Chapter 40

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It was only after following the squire through the iron-barred door that Melody realized she hadn’t corrected the information about Claude.

“Well… it should be fine.”

She would pass the office again when leaving, so she could mention it then.

Beyond the bars was a corridor devoid of windows or decorations, emitting a slightly gloomy aura, prompting Melody to unconsciously wrap her arms around herself.

“It’s just a corridor leading inside. It’s not the prison yet, so there’s no need to be afraid.”

The squire’s gentle reassurance came just as they reached the end of the corridor, in front of a sturdy iron door guarded by two knights. After showing her identification to them, the thick door began to open.

“Now it’s really…”

She swallowed hard, feeling a bit nervous at the thought of entering the prison.

Memories of her last visit to the prison resurfaced, the sticky darkness still lingering in her mind as a ‘scary thing.’ Unconsciously, her hand tightened into a small fist.

The heavy door opened further.

Would that awful smell from that day be here too? With this thought, she instinctively closed her eyes tight.

However, what greeted her was a gentle breeze, soft enough to tickle her nose.

“…?”

When she slightly opened her eyes, the first thing she noticed was the flickering sunlight.

“This is… a prison?”

Melody blinked several times, reassessing the scene visible through the door.

There was a long corridor, and beyond a large window, she could see a garden, well-maintained by someone’s hand, resembling the garden of the Duke’s residence.

“This is…?”

Unable to step in, Melody just gazed at the squire leading the way.

“Yes, it’s a prison.”

Her response filled with doubt, Melody hurriedly followed the squire through the iron door.

The interior, now fully visible, was far from the ‘prison’ Melody knew.

Soft rugs that gently cushioned her feet.

White walls adorned with beautiful paintings.

And through the windows, the fragrance of fresh air and the pleasantly warm sunlight.

It could’ve been mistaken for a noble family’s mansion.

But this was undoubtedly a prison. The iron bars on each window confirmed it, even though they were fashioned more like elegant decorations.

“Now I remember, this is where nobles are imprisoned too.”

The Duke had briefly mentioned the facility to Melody before, but she hadn’t expected it to be this luxurious.

“Miss Melody, this way.”

“Ah.”

Suddenly brought back to reality by the squire’s call, Melody realized she had fallen quite behind. She quickly shook her head to clear her thoughts.

This was not the time to be stunned. She had a specific purpose to fulfill today.

“I’m sorry.”

Melody resumed walking, and the squire turned back to lead the way. A few steps further, Melody felt a tug at the hem of her dress.

“…?”

Turning around in confusion, she saw Isaiah, leaning against a pillar. Perhaps he was on an internal patrol.

In any case, his expression was one of considerable anger.

‘Isaiah… why is he here?’

Truth be told, after deciding to meet her mother, Melody had tried several times to explain the situation to Isaiah beforehand.

But on the day she resolved to inform him, she received a short message from Isaiah.

He was to undergo routine training outside the capital for a few days.

‘And then the date was set suddenly, so I didn’t get the chance to talk to him.’@@novelbin@@

Melody intended to explain why she broke her promise with him, but at that moment, Isaiah placed his index finger over his lips, signaling for silence.

‘Why?’

As Melody silently questioned him, Isaiah, as if waiting for this moment, grabbed her arm and pulled her, leading her naturally into another corridor.

‘Isaiah?!’

Melody almost screamed but refrained from doing so.

She feared that if she screamed, the squire leading the way or the knights stationed throughout might punish Isaiah.

“Wait, Isaiah, just wait.”

Instead, she whispered continuously, calling after him. There was no response, only his steps hastening.

When startled voices from a distance calling, ‘Miss Melody?!’ echoed, Isaiah began to run wildly.

“Isaiah!”

Finally unable to hold back, Melody called out to him loudly.

Her body spun around and leaned against something.

It was the end of the corridor.

“Wait, I’ll help you right away.”

Without further ado, Isaiah inserted a key into a small door at the end of the corridor.

“This is a path used by the knights. Through here, we can leave the prison and reach the knights’ building without going through the prison office.”

The locked door clicked open, and Isaiah grabbed Melody’s arm again.

“Isaiah, I…”

Melody tried to step back and dissuade him, but Isaiah was not listening.

Apparently, he thought they needed to secretly escape, which made him anxious.

“Did the nobles shove you in here just to save face?”

“No! It’s not like that.”

“Isn’t it.”

He scoffed.

“How long have I lived in the capital? You think I wouldn’t know about that?”

Some nobles, he knew, placed more value on adhering to the rules set by the emperor than on the wishes of individuals.

So, when Isaiah heard that Melody was going to meet her mother, he was convinced the Duke had forced her, in compliance with the empire’s law that a death row prisoner’s last request must be granted.

‘These lunatics. Sending Melody to a place like this?’

Unintentionally, Isaiah tightened his grip on Melody’s arm.

The frailty of her slender arm somehow infuriated him. She was so fragile; he felt he had no choice but to protect her.

“Isaiah, it hurts!”

Startled by her slightly pained voice, Isaiah immediately let go of her arm.

Melody rubbed the arm that had been held, frowning.

“And I came here because I wanted to.”

“Don’t lie!”

“Why do you think it’s a lie?”

“Your mother…!”

As Isaiah was about to raise his voice, clouds covered the sun, darkening the sky, and shadows filled the long corridor.

“What did she do to you!”

Perhaps it was the shadows painting his face black, but Isaiah’s contorted expression seemed even more fierce.

“And yet you still want to meet her? The person who is frantic because she couldn’t exploit you all her life?”

“Well, that may be true, but…”

“I can’t agree with it. No, I can’t stand to see it happen. Plus, you said you wouldn’t meet her last time, right?!”

His voice rose again in agitation.

“…Sorry for shouting. Anyway, I’ll take you outside. Your time is too precious to waste meeting that lady.”

As he reached out for her again, Melody dodged his hand, stepping back.

Fortunately, she wasn’t caught by Isaiah, but not because she was adept at evading.

“This isn’t right.”

Claude, approaching from down the corridor, had grabbed Isaiah’s arm, preventing him.

“I thought this only happened in novels.”

Claude offered a somewhat bitter smile between Isaiah and Melody.

“Isaiah Mullern, I don’t want to command you as a noble. Would you please step back?”

“…”

Claude’s tone carried a fair amount of politeness. However, Isaiah didn’t perceive it as kind, maybe due to the look in Claude’s eyes.

It felt more like a threat than a command.

“Did you threaten Mel like this too?!”

Isaiah, boiling with anger, shouted. He had nothing to lose now. It was all out in the open.

“You have no idea! How Mel has lived. What she’s been through! And you shove this kid here? Don’t nobles have any sympathy?!”

“…”

Despite his outburst, Claude remained silent.

“Damn it!”

Isaiah violently shook off Claude’s hand. Fortunately, Claude didn’t try to stop him.

Other knights nearby finally began to close in. Isaiah urgently shouted.

“Mel! Tell them you have no intention of meeting that lady! The decision is all yours!”

“I’m sorry, Isaiah.”

Melody first apologized to Isaiah.

She felt sorry not only for breaking the promise to him but also for something from the more distant past.

Long ago, Melody herself couldn’t fend off the children who tormented her and was completely helpless.

Isaiah had given her several chances to confront those bullies herself, but she had never taken them up on it.

So, naturally, to Isaiah, Melody must have seemed unreliable and someone he needed to protect.

All those thoughts had accumulated over time, leading to this moment.

“Isaiah, this is my decision.”

“…What?”

“The Duke actually preferred that I didn’t come here. But I chose to come.”

“Wait a minute.”

Confusion was evident on his face. He probably hadn’t anticipated that the Duke would be opposed to her coming.

“Why would you come here if the Duke is against it? What good is it for you!”

As Melody spoke, the knights approached to detain Isaiah, presumably planning to adjust their actions based on Melody’s wishes. Fortunately, Claude raised his hand, stopping the knights from advancing.

“Are you an idiot?! Have you forgotten how you’ve lived?!”

Melody shook her head. She couldn’t forget her grim past even if she wanted to.

“But why…!”

At his outcry, Melody glanced briefly at Claude. She didn’t know why, but it just happened.

Surprisingly, upon making eye contact, Claude offered her a kind smile.