Chapter 49
“Just after a single day?”
I forced a scoff.
“Then I’ll just have to try a little harder.”
Kyle reached out and took hold of the hand that was holding my chicken drumstick. He gently guided my hand closer and lowered his head. Crunch—the sound of crispy skin breaking filled the air as Kyle bit into the meat.
My lips parted in shock.
“Why are you eating my food? You have yours right there.”
“Yours looked tastier.”
Kyle tilted his eyes mischievously, his gaze curving like a sly smile. I looked back and forth in disbelief between him and the drumstick that had just lost a bite.
“Go back to your seat!”
Grumbling, I angrily tore into the rest of the chicken with greedy bites. I finished it in seconds, my cheeks burning hot.
Whenever I was with Kyle, I always ended up getting strangely swept along. He had a real talent for testing my patience. What made me angriest was how he always coaxed out a reaction from me by doing things that blurred the line between temptation and provocation.
I glared at him, smirking as if thoroughly amused, and finished my meal.
It was just as I was done eating. While I idled in the parlor, Kyle started putting on his coat, preparing to go out. Watching him straighten his clothes in front of the mirror, I asked:
“Where are you going? You never mentioned anything about this.”
Kyle let out a short laugh, adjusting his collar as he glanced at me from the corner of his eyes.
“I’ll be out for a bit, but I’ll be back before tomorrow night. Enjoy your freedom until then.”
Acting like he was being considerate, huh… I decided I’d at least pretend to be curious.
“Where to?”
“You don’t need to know.”
I hadn’t been that interested, but the way he hid it like it was some grand secret made me grit my teeth.
As I stood to return to my cell, Kyle opened the door and spoke to the guard waiting in the hall.
“Is the carriage ready?”
“Yes, the horses are harnessed.”
“Open the gate.”
The words open the gate seized my attention. I forgot to hide my curiosity and openly stared at him. Kyle, noticing my gaze lingering in the parlor, tilted his head toward the hall.
“Aren’t you going? Back to your cell.”
But I needed to see how the gate worked…
The mechanism of the main gate was something a prisoner like me had no way of knowing. Of course, Kyle would never show me how it was opened. Asking him would be pointless.
If I could just figure it out now, escaping would only be a matter of time.
I stalled on purpose, dragging my feet.
“Can’t I just wait here? You said you’d only be gone a little while.”
If he agreed, I could search the parlor while he was gone. Who knew? Maybe there was a safe or even a hidden passageway. With that thought, even the carpet on the floor and the paintings on the wall began to look suspicious.
Kyle narrowed his eyes, watching me closely as if to read my intent. When I feigned innocence, he pushed the door wider open.
“I still don’t trust you enough for that. How am I supposed to know if you really love me, or if you’re just pretending to survive? Stop plotting and go back to your cell.”
I wiped all expression from my face and looked at him coldly. The charged tension between us was back—no longer the playful competition of seduction, but suspicion and hostility.
So he still didn’t believe I had chosen him. Yet he’d been shameless enough to act happy, pretending I’d opened my heart to him? At this point, it almost felt like I was the one being toyed with…
Well, I hadn’t expected him to be fooled by my act so easily anyway. Kyle wasn’t that kind of man. If he had fallen for it right away, that would’ve been more suspicious.
So I hit back, boldly scratching at his pride.
“Kind of disappointing, honestly. If you think I’ve failed to give you trust, maybe the problem isn’t me—it’s you. Maybe you don’t have enough confidence. What, not sure you can seduce me into falling in love with you?”
“……”
“We’ll see soon enough. Even I’m curious how deeply I might come to love you.”
Some of the tension faded from Kyle’s gaze, though he still didn’t seem willing to leave me in the parlor alone. He held onto the door, waiting.
No point in making him more suspicious by insisting I stay. I gave up and trudged out.
Once in the hall, Kyle, perhaps feeling uneasy about our little clash, tried to placate me with material bribes.
“If there’s anything you want, say so. I’ll buy it for you on the way back.”
I thought for a moment, but nothing came to mind. The only things I could think of were tools useful for escaping—strong rope, a sword, maybe even matches for arson.
No chance he’d buy me any of those. I shrugged.
“Hmm… nothing.”
Kyle looked oddly disappointed.
“No interest in jewelry or dresses? Those are what women like, aren’t they?”
So this was just another tactic to tempt me. Gifts, huh. Classic.
But I let my exasperation show plainly on my face.
“What would I do with a dress? In prison, all I wear are prison clothes. Completely useless.”
A dress I couldn’t even wear—what good was that? And unless I escaped, or unless Kyle pulled me out himself, I was destined to be executed anyway.
What use were luxury gifts to someone who might die at any moment?
Maybe I should’ve asked for some expensive dessert instead. But Kyle already stuffed me full at every meal—I couldn’t eat any more. In the end, I truly needed nothing.
Still, Kyle added, as if reluctant to let it go:
“You could wear it after you get out. …Anyway, I understand. I’ll be back soon.”
“Safe travels.”
I waved my hand briskly, signaling him to hurry up and leave. Hurry up and get out of my sight.
Kyle froze for a moment, as if unused to being seen off. He lingered until the guard prodded him.
“Warden, everything’s ready. They’re waiting below.”
“I know. I’m coming.”
Still dazed at the send-off, Kyle turned away, my wave lingering behind him as he walked down the hall. Watching his back, I suddenly realized—I was alone.
Wait… did I just manage to get him to leave first? Even as a privileged prisoner, being left like this with no guard was shocking.
When he said “go back to your cell,” he’d meant by myself. This sudden freedom felt strange and awkward.
I walked to the hall window and looked out, frowning. From this highest floor, the prison grounds stretched clearly below.
If only I could walk out of that gate too… I thought wistfully.
Then I saw Kyle. He exited the building and entered a spire rising beside the main gate. The moment I saw him, I realized something critical.
When he said to open the gate earlier…!
My heart thudded with anticipation as I waited.
Moments later, a heavy rumbling shook the entire prison. I gripped the windowsill and leaned out into the breeze.
The massive, weighty gate was slowly opening. Screeeech—the grinding sound of gears and clockwork machinery meshing filled the air.
Every nerve in my body stood on end as I listened, determined not to miss a single detail. A shiver of exhilaration coursed through me.
“So that’s where it opens!”
The spire, which I’d thought was just a watchtower, actually housed the gate’s operating mechanism.
Inside went Kyle and two burly guards. Kyle must have had the key, but the actual work of cranking the mechanism seemed to fall to the guards.
The gate yawned wide, revealing the view beyond. For me, it was pure, unfiltered hope.
As a carriage passed through the open gate, I turned and dashed down the stairs, almost running.
