I Became a Leader in a Wretched Prison - Chapter 156

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 156

 

Innocent.

 

The resonance of those words felt somewhat louder than other words.

 

I thought this was the only somewhat unexpected statement.

 

However, I merely blinked once.

 

“So you’re someone who helped capture and imprison me while knowing I was innocent?”

 

“No, no. Minte…!”

 

Marquis Limnades bit his lips tightly. His large eyes became bloodshot red.

 

I know that expression.

 

A face I could see quite often among the Prisoners. Mama said that was the face of regret.

 

“…When I was seventeen at the time, I tried to help you escape before the trial somehow, and got caught and imprisoned while creating an escape route. If that can be called complicity, then it’s my fault. Yes. It’s my fault.”

 

“…”

 

“In the end, I couldn’t break Father’s will, and being imprisoned, I couldn’t stop your trial.”

 

I listened expressionlessly.

 

What am I supposed to do about it?

 

He tried to help his young Younger Sister escape. But he failed.

 

‘Even if this succeeded, wouldn’t the next part be the problem?’

 

The young Girl was already branded as the youngest murderer. Even if she escaped, where and how would she live?

 

The Man who was seventeen then but now thirty couldn’t possibly not know this.

 

It was something that happened a long time ago anyway.

 

“You probably didn’t come to make excuses. What do you want to say?”

 

“I searched desperately for a way to meet you.”

 

“If you wanted to meet me, the method was simple. You could have committed a crime and come to Prison.”

 

“…”

 

Marquis Limnades smiled faintly.

 

“Right. It’s not that I didn’t think of that method.”

 

He rubbed his face. An indecipherable expression crossed it.

 

“If only Mother hadn’t said she would die if I disappeared too, I would have definitely done it. But Minte.”

 

“…”

 

“If that happened, when I came out into the world, there would be no way to compensate for the misfortune and unhappiness you experienced.”

 

“…”

 

“Someone has to compensate you. No, the True Culprit who made you that way should also be caught…”

 

I stared intently at the Man speaking haltingly.

 

“What do you want to give me?”

 

“First, what you lost.”

 

“What if I don’t want it?”

 

“Then I’ll have to give it in a form you desire.”

 

“Why go that far? You could just consider me dead.”

 

“…Why are you asking that, Minte.”

 

The man roughly rubbed his face.

 

He seemed to be choosing his words, or perhaps like someone who had lost what to say.

 

“…We’re family.”

 

The words flowed out like a sigh.

 

I only became more puzzled.

 

However, unlike before, I faintly understood.

 

In the end, it wasn’t different from how Mama had risked her life to enter the rift for my sake.

 

“I’m sorry. For taking so long. We were attempting a judicial deal with the Imperial Palace.”

 

“….”

 

“To get Minte Limnades out of Niflheim, we were prepared to sacrifice everything our house had.”

 

“….”

 

“I’m sorry, sorry. For taking 10 years, no, even longer than that. Your brother said he’d get you out quickly….”

 

I said nothing at all.

 

Because the person who should receive this crumbling man’s apology was no longer in this world.

 

However, I wasn’t entirely unable to understand the real ‘Minte’s’ feelings.

 

Because I had spent damn difficult days in that prison. I had to endure stubbornly with a young body until I adapted.

 

“The Imperial Palace only told us each year that you were alive.”

 

“….”

 

“…All we could do during that time was somehow offer compensation money, hoping your life would be comfortable.”

 

“Who do you mean by ‘we’?”

 

“Huh?”

 

The man hesitated for a moment, then smiled faintly.

 

“Mother and I. We were the people who opposed to the very end Father’s plan to sacrifice you as a scapegoat because he was blinded by power. Mother resisted until the very last moment that day and suffered a severe head injury, so she couldn’t wake up for a year. That’s why… she couldn’t attend the trial.”

 

“….”

 

“And don’t worry, Minte. The person who sold his daughter is no longer in this world.”

 

For a very brief moment, I thought the man had a similar atmosphere to me, even though we weren’t actually siblings.

 

The man sat expressionlessly, but even so, detached malice was seething in his blue eyes.

 

“Because I killed him with my own hands.”

 

I could see the face I once had when I hated this world and the original story while in prison.

 

‘It really feels like looking in a mirror.’

 

Would ordinary people feel discomfort here? I felt curious instead.

 

“So, in conclusion, you and Mother opposed it desperately, but couldn’t overcome Father’s power, the trial was held, and now you want to compensate for everything… Right?”

 

“…Right.”

 

Niflheim was a place where even visits were prohibited. This was the same no matter what noble entered.

 

So it wasn’t incomprehensible that they had desperately searched for a channel of communication and ended up clinging to the Imperial Palace that had sentenced me to be imprisoned there.

 

However.

 

“There’s no reason for that.”

 

I gave him a clear conclusion.

 

“From what I hear, you tried to prevent them from framing me, so my 10-year imprisonment isn’t your fault.”

 

“….”

 

“There’s someone blinded by power who framed you, and the true culprit is someone else entirely, so there’s no reason for you to suffer and worry about it.”

 

“But Minte…!”

 

He opened and closed his lips as if trying to say something. Then he flinched when he saw my expressionless face.

 

After a moment, he smiled faintly. Was that a smile? I’m not sure if that could even be called a smile.

 

“…You’ve changed from what I remember.”

 

“Thirteen years is a long time.”

 

Moreover, to survive in a prison that people call hell. Even the most virtuous person would change.

 

Along with these words, it was inevitable that the most righteous disciple I knew would come to mind.

 

“….”

 

Looking at the man who was now starting to grow anxious, I tapped the chair armrest meaninglessly.

 

‘Earlier, he said he was under surveillance?’

 

That’s why he said he couldn’t stay here long. I also didn’t want unnecessary eyes on this guild.

 

I looked at the man who resembled me so closely and tilted my head.

 

“‘Minte Limnades’ is still on death row. Even if she returns to the marquis house, her situation remains the same.”

 

“…I’m prepared to prove your innocence.”

 

“Being prepared and actually executing it are different things, aren’t they?”

 

“….”

 

Moreover, even if I returned as ‘Minte Limnades,’ wouldn’t everyone still know me as a serial killer?

 

Who would believe I’m innocent now?

 

Besides, I had no need for the status of the marquis house.

 

“I don’t need the name of the marquis house.”

 

“….”

 

If Mint, who was the Boss of Niflheim, appeared as the daughter of Marquis Limnades, the Warden wouldn’t be able to avoid responsibility either.

 

Those chasing me would obviously become troublesome.

 

“Minte, wait….”

 

“However.”

 

I cut off the marquis’s words.

 

“Marquis, do you have a lot of money?”

 

He blinked his large eyes behind his glasses.

 

“If you have a lot, a whole lot of money. I do have one proposal.”

 

You said you’d give me anything I wanted, right?

 

* * *

 

―Limnades Marquis Mansion.

 

This place, which boasted enormous size, didn’t have very many servants.

 

This was because the current marquis, who prided himself on cleanliness, wouldn’t keep anyone in the mansion unless they were trustworthy.

 

Thanks to this, the remaining servants’ work doubled, but they had no complaints.

 

This was because the marquis compensated them with money that left no room for complaints, even if they did several times the work.

 

And a special guest arrived at the marquis’s office.

 

“It’s clean.”

 

A brown-haired woman wearing a maid outfit looked around the office and spoke casually.

 

Marquis Limnades, Pontos, fidgeted nervously, not knowing what to do.

 

“I like things clean…”

 

The brown-haired woman with ordinary features was none other than Mint.

 

This level of disguise was nothing to her now.

 

“Mother is very ill. Honestly, she’s contracted a fatal disease… you could say she doesn’t have much time left.”

 

The father who had framed ‘Minte’ was already dead.

 

Mint had no particular grudge against those who remained, against the Marquis Limnades House.

 

Moreover, what the current marquis was saying wasn’t a lie either.

 

One of the things she had done since arriving in this capital was investigating matters related to Minte’s trial.

 

‘It’s true that they tried to secure an escape route, and that the wife and son were brutally punished for opposing it.’

 

It was clear that they too were victims. However, if they had come to her with lies or claimed that he and his mother were also victims, she would have either refused to deal with them or punished them.

 

“She’s been looking for you for 13 years.”

 

“…”

 

“Her last wish is to see you.”

 

Her heart wasn’t moved.

 

Nor was she sympathizing. Mint still didn’t know how to sympathize with anyone.

 

However, she thought of a way to use the wealth and power that Marquis Limnades possessed more efficiently.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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