SPTM 25

Chapter  25

It was absurd.

“You don’t live without a mirror, do you? I’ve heard there are women who even collect the newspaper sketches of you, the so-called handsome knight.”

When I retorted with a tone of disbelief, Richard let out a small sigh of relief.

Honestly, I couldn’t say I had no idea that Richard liked me. His jealousy was even kind of cute…

I had flatly denied it, but Richard didn’t seem to understand at all. To him, it had only looked like I was startled and flustered at my private letter being exposed, nothing more. The thought of falling in love with a prison guard had never—not even for a single second—crossed my mind.

It wasn’t as if I ever had the right to choose in the first place. But Richard, who was already firmly mistaken, kept on with his frustrating words.

“I wasn’t trying to embarrass you. I lacked consideration. I do understand, though. When you’re trapped in a prison with nothing but guards and inmates, it’s natural that the guards might look more appealing. They’d certainly seem better than the criminals.”

“……”

“Locked in solitary all day, you must feel lonely too. In such a situation, it’s only natural for romantic feelings to stir when you see men in uniform. I would feel the same if our places were reversed.”

“That’s not true at all.”

“There’s no need to deny being curious about the opposite sex.”

The longer I listened, the more my bad temper started to flare. I didn’t know why his so-called broad understanding—that he wouldn’t mind if I liked some other man—was twisting me up inside.

In the end, I decided I’d rather play the part of the pathetic woman who came all the way to prison only to lose her head over a man. My spite had already been provoked, and I chose to indulge it. I fixed Richard squarely with my eyes and spoke.

“Fine, since I’ve been caught, I’ll be honest. I am a little lonely.”

“…What did you say?”

“As you said, the only people I ever meet are vicious criminals and the guards who torture them. The only sound I hear all day is waves, not human voices. Who wouldn’t be lonely in an environment like that? I’m a woman of marriageable age—of course I’d want to fall for a decent man if there’s one around.”

For some reason, I was angry. Richard, who hadn’t done anything wrong yet was receiving the full brunt of my irritation, slowly let his expression harden.

The always-gentle Richard, who had been endlessly patient with me, remained silent without opening his mouth. The heavy silence stretched on, until I started to feel uneasy myself. Maybe I had gone too far.

But it was too late for regret. The weight between us had grown unbearable when Richard finally ground out words through clenched teeth.

“So you decided to love the warden, then?”

It was a sudden change of subject. Since the warden was the highest ranking among the guards, perhaps it was only natural for Kyle to come to mind.

The unexpected name threw me off for a moment, and in that pause, Richard reached out and lightly clasped my limp hand.

“Whoever I choose, isn’t that my own freedom?”

“I know I have no right to oppose whomever you choose. But Kyle Kaysenys is unacceptable.”

“Why?”

Perhaps because he hadn’t thought it through, Richard faltered briefly. His answer came out strangely rambling, uncharacteristic of him.

“He has a bad reputation, and he may be more dangerous and twisted than people think. If not Kaysenys, then rather… why not me? Choose me.”

I stared at Richard in shock. His crimson eyes, like ripe cherries, were trembling with moisture.

Even as I searched his gaze for a long time, wondering if he was serious, Richard didn’t take back what he had said. Though there was a hint of surprise at his own impulsive words, his eyes only grew steadier.

“Why are you saying this all of a sudden?”

“Because I’m a man too, and a knight at that. I’m better than those guards who tortured you. So why wasn’t my name written on that paper?”

Well, because you weren’t involved in the murder of the lord’s son, that’s why.

“Why am I not even considered a candidate? Is it because I’m a traitor?”

I had never imagined it, but maybe Richard carried his own sense of inferiority or resentment. He was strangely fixated on not being included among my supposed romantic prospects.

There was no need to weigh the matter—Richard far outshone every other man in Fortress. His character alone crushed them all, and on top of that, he was far more handsome.

For a swindler and prisoner like me, liking him would almost feel like a crime.

His genuinely wounded, jealous eyes glared at me fiercely. It was as if he had forgotten every word of understanding he had just spoken.

The more Richard acted against my expectations, the calmer I became. My heart was still pounding, but I felt someone had to keep their head and lead the conversation.

“…Why do you want me to like you, Richard?”

“Because I…”

“You?”

“Because I think I’ve come to like you. No… perhaps I even love you.”

Normally, the warden never personally interrogated inmates. No matter how severe the crime, it was rare for a prisoner to face the warden directly.

That didn’t mean Richard had no way to meet Kyle.

If an inmate requests, he can have an interview with a middle manager.

Usually it was with the chief of the guards, but Richard had requested none other than the warden, Kyle Kaysenys.

From the yard, Richard looked up at the upper floors where Kyle’s office was.

As always, Kyle’s arrogant gaze was cast down upon the yard. More precisely, it followed Veronica as she walked the lawn.

Richard furrowed his brow. He had long since sensed, with a knight’s instinct, that Kyle’s eyes followed her every time she came out.

I hope he accepts the interview request.

Before the reinvestigation began, there was something Richard needed to confirm. But at the same time, he almost hoped Kyle wouldn’t come—that he would refuse to meet him.

He was afraid the answer out of Kyle’s mouth might be worse than ignorance.

Richard brushed back the hair falling across his forehead with a troubled expression. Ironically, just then, a guard called his name.

“14395, your interview’s been approved. Come along.”

Instead of the visitation room, Richard was led to a reception room. Calmly, he looked around the luxuriously furnished space that felt wholly out of place in a prison.

Soon, Kyle Kaysenys entered through the door. Richard, still standing in cuffs, turned to face him.

“I heard you wanted to see me.”

Despite the words, Kyle’s expression showed no curiosity or particular impression—an inscrutable calm. The most troublesome kind to face.

The man radiated a cold, sharp aura like a snake. Without flaunting muscle or scars, he projected a pressure that brooked no disrespect. Truly, he was every inch the master of a family that had ruled Fortress Prison for generations.

“Thank you for accepting my request.”

“Spare me the shallow courtesies. You know this is a prison.”

Kyle’s crooked smile suggested: Do you still think you’re the crown prince’s sword? Richard wiped his own expression blank.

“……”

“You must have something to say.”

Despite Kyle’s prompting, Richard hesitated to speak. Kyle smiled faintly, as if he could already see the words circling in Richard’s mouth.

As expected, a thoroughly unpleasant man.

Richard’s dislike for him only deepened. Kyle spoke first, still leisurely.

“I heard you ingested belladonna. How’s your health?”

“You already know from the guards’ reports.”

“You look healthier than I expected.”

“You say that as if you were hoping I wouldn’t survive.”

Kyle chuckled slyly, as though he’d heard a fine joke.

“Of course not. A prisoner poisoned within the prison is regrettable. It was clearly a failure of the guards’ supervision, and I intend to investigate thoroughly.”

“……”

“And naturally, the one who administered the poison will face severe punishment. They say it was the witch who slipped it into your food?”

The resolve not to reveal a single emotion shattered the moment Kyle mentioned Veronica.