TVIOWHFW 29

She looked down at the young John and whispered cautiously.

“John. Just a little longer. I’ll be right there.”

It felt somehow wrong to abandon the child alone, and my mind tangled. I slipped out of the prison and ran toward where the guards were headed.

“I don’t know how long this dream will last.”

It seemed there might be a time limit. If I dawdled, I would wake up having accomplished nothing.

“-Did you all see what I did? Our wardens have to stash money away separately like this. It might be nice to come back from Libertan next time, so keep an eye on it. Take the money, and keep records, in case the worst happens. Then there won’t be any blame later.”

There was a room that was unusually noisy.

“I found it! The warden’s room!”

It was much larger than the guards’ lounge I had just passed, and it looked well kept. Focusing on a luxurious chair in the center, the guards were drinking and flattering the man sitting there.

“As expected, the warden is different. He’s a noble, yet he takes good care of us guards, and he even gives such precious advice. If it weren’t for you, I don’t know what we would have done, oh warden.”

“Ahem. Even though I was born a Viscount of Penula, I’ve become part of the imperial court. I’m certainly different from other nobles.”

They had been drinking for a long time, and the stench of alcohol hung heavy in the room.

“Thank you for letting us goof off during work hours, I suppose.”

Of course the guards would not see me, but I could still sense a strange unease, much like I had just felt with the young John. While the guards were guzzling, I surveyed the belts on their waists for keys. But there was something I hadn’t dared imagine.

“Should I take all the keys?”

The keys were all similar in appearance, and I couldn’t tell which one would bind John. Then my eye caught a bundle of keys that looked a little different from the others — the warden’s set.

“The warden was talking about Libertan just now, wasn’t he?”

John, being the heir to a house accused of treason, was under strict supervision. Logically, no guard would have such a key. I pressed through the bustling guards and stood beside the warden. I quietly grasped the bundle of keys tucked at his side.

“Success!”

Thankfully I had enough physical strength left to snatch the bundle. I planned to slip outside with it when—

“Hey, didn’t you hear a strange noise just now?”

The guard right beside me coughed and sobbed, as if drunk.

“Didn’t anyone hear something off? I thought I heard something…”

My body tensed to the limit. No matter how careful I was, a sound could not be completely blocked. Then the warden waved his hand and shouted boisterously.

“Nothing can happen here. Stop thinking pointless thoughts and drink!”

I was genuinely grateful to the warden. Even though I had played a part in taking bribes from Libertan to abuse a child, his words soothed me.

“The guards have become noisier with their drinking again. Thanks to that, I could quietly carry the warden’s key bundle out.”

“John. I’ve come.”

The young John had fallen asleep again while I was away.

“That makes sense. It must have been hard for you.”

I jumbled the keys and fitted them to John’s leg shackles. Fortunately, I found a key that fit at once.

“I’ll unlock you now.”

Clank! John’s arms, suspended in the air, were released. The special-prison was so quiet that his single presence made the room seem louder.

“Ugh. If the guards hear this, they’ll notice.”

Then the young John opened his eyes a slit.

“…Is this a dream?”

He tightened his fist and let out a hollow laugh.

“This is a ridiculous dream. Am I going crazy at last.”

Well, even if I were in his place, such a thing happening suddenly would be hard to believe. But the darkness behind the plot felt different, and soon I realized this was reality. The young John frowned and looked around as if realizing it wasn’t a dream. I tried to free the iron bars that imprisoned him while he gathered his thoughts.

“Why won’t it open?”

Clank, clank. The door wouldn’t budge. I had tried every key on the ring, but the cell’s lock would not yield.

“Should I go back and get more?”

But after examining the guards’ keys, I couldn’t find a way to leave with only John’s cell key. I trembled with worry.

“…As I suspected.”

The young John bit his teeth and studied the tightly locked door.

“What kind of nonsense is this? Is Libertan’s torture really so hopeful now?”

The voice carried a hint of anger at his own earlier hopes. Hearing that voice almost brought tears.

“No. I can unlock it. I’ll unlock it.”

“What was that sound…?”

John looked around as if noticing my voice. But I was outside the cell, grabbing a stone to smash the lock, so I did not hear him. Crack! I slammed the lock with the stone. The special-prison lock was incredibly tough; each strike sent tremors through my hands and arms. My grip bled, and my hands grew more and more transparent with each strike.

“Please…”

I gritted my mouth and struck again. At that moment, the seal between the lock’s joints snapped off. The iron door creaked open. I collapsed, a victorious smile spreading across my face. For some reason, the young John looked at me with a surprised, almost grave expression.

“What is this… what are you?”

The dizziness from moving so much was almost overwhelming.

“Why is it so hard?”

When I looked at my hands, I saw the wounds from the stones on my hands and arms. My clenched fist bled. My body began to fade.

“The dream is ending.”

In the original, John faked his death and escaped. So, even if I acted like this in the dream, it would only be my own satisfaction. Still, the sense of accomplishment was undeniable. The young John rose with difficulty and walked toward me.

“Who are you, anyway? Why are you helping me all of a sudden…”

“Fortunately.”

I thought that even if I were released, I might not move, but apparently I could.

“So you can escape now, right?”

“…”

“I’m not sure how helpful this will be, but it’s better than nothing.”

“…”

“If this isn’t the right moment, hide this and keep it for use in the escape.”

My mouth went dry, and I spoke with trembling hands, placing the bundle of keys into the young John’s grasp.

“I wasn’t wrong, was I? Did I interrupt your escape for nothing? If you don’t run now, you’ll be caught and it’ll be even more troublesome…”

The young John said nothing, simply staring at me. I wasn’t sure how I appeared to him, but it was probably startling — so sudden.

“If I became a nuisance, I’m sorry. I meant to help, but maybe I acted wrongly.”

He gave a pale, clear smile despite his fatigue.

“By the way, this isn’t some kind of hope torture, is it? It seems like a chance you’ve earned by persevering. So use it as much as you can.”

“…”

“If you escape now, you might still do well. Become someone great who can inflict revenge on those who harmed you.”

“…Why.”

The young John bit his lip.

“Why are you helping me at all?”

Right. Why did I do all this?

“Think about it: beside the raging John, there was a sense of something else there as well.”

Why did I betray my own survival and act this way? Honestly, I didn’t know. Even if it’s a dream, I wish I wouldn’t be asked for revenge.

“Words won’t come out.”

Revenge was the very motive that had kept John alive.

“To live for a single purpose was probably his life’s aim.”

I could not beg him to stop. I forced a awkward smile and rolled my eyes.

“I just wanted to get to know you a little.”

“…”

“So I couldn’t ignore you. I know how hard you’ve had it.”

The young John reached out and held my wounded hand. But my hand was almost invisible now; his hand moved through the air, then he bit his lip and whispered, “I understand,” and pulled me close, leaning on my still-visible shoulder. Even though he was still young, the gesture reminded me of being held by an adult. The young John spoke in a low, earnest voice.

“Then tell me who you are.”

“I am…”

The warmth of his embrace faded, and John’s dream began to end. I patted the young John’s back.

“The future wife you’ll have, John.”

— The flash, the flash.

“Frustrating.”

A sense of frustration welled up, and John squeezed me tightly again.

“Even in the dream you did this.”

Even in reality, he held me like this, and I could not help but laugh. The dream’s wounds, if any, had disappeared.

“Apparently it was nothing after all.”

Still, the joy of having done something left a sense of purpose rather than emptiness. I stroked John’s broad back and checked his condition. Surprisingly, the black marks on his body had disappeared.

“The rampage seems to have calmed.”

But his body still burned with heat. Had the rampage not fully subsided?

“It’s too hot. I should cool you down.”

As I tried to stand, the arm that had been holding me tightened. A growl rose from his throat, a beastly rumble in his throat. My body tensed, but what came out of his mouth was completely different from what I anticipated.

“Don’t wear a mask…”

Perhaps this was why he endured the rampage alone.

I wrapped myself in dozens of blankets and lay with him. The growling gradually stopped. If I stayed a little longer, perhaps we could escape. I watched John’s feverish brow, slick with sweat. Then—

“Madam. Are you alright? I heard strange noises from inside.”

Betty’s voice came from outside. If things continued this way, Betty might see John in his vulnerable state.

“Because I promised I’d protect him.”

I carefully slipped out of John’s embrace and peeked the door open. Betty’s face turned pale when she saw me.

“M-Mistress. You don’t look well. You’re sick, right? We should call a doctor immediately…”

“No. I’m fine. But I have a favor to ask.”

“What is it?”

“Could you bring cold cloths, ice packs, and some death brew, without letting anyone else know? And keep anyone from coming in until I call you.”

“What?”

Betty’s eyes widened at my words. It was certainly a strange request. I shrugged and explained.

“I just want a little time alone.”

“…”

“You can tell the others any excuse you want. You can say I’m hopeful that entering would bring punishment, or that I’m too sensitive to be allowed in.”

Betty’s eyes filled with tears and she finally began to cry.

“Mistress… why do you carry everything alone like this?”

Huh? What was she thinking? Then a familiar voice cut in from behind.

“What are you hiding, exactly?”

Erich strode up from a distance.

~·~·*· . ·**##^^##**· . ·*·~·~

Hey there, It’s Green Rose 😉

Since I human I might have make some mistakes while translating so please if you find them let me know here in the comments or in the Discord group so I can correct them and be careful in the future so they do not repeat.

Thank you so much for reading, I hope you enjoyed this chapter.

~~~Next Chapter~~~

Next chapter will be released Tomorrow.

See you then!!