53 – Breakaway 3 –
The method to summon the viscount was simple.
Before I boarded the carriage, I had sent a letter to the viscount through the Magic Bird.
The Magic Bird, a magic republic’s peculiar bird residing in the Magic District, could swiftly reach another Magic Bird user.
It was an impressive creature that even autonomously returned to its owner.
Through the technology that had been implemented in the game as a mailbox system, I had sent a letter to the viscount in advance.
By the time I arrived, the viscount had come to meet me.
And now, as the name “viscount” echoes, a buzz fills the prison.
People’s gazes grew noticeably uneasy at my conversation.
“Has he aged more? Viscount? Is he in his right mind?”
“But didn’t the viscount casually accept it… back there! He was with the viscount!”
“If there’s a connection with the viscount and he came here… it undoubtedly signifies political exile!”
“What can be done then?”
“Just kneel! He’s a prisoner now, but after a few months, he’ll return here as a noble!”
“Ah, another bad one added.”
“Don’t speak like that. Among the nobles, there’s a bit of aura to Orla Swell. Judging by his age, it might not be to that extent, but he might hold some Orla Swell. Then, he might be a skilled one among the ten fingers here.”
Numerous stories circulated.
Various opinions were exchanged.
All about me.
The viscount glanced around and spoke to me.
“Is this… what you intended?”
“Of course.”
“You said something quite nonsensical, and I thought… but well, being Orla Swell, nobody would say anything even if you just stay put.”
“I need overwhelming support. That’s why I did it.”
I needed overwhelming support—enough that no one would object to whatever I did.
To execute my plan in this place.
From Noble mtl dot com
“Well, if you were good at it from a young age, you’ll handle it on your own… don’t push Henry; just stay quiet.”
“From the very beginning, borrowing Lady Caroline Huffington’s words, even Lord Henry Montooth-Huffington would be proud, wouldn’t he?”
“That could be the case. In this instance, it was a political conflict, not your fault.”
“But my mother seems to like it.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes. I finally get to protect a woman with my life.”
“Isn’t that because you ran away and left your mother when you were young? How can you flee without a hint of hesitation?”
Well, there’s a lot to say about that.
Back then, I couldn’t accept this family as my real family.
I thought I was taking something away from someone else, not truly mine.
That’s why there was no love.
Since it wasn’t necessarily wrong, I remained silent.
“Then it seems my job ends here. I’ll take my leave.”
“Yes! Your Grace, please take care.”
With those words, Duke Winterfield returned to his home.
And I stepped inside that prison.
My sweet home for the next two weeks.
I don’t know if it’s sweet, but let’s call it that for now.
—-
“You will be staying here. We have a Magic Bird for contacting the outside world and magical communication devices available here.
The range of the magical communication devices is limited, so if you want to contact others, please use the Magic Bird.”
“Thank you.”
The prison staff kindly guided me.
Surprisingly, this was a prison that looked better than what I had seen overseas.
Certainly better than the Korean military.
They even allowed for the maximum possible freedom, the most significant issue.
Magic Bird and magical communication devices, they say.
Compared to a typical free-world prison, it fell short, but it was medieval.
There was no internet here.
“In reality, if it’s at this level, there shouldn’t be much of a problem.”
Communication won’t be an issue, after all.
There were even fewer problems now.
If there was just one thing like Madō communication.
With Magic Birds in the mix.
“The first thing to do is… contact Aria.”
I need Aria’s help to execute my plan.
If it’s Aria, she’ll listen.
She’s been following me since we were kids.
I started composing a letter to go inside the Magic Bird immediately.
[To. Aria Winterfield]
It’s been a while, Aria. I haven’t seen you in over a year since the coming-of-age ceremony.
You’ll understand once you get in, but right now, I’m imprisoned in Elros Penitentiary.
If you don’t know, ask the Marquis; he’ll tell you.
If he doesn’t, then figure it out yourself.
For now, if you ever want to meet, come here anytime.
I’m about to tell you something very important from now on, and you should be able to figure it out easily.
I’ll be spending the next two weeks in this penitentiary, where they say stress causes baldness, huh? Ah, and if you come.
You might get hungry, so it would be nice if you could bring some food.
Don’t forget the guards when you come. It could be dangerous.
This place is full of prisoners, so you could get hurt if you mess up.
No need to solve anything. Just wait for two weeks, so don’t worry too much. Got it?
[FROM. Abraxas Mentuhtiehop]
All preparations are complete now.
I’m just waiting for Aria.
If she doesn’t catch the content in this letter, she’s not a human.
If she doesn’t get it, you can tease her about her head being just for decoration.
—-
After all the trials were over,
The Second Princess of the Helium Empire, Alice Tantallota, was taking a break at the Tantallota Manor of the Jelip Academy.
While she was resting like that.
Knock, knock…
“Come in.”
Someone rapped on the Princess’s door.
The door opened, and in walked a servant, Alice Tantalota’s maid.
“Your Highness, I have something to discuss.”
“What is it?”
“People are talking about why you haven’t had an audience with the Crown Prince. Lord Abraxas Youngshik seems to be favorably inclined towards you at the moment. Given that he saved your life, we should use this as an opportunity to strengthen our connection with him.”
“That makes sense.”
“What should I tell them?”
The Princess paused for a moment.
The maid patiently awaited her response.
Finally, when the Princess spoke:
“Do not give them any answer.”
The maid felt a surge of curiosity.
“I understand. But may I ask one thing?”
“What is it?”
“If we don’t address this matter, it could cause problems. While you may not face political isolation as a member of the royal family, your influence could wane.”
“You’re right.”
“So, can you tell me why? Why you’ve been avoiding the Crown Prince?”
The Princess remained silent for a while in response to her question.
It took time to gather her thoughts.
After all, she couldn’t define her emotions precisely either.
She tried to handle it with the knowledge she possessed.
And she responded in her own way.
Of course, it wasn’t entirely accurate.
It was still too vague to take shape.
“Because I’m afraid.”
“Excuse me? What are you talking about?”
“Abraxas Yeongsik… He became fearful.”
“Why are you suddenly afraid of him, Your Highness? May I ask?”
“…Do you know that I’ve always been good at reading people’s emotions?”
“Yes.”
“Right. That’s why I used to think that Abraxas Yeongsik didn’t intentionally run away from the Academy.”
“That’s correct. So, you promised to secure his future as a reward for rescuing him, didn’t you?”
“I did… That’s when I felt it. Even what he was thinking.”
The maid paused for a moment and asked, “What do you mean?”
“Others may just think it’s an effective way to dismantle the cult by using me… But I sensed clear emotions in Abraxas’s eyes at that time.”
The maid was taken aback.
She asked the princess to confirm if what she suspected was true. “You can’t mean…”
“Abraxas… He said so, but if I had really been captured by the cult… He would have killed me without hesitation.”
The servant objected.
She should have said “to his family,” considering the aristocracy.
It was such a shocking statement that it couldn’t be ignored.
“It’s absurd! No matter how reckless he is, no one should blame him for not protecting you! He’s just a first-year student at the Academy! Why would he harm you, Your Highness?”
He is a first-year student.
Blaming the faculty may be appropriate, but the responsibility for returning to Abraxas personally is minimal.
Even more so because his family is aristocratic, making it even less likely.
“Moreover, even if he wanted to withdraw from the Academy, it’s still not acceptable. The punishment for harming a noble is a major crime under imperial law! And since he was taken as a hostage, there is a pretext that he might survive, so the chances of clemency are low. But he wouldn’t even think of it…”
However, the princess stopped her with a simple method.
“Don’t you also know? Abraxas is… something strange. He pays too much attention to my safety at times. Sometimes, he doesn’t care at all. Perhaps, even if it means sacrificing my life, he must have had a reason to do something without worrying about safety.”
He’s strange.
Unpredictable.
Therefore, there’s really nothing I can say.
“So, for now, I should keep my distance from him,” the princess decided.
For the first time in her life, the princess felt a sense of frustration in this world.
A formidable adversary had emerged, and she felt utterly powerless against him.
Furthermore…
“To be honest… I’m not even sure if this trembling I’m feeling right now is fear or not.”
“Trembling?”
“I only feel fear because it’s the closest thing to me. And whether it’s the fear I’m supposed to feel or if it’s something stemming from my past is also unclear…”
“So, what does that mean?”
“Everything is a complete mystery… I’ve experienced the genuine desire to kill myself before, but why does it only happen with him? So, I guess, for now, I should distance myself from him. I won’t be able to see him anyway for a while.”
And so, the princess decided to take a break, not knowing what emotions were infiltrating her heart.
While the princess was sorting out her thoughts in her own way, she heard a voice.
“So, what are you going to do, Abraaxas Oppa?”
“Escape from the Aoji Mine and become a defector.”
“What kind of nonsense is that?”
Abraaxas had something else in mind.