Around the trio, only those who were just as clueless as they were left. One of the trio, proud of his assumption, tried to get reactions from those around him.
“This might be bigger than we thought.”
The trio were enjoying my misfortune, but their comments gave me a chance to get some satisfaction.
“Excuse me, Sir Knight.”
I asked the knight escorting me to the prison for a moment. Then, I turned to the trio with as much poise as I could muster.
“Is the Renkel Count’s name so insignificant that you can throw it around like this? What would my aunt, no, the Countess, think if she heard this….”
I had only met the Countess a few times, but it didn’t change the fact that she was my mother’s sister.
‘I didn’t start this.’
When I mentioned the Renkel Countess directly, the trio’s faces turned pale as they realized their mistake.
‘I’ll let this be enough for today.’
I smirked and continued toward the prison. Once Connie was out, they would pay for their remarks.
“Here we are. However, external visitors need to go through an identity verification process, so please wait for a moment.”
The knight led me to a small waiting room just inside the entrance. It seemed this was the farthest point an outsider could go without further clearance. I waited on a surprisingly comfortable sofa for about ten minutes before the knight returned.
“You are allowed to enter, Miss Carolina Diaz.”
With permission granted, the knight’s demeanor became more respectful, as if I had gone from being a nuisance to a guest.
I nodded lightly and followed the knight into the prison.
‘It’s dark in here.’
The building wasn’t old, but it had a gloomy atmosphere fitting for a prison.
‘The guards look tired.’
In the distance, I thought I heard someone shouting. I began to worry about Connie’s well-being.
‘They promised to keep her safe.’
My expression grew tense, prompting the knight to offer reassuring words.
“The more important prisoners are kept further inside. Miss Constance is held as a witness, so her accommodations are better than those here.”
“They better be.”
The knight visibly flinched at my stern reply. Fortunately, my worries vanished when we reached Connie’s cell.
“Here it is.”
‘This is quite nice.’
The cell looked like a modest guest room for nobles, except for one wall made of iron bars.
“Miss Constance isn’t allowed to leave, but you can enter. Would you like to go in?”
The knight raised a silver key and asked.
“Yes, please.”
With my consent, he unlocked the door. I ducked slightly to enter Connie’s cell. As soon as I straightened up, I could see the entire room.
‘It’s not bad at all.’
No work, three meals a day, and a decent living space.
‘But where is Connie?’
“Why don’t I see Connie?”
I asked the knight, who was locking the door again, and he answered without looking up.
“She’s probably bathing. The bathroom is behind that partition.”
The knight suggested, guessing, then left, saying he would return in an hour.
“This area is currently empty, so feel free to talk.”
I thanked the knight’s retreating back. As silence settled, I could hear faint water sounds. The knight was right; Connie was in the bathroom.
‘Lucky Connie.’
I sat at a small tea table, waiting. Twenty minutes passed, and there was still no sign of Connie.
“Is she taking a bath?”
I doubted there was a tub in this cell. Finally, after another five minutes, the water stopped, and Connie emerged from behind the partition in comfortable indoor clothes.
“Ah!”
She screamed when she saw me.
“Calm down. It’s me.”
My voice reassured her, and she stopped screaming.
“Rina?”
“Yes.”
Connie approached quickly. She looked well-rested and well-fed.
“You came to get me out, didn’t you?”
Despite being told she couldn’t leave for a while, she seemed hopeful.
‘You weren’t uncomfortable here, were you?’
I stopped myself from scolding her.
“No, I got arrested too.”
I put on a serious face, clasping my hands together as if I were handcuffed. Connie collapsed on the spot.
“Why you?”
She looked like a raven had stolen her last meal.
“Was there no other reason? Are you in the same situation as me?”
Connie fired questions at me, but she didn’t seem too worried.
‘She thinks we’ll get out eventually.’
I smirked, hiding my face so she wouldn’t see.
Seeing me looking downcast, Connie’s imagination began to run wild.
“Do we have to share this cell? I just moved here. Is that why they gave me a bigger room?”
I hoped this wasn’t her main concern.
“What? You don’t want to?”
I uncrossed my arms and pretended to pout.
“No, it’s fine. It’ll remind me of the academy days.”
Connie tried to backtrack.
“I was kidding. I’m not arrested.”
Connie’s face brightened at the truth.
“Right? I never mentioned your name.”
She proudly thumped her chest, but it annoyed me more.
“Connie.”
I called her name seriously, then fell silent.
“Yes?”
She fidgeted.
“Why did you do it?”
“Huh? What?”
“I wrote that report.”
Connie awkwardly scratched her head.
“Well, you wrote it, but it was a trap for me. I couldn’t drag you into it.”
Connie seemed to have figured out Donovan’s scheme.
“And things went well because you were outside, right? But how did you know about the Emperor’s aide?”
She grinned as if to deflect her trouble.
“You really.”
I pretended to headlock her but pulled her into a hug.
‘What if things hadn’t worked out, you fool.’
Connie’s nose bumped my shoulder due to her shorter height.
“I think you broke my nose.”
Connie exaggeratedly complained, struggling to get free.
“Noses don’t break that easily.”
I held her tightly until the knight came to fetch me.
“Um…”
We were hugging, talking about the trio, when the knight returned. He awkwardly smiled and backed away.
“Should I come back later?”
I knew what he was thinking, but I wasn’t into shorter people.
“No.”
I released Connie and turned to the knight.
“I shouldn’t stay longer and cause trouble for you.”
The area around Connie’s cell was empty, as if access was restricted.
‘Security measures, huh.’
Dragging my stay might delay Connie’s release. I straightened my rumpled clothes and stepped out.
“Connie, when you get out, let’s go to that pub we missed last time.”
The owner’s daughter is better now.
I turned back, smiling.
“Sure.”
Connie smiled back. It was a touching moment.
“Wait. Sir Knight, what’s for dinner?”
Connie asked the knight, interrupting the moment.
‘I bet she wants to be moved back to her old cell.’
