Escape from the evil lady (GL)
Chapter 140 - 1. The prison cell

Chapter 140: Chapter 1. The prison cell

The dungeon, located in the dungeon of the imperial palace, was a place where criminals who violated the laws of the empire were held and sentenced to appropriate punishment for it.

Most of the prisoners here were the dregs of society and therefore behaved and looked appropriately. However, among all these personalities, there was one person who was clearly different from them.

At first glance, it was impossible to understand why such a young man with a fairly neat appearance could be here. Just like the rest of the prisoners, he was shackled and could not take a single extra step.

This place was cold and gloomy, and even the burning torches on the walls only made the atmosphere even more eerie. And yet...

Suddenly, footsteps rang out in the previously suffocating silence of the ominous dungeon. They grew louder as they approached one of the prison cells. And finally...

«Your Majesty, this man is being held here.»

Two people stopped in front of the bars of his cell. One of them was the leader of a secret organization of mercenaries acting solely on the orders of the empire’s first woman, and the other...

The young man with blue hair, who had previously been sitting on the cold floor with a detached look, also raised his head at this moment and chuckled softly.

«I greet Her Majesty the Empress.»

«.....»

The woman’s previously hawk-eyed gaze narrowed as she looked at him. At this moment, the mercenary also raised his voice, as he was involuntarily surprised by this.

— Wow, — the man let out a laugh, — Does this cheeky boy really know how to talk? Since he was locked up here on your orders, he hasn’t said a word, no matter how hard I try to interrogate him.

Nevertheless, Euphil de Walt just grinned.

«I just don’t see the point in talking to pawns like you,» he said, «but as for Her Majesty the Empress, that’s a completely different matter.

«Oh, you...!» the mercenary exclaimed indignantly, but at that moment the Empress interrupted him with a hand gesture.

«That’s enough,» the woman announced coldly.

The servant immediately fell silent obediently.

«Y-yes, Your Majesty...»

After that, the mercenary involuntarily had to step aside, while the Empress, on the contrary, took a step forward. The gaze of her blue eyes was directed at the young man, who, despite the pitiful situation he was in at the moment, still managed to remain calm.

The attractive appearance of the young man was overshadowed by the unfavorable conditions of detention in which he had been held for the past few days. His pale face looked hollow and haggard, because during all this time he had not even taken a single sip of water. In addition, dried blood stained most of his clothes, a thin trickle of which also flowed from the corner of his mouth.

Nevertheless, looking at the prisoner, Valencia Gross de Ronan just chuckled.

«Lord de Walt,» she said softly, «I was generous enough to give you another chance to atone for your mistake. However... In the end, you never took advantage of it. What’s it? Excessive dedication or stupidity?

«Neither,» the heir to the dukedom chuckled, «I’m just not eager to be led by people who are trying to control me.»

«Is that so?» The Empress also chuckled, «Then what about your family?» Are you really not interested in reviving it anymore?

«...»

The guy maintained a heavy silence for a while. Then he finally said slowly:

— I realized too late that the restoration of the de Walt family should have been solely my responsibility, but not the imperial family. But since I’m already here anyway, it doesn’t matter anymore anyway.

— ...

At this moment, there was a pause in the cold dungeon.

«Tell me,» Yufil said, «Does the fact that you’ve kept me alive so far mean that you still need me for something?»

The Empress, without answering his question, just continued to measure him with a steady gaze.

«If you really expect to lure this girl here with my help, then you don’t even have to hope for it,» Yufil grinned, continuing, «She definitely won’t come here.»

At this moment, the Empress’ servant couldn’t stand it and took a step forward.

«How dare you speak so disrespectfully to Her Majesty!» — He was indignant, — Do you really think that your miserable life is really so valuable that we will let you get away with this?!

«Of course, I wasn’t hoping for that,» the guy replied quietly, «I’ve been waiting for my death since I got here.

«Your Majesty...!» the mercenary called out to the Empress, as he found the behavior of this pitiful prisoner too outrageous. Instead of prostrating himself and begging for Her Majesty’s forgiveness, this arrogant boy just continued to act arrogantly. However...

Wrinkles appeared on the woman’s forehead as she exhaled angrily.

«It’s enough to make noise,» Valencia massaged her temple, «Whether she comes or not, we’ll see about that.»

«....»

On the way back, having already moved away from the prison cell to a sufficient distance, the mercenary decided to address the Empress again.

«Your Majesty...» He spoke uncertainly, «It’s been more than four days since we imprisoned this kid here. But the youngest daughter of the de Walt family still hasn’t shown up... Are you really sure she’s coming here?

The Empress frowned.

«Why are you asking me this?» she asked.

«In that case...» The mercenary continued, «I mean, if she really won’t come here, should we just get rid of him?»

— .....

«Otherwise, this boy will simply be useless to us,» the mercenary carefully summed up his thoughts.

After taking a pause after that, the Empress soon indifferently left:

«Do whatever you want. I don’t really care about this brat’s life. Especially since I already have another backup plan.»

Following his mistress, in the semi-darkness of the dungeon, one could not see the satisfied expression on the servant’s face.

«Yes, Your Majesty! In that case, if Lady de Walt really doesn’t show up here within the next ten days, then I’ll take this arrogant brat’s life on my own.»