I Became a Leader in a Wretched Prison - Chapter 159

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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 159

 

I tilted my head.

 

For a moment, I thought I might have misheard.

 

“Engagement?”

 

“Yes. Engagement.”

 

As if to confirm I hadn’t misheard, Marquis Limnades repeated it once more.

 

A feeling of absurdity washed over me.

 

“…By any chance, have I already been actively participating in high society?”

 

“…If you don’t remember doing such things, then you haven’t, wouldn’t you say?”

 

Marquis Limnades shrugged his shoulders.

 

“Or do I have a history of being active under a different name?”

 

“I haven’t particularly associated with noble lords.”

 

“Then Duke Alpeion has never seen you either.”

 

That’s a somewhat ambiguous story.

 

Whether I should say he has seen me or hasn’t. I kept my mouth shut.

 

What on earth could be the reason for proposing to a woman he’s never even seen once?

 

Could it be because he knows something?

 

‘I can’t rule out the possibility that Helios heard something from the Warden.’

 

Since he released me, the Warden no longer has any loyalty to keep toward me.

 

Moreover, Helios had become a new authority figure called Boss, and outside he was even a duke’s son.

 

He had entered prison under false charges.

 

According to Hades, he had come in because of a bet between the Imperial Court and his Father.

 

It was highly likely that the Warden had told him everything as it was, trying to curry favor with the new authority figure.

 

Things like my real name, or my prisoner records.

 

‘So let’s say he figured out my real name.’

 

In that situation, when he came outside and looked into my name, he would have heard the story of the ‘youngest Serial Killer.’

 

Of course, it would be in the prisoner records too.

 

But he would have encountered more vivid stories.

 

I knew this well too, since I had looked into it myself after becoming the Guild Master of the Information Guild.

 

“So in the end, brother, you don’t know the proper reason either.”

 

“…That’s right. More than that, your way of using that form of address is quite natural.”

 

“Well, I need to get used to it. I have to get used to the setting you created.”

 

When I said I would become an illegitimate Child, Marquis Limnades said he would make the family atmosphere welcoming toward me.

 

In other words, he would go with the setting that I’m an illegitimate Child but a Younger Sister that the Marquis brother cherishes.

 

When he said that while gauging my reaction, I just nodded roughly, telling him to handle it as he saw fit.

 

“Let’s go with the setting that we’ve been in contact all along, even before bringing you into the family.”

 

“…That’s what I said, but.”

 

The Marquis rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly.

 

“I didn’t expect you to actually agree to it…”

 

“You’re a premium customer, so I have to accommodate you.”

 

“…”

 

“You’re quite the easy mark.”

 

When I gestured toward the room, the Marquis hesitated for a moment, then soon… grinned foolishly.

 

Sorry, but honestly it looked like a rather stupid smile.

 

“Yes, I’ll continue to be like this in the future, so feel free to fleece me as much as you want.”

 

“You shouldn’t say such things carelessly. What if my greed gets the better of me and I take everything?”

 

“Sure, sure.”

 

I touched my ear, leaving the Marquis who answered as if anything was fine.

 

“So what about your answer regarding the engagement? Did you give it back to the Duke?”

 

“I rejected it immediately. But…”

 

His expression immediately became serious. According to the Marquis’s explanation, it went like this.

 

The Marquis had rejected the proposal, but due to the hierarchy, he couldn’t completely refuse it coldly.

 

The current Duke Alpeion, Helios, had traveled around the country and abroad, resolving all the long-standing disputes with neighboring countries and elevating his reputation.

 

A character who didn’t care about personal matters, fair and righteous. At the same time, decisive and coolly determined.

 

Besides this, he was backed by overwhelming Kia abilities.

 

“Especially his clean resolution of the bandit groups made up of vagrants from the Wasteland was significant.”

 

“You mean his recent return?”

 

No wonder the fireworks were tremendous when news came that Helios had returned.

 

He had apparently resolved an issue that the Empire had been struggling with for quite some time.

 

A matter that was too ambiguous in scale to send the military, but had been continuously troubling the Empire’s citizens.

 

Thanks to this, among the Empire’s citizens, he was called the righteous hero of the people.

 

‘How fitting.’

 

Certainly, this suited him much better than dragging around prisoners and playing boss.

 

Wasn’t he born to be the protagonist of this world?

 

“You rejected him, but he requested to meet in person?”

 

“…Yes.”

 

I crossed my arms and fell into thought for a moment.

 

An engagement proposal.

 

“I want to live with Master forever.”

 

It couldn’t be a coincidence that this memory flashed through my mind.

 

“Marry me.”

 

The memory was crying out that Helios had said this.

 

Helios, have you figured out where I am?

 

Or perhaps…

 

Hmm.

 

“There’s one thing I’m curious about. Brother.”

 

“It’s nice how natural that title sounds now.”

 

“And you, Marquis, your smile is so natural it’s disgusting.”

 

“….”

 

“I’m joking. Are there things I absolutely must uphold as the daughter of Marquis Limnades? Tell me now.”

 

I spread my fingers.

 

Dignity, courtesy, chastity, modesty… I recited the things I had thought of.

 

Marquis Limnades shook his head.

 

“No, there’s nothing you need to uphold.”

 

The man who had been grinning foolishly until just moments ago spoke with a rather noble expression.

 

“Whatever you do, the Marquis house is prepared to bear and take responsibility for it. Do whatever you want to do.”

 

Was that something he wanted to say to ‘Minte’?

 

I looked at the man for a moment before opening my mouth.

 

“Then about the engagement, how about we do it like this?”

 

Helios, though not intentional, this really is like a game.

 

Tag, or hide-and-seek.

 

Are you the one who’s ‘it’?

 

I smiled slyly.

 

It wouldn’t be fun if I let myself get caught easily.

 

* * *

 

Harpem, the capital of the Empire, was both the capital and the birthplace of all culture.

 

Thus, true to its history that began as a multi-ethnic composite nation, many cultures were mixed together, displaying a colorful appearance.

 

At the same time, the slightly different architectural styles in each zone were also the Empire’s pride.

 

Among these, District A, where nobles resided in large numbers, consisted of pure white buildings topped with generally blue-toned roofs.

 

From a distance, it created a magnificent view resembling the blue sky or ocean.

 

A party was in full swing at one of the most splendid mansions among them.

 

“Have you heard? The 2nd Prince has returned.”

 

“Oh my, really? Was this his first return in 3 months?”

 

“Lord Hades, you mean…!”

 

A woman spoke with a dreamy expression.

 

“I heard he successfully led the negotiations with Kaneman Kingdom.”

 

“Of course. His power is no ordinary power.”

 

The nobles, both men and women, gathered in small groups and put the daily topics on the tips of their tongues.

 

However, even while conversing, they all kept glancing toward one side.

 

Like hyenas, they watched for an opportunity to approach.

 

At the center of their gazes was a man sitting alone languidly on a sofa.

 

A woman standing beside the sofa smiled gently and spoke to him.

 

She was the host of this party.

 

The person who should rightfully greet and escort the most precious guest in person.

 

Her eyes swept over the crowd before turning toward the sofa.

 

“My, the stares are quite intense. Everyone seems desperate to strike up a conversation.”

 

The woman slightly lowered the fan covering her face and gazed at the man sitting beside her, the one who had become the protagonist, overshadowing even the host of this party.

 

“What do you think? Duke Alpeion.”

 

“….”

 

Duke Alpeion, Helios, did not respond.

 

His hair had grown long over the three-year period, flowing down to his eyebrows.

 

Though he had neatly parted it, when women saw the strands that naturally fell down, they unconsciously held their breath.

 

Below his smooth forehead was a perfectly sharp nose bridge and lips of just the right thinness.

 

He was sculpturally perfect.

 

The man who evoked the feeling of viewing a master craftsman’s lifelong masterpiece.

 

Had a detached gaze as if he were uninterested in anything in the world.

 

Unaware that this very quality stirred both restlessness and fascination in those who beheld him.

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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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