I Became a Leader in a Wretched Prison - Chapter 195
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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 195
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“Have you heard that story?”
For the past week, the capital’s social circles had been buzzing more than ever. All because of a single piece of news.
“Oh my, are you only hearing about it now?”
“Yes. Well, I just returned from the territory with my husband.”
Until recently, when people gathered in small groups, the conversation topic was about the new ‘illegitimate child’ who had come to Limnades.
But now it was different.
No, it was still a story about ‘Limnades’, but…
“That family’s daughter was alive, wasn’t she?”
“Good heavens, how terrible that a murderer has returned.”
Not the illegitimate child, but the one who had committed shocking crimes long ago and was sent to Niflheim as the youngest serial killer.
The news that Minte Limnades had returned to her family had spread far and wide.
“His Majesty allowed that woman to reclaim her status – I have no idea what the reason could be.”
“…I heard she was innocent. Could it really be true?”
“What I heard was that it’s merely Marquis Limnades’ claim.”
Anyone here with reasonably high status and advanced age would remember it all.
“She’s a terrible criminal who only escaped execution because of her young age. And now they’re releasing a woman who spent over ten years in Niflheim into the capital? What if the same crimes happen again?”
“…The capital has been unsettled lately as it is.”
“Ugh. I hope she gets captured again.”
The trial of those horrific serial murders that took place over ten years ago, with a small girl standing in the defendant’s dock.
The hair color of the girl bound tightly with ropes was a rare teal.
Moreover, green-toned hair was also a symbol of the Limnades family.
The incident that had heated up the capital ten years ago still stirred up the social circles without cooling down, despite the long passage of time.
It was only natural.
Does a murderer stop being a murderer just because time passes?
Moreover, wasn’t she the perpetrator who killed an enormous number of people at an age when other children were barely learning to read?
There must be a reason why the Emperor suddenly brought back the one who had been in prison and restored her as a marquis’s young lady.
However, the impression carved into people’s minds was not the kind that could be easily erased.
It was natural for everyone to have instinctive aversion, displeasure, and antipathy.
“…Since she’s regained her status, will she appear at banquets too?”
Someone spoke up with an anxious voice.
“Oh my, surely not?”
A relieved smile lingered on the lips of the person who shook her head and firmly objected.
“She’s not normal, they say.”
And along with that came mockery directed at the murderer, who deserved to be ruthlessly cursed by others.
“That woman went mad in Niflheim, they say.”
…And Mint was listening to all of this story from one side of the wall.
‘How well it spreads.’
Mint, who attended the banquet today as the illegitimate child ‘Lite’, was listening to every rumor surrounding herself without missing a single one.
Even without turning her head, she could feel the piercing gazes.
Everyone was chattering while pretending not to care, subtly ostracizing ‘Lite’.
However, the gaze Mint was concerned about wasn’t the mixed looks of interest and displeasure from these nobles.
She only cared about the gaze of Helios, who was maintaining a prickly expression while surrounded by some nobles on one side.
‘That’s what happens when I tell him not to look.’
Perhaps she shouldn’t have asked her disciple to do something difficult after all.
When she told him not to look, he kept glancing over whenever he was bored.
The problem was that his sideways glances with that prickly face could only look like glaring to someone else’s eyes.
“…Does Duke Alpeion perhaps hold some grudge against Limnades?”
“You know, the Previous Duke… passed away, didn’t he? Perhaps the culprit has returned to Limnades….”
“Oh my, but the timing doesn’t match….”
‘I’ve suddenly become an enemy.’
Mint found it interesting, and on the other hand, she found her lover quite adorable for acting like this just because she told him not to look.
Hadn’t he followed her here saying he absolutely couldn’t let her go alone?
Of course, she was also somewhat puzzled.
Usually when someone stares so intensely like this, don’t people make other interpretations?
Like having feelings, or having feelings. Or having feelings.
Mint felt a bit wronged.
“Hello, Young Lady!”
Brushing away her thoughts, she turned her head. There stood a familiar face.
It was Baron’s Daughter Riley, who had experienced the explosion together at the jewelry store.
“Hello, Riley.”
Riley’s cheeks turned pink.
“Why are you standing here alone?”
“As you can see, people won’t play with me.”
Mint had already half-given up on behaving like a proper young lady.
Acting timidly and trying her best not to get involved with others until now. That was because she had been going around collecting Mama’s relics.
Now there wasn’t really a reason for that anymore.
Rather, she felt pleased that people were now avoiding her on their own.
“Th, then shall I stay by your side?”
“That would be nice.”
When Mint readily accepted, Riley excitedly stood next to Mint. The two had quite a pleasant conversation.
For Mint, it was more like a conversation where she just needed to nod along, but there were interesting parts too.
‘This young lady is quite knowledgeable about Kia.’
Mint secretly gathered Kia in her eyes and stealthily peeked at her talent.
‘She has quite a bit of talent too.’
Her oppa was said to be a capable scholar and Kia User. It seemed the blood didn’t go anywhere.
“Um, excuse me. Young Lady.”
“Yes. Riley.”
Riley looked around, then lowered her voice and whispered to her.
“Are you really passionate lovers with Duke Alpeion?”
At those words, Mint turned her head toward Riley’s face.
Soon Mint pulled up her lips.
“Why do you think that? Everyone thought the Duke’s side held some grudge.”
“Huh? But still…”
Riley hesitated, then spread her fingers.
“I have one really pathetic ability.”
“Yes.”
“It’s very subtle, but I can see people’s emotions.”
Mental Realm Kia? Mint nodded slightly.
“Usually it’s really subtle, so I know things like ‘that person is smiling but angry’ or ‘they’re sad.’ To others it looks like ‘she’s quick to read the mood,’ just enough to notice. But I can still see it.”
Riley’s finger drew a cute heart in empty air.
“I see fluffy mist from Duke Alpeion. This is actually passionate love.”
“…What color is it?”
“Pink.”
“Pfft.”
Mint couldn’t hold back and burst into laughter. Because of that, the gaze coming from Helios became twice as strong.
She couldn’t help but laugh.
‘Pink, it suits him so well.’
Should she try putting a ribbon on his head in bed next time?
On Helios’s head, not her own, of course.
“The range I can see is very small, but how should I put it. Something this big? Yes, I’ve never seen such overwhelming emotion before.”
“Really?”
Mint smiled pleasantly.
Riley stared blankly at that smile. She’s someone who suits smiling better.
“Thank you, Riley. Thanks to you, this was the most enjoyable part of today.”
“Oh, if talking about my insignificant ability made you happy, then I’m glad too!”
“It’s not an insignificant ability.”
Mint lowered her voice and whispered to Riley. It was advice on how to use Kia abilities.
Riley’s eyes widened.
Though it hadn’t been publicly announced yet, Riley knew Mint was a powerful ability user because she had seen it directly.
Since such a person had given her advice, she wanted to tell her something too.
“Um, about calling you lovers. I could see similar fluffy mist from you too, Young Lady. The mists were connected.”
This is how mutual love appears.
“Really? What color am I?”
“Blue.”
Riley pointed to Mint’s wrist and said.
“That, exactly this blue color.”
Just then, a blue string was prettily tied around Mint’s wrist.
Mint’s smile grew faintly deeper.
“Is that so?”
Mint briefly gauged the time. It was about time to head back.
Just as Mint was about to express her gratitude to Riley for the enjoyable time and leave.
Riley reached out her hand.
“Excuse me, Young Lady…!”
Mint noticed Riley’s hand but allowed her to grab her clothing.
Despite receiving a puzzled look, Riley hesitated.
“Wait, this might sound strange. No, may I tell you something?”
Mint silently used her Kia.
She didn’t know what story it would be, but if Riley wanted to have an intimate conversation, she would at least surround them with Kia so only the two of them could hear—it was a light-hearted gesture.
Riley swallowed her breath.
Should she say it? No, should she have to say it? But.
“I can see black.”
Even if it seemed meddlesome, she wanted to ask. In fact, ‘love’ wasn’t the only emotion Riley had seen from Mint.
Among Riley’s relatives was an uncle who had been ruined by debt. In her childhood, Riley had once seen her uncle walking on his own feet toward the debt collectors.
A black spot she had never seen before flickered on her uncle’s back.
As Riley gradually grew up, she learned the meaning of this spot.
“…It only appears on people who are prepared for death.”
What thoughts is the Young Lady having that would make such a thing visible?
Riley thought Mint would be surprised.
However.
Mint was smiling.
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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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