, I am on a retreat.”
Stella looked around the underground prison room and mumbled.
“…It looks better than my parents room. That’s a relief.”
Ah, she came from a poor Baron’s daughter background. I scratched my cheek with an awkward laugh.
“Sir Marion, I just wanted to talk with you.”
“About what?”
“…I was curious if you were the person I thought you were.”
Oh. What did that mean? Was it a double meaning?
Stella added.
“I heard the rumors about you that circulate in society. But every time I see you, I feel like you are a different person from the rumors.”
“I see. I also have something I want to ask, Saint.”
“What is it?”
“In your view, what do you think the future of the Empire will be like? Won’t it be ruined?”
I spoke deliberately in a playful tone. So that both Stella and the jailer next to her would perceive it as casual banter.
“…What do you mean by that?”
Stella looked at me with a serious expression. I couldn’t be sure if she was a regressor just from that reaction, but my suspicion deepened.
I naturally changed the subject.
“I wanted to ask what the situation is like outside.”
“Ah.”
It seemed like I was indirectly asking how the conflict between the Grand Duke and the Emperor was unfolding.
“Honestly, it’s not good. The Grand Duke gathered the nobles opinions and submitted a petition stating that you did no wrong, but His Majesty the Emperor is ignoring all of it.”
Kaiden is working hard. I felt a corner of my heart warm at the news of him.
And I prayed that the Emperor would quickly come to his senses and release me from here. Otherwise, Kaiden, unable to endure it, might declare war.
“It’s all pointless anyway. The end is approaching.”
“Excuse me…?”
My eyes widened at the quickly passed mumble. I hadn’t misheard.
“What did you just…?”
Stella motioned for me to come closer.
I approached her as if possessed. She whispered into my ear, disregarding the jailer’s harsh gaze.
“Run away. I came here because the time you are spending here is precious. So that you can enjoy a free life for one more day.”
“What does that…”
“Visiting hours are over.”
The jailer restrained Stella before I could even ask what she meant. Stella said goodbye with a serene face.
“I will take my leave now. Have a peaceful day.”
I could only stare blankly at her retreating figure.
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