Chapter 108 - Iana’s Release (3)
For some time, I repeatedly closed and opened my eyes. Yeah, that’s right, it was a fact that I already knew.
I was a selfish person who messed up Ricdorian’s world, strung him along but had no confidence to take responsibility for him. To be honest, what I’ve done for him was just a small thing, with the least amount of conscience, and out of shallow generosity. I only gave the desert drifter enough water to keep him from dying.
Awakening.
That was the only possible way for Ricdorian to be released from the restraint that his father put on his neck.
“I see. Thank you for your answer.”
[Perhaps...]
Jair seemed to have something more to say to me, but he looked like he hesitated to speak, probably because of my firm response that he decided not to continue talking about it.
[Stay healthy.]
And that’s how my conversation with Jair ended.
Soon, the jewel’s light went out, and I raised my head and stared at the ceiling. Now this ceiling would be the last one.
I haven’t really thought about it, but for quite some time now I observed that the summer and winter here were opposite. It may be summer but the temperature is cold. It feels like it was always winter in this world. In other words, the twelve months here started with summer and would still end with summer.
Soon, a year would pass. And the new year will come again. And then three years later... The original plot of the story will begin, and Ricdorian will come out of this prison.
It’s longer than I thought. But not long after, I shook my head.
You don’t have to think about it anymore, Iana.
And so I decided not to meet Ricdorian for the last time. Since we’ve already said our goodbyes to each other.
“By the way, the guard is late.” I muttered to myself.
I thought he’d come at any moment for a while now, but he still hasn’t.
The person who said he would come here soon was late. I’ve been talking to Jair for a long time, but he still hasn’t shown up, so I wondered if there’s a problem on his end, perhaps he had encountered trouble while making his way here.
“Did a prisoner escape?” I gazed at the desk, asking those words.
On the desk, was a wooden box and inside it was where my luggage was placed. The contents of my luggage was composed of letters I received from my brother during my stay here, an old pocket watch that Iana had, and the jeweled flowers my brother gave me.
In sum, all of the things that I have that were related to my brother were in there.
Isn’t it obvious by now how much I relied on my brother?
I just have to eat what he gives me and wear what he makes me wear.
I was about to stretch my hands to fight off my impatience when I heard something open.
Click.
The window on the cell door was pushed to the side. It was a window with bars and wasn’t completely covered so that the prisoners could only see the faces of the people outside.
“Iana!” A voice called out.
I could see a familiar face through the bars. It was that guard who had been in charge of my cell. I tilted my head to the side because I was curious about the urgent look on his face.
“What’s going on?” I asked.
“Well...” He said then stopped.
He seemed hesitant to tell me what seems to be bothering him.
I did not expect him to appear so dumbfounded and for sometime he was speechless and his face appeared timid. As a matter of fact, I was growing impatient with him, I’m not the kind of person who wants to wait.
“...You cannot be released today.” The guard finally told me and my mouth gaped in shock.
“What?”
No, why not? Why?
“That’s the order of the Emperor.”
His Majesty? The Emperor?
The sudden realization made my eyes blazed with dismay.
No, why did the emperor suddenly come into the picture?
“200 years ago, was the slaughtering of Lowellton, the son of Job. To commemorate that day, there will be a ban on all prisons from being pardoned. No one will be pardoned for a year. This special period will be strictly observed...That’s what he ordered.”
“No amnesty?”
Apparently, if there was a slaughter in history, it would seem like the people of that time encountered a great and immoral villain of that era. Therefore, if the Emperor was a special envoy for Liberation Day, then it was customary to hold off all villains of the present time, and so they were not letting any prisoners go out.
It was ridiculous!
Right now, it wouldn’t be so absurd if I find a hidden camera here.
“The Prison head also wants to apologize...” the guard told me.
But what can I do?
It seemed Lenag himself can’t do anything about it either, and if they say nothing can be done then, it’s impossible to alter the decision.
“Okay, I can’t help it if that really is the case.” I replied.
I accepted this fact more easily than I thought.
After all, this was a place where I lived for a long time now and from the moment I opened my eyes. I have grown accustomed to this place and to be honest, there seemed to be no difference if I stayed here a little longer.
“You’ll be able to go as soon as the specified period ends. He said that is a pledge.” The guard informed me.
“That’s fine, but how long would that period last?” I asked.
“...three months.” He answered.
“Ahh...I see,” the guard began as he scratched the back of his head.
He then proceeded to tell me that Lenag was busy and that is why he delivered the bad news instead.
Somehow, Lenag’s name seemed to have a different bearing now. It seems that Lenag was now representing the Imperial family and they too carried his name.
I accepted explanations without protest and sat down on bed.
Then, I proceeded to unpacked the luggage.
But fortunately. time passed by easily.
For those extra three months I spent in prison, I hardly ever got out of my cell. Honestly, I did not do much during that time.
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