Episode 16
Although my attempt to seduce Richard had failed, one thing was certain—we had grown closer. Just judging by the relaxed atmosphere in the cell, we were definitely more comfortable with each other.
I flipped through the newspaper I had borrowed from Richard and clicked my tongue.
“I’m telling you, newspapers can’t be trusted. Just a couple of days ago, your fiancée came to Fortress, and now they’re printing rumors about a broken engagement? Do they not even bother checking their facts before writing articles?”
Richard’s voice echoed from the cell opposite, slightly delayed.
“The article is accurate. I’m no longer engaged.”
“What? When?”
I shot upright from where I had been lazily lounging on the chair. While I was clearly shocked, Richard responded with a calm expression.
“She informed me of the breakup during our meeting. Since I have no family member to handle the paperwork, her brother had to accompany her all the way to Fortress.”
Curious to hear more, I got up and approached the bars.
Richard was sitting on a chair, leaning forward with his elbows on his knees and fingers interlocked—he looked very serious.
A broken engagement… Well, it made sense.
I could understand the fiancée’s decision. One day, her betrothed becomes a traitor and ends up in prison. Honestly, staying would’ve been the rarer choice.
“I suppose the family felt burdened. They didn’t want to be seen as involved in treason. I’ve heard some families have already fallen—everyone’s in survival mode. Breaking it off was the smart decision.”
If he had been grieving, it would’ve been easier to comfort him—even if insincerely. But instead, he analyzed the gains and losses of the situation with a detached tone.
I didn’t fully grasp the complexities of noble politics, but from my perspective—someone who needed to win him over—this wasn’t bad news at all.
“Was the breakup forced by her family? Maybe she didn’t want to go through with it?”
“I doubt that. She’s a smart woman.”
Still, just in case he was feeling down, I asked gently:
“Are you really okay with it?”
“It’s bittersweet, but I’ll be fine. It wasn’t an engagement based on love anyway.”
He says he’s okay, but how could he be? Being dumped like that…
I glanced across the hall at the man in the opposite cell. Richard, shirtless in his prison uniform, had been doing push-ups for two hours straight.
Just like when I first arrived here, he was staying confined to his cell. With nothing to do but eat, sleep, and breathe, anyone’s spirit would start to crumble eventually.
Until now, I’d been too focused on convincing Richard to join me. Even when we went out for walks, I avoided going with him, thinking it would get in the way of gathering information.
But seeing him like this, I changed my mind—it was time to let him go out for some fresh air.
Even if all we did was circle a patch of grass, fresh air and ocean waves helped clear the mind.
“Thirty… thirty-one… thirty-two…”
Sweat dripped down Richard’s back as he exhaled with each push-up. His strong, muscular frame rose and fell, his arms bulging with effort.
Watching the ripple of his muscles made me question myself.
Weakened? Really?
I must’ve imagined it. There was no way Fortress’s strongest prison-break partner had suddenly become frail.
Look at him—he’s ten times healthier than I am, even after being stuck underground. No wonder he could withstand torture without issue.
Watching him train for hours was strangely motivating. I felt a burst of energy and walked over to the bars.
“Forty-one… forty-two…”
“Richard.”
“…?”
“Wanna go for a walk with me?”
He stood and wiped the sweat from his brow with the towel hanging around his neck.
As he approached the bars, his damp, gleaming skin caught the light. I couldn’t help but wonder—could I build muscles like that too if I started working out?
Richard gave me a puzzled look.
“What’s with the sudden urge for a walk?”
What do you mean, why? People need exercise to stay healthy. Of course, that wasn’t my only reason.
Richard seemed to know I wasn’t the exercise type.
And how could he not? My arms, poking out from my sleeves, were soft and completely lacking in muscle.
I peeked past the bars to make sure no guards were nearby, then lowered my voice and whispered:
“I figured we’d need to build up some stamina if we’re going to escape. And it must be suffocating staying underground all the time, right?”
“I see. That’s a good idea.”
Richard looked pleased, maybe thinking I was finally regaining my energy. Realistically, no one awaiting execution bothers to go for a walk for their health. Not unless they have some hope left.
Ever since that first walk, I’d been going out every day during exercise time. Surprisingly, it helped clear my mind when I was overthinking our escape plan.
At one point, I even dug into the lawn with a spoon, wondering if I’d need to tunnel my way out if I couldn’t convince Richard.
As I strolled across the grass, I noticed Richard not far off.
“Hey, man. New face, huh? You a rookie?”
“C’mon, you’ll be around for a while. At least come introduce yourself.”
A few prisoners noticed Richard, but maybe because he didn’t look like your average convict, they hesitated to approach him directly and just hovered nearby, throwing comments his way.
Richard didn’t respond. He just continued walking with military precision, like a knight on patrol.
I understood the feeling. When I first walked onto the lawn, I was treated like a sideshow too.
After a few days, the stares died down. Now, no one bothered to look at me—though unfortunately, that meant some were bold enough to talk to me.
Sometimes I ignored them, but occasionally I humored them for the sake of gathering information. You never know what detail might come in handy during a prison break.
This prison was filled with chatterboxes. Even a slight nod was enough to get someone going, though few said anything truly useful.
Today’s pest was especially annoying.
“I was a big deal outside, you know. If you’ve got nowhere to go after you’re out, look me up—I’ll help you.”
Keep dreaming. That’s never happening.
“I’ve got connections with the guards too. Need anything? I can ask for you. Just say the word.”
“….”
I side-eyed the prisoner who had followed me the entire walk, jabbering non-stop. With his slitted eyes and bat-like face, he looked like trouble. And now he thought I was interested?
“I’ve been here a while, so the guards listen to me. I can even get you booze.”
I wasn’t interested in that nonsense. But maybe, just maybe, I could get some usable info out of him. I narrowed my eyes and tested him.
“How long have you been at Fortress?”
“Hm… about six years?”
What did this guy do to end up here for six years? Judging by his face, it had to be something nasty. Then again, you don’t land in Fortress for petty crimes.
I looked at him like he was a bug. And then, the bug put his arm on my shoulder.
“You don’t have a boyfriend, right? How about me?”
You’ve got to be kidding…!
I was about to verbally annihilate his bat face with curses I’d never said aloud—when suddenly, he screamed.
“Aaack! Let go of my hand!”
I turned and saw Richard twisting the prisoner’s wrist. I hadn’t even noticed him come up.
“I don’t recall hearing that it’s okay for inmates to harass each other in Fortress. Keep your hands to yourself.”
“Wh-What’s your problem?! Mind your own damn business!”
The guy’s face turned red with pain, but Richard only scowled and twisted harder. The prisoner writhed and quickly gave in.
“Alright, alright! I’ll stop! I’m leaving!”
Muttering under his breath, he scurried back inside the prison.
I glanced around—the yard had gone quiet. All eyes were on us. This kind of attention wasn’t what I wanted. I sighed.
“Thanks, but I could’ve handled that guy on my own.”
“I only stepped in out of knightly duty.”
“…That knightly sense of duty—you think maybe you could tone it down a bit while we’re in Fortress?”
Richard gave me a look that said, Why would I do that? I gave up. No point arguing…
Just then, as if summoned by the commotion, a guard approached.
“Inmate 14356. The warden wants to see you. Come with me.”
Richard and I exchanged a puzzled glance. Why was Kyle summoning me all of a sudden? I hadn’t done anything wrong recently… right?
I mouthed “I’ll be back” to Richard, then followed the guard.
